Tampa year in Review

[droopydrew19]

What a difference a year can make. A year ago this time CPHL Tampa Lightning GM Droopydrew19 was wondering what to do with the #1 overall pick in the draft and what direction to take the team. They had some young guys but a youth movement would likely take a couple of seasons.

How did things turn around? Just inject 135 OV ratings points into your team. Granted some of that was due to the league tweaking a lot of ratings, but many players moved in and out. Below is a Overall rating comparison to the final day roster from last year and this year.

Line 1 Comparison
Then: Oleg Kvasha 74 Nikolai Antropov 71 Mike Cammalleri 70
Now: Todd Bertuzzi 79 Kyle Calder 76 Teemu Selanne 79
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LW +5 C +5 RW +9 Total +19


Line 2 Comparison
Then: Oleg Petrov 67 Robert Reichel 68 Corey Perry 69
Now: Trent Hunter 76 Jeremy Roenick 76 Owen Nolan 74
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LW +9 C +8 RW +5 Total +22

Line 3 Comparison
Then: Erik Rasmussen 70 M. Holmqvist 71 Niklas Hagman 72
Now: A. Mogilny 75 Patrick Eaves 72 Eric Daze 73
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LW +5 C +1 RW +1 Total +7

Line 4 Comparison
Then: Niklas Nordgren 69 Jay McClement 69 Patrick Eaves 67
Now: Randy Robitalle 73 Dan Hinote 73 Jan Bulis 73
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LW +4 C +4 RW +6 Total +14

Defense Pair 1 Comparison
Then: C. Backman 67 Jakub Cutta 66
Now: Adrian Aucoin 77 Jordan Leopold 74
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D1 +10 D2 +8 Total +18

Defense Pair 2 Comparison
Then: Ron Hainsey 67 Niclas Havelid 67
Now: Brent Sopel 73 Rhett Warrener 74
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D3 +6 D4 +7 Total +13

Defense Pair 3 Comparison
Then: Mike Weaver 68 Dennis Wideman 63
Now: Bryan Berard 75 Niclas Havelid 73 / Nicklas Sundstrom 74
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D5 +7 D6 +10/+11 Total +17/+18

Goaltender Comparison
Then: Mathieu Garon 72
Now: Dwayne Roloson 80
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G1 +8

Backup Goaltender Comparison
Then: Chris Mason 60
Now: Kevin Weeks 77
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G2 +17

[droopydrew19]

In the past off-season the Bolts took advantage of many teams dumping older talent at bargain prices. JR, Nolan, and others fell into our laps as teams had to dump cap space. There were also some key deals along the way…

1. Armstrong, Colby (RW) NHL
2. Sydor, Darryl (D) NHL
3. Thelen, AJ (D) AHL

1. 2006 1st Round Draft

The Top pick in the draft netted a solid top 4 dman and a couple of young players with solid upside. All 3 of these players were then traded in other deals later in the season to upgrade assets.

1. Sim, Jonathan (RW) NHL
2. Alfredsson, Daniel (RW) NHL

1. Cammalleri, Mike (RW) AHL
2. McLaren, Kyle (D) NHL
3. O Marra, Ryan (C) ECHL

This deal gave us a true superstar in Alfy. His stay was not long as he was moved and the superstar label was taken by Selanne later in the season.

1. McCauley, Alyn (LW) NHL
2. Garon, Mathieu (G) NHL
3. Eaves, Patrick (RW) AHL
4. Potulny, Ryan (C) AHL

1. Recchi, Mark (RW) NHL
2. Novak, Filip (D) NHL
3. Toskala, Vesa (G) NHL
4. O Donnell, Sean (D) NHL

This deal gave us a legit #1 goalie in Toskala and a standout forward in Recchi.


This season was not without some tough breaks either. Alexei Zhamnov was slated to be the teams’s #1 center but was forced to retire. It was a tough loss but the team got through it.

Another big reason for the teams rebound was coach Hitch. When the CPHL adopted coaches Tampa had Hitch at the top of their list. His guidance made the team mold and go to war for each other.

All in all the season will go down as a success for the Lightning. However it was disappointing to not finish the job vs. the state rival Panthers. The coming off-season will pose some challenges as there are some potential UFA’s that will likely move on and replacements will need to be found.

Gone are the days that Tampa was a guaranteed win or an easy place to play. This team has served notice that they are going to be in the thick of things for the years to come. We would like to thank the CPHL GM’s and Agents for their support and respectful words during a memorable season for the Bolts.

[Goffie]

Great season Drew, you did an awesome job turning your team around!

[MJK]

Very well done sir and cudos to a great season!

[Prototype]

I have to say it again in a thread that show proof...

Droopy for GM of the Year!

Nice work, jerk!

[JiriHrdina]

Drew took over an organization that wasn't in very good shape and has done a very good job to get them back to a competitive level. The team will take a few hits on re-rates and potential retirements but there's enough there to be competitive next year, particularly with the ageless wonder Selanne still excelling in the NHL. Lots to be proud of in T-bay.

[HelloHockeyFans]

Yeah, you definitely took this team and turned them completely around man. At the risk of sounding like a broken record (apparently), kudos to ya Droops! Nice job!

[Knut]

Great work Droops...

[OILFAN #81]

Great job in Tampa Bay this year. To get into the playoffs in a very tough conference and then go 7 games with the #1 team is a great accomplishment.

[Prototype]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

Great job in Tampa Bay this year. To get into the playoffs in a very tough conference and then go 7 games with the #1 team is a great accomplishment.

Not only make the playoffs in the Gretzky, but put 17 points between him and 9th place. Qutie remarkable. Looks like you need 90 points to make the CPHL playoffs.

[HelloHockeyFans]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

Great job in Tampa Bay this year. To get into the playoffs in a very tough conference and then go 7 games with the #1 team is a great accomplishment.

Careful....

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Drew took over an organization that wasn't in very good shape and has done a very good job to get them back to a competitive level. The team will take a few hits on re-rates and potential retirements but there's enough there to be competitive next year, particularly with the ageless wonder Selanne still excelling in the NHL. Lots to be proud of in T-bay.

Yeah, from a last place roster to the one he has now is quite remarkable really.

[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

Careful....



Yeah, from a last place roster to the one he has now is quite remarkable really.

I don't get it what do you mean careful?

[Prototype]

Once NOOB gets used to the internets, he'll start making more sense.

[HelloHockeyFans]

Originally Posted by Prottotype

Once NOOB gets used to the internets, he'll start making more sense.

LOL

[MJK]

Blah

[HelloHockeyFans]

Noob has gone fishing and he is trying very very hard to get me to bite. He has nothing better to do than to stip the pot. I, however, am busy with the CPHL playoffs at the moment so forgive me if I am too busy to play the games of the million dollar asian.

Why post, then edit?

As one GM advised me, I'll let you have the last word "Sean Avery"... LOL

[OILFAN #81]

"Noob has gone fishing and he is trying very very hard to get me to bite. He has nothing better to do than to stip the pot. I, however, am busy with the CPHL playoffs at the moment so forgive me if I am too busy to play the games of the million dollar asian."

That's a lil harsh.........don't ya think?

And this thread is about DROOPY DREW! Leave that out of here.

[HelloHockeyFans]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

"Noob has gone fishing and he is trying very very hard to get me to bite. He has nothing better to do than to stip the pot. I, however, am busy with the CPHL playoffs at the moment so forgive me if I am too busy to play the games of the million dollar asian."

That's a lil harsh.........don't ya think?

And this thread is about DROOPY DREW! Leave that out of here.

Agreed! Kudos to Droopy Droops!

[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

Agreed! Kudos to Droopy Droops!

Same goes to you too......

[notoepik]

Heh, the Hawks gave you some pretty good deals with Aucoin, Chara and Olli too.

congrats on the great season Droops. Glas we could help!