Thanks Pat! I have season tickets and have had for many years in Detroit and here in Tampa. I like to sit in different areas of the rink to get different fan reactions. As a long time USA Hockey coach, I love sitting in the third level to see the play develop. Isn't it hard to listen to those fans that think they "know" hockey when they scream "shoot" every time the Bolts touch the puck? I really have to bite my tongue sometimes. I bet you do too! Thanks again for reading!
Good observation Pat. The Bolts should have dominated the young Thrashers. Question: Where do you sit in the arena (in general) and what do you see and hear from the fans! Thanks again for the comments.
Thanks for the comment Mike! I feel that Smith is the key to a competitive season. Last night went a long way towards getting there! Keep reading and commenting!
Nice post and nice abs BD. Wouldn't we all like a "Cuthbertian pucker"... or something on that order? Yes, the hit was clean and he did have malice in his heart. I understand your concern for the NHL's budding stars like KO, but bringing back the Semenko's of the world isn't the answer.. I don't see any room in the league for a total goon like Brashear (four points, 121 PIMs last year). The Wings and Pens have won and they don't need an enforcer to protect their young stars. Who , on those teams, "gives off the fear?" In Pittsburgh, do Cooke and Goddard (Last years PIMs leaders) put fear into anyone? In Detroit , do Downey and Draper (The leaders in PIMs in the Wings 2007-08 cup winning year) stop any players from taking liberties? In my humble opinion, the "fear" should be not wanting to suffer the ultimate injury, a goal on the power play. Make teams fear the decisive repercussion...losing. The Isles sub 15% and sub 17% power play percentage wouldn't strike fear in anyone. Teams put the Orr's and the Brashears on the shelf when it counts during the playoffs anyway. Should they carry them just for the preseason games and then cut them? Besides, I don't think Phaneuf is a "punk." He is 6'3", 218 lbs. of tough hockey player. He fears no man on the ice.
Thanks Pat. It will be interesting to see how they do with six games in the next seven nights to play. The roster was cut from 52 to 43. I thought maybe they would wait to cut down until after this stretch of games. It's too bad Kevin Quick was cut. I like him, but he came into camp 20 pounds overweight...what the heck was he thinking. I guess it proves that these players (Like Quick and Lawrence) made no impression at all on Tocchet, otherwise he would have kept them around for this brutal stretch of games.
Nice start Mike! I love Tyrell, as you may know, but he may need to play in Norfolk this year. Don't forget about Steve Downie. He may steal that sixth spot. If he can keep his head on straight, he is the perfect winger to skate on the first line!
Pat, I couldn't agree more with you, but you can't be akin to those fans I sat around during the scrimmage. Playoffs? Maybe. Stanley Cup? Doubtful. While I want to be enthusiastic, I have to temper it until I truly believe Koules won't step on the good things Brian Lawton has done. I'm not much of a "mocker." I really like Lawton and have interviewed him many times. I've read his "manifesto" of the Lightning that he gave to Koules and Barrie during his interview process. It is impressive and so is Lawton.
I'm not so sure most of the fans are as well versed as you are and can make an informed decision to trust the management.
Keep reading and commenting! I appreciate your ability to participate in a knowledgeable, friendly Bolts banter.
Thanks d0ugernaut! Keep reading and commenting and check out all of our impressive group of bloggers here at HockeyIndependent.com.
Thanks PenguinsMarch! I am cautiously optimistic about this season. On paper, the offense looks solid, but I am not sold on the blue liners. If the last two seasons hold true, than half of the players you mentioned will miss most of the season because of injuries. I am not ready to trust management after the circus that was last year. I think Mike Smith is the key to the Bolts having a shot at the playoffs.
Why not recruit players from a winning organization? Besides the weather here is much better than Pitt.
Thanks for the comment!
Thanks for the comment Pat! This was not “a desperate attempt” at all. This is truly how I felt. I think you’re spot on about the Lightning concerns. I think that many of our fans are so hungry for good and winning hockey, that they will find any reason to start trusting the ownership and management. You believe that Lawton had a good off-season. I believe that based on their horrible decision-making in the past, that one shouldn’t blatantly trust them so quickly. I disagree that Lawton addressed all the needs, and I will get into that in future posts. I’m sure that I don’t need to remind you of their mistake filled past. While I haven’t developed the trust that you apparently have, I am cautiously optimistic, but I need more than the first intra-squad scrimmage to go on. This post was not meant as an “update,” just an opinion. I will provide update posts later and more often if, as you have done, our readers express their want for them. Keep reading and responding! Thank you!
![[Avatar]](/images/avatar26.png){kind=avatar}
Joint