The Tampa Bay Lightning - Saw VII

We all learned that Oren Koules is the producer of the highly successful Saw franchise - now he's put a horror show on ice.

Best Quote Ever From The General Manager of the Lightning, In a Fax Sent To All NHL GMs:

"Please be advised that in order to avoid any confusion over the next couple of weeks, as GM of the Tampa Bay Lightning Organization I am the only person authorized to speak on behalf of the team with regard to player transactions," the email read.

"No other person is authorized to negotiate player transactions. Any questions, feel free to call."

This has a hilarious military strongman sound to it - 'The Rebels have not seized the capital, and we will crush them before the rainy season.'

Tampa Bay Salary

Projected Lines in 2009-10

This indicates a player who is RFA in 2009

This indicates a player who is UFA in 2010

This indicates a player who is RFA in 2010

Malone-Lecavalier-St. Louis

Prospal-Stamkos-Karsums

?-Halpern-Artyuhkin

?-Szczechura-Downie

Meszaros-Ranger

Lashoff-Kraijcek

Smaby-?

Smith

Raamo

Future Watch

Victor Hedman will jump right on to the Lightning defense next season and could be one of their best D men by season's end. Besides very high draft picks, Tampa is traditionally horrible at drafting.

Trades

It is rumored that Vincent Lecavalier is on the block, but unless Tampa is absolutely desperate to rid themselves of his contract, he is unlikely to move. Vaclav Prospal and Ryan Malone are more likely to be dealt.

Free Agent Discussion

Tampa is not likely to sign any free agents beyond depth players.

Conclusion

Tampa is a bad team, they have an excellent top two lines but a lot of dross below that. Expect Steven Stamkos to get better, and expect the goaltenders to seek therapy by November. Tampa led the league in 'Trades That Didn't Make Any F'Ing Sense' last season - they traded Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich for Matt Carle, Ty Wishart, and a 1st and 2010 4th. They traded the 1st for Andrei Meszaros, whom they summarily overpaid. They traded Matt Carle for Steve Eminger and Steve Downie. They traded Eminger for Noah Welch, who is a UFA. So they traded Boyle for Meszaros, Downie, Wishart and around 40 games of Steve Eminger. Brilliant work!

Outlook

We'll always have 2004.