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Bolts Just Finding The Pieces

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON

eerlendsson@tampatrib.com

Published: December 17, 2008

TAMPA - The glass half-full faction would say the Tampa Bay Lightning are not far from success based on 18 of their 22 losses this season (including overtime and shootouts) coming by one goal (discounting empty-net goals).

The glass half-empty side, however, would point to the Lightning's seven victories in 30 games as the true measure of what this team is capable - or incapable - of accomplishing this season.

The lack of success has translated into a revolving door on the roster, with 36 players having spent time in the locker room this season, the most in the league. That number that will grow by one this week when Jeff Halpern returns from a knee injury.

While injuries account for some of the moves, the play on the ice has dictated most of the others.

All in all, a season filled with promise after a summer makeover has turned into a winter of discontent, leaving General Manager Brian Lawton trying to keep a forward-thinking plan in place while balancing the here and now.

"We all want instant success, from ownership on down to the players, but life is not always that simple," Lawton said.

So in going about trying to ensure that the franchise has long-term success, Lawton and his staff continue to evaluate on a daily basis with a long-term approach.

The team's core group of players - notably captain Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis, along with the likes of Ryan Malone, Steven Stamkos, Andrej Meszaros and Paul Ranger - are in for the long haul. That places some of the onus on them to pull the team in the right direction.

But in trying to decide who will be along for the ride, the team has brought up rookies such as Paul Szczechura, Radek Smolenak and Matt Smaby and second-year pro Steven Downie. More moves can be expected as Lawton keeps one eye on the future.

"The trick for me as a general manager is to plan for next year, the next two to three years, as there is a lot going on with the economy which will impact the salary cap and the budget, so it's a real slippery slope right now," Lawton said.

With the team not in need of major upgrades at forward and with goaltender Mike Smith living up to his promise thus far, the focus will be on reshaping the blue line.

"Right now, we are doing that with younger players on defense who might be more mistake prone, and we understand that, we can live with those mistakes right now," Lawton said. "But as we look at this right now, it can't dissuade from looking at the macro picture of how we plan to go about getting to where we want to be."

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835.

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