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Bolts Assistant GM 'Excited' Checking Out Top Prospects

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 7, 2007

Tampa Bay Lightning assistant general manager Claude Loiselle will be watching this weekend's prospect tournament in Traverse City, Mich., with a keener eye this season.

In his additional role as general manager of Tampa Bay's minor-league affiliate in Norfolk, Va., Loiselle is responsible for assembling the roster for the Lightning's top farm team. A good portion of Tampa Bay's rostered players for the tournament are expected to attend training camp when Norfolk opens Sept. 17.

'You talk now about the personnel we have and I am making the conscious decision to make sure I talk to these guys and get to know them better,' Loiselle said. 'To me, it's fun; it's exciting to look at things like this.'

Among some of Tampa Bay's top prospects who will take part in the four-game, five-day setup against other NHL entries include the team's top draft picks the previous three seasons -- defenseman Andy Rogers (2004), defenseman Vladimir Mihalik (2005) and goaltender Riku Helenius (2006). The roster also includes nine other players either under contract or drafted by Tampa Bay and eight free-agent invitees.

In past seasons, the prospect tournament was an opportunity for players under contract with Tampa Bay to make an impression before the start of Lightning training camp. This year, however, somebody is going to have to really stand out from the crowd, as of the 12 contracted players, only Mike Lundin and Mihalik are coming to camp in Brandon next week.

'Those numbers 33 players are pretty much set barring somebody really doing something to make us look at things,' Loiselle said. 'You never say never and with Tampa Bay's management team all in Traverse City, if we are talking and decide that this certain player has really lit it up, then maybe.'

Tampa Bay will open tonight at 7 against the New York Rangers and concludes Tuesday.

Keyword: Bolts Report, for an update on Lightning captain Tim Taylor's hip surgery.

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