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Is Playing For Pride, Jobs Enough For Lightning?

The Associated Press

The Lightning's Jeff Halpren had a goal and two assists in Sunday's 4-3 win over Boston.

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By MARTIN FENNELLY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 23, 2009

TAMPA - It was one of the good nights. Sunday night was a night of light in a season of long, dark tunnels for the Tampa Bay Lightning. They beat the Boston Bruins, 4-3 - the Bruins only the best team in the NHL's Eastern Conference. Yes, there was a lot of light.

Then why was talking to the No. 1 star of the game, Jeff Halpern, like talking to a man on a building ledge? I mean, the guy just had a goal and two assists, including one on Vinny Prospal's game winner with 1:33 left. Jeffy, bubby, cheer up.

It was no use.

"To say the bubble burst on us was an understatement," Halpern said. "It was an unbelievable bubble that burst."

The bubble, as he called it, was that slim hope of making the playoffs - a crazy, nutty dream that never really had a chance. The Lightning just aren't good enough, not now and - here's the scary part - maybe not anytime soon, including next season.

Yes, there are 22 games left, and they're already down to pride and playing for jobs next season and making sanity out of a season that started insanely, with defenseman Danny Boyle traded, with coach Barry the Joke Melrose hired and fired and new general manager Brian Lawton playing games with captain Vinny Lecavalier.

This is not a good hockey team. And I don't see any semblance of vision in the future, not from the new owners and not from Lawton, who by some accounts is too busy solidifying power.

I don't know a lot, but I know a lost soul when I hear one, and there are lots of souls like that in even a winning Lightning dressing room. The coaches and players had a meeting after a lifeless loss in Carolina on Friday night. There is no more talk of playoff pushes or four-point swings. At least they all finally get it - and it's not easy.

"Yeah, pride, playing for next year's job, all those things," Halpern said. "But to be honest, it's a deflated group in here. I obviously have no idea what it's going to be like a week from now, a month from now, this summer. No idea."

The March 4 trade deadline looms.

Who has any idea?

I think this franchise is still paying for trading Boyle to San Jose. He has only been the best defenseman on the best team in hockey. Three of the four assets the Lightning got for Boyle (Matt Carle, a first-round pick in an expected deep 2009 draft and a fourth-round pick in 2010) have already been dealt.

Lawton, an agent after his playing days, has no real record as a GM, so the jury is out on him as a talent expert.

Is this team really heading in the right direction? It desperately needs help on defense, and I'm not seeing it in the system. The Boyle trade wasn't really Lawton's show but that of owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie - more Barrie when you come down to it. The Bolts, through injuries, trades and being just plain bad, have used an astonishing 17 players on the back line this season. Remarkable. And on a good night, the Lightning have about 1 1/2 scoring lines, if that.

Is there a core? Yes. Is injured goalie Mike Smith a true No. 1? He looks like one. There is Lecavalier (for now) and Marty St. Louis (for now). Ryan Malone was a great pickup. Rookie Steven Stamkos is growing into his game.

But do we really know whether these owners and this GM will get it done? Will they get what they need? Can Lawton get two defensemen and a scoring forward and keep the payroll around $45 million without trading Lecavalier and his $10 million salary for next season?

This is going to be an interesting summer on Channelside Drive. Summer has already begun.

How this team is going to keep from going through the motions these last two months is beyond me. That was the reason for the meeting Saturday. Pride and playing for a job will only go so far. Thinking you're building toward something would help, only I don't know how many Lighting players - or employees, in general - believe that's really happening.

Strange times in Lightning Land.

Stay tuned.

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