Lightning Strikes (Cristodero)

The Tampa Bay Lightning hired former NHL player Steve Thomas as a player development consultant, the team announced. Thomas, 47, who had 421 goals and 933 points in 1,235 NHL games in a 20-year career with the Maple Leafs, Blackhawks, Islanders, Devils, Ducks and Red Wings, will monitor and oversee all of Tampa Bay's prospects.

Here is the formal announcement:

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The Tampa Bay Lightning hired NHL veteran Steve Thomas as player development consultant today, Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman announced.

“Steve will be a great addition to the Lightning organization and we are happy he has elected to join the team,” said Yzerman upon making the announcement. “His long and successful career combine with tremendous character and personality, meaning he will be a great asset as we look to better develop our young players. He will be a big part of the long term success of the Tampa Bay Lightning.”

Thomas, 47, will oversee the development of the Lightning’s prospects in the junior and college ranks.  He will provide guidance, mentoring and support to players in the Tampa Bay system to better prepare them for professional hockey.

“I am truly excited to be a part of the Lightning organization in this capacity,” said Thomas.  “I feel that I have a lot to offer in the development of our young players, helping them make as easy a transition as possible from the junior or college ranks to the professional level.”

A native of Stockport, Great Britain, Thomas played in 1,235, career NHL games during his 20-year career (1984-04) with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, Anaheim Ducks and Detroit Red Wings.  He amassed 421 goals and 933 points with 1,306 penalty minutes during his career.  Thomas also appeared in 174 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, recording 54 goals and 107 points.

Thomas has two children, daughter, Lauren, and son, Christian.

 From the team:

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced today that single game tickets for the 2010-11 season will go on sale at 9 a.m. on September 10 at the St. Pete Times Forum Box Office, online at TampaBayLightning.com, by phone at (813) 301-6600, or through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com.  Tickets will start as low as $15.

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All 41 Lightning home games will fall into three separate pricing tiers, black, blue and silver.  There will be nine black games in 2010-11, with tickets starting at $15.  Blue game tickets start as low as $20 and there are 22 of them this season.  Finally, there will be 10 silver games, with tickets starting at $22.

Highlights of the home schedule include former Lightning forward Brad Richards’ return to the St. Pete Times Forum with the Dallas Stars on October 18 as well as Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman’s first game against his former team, the Detroit Red Wings, on February 17.  Tampa Bay will also have two games leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday (Nov. 22 vs. Boston, Nov. 24 vs. NY Rangers) and two games following Christmas (Dec. 28 vs. Boston, Dec. 30 vs. Montreal).  The Lightning will also host the NY Rangers on New Year’s Day at 7:30 p.m.  The Bolts will play host to Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks on March 9.

Among the other notable home games are two visits by the defending Eastern Conference Champion Philadelphia Flyers February 1 and 15, as well as match-ups with the cross-state rival Panthers on November 27, February 19 and April 8.  The Lightning will play host to Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins October 27 and March 31 while Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals will visit on January 12, February 4 and March 7.

The Lightning will also play 12 consecutive home games from January 23 through February 25, a stretch that also includes a break for the NHL All-Star Game.  The streak of home games will be the longest in franchise history.

As always, the most cost effective way to invest in 2010-11 tickets is through a Lightning ticket plan with ticket packages starting as low as $79.  For more information regarding ticket plans and pricing call (813) 301-6600 or skate to www.tampabaylightning.com.

The annual charity event, hosted by Tampa Bay Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier, is Sept. 10 at Derby Lane in St. Petersburg.

Here is the official announcement:

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The list of celebrity participants is growing as one of the hottest nights of the year is quickly approaching.  Make sure you’re a part of the action at the UltimateBet.net Vincent Lecavalier Celebrity Poker Classic on September 10 at Derby Lane in St. Petersburg.

More than 40 sports and entertainment celebrities are set to go “all in” for charity, including some of the top names in poker and sports. Confirmed participants include UB.net poker pros Annie Duke (2004 World Series of Poker bracelet winner) and Joe Sebok, as well as 2007 World Series Main Event champion Jerry Yang and Tampa’s own John Racener, who has played his way into a seat at the 2010 Main Event final table in November.

Also confirmed for the event are boxing world champion Antonio Tarver, Jared Jeffries of the NBA’s Houston Rockets, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jesse Litsch and many of Lecavalier’s Tampa Bay Lightning teammates including Steven Stamkos, Martin St. Louis, Simon Gagne, Teddy Purcell, Sean Bergenheim and Matt Smaby. Also scheduled to hit the felt are local radio and television personalities, including Cowhead from 102.5 The Bone and Fisher from 97X.  Many more celebrity announcements are expected in the coming days.

The Texas Hold’Em tournament benefits the Vincent Lecavalier Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorder Center at All Children’s Hospital. Since its debut in 2006, the Vincent Lecavalier Celebrity Poker Classic has raised more than $350,000 for the center.

Participants will compete for a $100,000 total prize pool as well as progressive celebrity bounties, so it pays to knock out the stars.  Don’t sweat the cards, though, as there are unlimited $100 re-buys during the first hour of play to guarantee you get to enjoy the action. Celebrities will play for a $20,000 Last Celebrity Standing payday to be donated to their favorite charity.

Tournament spots are going fast as individual buy-ins start at only $550 and all entries include a boot camp clinic with Yang.  A $750 buy-in earns you a seat for a once-in-a-lifetime boot camp clinic with Duke and Sebok, and the clinic with Yang. Please note that in case of a sellout, only paid seats will be guaranteed.  To register, call 727.781.8183 or visit www.vinny4.com.

VIP All Access guest passes, spectator passes and individual passes for the poker clinics can also be purchased.

The evening, presented by DEX Imaging, gets started at 5 p.m. with a Private VIP/Players Draw Party in The Derby Club, followed by the Wild Card Party in the Derby Lane Poker Room featuring entertainment, a silent auction, a raffle, gaming, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres for all guests at 6 p.m. The tournament gets underway at 7 p.m., with an awards ceremony to follow.

Not that this is a huge surprise, but Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said on Wednesday that defenseman Paul Ranger, who has been  away from the team since October because of personal issues, will not be at training camp when it opens Sept. 17 at Brandon.

"I had a chance to talk with Paul and we're entering training camp under the assumption Paul won't be part of it," Yzerman said.

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That is a bit of a blow to the team, which believed Ranger, who can move the puck, would be a good fit with coach Guy Boucher's puck-forward system. It also seems to have ended, for now, the organizational debate on whether to carry eight defensemen. Yzerman said he is "satisfied" with the seven blue-liners on one-way deals and is not looking to add another.

"Through our organization we'll look through training camp and see how the younger, how they play and decide if we want to add anyone in the future or are we comfortable with what we have," Yzerman said.

In fact, Yzerman said he likely is done tinkering with the roster for the time being and would like to fill any openings from within the organization.

"For the time being, I think we're set right now," Yzerman said. "There's spots on our roster open for competition, and from within the organization we want to give some of our younger players a chance to try to make this team. If through training camp and preseason we determine that some of our younger players aren't ready for that role, we'll look to add whether it's from the remaining free agents or potentially players waived before the start of the season."

Which brings us back to Ranger. Yzerman said he left the door open for the 25-year-old blue-liner, whose rights the Lightning retains but who must sign by Dec. 1 if he is to play this season.

"I've had some very good conversations with him," Yzerman said. "He's a really nice young man. I don't want to speak publicly on his behalf, but he's sorting out with what he wants to do with his hockey career and with his life. At this time he's not prepared to commit to coming back to the NHL, and I respect his position. I left it with him that the door is open if at some point he decides, 'I'm ready to play. I want to play for the Lightning,' let me know. And if you want to play but feel it's best that you need a fresh start, let me know as well. I want to work with him. ... We'll do what's right for Paul and we'll do what's right for the Lightning."

Ranger's agent, Joe Resnick, who declined to comment on his client's situation, said Yzerman has hit just the right tone.

"Steve Yzerman has been a gentleman throughout this process," Resnick said.

So, here is the roster as it shapes up right now:

Goalies -- Mike Smith, Dan Ellis. Defensemen -- Brett Clark, Victor Hedman, Randy Jones, Pavel Kubina, Mike Lundin, Mattias Ohlund,  Matt Smaby.  Left wings -- Simon Gagne, Ryan Malone, Sean Bergenheim, Johan Harju. Centers -- Steven Stamkos, Vinny Lecavalier, Dominic Moore, Nate Thompson.  Right wings -- Marty St. Louis, Steve Downie, Teddy Purcell, Niklas Persson.

Harju and Persson are assumptions. Also assume the best competitions will be for the third- and fourth-line wings.  

Want to talk Lightning? Bucs? Rays? College football? Whatever's on your mind, join Times sports writer Tom Jones for a live chat today, from noon to 1 p.m. Can't make it? Leave a question in the "Comments'' area below, then check back later to replay the chat.

You can follow the chat here.

The Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday named Steve Griggs as its new chief operating officer. Griggs, who will start in November and will be the organization's day-to-day operations chief, is the former executive vice president of sales and marketing for the NBA's Magic.

Here is the announcement from the team:

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Steve Griggs has been named chief operating officer of the Tampa Bay Lightning and the St. Pete Times Forum, Chief Executive Officer Tod Leiweke announced today. Griggs joins the Lightning from the Orlando Magic, where he has served as executive vice president of sales and marketing since October, 2007. He will become the organization’s day-to-day operations leader, with an emphasis on revenue generation and brand management. Griggs will begin with the Lightning in November.

“Steve is one of the rising stars in the sports industry,” said Leiweke upon making the announcement. “His experience in the NHL, and most recently, with the NBA's Orlando Magic and the new Amway Center, will serve us well as we work to transform the Lightning and the Times Forum under the leadership of owner Jeff Vinik.”

“I welcome Steve to the Lightning and am proud that we have recruited another great leader in the sports industry,” said Chairman and Governor Jeff Vinik. “I know he will serve our fans and partners at a very high level.”

In addition to overseeing all of the Magic’s sales and marketing functions, Griggs was also charged with developing and executing strategic sales and marketing efforts for the team’s new arena (Amway Center), which is set to open this fall.  He established the Champions of the Community partnership for the founding partners of the building and created a digital signage platform which makes the arena one of the most technologically advanced in North America.

Additionally, Griggs has been instrumental in growing the Magic season ticket base to over 14,000, with 75 consecutive sellouts, helping earn the team the second overall ranking in ESPN’s Ultimate Standings among 123 major professional sports franchises. He has also guided the Magic’s brand transformation, introducing a new primary logo, and new third jersey while establishing the BeMagic and EnterLegend campaigns.

"I am honored to join the Tampa Bay Lightning organization" said Griggs. “I look forward to being a part of the Tampa Bay community and working with Jeff Vinik, Tod Leiweke and the rest of the Lightning staff in becoming a world class organization while striving to become Stanley Cup Champions again."

Before joining the Magic, Griggs served the previous eight seasons as vice president of sales and marketing for the Minnesota Wild and its parent company, Minnesota Sports & Entertainment (MSE). While with the Wild he was responsible for ticket sales and service, corporate sales and service, suite sales and service as well as retail operations. Under his leadership, the club posted 284 consecutive sellouts, totaling more than five million fans in the Wild’s first six seasons.

Griggs and Leiweke worked together for three years in Minnesota, helping to establish the Wild as the NHL’s “Fan Friendliest” team in 2003, according to the Sports Fans of America Association, Inc.

“Steve has a keen understanding of building relationships with fans and corporate partners,” said Leiweke. “He knows how to drive sellouts, which is the ultimate goal from our side of the business.”

Griggs also has experience with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment where he worked for both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Raptors. He and his wife Janell have a daughter, Maddie (7), and a son, Jack (5).

The Lightning continued to build organizational depth and create more financial flexibility by acquiring a pair of minor league prospects, right wing Alex Berry and forward Stefano Giliati, from Toronto in exchange for defenseman Matt Lashoff.

Lashoff, 23, who appeared in just five games last season for the Lightning and 63 NHL games overall for Boston and Tampa Bay, was one of eight defenseman on a one-way contract, which means he'd draw an NHL salary even if he played in Norfolk.  

 -- Brian Landman

Tampa Bay Lightning affilate Norfolk has hired Mike Flanagan as an assistant coach, Norfolk Admirals general manager Julien BriseBois announced Friday.

Flanagan once played for the Admirals, which allows him to"understand the tradition of excellence that is expected in Hampton Roads,'' BriseBois said, but he also worked under current Admirals coach Jon Cooper with the St. Louis Bandits.

The Lightning is scheduled to make six national TV appearances on Versus this season under the schedule the league announced Wednesday. The games are Oct. 14 at the Flyers, Nov. 22 against the Bruins, Dec. 28 against the Bruins, Feb. 8 against the Sabres, March 7 against the Capitals and March 9 against the Blackhawks.

Versus is scheduled to televise 78 regular-season games in all, 13 more than last season.

NBC begins its coverage with the Jan. 1 Winter Classic between the Penguins and Capitals at Pittsburgh's Heinz Field, then starts with its Game of the Week on Jan. 23. The NHL and NBC will again collaborate on flexible scheduling for the Game of the Week in an effort to pick the best game available.

The Lightning has signed veteran defenseman Randy Jones to a one-year deal, the team announced. The deal is thought to be for $1 million. The 6-2, 220-pound Jones, 29, has played in 265 career NHL games with Philadelphia and Los Angeles.

Said Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman: "Randy is a skilled defenseman, capable of playing in all situations on both the right and left side. His addition gives us some needed depth on the blue line.''

Lightning restricted free agent Steve Downie, who was one of the more pleasant surprises last season emerging as an ideal compliment upfront to Steven Stamkos and Marty St. Louis, has re-signed for two years and a reported $3.7 million.

 “It’s a pretty exciting day for me,’’ he said Wednesday afternoon. “I came in last year not knowing who I was playing with and what my role was going to be and I got a great opportunity to play and things kind of took off for me personally.’’

A talented and hard-nosed right winger who, in his first full NHL season, produced career-best offensive numbers – 22 goals and 24 assists in 79 games and was tied for fourth in the NHL in shooting percentage (19.0) – and was an impressive team-best plus-14.

"It was really a great step forward for Steve last year,'' Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said, mentioning not just his providing a scoring punch but providing "the grit and the competitiveness and physical play'' that is a vital element for a winning team. "He's still a relativey young guy and we expect him to get better.''

Downie, 23, laid the foundation for a breakout season by dedicating himself more than ever in the offseason. He spent last summer working out with the team’s strength and conditioning coach and carried over that same work ethic to the season, usually getting on the ice 20 minutes before practice to hone his passing and shooting. He has spent this summer training with Stamkos and former Lightning player Gary Roberts, a renowned workout fanatic, in Ontario. 

Just as important as his physical maturation, the former 2005 first-round pick draft pick of Philadelphia better controlled an on-ice temper that had limited his NHL opportunities. Although he had 208 penalty minutes, second on the team and third in the league, he rarely started fights selfishly or foolishly.

"Since I’ve been in the league I’ve learned so much and grown as a person,'' he said. "I’ve still got a lot to learn, but at least I have a base to start from, a base I can improve on. It’s nice to have the year I did last year, but it means nothing if I don’t follow it up.''

-- Brian Landman

Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman is in Toronto for this week's World Hockey Summit, which has panels and other gatherings for discussing a wide range of topics that affect youth hockey to the international game.  Yzerman talked to NHL.com about efforts to make the game more popular in nontraditional markets such as Tampa Bay. See the video at http://www.nhl.com. (Click on the Video link at the top and scroll down to the Aug. 23 entries.)

The league's website also has other videos, articles and a live blog from the event, which continues through Thursday.

Lightning center and captain Vinny Lecavalier underwent a “successful minor’’ arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday in Tampa, the team announced Tuesday.
  
He is expected to be out 3-4 weeks, but should be ready for the start of training camp on Sept. 17.
  
Lecavalier, 30, told team officials that he had been experiencing some irritation in his knee while skating and it wasn’t going away. A MRI indicated there might be a slight meniscus tear, but there was no tear, encouraging news for the team and Lecavalier, who is looking to re-establish himself among the NHL elite goal-scorers this season under new coach Guy Boucher. Although Lecavalier had 70 points last season, his 24 goals was his lowest total since he had 20 during the 2001-02 season.
 

-- Brian Landman 

Lightning center and captain Vinny Lecavalier will have minor arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Tuesday, but is expected to be ready for the start of camp.

“Vinny told me he felt some irritation when he was skating over the summer and it wasn’t going away,’’ Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said Saturday afternoon.

A MRI indicated a small meniscus tear and, rather than wait to see how it goes and perhaps be forced to deal with it during the season, he will have surgery now. Lightning orthopedic surgeon Ira Guttentag will perform the procedure at the Florida Medical Clinic and Lecavalier should be back at full strength in 3-4 weeks, the club said.

“You deal with injuries all the time and the timing of this works out okay,’’ said Yzerman, who added that he’s had the same procedure during his Hall of Fame career. “Assuming they find nothing unexpected, he’ll be completely healed before training camp (on Sept. 17).’’
 
Both he and the club are counting on that.

Lecavalier, 30, who’s been slowed in recent years by a shoulder and wrist injuries, is looking to rebound after a disappointing season. Not only did his team miss out on the playoffs, but he scored just 24 goals, his fewest since he had 20 during the 2001-02 season. His goal production has, in fact, decreased every year since he scored 52 to win the Rocket Richard Trophy in 2007.

At the end of this season, he insisted that he was still young, strong and more than capable of re-establishing himself as one of the NHL’s elite players. (He did have 46 assists to finish with 70 points, which was third on the team behind Steven Stamkos and Marty St. Louis.) Yzerman said that Lecavalier is excited about the club’s direction on the ice and off and can “get it back.’’

-- Brian Landman, Times staff writer

Lightning center Vinny Lecavalier will have minor arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday and will be ready for training camp next month, the team said Saturday.

The release from the team:

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced today that center Vincent Lecavalier will undergo a minor arthroscopic procedure on his left knee on Tuesday, August 24 in Tampa. The procedure will be performed by Lightning Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Ira Guttentag at the Florida Medical Clinic.
The recovery time will be 3-4 weeks and Lecavalier is expected to be ready to participate in the Lightning’s training camp, which begins Friday, September 17.

Lightning center Steven Stamkos was in Toronto on Thursday and shared a few thoughts with Canada's TSN sports TV network about the signing of wing Simon Gagne and the upcoming season. See the video at http://www.tsn.ca/nhl.

Tampa Bay Lightning star Vinny Lecavalier and his teammates will be joined by a number of sports and entertainment celebrities, including UB.net pros Annie Duke and Joe Sebok, at the UltimateBet.net Vincent Lecavalier Celebrity Poker Classic on Sep. 10 at Derby Lane in St. Petersburg.

The Texas Hold’Em tournament benefits the Vincent Lecavalier Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorder Center at All Children’s Hospital.

Here is the news release from the team:

"VINCENT LECAVALIER CELEBRITY POKER CLASSIC
SET FOR SEPTEMBER 10 AT DERBY LANE
TRY YOUR HAND AGAINST PROS ANNIE DUKE & JOE SEBOK

"ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The game is on once again as more than 40 sports and entertainment celebrities are set to go “all in” for charity at the UltimateBet.net Vincent Lecavalier Celebrity Poker Classic on September 10 at Derby Lane in St. Petersburg. It’s one of the hottest events of the year, and it’s all for a great cause.

"Lecavalier, his Tampa Bay Lightning teammates and UB.net pros Annie Duke and Joe Sebok will be joined by a host of local and national celebrities for the Texas Hold’Em tournament, which benefits the Vincent Lecavalier Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorder Center at All Children’s Hospital. Since its debut in 2006, the Vincent Lecavalier Celebrity Poker Classic has raised more than $350,000 for the center.

"Participants will compete for a $100,000 total prize pool as well as progressive celebrity bounties, so it pays to knock out the stars. Don’t sweat the cards, though, as there are unlimited $100 re-buys during the first hour of play to guarantee you get to enjoy the action. Celebrities will play for a $20,000 Last Celebrity Standing payday to be donated to their favorite charity.

"Tournament spots are going fast as individual buy-ins start at only $550 and all entries include a boot camp clinic with 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Jerry Yang.

"A $750 buy-in earns you a seat for a once-in-a-lifetime boot camp clinic with Duke and Sebok, and the clinic with Yang. Sponsorship packages including the poker seminars with Duke and Yang, as well as a private lunch with Duke, are also available.

"To register, call 727.781.8183 or visit www.vinny4.com.

"VIP All Access guest passes, spectator passes and individual passes for the poker clinics can also be purchased.

"Additional celebrity announcements will be made in the coming weeks.

"The evening, presented by DEX Imaging, gets started at 5 p.m. with a Private VIP/Players Draw Party in The Derby Club, followed by the Wild Card Party in the Derby Lane Poker Room featuring entertainment, a silent auction, a raffle, gaming, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres for all guests at 6 p.m. The tournament gets underway at 7 p.m., with an awards ceremony to follow.''

Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman tells NHL.com he likes the hybrid icing rule being tested during the league's two-day research and development camp that began Wednesday in Etobicoke, Ontario.

"I think some type of hybrid might be good," said Yzerman, who is not at the camp but talked to the league's website about it.

Read his comments, and those of other coaches and GMs here:

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=536137

The site also has stories about the other ideas and possible rule changes being tested at the camp, including changing the locations of faceoff circles, widening the blue lines and how overtime is played.

After a hiatus, the Lightning will send a team of draft picks and invitees to the NHL prospects tournament. This year's event, involving eight teams total, is Sept. 11-15 in Traverse City, Mich.

The release from the team:

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced their roster for the 2010 NHL Prospects Tournament to be held at Center Ice Arena in Traverse City, Michigan from September 11-15 today. The Lightning return to the tournament after not participating since the 2007-08 season.  Tampa Bay will ice a roster of 21 players consisting of former draft picks and invitees.

The tournament will feature Tampa Bay, the Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars, Columbus Blue Jackets, Carolina Hurricanes, St. Louis Blues, Minnesota Wild and New York Rangers.  It consists of four games each on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday with each team playing each day.

The Lightning roster features 2010 first-round pick Brett Connolly as well as all other picks from this year’s draft.  Also attending will be highly-regarded prospects Dana Tyrell, Richard Panik, Alex Hutchings, Carter Ashton and James Wright as well as Norfolk Admirals goaltending tandem Dustin Tokarski and Jaroslav Janus.

For the roster and schedule, go to lightning.nhl.com.

The Tampa Bay Lightning today signed free agent left wing Sean Bergenheim to a one-year contract, Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman announced in a news release.

"We are happy to add Sean to the Lightning roster,'' Yzerman said in the release. "He is a competitive left winger who is also a solid two-way player. We believe he is a good addition to our team.''

Bergenheim has 40 goals, 80 points and 195 penalty minutes in 246 career NHL games, all with the New York Islanders. He has reached double digits in goals and points in each of the last three seasons.

In 2009-10, Bergenheim led the Islanders in gamewinning goals with two and tied for eighth on the team with 133 shots on goal. His best offensive season came in 2008-09 when he recorded career-highs in goals with 15, the team’s third-highest total, and points with 24. He also ranked first on the Islanders in shorthanded goals with four and game-winning goals with five.