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Denis Eager To Get Back In Net

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 11, 2007

Updated: 09/11/2007 12:23 am

BRANDON - With the radar zeroing in on Thursday's start of Lightning training camp, Marc Denis would like nothing more than to fly underneath all the blips and bleeps the media put out while searching for stories.

But it would be nearly impossible for Denis to simply go about his business in his second season with Tampa Bay. After being acquired from Columbus, his first season with the Bolts could only be described as a disappointment.

What started out with such promise, following a solid training camp and first month of the season, ended with Denis benched during the playoffs. Denis watched Tampa Bay's series against the Devils in street clothes after finishing last among 44 listed goaltenders with a .883 save percentage and 38th with a 3.13 goals-against average.

Denis said sitting in the press box during the playoffs was the toughest thing he has ever had to deal with as a professional. So shortly after the season ended, he and his family went back to their home in Chicoutimi, Quebec, where he tried to escape last season.

'I got away from hockey, there is no doubt,' Denis said. 'I think time does take care of some stuff but I wasn't looking for answers anywhere but in the mirror. That's how I approached the whole thing.

'I do want things to be better and I also understand the easy way to make things better is to stop more pucks. So that's how I'm coming into camp with an open mind.'

There was plenty of speculation during the summer that Denis would either be traded or bought out of the remaining two years on his contract. But General Manager Jay Feaster found no takers and the Lightning had no interest in a buyout, which would have given the team a near $1 million salary cap hit for four years.

Now, however, the past is just that - history. Denis is here and has emphatically said he wants to be here. He welcomes the opportunity to prove that last season was just a blip on his career.

In fact, shortly after the season ended, he had a chance encounter with Coach John Tortorella when both were in the locker room area. The conversation, by all accounts, was cordial, with talk centered on families and other interests. Eventually it came back to hockey, and the two had differing opinions.

It ended with Denis essentially telling Tortorella that he was going to stick it to him, an attitude the coach has said he likes to see in athletes. But as far as Tortorella is concerned, the start of training camp means everybody has a clean slate.

That's exactly what Denis wants as he enters a three-way battle for playing time with Johan Holmqvist and Karri Ramo.

'I think I have a good understanding of the situation and I'm ready to get back on the ice,' Denis said. 'I want to get that first save under my belt, go from there and hopefully not look back to what happened last year.

'Yes I would like to right things. Is that all going to be done in one day? Is that all going to be done in camp? Obviously not. It's all part of a process and it's going to start on Thursday.'

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835 or eerlendsson@tampatrib.com.

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