When the Tampa Bay Lightning earned the right to pick first overall in the 2008 draft, "Seen Stamkos?" billboards went up all around the area. It was no secret that Steven Stamkos was their guy, set to become the face of the franchise.
After holding their first post-lockout workout Sunday on home ice in Tampa, the Lightning will travel about 2 1/2 hours south for four days of practice and team activities starting Monday in Estero, Fla.
NHL owners and players have met in big groups. They've held smaller sessions. They're tried federal mediators.
The cast of characters in the ongoing NHL labor saga is about to get a bit of a makeover, at least for one day.
Traditional labor talks have made little progress in the ongoing NHL lockout, so the league and the players' association are going to try something different in an attempt to save the season that is slipping away.
Steve Yzerman spent part of September in Traverse City, Mich., as he has for years.
