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Tortorella Eagerly Awaits Answers

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 14, 2007

BRANDON - Lightning coach John Tortorella acknowledged there were many questions surrounding his team entering training camp. He's looking forward to seeing how they are answered the next few weeks.

'I've never been more excited to start a camp because I want some questions answered,' Tortorella said Thursday following the first day of on-ice conditioning drills.

'We have a big part of our core more or less set, but there are still a lot of question marks as far as where everybody is going to fit, and it starts with our goaltending right on through our lineup.'

There are other reasons Tortorella is looking forward to getting things under way.

'I know from talking to the people around the players the past couple of weeks that it's been business-like around here. They've had some fun, and they should working out together as a group. But it's just everybody around them, from the general manager and the trainers, keeps talking about just a good feeling,' he said.

'That doesn't mean a whole lot and it hasn't produced anything yet, but I think where we are going to re-create our identity a little bit is as a hard hockey team to play against. I think that's good and I think the players see that.'

ANDRE THE GIANT: Challenged to get into shape for the start of training camp, LW Andre Roy altered his offseason preparation. Not only did he do more cardio work during the summer, but for the first time he hired a nutritionist.

'I just wanted to change some things. You can't just sit around eating French fries and pizza and other stuff like that,' Roy said.

The change paid off as Roy, 32, is noticeably slimmer in his upper body and he said his body fat dropped from 18 percent at the start of the summer to nine. He weighed in at 221 pounds, nearly 10 pounds lighter than normal.

RUSTY RIKU: Highly touted G Riku Helenius struggled during the team's prospect camp in Traverse City, Mich., over the weekend. He had an 0-2-1 record, .818 save percentage and a 5.16 goals-against average in his first extensive action since returning from shoulder surgery that cost the 19-year-old most of last season.

'He's not in any kind of a rhythm; he doesn't have any kind of confidence in his game right now,' GM Jay Feaster said. Goaltending coach Jeff Reese 'worked with him on Sunday and then on Monday and he was better on Monday night. Then he followed that up with another game on Tuesday and he struggled, so he needs to play.'

Helenius will get plenty of opportunities to play this season as the No. 1 goalie for Seattle of the Western Hockey League.

NUTS AND BOLTS: Tortorella said there were no disappointments following Thursday's drills, although he said there were a couple things he would monitor as camp continues. ... The top three times in Thursday night's 3-mile run: Nick Tarnasky (17:48), Kyle Wanvig (18:05) and Andreas Karlsson (18:57). ... The team will be selling the new RBK Edge jerseys featuring the team's new logo from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. today at the St. Pete Times Forum box office. Fans who previously purchased a jersey can pick up their merchandise.

Erik Erlendsson

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