Will Things Turn Around this Year at 401 Channelside Drive?

I have been asking myself that question every year since I became a season ticket holder 4 seasons ago. But as I look on the calendar for some strange reason I realize that I usually don’t even worry about our favorite group of black and blue clad hockey heroes until September. It is way too early to talk hockey. But, ahh, let me see… why is it July and I am starting to think Lightning Hockey? A new owner, new GM, new coach? No been there. Wait a minute, let’s go over this again and conduct a more in-depth analysis. Let’s compare this time to the last time we had the wholesale change… Owners, Oren Koules/Len Barrie; GM Brian Lawton and head coach Barry Melrose versus Owner, Jeff Vinik; GM Steve Yzerman; and head coach Guy Boucher. Ok, I’m done… my question is answered…YES THINGS WILL TURN AROUND this year at 401 Channelside Drive, yes the arena formally referred to, and still affectionately called, by us purists, “The Ice Palace”. (Somewhere naming rights became more important than us fans.)

[media-credit attachment_id=306 id=2 align=”alignnone” width=”300″][/media-credit]

The Arena Formerly Known as the "Ice Palace"

Although Steve Y probably hasn’t unpacked all his boxes yet he has opened my eyes into believing things will be better on Channelside this year. Get to work Steve, welcome to Tampa; moving Andrej Meszaros, nice, 17 points in 81 games with a minus 14 last year, thank you for your participation Andrej. You can pick up your “I Used to Play for the Lightning” T-Shirt on the way out. Now I had someone mention they were not satisfied with Pavel Kubina, ok look… Kubina vs. Meszaros…done; ok next topic please. (NO! please not goaltending)
Not retaining “Z”, not good, I love this guy. Not signing Zenon Konopka for a relatively low salary is not computing for me. The man is a fan favorite, enforces the team at home and on the road, and wins the draw 60 plus percent of the time. I am a fan of # 4, Vincent, but his only weakness is the draw, beside the heart question (don’t worry Bolts fans, I have a solution for that, covered as we get closer to puck drop time)…hello has anyone noticed? Maybe “Z” can help Vincent… oh wait that won’t fly; Zenon is playing in Nassau County not Hillsborough County anymore. Anyway, “Hit Me Z” from the fans in Syracuse, I know you still have a following there, they still love you, now you’re back in New York State.
Now this is why I am a huge Steve Y fan and Jeff V too, for hiring Steve. My hockey super hero, Marty! Is Mr. St. Louis one of the most, yes I will used the cliché, “overachievers” you have seen in the history of professional sports. It really doesn’t matter what happens, our hockey heroes will get better as a team, let’s be patient, but Marty stays a Lightning! If you have children and want them to be athletes, show them Lightning 2-6 highlights… talent is over-rated, but hustle is the life blood of winning at any level in sports and life. Thank you Jeff, Steve and Guy. GO BOLTS!