Small market? Budget team? Think again. The Tampa Bay Lightning, under the direction of Steve Yzerman and Jeff Vinik, are open to spending big money to make the team a Stanley Cup Contender. Look no further than the 2012 off-season to see that this Lightning management group is different than any in previous years. With issues plaguing the defense last season, Yzerman spent a ton of money this past summer to put this team in a position to challenge for a division crown next season. One of his key additions was Sami Salo, a defender formerly with the Vancouver Canucks.
In signing Salo to a two-year, $7.5M contract, Yzerman bolstered the Lightning defense core. Salo brings experience, leadership and a booming slap-shot to the Bolts blue line. Despite being 38 years of age and incredibly (that’s perhaps an understatement) injury prone, Salo will still offer the Lightning something that has been lacking on the back-end for a few years: a solid true veteran presence. Last season, after the trade deadline, Mike Commodore’s veteran influence really helped calm the nerves of young guys like Aulie and Lee. No offense to Mr. Commodore, but Salo will be even better in that role. Having Salo and Brewer on the blue-line can only be a positive thing for the Bolts.
With Hedman right in the prime years of his development, the addition of Salo makes sense on so many levels. Having a veteran presence on the blue-line to help out younger bodies is never a bad idea. Take a look at the development of one Alex Edler in Vancouver; Salo’s guidance and leadership qualities certainly helped in his growth as a young player. If Hedman can follow the developmental curve of Alex Edler, fans in Tampa will be absolutely thrilled. Yzerman signed Hedman to a big time contract extension and you know that management and the coaches are expecting big things in the future. Sami Salo will be a big help in transforming Hedman from perennial top pairing guy to legitimate NHL all-star.
The one thing about Salo that should be noted is that he is one of the truly good people in the game today. His character will fit right in with that of Martin St. Louis, Steve Yzerman and the rest of the Lightning’s core group both on and off the ice. Some may say that Salo is being over-paid or that he is over-the-hill. To that, this blogger says hogwash. In today’s NHL market, players who don’t make mistakes, play the power-play, kill penalties and make a difference night in and night out are paid well; Salo fits into that category. Plus, playing in Tampa with the likes of Stamkos and Hedman can energize older players – just ask Martin St. Louis.
Overall, the Salo signing makes sense for the Lightning on so many levels. Having so many young bodies on the blue-line, the Lightning will certainly benefit from having an experience, calming influence like Salo moving the puck. Chalk this one up as a solid signing for Yzerman and the Lightning brass – Salo will fit right in.
If you have ideas for blog topics during the lockout, leave them on the message boards, send me a PM or contact me on Twitter (@BTB_MikeStuart). As always, thanks for reading.
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