Sure, the San Jose Sharks have their work cut out for them after falling at home in game one of the Western Conference Final and, yes, Philadelphia’s lead over Montreal is just one game despite the lopsided victory in the East opener.

But isn’t there something at least moderately intriguing for Tampa Bay Lightning fans about the possibility of a Dan Boyle/Matt Carle showdown in the Stanley Cup Final?

The Sharks, of course, picked up Boyle (along with Brad Lukowich) from Tampa Bay in the summer of 2008 in exchange for Carle, Ty Wishart, a 1st round draft pick in 2009 and a 4th in 2010.

Most Lightning fans still bemoan the deal for various reasons and often cite Boyle’s six-year contract extension signed five months prior to the trade as a sickening factor. They loved Boyle here in Tampa and thought he’d be here for the long haul.

In the time that’s passed, however, we’ve seen that few were going to be here long-term under previous ownership and one need only look to Carle himself for another example, flipped after just 12 games early in 2008-09 to the Flyers along with a 2009 3rd rounder for Steve Downie, Steve Eminger and an ’09 4th.

Downie was a breakout player for the Lightning this past season, softening the double blow of the loss of Boyle and the production of Carle in Philadelphia at least somewhat in the eyes of many, despite Tampa Bay’s sustained lack of a puck-moving blueliner.

A deeper look at the ultimate return on the Boyle trade, after a series of moves by the former management group to flip the assets obtained, reveals some promise for present and future:

Carter Ashton, Alex Hutchings and Wishart are all prospects for which the Bolts still have high hopes, to differing degrees. Downie’s emergence last year (to the tune of 22 goals, 46 points and 208 PIM) has earned him a key role moving forward. Andrej Meszaros has had his struggles since arriving in Tampa but is still just 24 years of age and the fate of the 4th rounder acquired in the original deal remains in the hands of the Lightning scouting department.

Particularly since the last two seasons were washouts anyway, with the Lightning nowhere near contender status, the argument could be made that the end result of the Boyle deal might not turn out to be that bad after all.

Nevertheless, with the respective clubs of Boyle and Carle each a step away from battling for the Cup, the sting of the original deal remains fresh in the minds of those close to the Lightning.

And if either of these two is fortunate enough to lift Lord Stanley’s chalice, expect to hear familiar grumblings out of the Tampa Bay area at least one more time.

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The Evolution of the Dan Boyle Trade

1 - Dan Boyle, Brad Lukowich to San Jose for Matt Carle, Ty Wishart, 1st in 2009, 4th in 2010
2 - Carle to Philadelphia with 3rd in 2009 for Steve Downie, Steve Eminger, 4th in 2009
3 - 1st in 2009 to Ottawa with Filip Kuba, Alex Picard for Andrej Meszaros
4 - Eminger to Florida for Noah Welch, 3rd in 2009
5 - 4th in 2009 used to draft Alex Hutchings
6 - 3rd in 2009 with 2nd in 2009 to Detroit for 1st in 2009
7 - 1st in 2009 used to draft Carter Ashton

Net return: Ashton, Downie, Hutchings, Meszaros, Wishart, 4th in 2010

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Hextall a GM Candidate?

On Friday, I wondered where exactly the Lightning’s GM search might be headed. With Dave Nonis officially out of the mix and Steve Yzerman rumored out as well, the presumed ascension of Pierre McGuire and Doug Risebrough to the top of the list of names believed to be under consideration was about the best anyone could do, in terms of prognosticating.

The Toronto Sun dropped Kings AGM Ron Hextall’s name as a possible candidate on Saturday and the St. Pete Times backed it up late last night.

All along, details of the search have been kept very much under wraps so we’re looking at guesswork all around but Hextall’s inclusion adds a little bit of excitement for anyone familiar with his playing career. (Haven’t seen a little Hextall in Lightning goalie Mike Smith from time-to-time? Then you haven’t been watching.)

A stick-swinging, fist-throwing, goal-scoring goaltender doesn’t automatically equate to a prized GM candidate. (To be fair, neither does a Conn Smythe Trophy and Hextall has one of those to his credit as well.) But four seasons as Los Angeles’ Vice President/Assistant GM and AHL Manchester’s general manager does give Hextall some reputable credentials for consideration.

The GM picture is still cloudy but one would think the Lightning would like to make a hire here by the end of the month, with the 2010 Entry Draft inching ever closer.

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A nod to Weezer, in the first of yet another recurring feature, over at Y2JJ this morning …

JJ

jon.jordan@hockeybuzz.com
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