Tampa Bay continued its own version of Extreme Makeover: Hockey Club Edition yesterday. Len Barrie, a former player and member of the new ownership group, told Damian Cristodero of the St. Pete Times he feels pretty good about his team’s chances.
The Lightning will certainly look a lot different than last year’s team, and there should be quite the buzz about them in October. But will they be like last year’s get-fixed-quick Flyers, or will they be more like the 2005-06 Penguins, who swung for the fence in the first year after the lockout and failed miserably? Barrie may like his young defense, but I don’t know how many people agree with him.
SEE RELATED:
So here is our favorite running segment, er updated blog item, the Southest Tracker:
WASHINGTON
2007-08: 43-31-8, 94 points
Additions: G Jose Theodore, D Karl Alzner (maybe), RW Keith Aucoin (unlikely)
Subtractions: G Cristobal Huet, G Olie Kolzig, D Steve Eminger, F Matt Cooke
UFAs: C Sergei Fedorov
RFAs: F Brooks Laich*, C Boyd Gordon, RW Eric Fehr, D Shaone Morrisonn*
CAROLINA
2007-08: 43-33-6, 92 points
Additions: D Joni Pitkanen, D Anton Babchuk, D Josef Melichar, C Brandon Sutter (maybe)
Subtractions: LW Erik Cole, LW Jeff Hamilton, D Glen Wesley, D David Tanabe, RW Keith Aucoin
UFAs: D Bret Hedican, G John Grahame, RW Trevor Letowski, LW Ryan Bayda, D/LW Wade Brookbank, D Tim Conboy
RFAs: F Chad Larose*, D Dennis Seidenberg
FLORIDA
2007-08: 38-35-9, 85 points
Additions: LW Cory Stillman, D Keith Ballard, D Nick Boynton, C Shawn Matthais (likely), C Michael Frolik (maybe)
Subtractions: C Olli Jokinen, C Jozef Stumpel
UFAs: D Branislav Mezei, D Steve Montador
RFAs: D Jay Bouwmeester*, C Greg Campbell, F Garth Murray, F Anthony Stewart
ATLANTA
2007-08: 34-40-8, 76 points
Additions: D Ron Hainsey, D Zach Bogosian (maybe)
Subtractions: D Alexei Zhitnik, C Bobby Holik
UFAs: RW Mark Recchi, C Steve Rucchin, D Mark Popovic, D Joel Kwiatkowski
RFAs: G Kari Lehtonen, LW Brett Sterling
TAMPA BAY
2007-08: 31-42-9, 71 points
Additions: C Steven Stamkos, RW Ryan Malone, LW Vinny Prospal, RW Radim Vrbata, LW Gary Roberts, RW Adam Hall, RW Mark Recchi, G Olie Kolzig, D Matt Carle, D Andrew Hutchinson
Subtractions: D Dan Boyle, D Brad Lukowich, G Marc Denis
UFAs: C Chris Gratton, RW Junior Lessard, RW Andre Roy, D Doug Janik
RFAs: LW Karl Stewart
* Elected Salary Arbitration
