Still very much a work-in-progress, as any team is prior to the 20-game mark of any given season, much will still unfold for the Tampa Bay Lightning this year before the 2009-10 campaign is deemed either a success or a failure.

That said, after 18 games, the feeling around the club and throughout the community that was once known as “Hockey Bay” (that moniker is unofficially dead, by the way; murdered in the night by the “Together We Will” bandit) is much more positive than it was a year ago.

The change is welcome, naturally, both for the team and for those that follow them so closely. And while this year’s club is not without its issues on the ice (the Jekyll and Hyde act can’t last forever, for individuals or for the team) or off (see: Paul Ranger’s disappearance, lingering uncertainty with ownership and mediocre attendance, for starters), a calm feeling persists.

An improved record certainly has the biggest impact on such a mindset adjustment and, standings-wise, this year’s Lightning team (8-4-6, .611) is in much better shape than last year’s through 18 games (5-7-6, .444). As of now, the Bolts are above the cut-off line for the playoffs and, while it’s still extremely early, last year’s bunch never even got a whiff of postseason contention. A winning attitude is starting to bloom and that contagion spreads quickly. For a team desperately longing for its once-smitten fanbase to fall madly in love with them yet again, the number one ingredient to that recipe is beginning to materialize.

But, while on-ice triumphs can be both a cure-all and a cover-up, masking underlying issues with short-term successes, something about what’s starting to happen here indicates a more concrete shift in both attitude and achievement.

Consider some of the things that were already written right here in this very blog at this time last year:

Shane O’Brien dealt after a game, Marek Malik joins the team, waiver wire wackiness and, yes, I ate my hat.

The first of two players is assigned to Europe, Matt Carle, we hardly knew ye, Steve Downie says hello and Melrose Madness ends.

Rick Tocchet takes over, Steven Stamkos “Isn’t ready for the NHL”, shootout struggles start to show and ... I need to catch my breath.

That was all by November 18th – a month and a half into the season. It only got more hectic from there.

Perhaps this sudden sense that everything is going to be okay simply comes from the fact that the biggest mid-season transaction the Lightning have made to this point might just be re-claiming minor league forward Radek Smolenak off waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks? The contrast in stability, player-wise, from last year to this is striking. Add that to the improved record and very few will dare scream that the sky is falling on Tampa Bay these days.

To that end, the lack of panicked reports from up north about all that is wrong with the Tampa Bay Lightning is just stunning, isn’t it? Suddenly, a hush …

That, of course, is soothing in and of itself. (And a little side “Thank you” to headshots, the trapezoid, Jim Balsillie, Quebec City, the Phoenix Coyotes and Peter Forsberg for providing other things to talk about on Hockey Night in Canada’s Hotstove segment.)

All of this points to the need for a tempered pat on the collective back of Lightning management. You don’t go from the chaos of one season to the relative tranquility of this less-than-one-quarter sampling of the next without a concerted effort. For that, Brian Lawton and company deserve this public first:

Well done.

Because of where we are on the calendar, however, a “So far” caveat is inherently in order. But just by keeping the wolves at bay and diverting attention from whatever issues do persist to an on-ice product that appears to be vastly improved, all involved – management, coaches and players – deserve some level of recognition.

Granted, all isn’t exactly perfect with the Lightning world all of a sudden – there is still much to be resolved – and I’d be lying if I said that an aura of impending doom doesn’t creep into the minds of those close to the team on occasion still. (Can you blame us? Did you watch last year?)

But, compared to a year ago, it truly is a whole new world.

And what a welcome change that is …

So far …

JJ

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