TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Boyle Has First Real Skating Session

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 2, 2008

TORONTO - Toward the end of Tuesday's morning pregame skate, the door leading to the Lightning locker room opened and D Dan Boyle came through and skated out onto the ice Air Canada Centre ice.

It was the first real significant sign the injured defenseman is getting closer to his return. Boyle was cleared to resume an extensive rehabilitation program last week, but Tuesday marked his first real skating session. Although no timetable has been discussed publicly for a return date, coming out of the All-Star break at the end of the month would be a logical time to ensure the wrist - Boyle still wears a small protective cast - is fully healed while allowing him ample time to get back into good enough shape to be ready to play his normal 25-30 minutes per game.

Though Boyle is still under team orders not to discuss the injury with the media or when he might return, he did have one good line in passing Tuesday when he rolled his eyes and stated, "This is my third training camp this season."

Boyle underwent a second surgery on his left wrist stemming from a training camp incident in which a skate fell onto his wrist, severing three tendons. He came back in late October, but was shut down after four games when it was discovered two of the surgically repaired tendons did not remain attached to the wrist. Boyle underwent a second surgery Nov. 9 in Baltimore with specialist Richard Graham.

Since the second surgery, Boyle had not been able to do much in terms of trying to stay in shape because of the cast on his left wrist. Only recently has he been able to start riding a stationary bike and begin trying to get back into shape, although nothing can simulate game shape.

Coming into the final year of his contract, Boyle was coming off a career year in which he became the first Lightning defenseman to score 20 goals in a season and his absence has been noticeable, particularly in getting Tampa Bay out of its own zone.

He likely will be one of the most sought-after defensemen if he becomes a free agent in July, when he could seek a contract worth between $6-$7 million annually.

BRAIN DAMAGE: G Karri Ramo is sporting a new mask these days, one he wore in a game for the first time Saturday and again Tuesday.

The new design features the look of a brain on top colored in red and white with Tampa Bay written on the sides. Ramo's old mask featured movie character Jack Skellington from the animated film "The Nightmare Before Christmas" on either side of the helmet. Ramo used a mask in training camp last year that also featured a brain on top, though that one was primarily colored yellow.

MAINE REUNION: Before the Lightning hit the ice for practice Monday in Brandon, D Mike Lundin had the chance to catch up with some of his former teammates from the University of Maine, which held a practice in Brandon after playing in a tournament in Fort Myers during the weekend. Lundin said he had the chance to say hello to the coaching staff and some of his teammates from last season.

NUTS AND BOLTS: LW Jan Hlavac, relegated to fourth-line duty, picked up his first assist since Dec. 4. Hlavac had 8:20 of ice time, after playing a total of 12:27 the previous three games. ... Every Lightning player but Chris Gratton and Shane O'Brien registered a shot on goal. ... O'Brien took a shot off his left calf muscle in overtime. ... RW Michel Ouellet is traveling with the team, but his left shoulder remains in a sling after he separated it Dec. 13. ... C Brad Richards has gone eight games without scoring a goal, his longest drought of the year.

Erik Erlendsson

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT