2009-10 NHL preview: Tampa Bay Lightning


Like most of the team we have looked at so far though our NHL preview the Tampa Bay Lightning are a complete mess. They have two feuding owners whop cannot agree on how to run the team. This situation has gotten so bad that the NHL had to insert General Manager Brian Lawton to make all the hockey decisions while the owners work through 60 day periods to buy each other out. In a way it is too bad this team cannot find some direction, because they have a couple of big pieces from which they could build around.

This summer Vincent Lecavalier’s no trade clause kicked in so he is a member of this team for the duration. They also have Martin St. Louis to join him up front. They added Center Alex Tanguay to bolster their offensive production.

While they have an as of yet unproven net minder in Mike Smith. He missed the last three months of last season with post concussion syndrome and to steady their goaltending situation the Lightning brought in Antero Niittymaki to back him up.

The biggest changes for this club however come on the blue line. First, they drafted big Swedish defender Victor Hedman who has been compared to Chris Pronger. To provide him a mentor the Bolts signed free agent Matthias Ohlund. With the addition of tough guy Matt Walker the Lightning should be solid on defense.

Additions- LW Todd Fedoruk, D Kurtis Foster, D David Hale, F Drew Miller, G Antero Niittymaki, D Matthias Ohlund, C Alex Tanguay, LW Stephane Veilleux, and D Matt Walker

Subtractions- F Evgeny Artyukhin, F David Koci, LW Vaclav Prospal, D Cory Murphy, D Richard Petiot, RW Brandon Segal, RW Radim Vrbata, F Jason Ward, D Noah Welch

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