Bolts Report (Erlendsson)

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…

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…

It sure can be a busy day when one travels on the day of a game, such as I did today, hopping on a plane in Tampa at noon, flying to Charlotte and just getting on my connecting flight to Raleigh after we took off 30 minutes late out of…

TAMPA - Mike Smith remains off the ice, but it continues to sound as if his vacancy from Tampa Bay’s net won’t last long.

Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said on Thursday the hope is Smith might be ready to return - barring any set backs - at some point on…

No surpise with this announcement as Karsums was expected to head to Europe if things didn’t work out this season. Things haven’t worked out. Tampa Bay is relinquished of Karsum’s one-way salary but will retain his rights.

Official announcement from the team:

The Tampa Bay Lightning have assigned right wing…

National Hockey League Game #655 between the Tampa Bay Lightning and New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center in Newark,  N. J. tonight was postponed, until a date to be determined, due to the failure of a bank of arena lights.

    Play was stopped when the bank…

NEWARK, N.J. - The Lightning will sit one of their perceived core players tonight against New Jersey as defenseman Andrej Meszaros is set to be a healthy scratch.

“He’s put himself in this position as he hasn’t played well,” Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said. “Maybe a month ago there were…

Just received words from Sun Sports that a deal has been reached between Time Warner and the Fox networks that will keep the Fox channels on the air, which includes both Sun Sports and Fox Sports Florida. (And not to mention the Sugar Bowl on WTVT-13)

This is obviously good…

TAMPA - Tampa Bay’s top stars were officially snubbed by Team Canada today when the 23-man Olympic roster was announced.

That means no Vinny Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis or Steven Stamkos will compete in Vancouver, although injury replacements can be added until Feb. 15.

Here’s the roster:

Forwards: Patrice Bergeron…

There’s quite a bit to the Vinny Lecavalier story that will not be in the story in the paper.

First off, Lecavalier and long-time girlfriend Caroline Portelance are expecting the couple’s first child in May. It’s something Lecavalier will discuss when the time is right, but that time is not…

Hard to believe that Mattias Ohlund has been around long enough to participate in four Olympics for Sweden, but that’s what the 33-yea-old will do when the 2010 Winter Games get underway in Vancouver in February. Ohlund also played for Sweden in 1998 at Nagano, Japan; in Salt Lake City…