Michael Stuart: Lightning Seeking Consistency, Set to Face Jets in Winnipeg

Really like the sound of the 1st line. Two guys with magic hands and a natural scorer with fire in his belly. Plus Flip has a little more experience a nice Detroit upbringing. If they do what I hope they do I see Cally on the 2nd line with Johnson and Palat. I would really like to see Connolly with Vlad and Kuch, also.

Edit: maybe Flip doesn't have magic in hands but he can definitely set up.

Really like the sound of the 1st line. Two guys with magic hands and a natural scorer with fire in his belly. Plus Flip has a little more experience a nice Detroit upbringing. If they do what I haope they do I see Cally on the 2nd line with Johnson and Palat. I would really like to see Connolly with Vlad and Kuch, also.
- angryminority

I like Stamkos, Filppula, Johnson, Boyle at center. The best teams have depth at center. Stamkos, Johnson, Namestnikov, Boyle doesn't scare many teams, IMO.

I could be wrong, and often am, but I think after the faceoff Connolly can handle center. Johnson has so much energy you could probably put him anywhere and he could produce. For some reason I thought Vlad was a winger. Anyway if I'm off on all this I'll blame the scotch.

I could be wrong, and often am, but I think after the faceoff Connolly can handle center. Johnson has so much energy you could probably put him anywhere and he could produce. For some reason I thought Vlad was a winger. Anyway if I'm off on all this I'll blame the scotch.
- angryminority

I think Johnson looks 'off' when played on the wing. I also think it would be tough to move Connolly now that he's really starting to click. Just my opinion, which is worth less than the paper it's written on.

I like Stamkos, Filppula, Johnson, Boyle at center. The best teams have depth at center. Stamkos, Johnson, Namestnikov, Boyle doesn't scare many teams, IMO.
- Michael_Stuart

I'm totally with you on this.

Now that the Drouin era has arrived and they got him on the top line already I going with it and think the lines might look like this if they do indeed put Johnson back as 3C when everyone is healthy.

Drouin-Stamkos-Callahan
Palat-Filppula-Killorn
Kucherov-Johnson-Connolly
Morrow-Boyle-Brown
???? - I guess Blunden and send Vlad back to play games in the AHL

Now that the Drouin era has arrived and they got him on the top line already I going with it and think the lines might look like this if they do indeed put Johnson back as 3C when everyone is healthy.

Drouin-Stamkos-Callahan
Palat-Filppula-Killorn
Kucherov-Johnson-Connolly
Morrow-Boyle-Brown
???? - I guess Blunden and send Vlad back to play games in the AHL
- stammerman

Yup. I like this a lot. Another setup I might try...

Drouin-Stamkos-Callahan
Kucherov-Filppula-Connolly
Palat-Johnson-Killorn
Morrow-Boyle-Brown

Palat and Johnson just work so well together. And I like Kuch/Fil/BC because you've got a little bit of everything there, just like on our proposed first line.

Yup. I like this a lot. Another setup I might try...

Drouin-Stamkos-Callahan
Kucherov-Filppula-Connolly
Palat-Johnson-Killorn
Morrow-Boyle-Brown

Palat and Johnson just work so well together. And I like Kuch/Fil/BC because you've got a little bit of everything there, just like on our proposed first line.
- Michael_Stuart

This looks great as well but I think Cooper will keep Palat and Killorn who are established two way players with Filppula just based on the Filppula line getting more minutes unless Cooper finally rolls the top three lines evenly.

If Kuch and Connolly were a little more established that would be a filthy line for sure and like you said a little of everything like the top line. And that third line in this scenario skill, skill, skill. Now that I think about it more maybe next year if Kucherov and Connolly take that next step this year.

Drouin - Stamkos - Callahan : this has potential to be a top offensive threat anywhere in the league. Drouin and Stamkos could be the next Oates and Hull. Slot any top-6 RW in alongside those two and you have potential magic. IMO, Callahan is a legit top-6 when healthy, and we have some youngsters with great upside waiting in the wings, so to speak. Some of them..*ahem* Connolly *ahem*... are due to finally shine.

Filppula is our second-best center, no offense to Johnson. We leave Filppula at center.

The problem is, Johnson and Palat are like chocolate and peanut butter. You have to leave them together. They are better than the sum of their parts. But, Filppula is our #2 center. So, either you break up Palat-Johnson, or you move Johnson to #2 RW, or you bump Palat and Johnson both down to Line 3. Which BTW, depending on how Drouin thrives, Palat is our #2 LW and can be a #1 LW. So, our depth is a nice problem to have here.

Tough choices there.

I am not so big on Morrow still. No butt-hurt for me if he goes.
I am so-so on Namestnikov - like what I see, might not be ready for prime-time just yet.
I am so-so on Kucherov, but really want to pull for the guy, but may not be quite ready for prime-time.
Drouin - keeper obviously, has earned top-6 spot.
I am warming to Connolly, but he really needs to keep this recent pace up and start producing points consistently. Not chances, not almosts, no good tries, but points.

With Tampas speed i can see the Pegs taking alot of penalties. With a weak goalie, tampa should (have to) produce some goals in the man advantage

I like Stamkos, Filppula, Johnson, Boyle at center. The best teams have depth at center. Stamkos, Johnson, Namestnikov, Boyle doesn't scare many teams, IMO.
- Michael_Stuart

I agree with Filp at 2c but with a couple down Coop is still experimenting. The top 3 lines all have a lot of skill and speed and look pretty setting up plays but can they please shoot the puck!!

How cone there are no Viktor Hedman name and number t-shirts in the NHL store. They have freaking Brian Boyle but not Hedman.

Who starts tonight Nabby with Bish going against the Wild tomorrow?

ive been hearing a rumour that gormley want out of arizona do you think yzerman would try to make a move for him say connolly or killorn?

ive been hearing a rumour that gormley want out of arizona do you think yzerman would try to make a move for him say connolly or killorn?
- vaas91

Killorn is a steady 2way half point top 6 power forward on a good contract. For a unproven defenseman... I'll pass on that in a heartbeat.

With that said if we were to trade for him it would have to be a prospect in Syracuse in my opinion, Connolly is even too much for him since Gormley is so unproven in the NHL.

Syracuse Hockey ‏@syrhockey 11m11 minutes ago
TB recalls Paquette from Crunch, returns Blunden

thank god, we need some more guys like killorn and callahan , gritty but talented, paquette is that

I know this isn't the hockey related, but did you see that Joe Madden opted out of his contract with the Tampa Bay rays?

To the cellar they will go!

I know this isn't the hockey related, but did you see that Joe Madden opted out of his contract with the Tampa Bay rays?

To the cellar they will go!
- Artyukhin76

Yup. Apparently Jon Cooper is now the longest serving Tampa sports coach!

I know this isn't the hockey related, but did you see that Joe Madden opted out of his contract with the Tampa Bay rays?

To the cellar they will go!
- Artyukhin76

As long as they dont promote Shelton to Manager... Im guessing Davey Martinez will get a shot.

Yup. Apparently Jon Cooper is now the longest serving Tampa sports coach!
- Michael_Stuart

Here's a good laugh for everyone on this fine friday afternoon!

http://www.arcticicehocke...s-trades-cory-conacher-to

Here's a good laugh for everyone on this fine friday afternoon!

http://www.arcticicehocke...s-trades-cory-conacher-to
- TBolts4

As long as they dont promote Shelton to Manager... Im guessing Davey Martinez will get a shot.
- TBolts4

The key to the Rays is to keep Jim Hickey, he has a knack with young pitchers and if he is there that stable of starting pitchers will continue to play tough and win games. will be interesting to see where they go from here before the start of training camp.

As for the Bolts I tonight, I like Paquette lets see how he does and I want to see that top line Drouin-Filppula-Stamkos for a second game, the beat writers were saying that line was very impressive in practive. Go Bolts!!!

Here's a good laugh for everyone on this fine friday afternoon!

http://www.arcticicehocke...s-trades-cory-conacher-to
- TBolts4

Here's a good laugh for everyone on this fine friday afternoon!

http://www.arcticicehocke...s-trades-cory-conacher-to
- TBolts4

This is priceless