Tampa Bay Lightning Report Cards: Forwards

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My 2013/2104 Forecast: Continued injury issues. 35-40 points in 55-60 games. Good play when healthy.

GP: 57 G: 5 A: 10 Pts: 15 +/-: -7 PIM: 67

Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Just when it looked like things couldn’t get any worse for Ryan “Bugsy” Malone, his season came crashing to a halt when he was arrested for DUI and possession of cocaine in mid-April. It was a catastrophic finish to a disastrous year.

Just how disastrous, you ask? Malone started the season playing on Tampa Bay’s first line. By Christmas, he found himself relegated to fourth line duty. And it would appear that he was only getting those minutes in order to retain some trade value, since, as soon as the trade deadline passed, Malone found himself in the pressbox.

What went wrong? Where to start… Without speculating too much on possible substance abuse issues, Malone’s footspeed deteriorated to the point he couldn’t keep up with the scoring lines. Malone was never exactly fleet of foot, but in the past he could keep up enough to provide a physical presence and create room for his speedier wingers. What’s troubling is not so much that Malone slowed down, but how quickly it happened.

Unfortunately, this does lead us back into speculation land, because 33-34 year-olds might lose some speed, but they tend not to go from quality first-line options to fringe NHLer players in the matter of a year… unless there are some lifestyle issues at play. Just saying.

Grade: F

Looking Ahead: All indications point to Malone being bought out as soon as the buyout window opens. He was a strong buyout candidate last season, and many, including me, thought that would drive him to prove his detractors wrong. Whether or not Malone’s admission into the NHL’s substance abuse program will affect the Lightning’s ability to buy him out might be a little bit of a gray area. Remember, injured players are ineligible to be bought out, and the Lightning weren’t able to suspend Malone without considerable trouble from the NHLPA.

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