Local Hockey Feeds

For current season ticket holders, and those who are interested in becoming season ticket holders, new owner Jeff Vinik has a deal for you as on average renewals are down nearly 10 percent and all renewels will have either a price freeze or reduction.

Here is the release from the…

BRANDON - The Lightning still don’t resume their season for three more days, yet the drama of the season is already starting to peak. Unfortunately it has nothing to do with the fact that the team is only one point out of a playoff spot heading into Tuesday’s home game…

Here’s the details regarding the Q&A session with the players:

The Tampa Bay Lightning and its players will host their fourth “Lightning Unplugged” event of the season on Thursday, February 25, 2010 from 6-8 p.m. at the Tilted Kilt in Carrollwood located at 14457 North Dale Mabry Highway.  “Unplugged” is…

On whether the situation was discussed with Rick Tocchet: “I did discuss this with Rick, but ultimately this is my decision and Rick should not be held accountable for it. If it works and it does make that eighth-finish difference he should take all the credit. And if it doesn’t…

Just another day in covering the most Dynasty-esque franchise in pro sports today. All that’s missing is a cameo by Joan Collins, who may or may not be in line to be the next assistant coach on Rick Tocchet’s coaching staff.

The drama started on Tuesday night when Darren Dreger…

Dave Mishkin hosts as Victor Hedman and Mike Lundin are guests

* Radio show from 7 to 8 on 620 WDAE, Autographs from 8 to 8:30

* McDonald’s at 10019 West Adamo Drive (corner of 60 and Falkenburg)

* Free event, with appearances from Thunderbug, Lightning Girls, and mobile marketing…

While this technically does not register as Lightning news, it is good to see that Jay Preble, who served the Lightning for 13 years in the media relations department, finally get back on his feet so to speak. Preble was laid off in April as the Lightning’s new (and now…

Saw this video this morning on Kuklas Korner from the Dallas-Chicago game where a pane of glass was knocked out of the extensions following a hard check. Right in the front row was a elementary-aged young boy, who had the entire pane fall onto his face. As…

The contract of defenseman Lukas Krajicek has officially been terminated by the Lightning, which makes Krajicek an immediate unrestricted free agent and eligible to sign with any team, whether it’s in the NHL or in Europe/Russia.

Krajicek, who was signed to a one-year deal worth $1.475 million on July 2,…

Sure sounds/looks like goaltender Mike Smith is finally ready to return to action after being out nearly two weeks with a neck strain suffered when Washington’s Brooks Laich plowed into Smith during a game in Tampa on Jan. 12. Smith stayed in that game, but pulled himself out during the…

We all have read the outpouring of hate directed at Penguins trouble-maker Matt Cooke after his blind-side hit on Boston's Marc Savard. And we have heard how the hit, though not penalized or disciplined by the NHL, likely was the catalyst, along with the public and media outcry,  to get the league's GMs to recommend that such hits be made illegal. Cook spoke to Pittsburgh reporters.

Here is the Q & A:

<!--break-->

We you surprised by the NHL's lack of action against you? "I prepared for the league to make a decision; either way I was going to have to deal with it. They did their homework, obviously, with the timing of the GM meetings. Right now, my thoughts are with Savard, and I hope he gets a speedy recovery because it wasn't my intention to hurt him."

Have you made contact with Savard? "I went to as big of lengths as I could to make sure he got a message from me ... (but) I didn't speak to him."

Do you feel  you'll be a marked man now? "I don't know if it's any different than it was before."

Have you had a chance to read the proposed rule, and will it make it any clearer? "I hope that it does bring clarification to what's allowed and what's not. I know they worked hard on it. I know there are strict concerns. I hope it brings clarification."

Does it? "Yeah, I think it does. I think it protects guys in certain areas of the ice."

Would it be easier to have an outright ban on blows to the head? "My personal opinion on that is the speed of the game is so great, it's impossible to do that. I think they are going in the right direction."

Do you see the rule as something that will make players think twice? "I think it's going to make sure you're in that area, and that guys are protected."

One Tampa Bay Lightning note as the team did not skate this morning: Antero Niittymaki gets the start in goal against the Capitals.

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier the other day said the shoulder-to-head hit Pittsburgh's Matt Cooke put on Boston's Marc Savard made him "sick." But now that the NHL has decided the hit, which was not penalized, does not warrant a suspension or fine, Lecavalier took it a bit further, saying he is "upset" Cooke was not disciplined and that the left wing is a dirty player.

<!--break-->

It was Cooke's hit on Lecavalier, who was not carrying the puck in April 2008, that separated Lecavalier's shoulder, which needed surgery.

"It's upsetting, and it has nothing to do with what happened to me," Lecavalier said Thursday. "I just can't believe the league is letting him get away with that, a guy like that. He hurts guys. He's a dirty player. He's running around the ice looking for hits like that when guys aren't looking. For the league to protect him; they said Mike Richards' hit and his were the same. Mike Richards is not a dirty player."

To interject, Philadelphia's Richards in October clobbered Florida's David Booth with a shoulder-to-head hit. Booth was taken off on a stretcher and Richards was given a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct.

"But Mike Richards isn't a dirty player," Lecavalier continued. "You've got to look at intentions, and Matt Cooke's intention was to hurt Marc Savard. I don't think anybody is going to argue with what I'm saying."

League GMs on Wednesday recommended a rule change to ban blind-side and lateral hits to the head. Incidents would warrant a two- or five-minute penalty at the referees discretion. Lecavalier said he wants to see all head shots banned.

"We have to protect guys," he said. "Hits to the head have been there a long time, but guys are getting stronger and faster. They've cracked down on hits from behind and they have to do the same thing with hits to the head. if they change the rule, it doesn't mean it will never happen, but at least make a rule that will have consequences, not like this guy (Cooke) running around and hurting guys and getting away with it."

More stuff from the morning skate: Mike Smith gets the start in net. Asked if Antero Niittymaki will start Friday against the Capitals, coach Rick Tocchet said he wasn't sure. "We're day-to-day here," he said of his inconsistent netminders. ... Ryan Malone (upper body) skated this morning and likely will be back in the lineup, though there was no word where. Malone missed one game with what he said was a long-time lingering issue that is "minor." Less so is that Malone has zero goals in 14 games and two in his past 26. "When you're not helping the team it's obviously frustrating," he said. "We've been struggling a little bit of late and you want to help out as much as you can. When you're winning, it doesn't really matter too much, but when you start losing you start looking upon yourself a little bit more to help out and chip in." The theory was floated that Malone, who played on a line with Steven Stamkos for much of the season and with him on the power play, wasn't scoring because Stamkos was scoring so much and not providing rebounds. "Yeah, that's half the battle probably," Malone said. "He's come a long way from missing the net on every shot last year. It's amazing what happens when he hits the net. Especially the last few games, he's really trying to raise his game. You  can see he's playing with a lot of desperation right now to do whatever he can to lead us. It's just great." ... Former Lightning Gary Roberts, who trained Stamkos last summer and will do so again next summer, will also be training Steve Downie. The right wing worked out last summer with Tampa Bay trainer Chuck Lobe in Minneapolis. Downie, who with 16 goals, 39 points and a team-best plus-19 is having a breakout season, said he would do it again, except it is so far away from his Ontario, Canada home. That said, "I know Stammer did a great job last year and Gary is well-known around the hockey world for his work ethic and routines, so I think it will be a good fit for me. I'm excited." ... Spoke to rookie defense Victor Hedman about his drop-off in play, especially from his high-caliber start. He agreed he has not been at his best --he is minus-7 his past six games -- but said it was his inexperience that is causing the dip. Asked if he was feeling any fatigue in his first NHL season, Hedman, who said the most games he has ever played in the Swedish elite league was in the 50s, said no. "I fee well-rested," he said. "I have a lot of energy. You make some mistakes sometimes, but it's not because I'm tired, maybe because of a lack of experience and stuff." Coach Rick Tocchet said Hedman needs to be stronger around the corners and in front of the net, but did not rule out Hedman, averaging 21:34 of ice time, might have hit a wall. "That's the million-dollar question," Tocchet said. "I can't give you an answer, but to be a professional, playing 82 games, training camp, it's hard. It's something you have to train your mind and body. Everybody has raised their level on other teams, too. Guys are holding the puck a lot harder, guys are blocking shots and going in front of the net a lot harder. mentally, you have to match that or surpass it. It's tough. It's part of his maturing process." ... With Stamkos returning to what is basically his home town of Toronto -- he grew up about an hour north in Unionville, Ontario, -- the love-in was in full swing with cameras and notepads all around him after the morning skate. How good has Stamkos been? Since Feb. 17 last season, his 57 goals are second in the league, two behind Alex Ovechkin.

Times sports columnist Gary Shelton will be taking readers' questions during a live chat today from noon to 1 p.m. in Gary's and John Romano's "The Point After" blog. Gary will talk Bucs, Rays, Lightning, college sports or anything else that you like.

NHL general managers on Wednesday recommended a rules change that would ban head shots players do not see coming.

<!--break-->

The rule would levy a minor or major penalty, at the referee's discretion, for "lateral" or "blind side" hits aimed at the head. The vote too recommend the rule change was unanimous. But league disciplinarian Colin Campbell did not penalize Pittsburgh's Matt Cooke for his blind side should hit to the head on Boston's Marc Savard. It is assumed had the new rule been in place, Cooke would have at least been penalized, which he was not during the game.

Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Marty St. Louis spoke about head shots on Tuesday in Montreal.

"In terms of head shots, there's no room for that in our game, especially with the speed of the game and the amount of head injuries we've had this year alone," he said. "They're suspending guys, but repeat offenders have to be suspended even more. It's the only way you can police it as well, maybe take the instigator rule out. Then those guys know there will be someone coming after them. ... It's an important part. Guys are missing  a lot of games because of head injuries, and the head is pretty important for a guys' life after hockey. You can get your knees redone and shoulders, but the head is a hard one, so you have to be even more strict as to how you're going to make guys pay for their actions."

Coach Rick Tocchet, a long proponent of getting rid of the instigator to reduce head shots, reiterated the point.

"If there's a good player on the other team vulnerable and out of position, and you know if you're going to hammer this guy, you have to pay the price, I don't know if those guys know that," Tocchet said. "They don't have to pay the price any more. I think that's the key to the whole thing."

Tocchet was torn on the subject. He said if you made all hits to the head illegal "players would adjust to it," as have players in the NFL, which has strict rules against hits to the head. On the other hand, there is this:

"As a coach, a player comes to the bench and says, 'I didn't want to hit him because he was in a vulnerable position,' and the guy goes and scores a goal. What do you say to that player? It's a tough decision to do."

As for what Cooke did to Savard, Tocchet said, "Marc Savard, his head was up, it was from the side. Was it legal? Well, yeah, (Cooke) had his shoulder and he didn't have his elbow up. But was (Savard) in a vulnerable position? Absolutely. Could Matt Cooke have slowed up and hit him in his chest? He probably could have. I think I heard (Maple Leafs coach) Ron Wilson say, and some of the coaches, 'He knew what he was doing.' "

So do players, Tocchet said, who run at those who cannot defend themselves:

"To me when there's a guy in a vulnerable position -- the guy has lost his edge and he has no idea where the puck is and a guy comes and steamrolls him -- you're literally there to hurt a guy. That's the respect factor everybody talks about.

Here is the announcement from the team:

<!--break-->

 The Tampa Bay Lightning has launched an aggressive season ticket sales campaign for the 2010-11 regular season, the club announced today.  Current and new season ticket holders will be able to realize outstanding value if they lock-in their commitments by April 3, 2010.

All fans purchasing 2010-11 season tickets prior to April 3 will receive an average savings of 4.9% from the 2009-10 season. Current season ticket holders who renew by April 3 will receive an even greater average savings for their continuing loyalty.

These are difficult economic times for our fans,” said Lightning business advisor Sean Henry. “Our goal is to ‘Bring It Back’, and first and foremost we need to bring back our fans.  In addition to providing these outstanding values, we hope to bring back our fans by bringing back the passion, the excitement, the grit, the winning attitude, and the great fan experience in the St. Pete Times Forum.

"Our fans need to purchase their season tickets now to capture these terrific values,” said Henry. “Season ticket prices will never be lower, and the benefits being offered for those who lock in their seats by April 3rd will never be better.”

Season ticket holders renewing or purchasing new season tickets by April 3rd will receive substantial playoff benefits---they will guarantee their seating location for potential home NHL playoff games in 2010, save up to 15% off the face value on those seats and have the opportunity to sign up for “Cheer Now, Pay Later,” which allows fans to pay for playoff tickets after the games have been played.

Additionally, those who purchase by the April 3rd deadline will qualify for other outstanding benefits----a VIP party held that afternoon at the St. Pete Times Forum, featuring Lightning personalities and alumni, interest free payment plans, free merchandise and more. Early renewals will also be entered in a contest to win great prizes from the team, including a road trip with the team in the 2010-11 season, rounds of golf with Lightning personalities, post game meet and greets and autographed items.

Specific highlights of the 2010-11 Season Ticket Program feature a reduction of 9% percent for plaza level sideline tickets (from an average of $81 per game to $74 per game) and 11% and 17% reductions in Channelside Club tickets, depending on seating location within the club. Also, “Times Toppers” seats (sponsored by the St. Petersburg Times in select sections of the Terrace Level) will remain flat at $6 per game ($239 for the season), which will continue to make affordable season tickets available to Lightning fans.

2010-11 Early Season Ticket Renewals (by April 3)

                                                                                 Early                 Per Game

Seating Location                           2009-10             Renewal Price           Price

XO VIP Club (Row A)                     $12,999                    $9,999                 $238     

XO VIP Club (Row B)                     $6,999                    $5,999                 $143

Channelside Club (4th Floor)        $6,500                    $5,799                 $138

Channelside Club (5th Floor)        $6,500                    $5,399                 $129

Plaza Sideline                               $3,399                    $3,099                   $74

Plaza Middle – Attack                    $2,199                    $2,199                   $52

Plaza Middle - Defensive               $1,799                    $1,799                   $43

Plaza Corner – Attack                   $2,199                    $2,199                   $52

Plaza End Zone – Attack               $2,199                    $1,799                   $43

Plaza End Zone - Defensive  (Row C-J)      $1,799                    $1,799              $43

Plaza End Zone – Defensive (Row K & Up)    $1,499                    $1,499         $36

Club Sideline                                 $3,299                    $2,999                   $71

Club End Zone                              $1,799                    $1,799                   $43

Terrace Sideline                            $959                       $959                   $23

Terrace Corner & End Zone          $559                       $559                   $13

Times Topper                                $239                       $239                     $6 

Prices do not include applicable taxes and fees.  Prices are subject to change and availability. 

2010-11 Early New Season Tickets (by April 3)

                                                                          Early New                   Per Game

Seating Location                                        Season Ticket Price              Price

XO VIP Club (Row A)                                            $9,999           $238                       

XO VIP Club (Row B)                                            $5,999                             $143

Channelside Club (4th Floor)                                   $5,799                             $138

Channelside Club (5th Floor)                                   $5,399                             $129

Plaza Sideline                                                      $3,099                               $74

Plaza Corner                                                        $2,199                               $52

Plaza End Zone                                                   $1,799                               $43

Club Sideline                                                       $2,999                               $71

Club End Zone                                                     $1,799                               $43

Terrace Sideline                                                   $1,199                               $29

Terrace End Zone                                                    $599                               $14

Times Toppers                                                        $239                                 $6 

Prices do not include applicable taxes and fees.  Prices are subject to change and availability.

TAMPA - The Lightning have claimed forward Nate Thompson off waivers from the New York Islanders on Thursday. Thompson is expected to arrive in Tampa later today, although it’s not a certainty he will play tonight against Toronto..

Thompson, 25, is a former sixth round pick of the Boston Bruins…

The Tampa Bay Lightning's injury report grew substantially before Tuesday's game with the Canadiens as center Zenon Konopka was listed out for at least a week with back spasms that have bothered him off and on, and left wing Ryan Malone is questionable with an upper-body injury that coach Rick Tocchet said has been a lingering thing. As for Marty St. Louis, the left wing is expected to play, or at least evaluate how he feels during warmups and in his first shifts.

<!--break-->

St. Louis said he was not diagnosed with a concussion from the back of his head hitting the end boards Saturday after he was hit, without the puck by Atlanta's Clarke MacArthur. He said he missed Monday's practice as a precaution. He rode the stationary bike and took a neurological test he said was normal.  He skated in Tuesday's morning workout and said he has no ill effects.

"The fact of the matter is I had no balance for 45 seconds (Saturday), so you have to address it in the right way," St. Louis said. "I think we did that. I pushed myself on the (stationary) bike and got my heart rate up over 175 and felt fine. ... The only difference now is you have to put your mind into a game. If I don't feel my mind is in the right place, only game experience can make you get a fair assessment of how you feel. I don't want to hurt myself trying to help the team, either. I'm going to give it a try and see how I feel. I'm positive I'm going to feel fine."

St. Louis, fifth in the league with 78 points, said the whole situation was scary.

"The back of my head hit the board, and back there is your vision and balance, and both were pretty shaky at the time," St. Louis said. "I was aware. I was trying to get out of the way of the scrum and had a tough time putting my foot in front of the other. But once I skated off the ice, it was me skating myself. I had full balance and everything. It probably took about a minute or so to get back to normal. I didn't have light legs or was light-headed heading off the ice. I was aware of everything. ... Was it a scary moment? Absolutely, when you're there on the ice and can't put one foot in front and your family is in the stands. It's hard. It's part of the game."

Asked about the current debate at the GM meetings about what to do with head shots, St. Louis wanted it clear he did not believe MacArthur's hit on him was a head shot. That said, about head shots, he added, "There's no room for that in the game, especially with the speed of the game now and the amount of head injuries we've had this year alone. They're suspending guys, but repeat offenders have to be suspended even more. It's the only way you can police it. Maybe take the instigator rule out. Then those guys know there will be somebody coming after them. It's important. Guys are missing games because of head injuries, and the head is pretty important for life after hockey. You can get your knees redone and shoulders and stuff, but the head is a hard one. You have to be even more strict as to how you're going to make guys pay for their actions."

Other stuff from the morning skate: So, we finally know that defenseman Kurtis Foster is not the only Lightning player who can shatter a pane of glass. Center Steven Stamkos shattered, on consecutive shots, two panes that were right next to each other behind a net during the morning skate at the Bell Centre. "I've never done anything like that before," Stamkos said. "I was working on the one-timer and missed the net and broke two pieces of glass." The funny part was the way the rest of the players immediately began taking shots at the two shattered pieces of glass that were not completely broken and were still standing in their grooves. Shot after shot hit the glass, and glass kept crumbling onto the ice, but the panes would not fall. "The 7-year-old kids in every one of us came out," Stamkos said. Said Tocchet: "It was like angry sharks, man. We were waiting for the closer, Fozzie." That would be Foster, who has broken four panes of glass during games this season. But Foster was not part of the frenzy of shots at the glass. ... What does the Lightning lose without Konopka? "Leadership, obviously toughness," Tocchet said. "He's probably our best guy on the bench, keeping guys alive. It's a big hole. He's a big part of our team." ... Want to know why the Lightning is fighting for a playoff spot rather than in the top eight? A

Here is the announcement from the league:

<!--break-->

Colorado Avalanche right wing Chris Stewart, Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos and Florida Panthers defenseman Bryan McCabe have been named the NHL 'Three Stars' for the week ending Sunday.

FIRST STAR -- CHRIS STEWART, RW, COLORADO AVALANCHE

Stewart led all NHL scorers last week with nine points (five goals, four assists) in four games as the Avalanche (37-22-6) closed the week two points behind the first-place Vancouver Canucks in the Northwest Division title race. Stewart tallied one goal and one assist in a 3-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings Mar. 1, recorded one goal and two assists in a 4-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks Mar. 3 and notched his first career NHL hat trick and an assist in a 7-3 win over the St. Louis Blues Mar. 6. While the Avalanche rookie corps has earned well-deserved praise, the 22-year-old Stewart is enjoying one of the top seasons by a sophomore in the NHL. Colorado’s first-round choice, 18th overall, in the 2006 Entry Draft, Stewart leads the team in goals (24), plus-minus (+13) and shots (172) and ranks second in points (24-27-51).

SECOND STAR -- STEVEN STAMKOS, C, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Stamkos continued his recent goal binge by tallying five times in three games last week, extending the NHL's longest active point streak to 16 games. He scored twice in a 7-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers Mar. 2, recorded one goal in a 5-4 loss to the Washington Capitals Mar. 4 and reached the 40-goal mark with a two-goal, one-assist effort in a 6-2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers Mar. 6. With 15 goals in his past 15 games, Stamkos has climbed to third in the NHL goal-scoring race behind Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby (44) and Washington's Alex Ovechkin (42). He also is tied for the League lead in power-play goals (16). The 20-year-old Markham, Ontario native is bidding to become the youngest player to score 50 goals in a season since Los Angeles' Jimmy Carson in 1987-88 (19 years, eight months) and the third-youngest 50-goal man in League history behind Carson and Wayne Gretzky (19 years, two months with Edmonton in 1979-80).

THIRD STAR -- BRYAN McCABE, D, FLORIDA PANTHERS

McCabe helped the Panthers break out of a recent scoring drought by leading NHL defensemen in points last week with eight (one goal, seven assists) in three games. He tallied one assist in a 4-2 loss to the Atlanta Thrashers Mar. 2, posted a season-high four points (one goal, three assists) in a 7-4 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers Mar. 3 and finished the week with three assists in a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes Mar. 6. McCabe ranks fifth on the Panthers in scoring with 34 points (eight goals, 26 assists) and leads the club in average ice time per game (22:23).

Safe to say Tampa Bay Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier and Penguins trouble-maker Matt Cooke are not best of friends. It was Cooke who ended Lecavalier's 2007-08 season with a check that dislocated Lecavalier's shoulder that needed surgery. Cooke then turtled the next season when Lecavalier tried to fight him.

<!--break-->

In fairness to Cooke, he said the check on Lecavalier, who did not have the puck at the time, was really aimed at Michel Ouellet and that Lecavalier, skating next to Ouellet got in the way. But Cooke's reputation as a dirty player who rarely fights precedes him, so when Cooke laid our Boston's Marc Savard with a blind-side shoulder hit to the head, certainly people weren't surprised, including Lecavalier.

"It makes me sick," Lecavalier said of the hit. "That's the type of player he is. He runs around and he hits guys when they are in a vulnerable position. I hope the league does something about it. If they don't, it's going to be a big mistake, especially protecting a guy like him who has previous times hit guys dirty. I think they should suspend him more than one game."

I wasn't able to make it to practice today as I had to catch a flight to Montreal for the start of this week's road trip. But Marty St. Louis, who has been on fire, sat out practice for what the team said was "body maintenance." The left wing bashed his head on the end boards at the end of Saturday's game with the thrashers when he was run over by Atlanta's Clarke MacArthur.

St. Louis rode the bike today, apparently, without problems.

Said center Steven Stamkos, the NHL's second star for the week ending Sunday: "From what I know, and being around Marty, he'll be in the lineup. He's a leader for us. He just took the day to relax. He'll be ready to go."

The Lightning recalled C Paul Szczechura from the Norfolk Admirals on Saturday and is expected to be in the lineup. He had played in 37 games for Tampa Bay (two goals, one assist). Coach Rick Tocchet also said that RW Brandon Bochenski, recalled from Norfolk on Tuesday but barely played against Philadelphia and then didn't dress for Thursday's game at Washington, would be in the lineup.
 

-- Brian Landman