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The Puck Doesn't Stop Here

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 19, 2008

Updated: 02/18/2008 11:24 pm

BRANDON - The glamour position in today's NHL no longer is distinguished by the finesse of Wayne Gretzky, the awe-inspiring end-to-end rushes of Bobby Orr, or even the grit of Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe.

Now goaltenders are the gold standard.

Generations past had stars in goal, such as Bernie Parent or Patrick Roy, but often those players were considered final pieces of the puzzle. Now, goaltender is the position teams look to build around.

Players such as the Devils' Martin Brodeur, the Canucks' Roberto Luongo and the Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist are the big-money backbones of teams hoping to be perennial playoff contenders.

"The whole league has gone back to goaltending," said Lightning captain Tim Taylor, on injured reserve with a hip injury in his 13th NHL season. "Teams used to build around centers and out. Now, teams are going to build from the back end out. We are one of those teams who are looking for a guy, and it's going to be tough."

In years past, inconsistent goaltending could be overcome by talented skaters, such as Guy Lafleur, in a more wide-open era. Now, strong goaltending can make a team such as Vancouver, devoid of high-end offensive talent, a Stanley Cup contender because of Luongo's presence in net.

That type of goaltending has been as frequent in Tampa Bay as Halley's Comet - it hasn't come around very often.

Not since Nikolai Khabibulin, who bolted for Chicago after winning a Stanley Cup, has the Lightning had a consistent goaltender.

"I don't think you truly appreciate what you had until you don't have it," Taylor said. "I don't think we really knew what kind of goaltender Khabibulin was until he was gone. When you are missing it, and every other team knows you need it, that makes it a little more difficult."

Since Khabibulin left, the Lightning tried promoting John Grahame, signing free agent Sean Burke, trading for Marc Denis, signing European veteran Johan Holmqvist, and elevating 21-year-old rookie Karri Ramo.

None was the answer, though Ramo could be.

That leaves Lightning general manager Jay Feaster still looking, though he has a specific type of goaltender in mind this time.

With the Feb. 26 trade deadline fast approaching, Feaster and the league's 29 other general managers are in Naples this week for meetings. But a goaltender likely is not on Feaster's shopping list. Instead, Feaster likely will sift through the offseason free-agent market looking for a stop-gap goalie capable of splitting time with Ramo until he is ready to take over as the team's true No. 1.

"It's a bridge," Feaster said. "We are not looking for a 10-year thing. We need a two-to-three year bridge to Ramo, who we believe can be a legit No. 1 goaltender."

What the Lightning won't be able to find is one of those elite goaltenders capable of keeping a team afloat on most nights. They are too expensive to sign as a free agent or acquire via trade.

"You have to give up assets to get goaltenders, and that's a big reason why we are where we are today," Feaster said. "We've had to use our assets to bring in other pieces ... so we feel the best way to get it done is to develop our own."

Tampa Bay has been forced to overcome inconsistent goaltending since winning the Stanley Cup in 2004 The Lightning made the playoffs the past two seasons, but this year is last place in the Eastern Conference, eight points out of first in the Southeast Division.

Though Tampa Bay remains in the playoff hunt, Feaster has all but focused his attention on next season, with netting a goaltender at the top of his list.

One possible solution is a tag-team, with two goaltenders splitting time. Lately, the Lightning coaching staff has successfully used Holmqvist and Ramo in tandem.

Holmqvist is 7-2-1 with one no-decision in his past 11 starts, starting more than three consecutive games only once. He has put up a 2.79 goals-against average with a .907 save percentage and a pair of shutouts. Ramo is 2-2 in four starts since Jan. 12, with a 2.50 goals-against average and .903 save percentage.

It's not lights out, but the tandem approach has given the team a chance to at least stay in the race.

"I think a lot of teams have gone to that a little bit," Lightning coach John Tortorella said. "There are exceptions where there is that clear-cut No. 1 guy who is going to carry the load, and we don't have that. ... So we are trying to play to their strengths."

Tampa Bay can at least feel better about its shaky goaltending situation, until someone becomes the cornerstone.

WHO MIGHT BE AVAILABLE?

If Tampa Bay wants to acquire a free agent to serve as a No. 1 goalie and mentor until Karri Ramo is ready, here is a list of candidates:

IN THE SYSTEM

In the franchise's 15-year history, the Lightning have drafted 16 goaltenders, none of whom developed into a true No.1, although Karri Ramo and 2006 first-round pick Riku Helenius show promise.

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

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