This post originally appeared on Raw Charge. I'm reposting it here because I'm battling with another post that I can't quite finish (also a rogue keyboard) and want to keep the site somewhat active. Hey at least I added pictures!
It’s no
questions that August is the slowest of months in the hockey world.
With weeks left until training camps open there isn’t much news being
generated of interest other than the occasional veteran signing a tryout
contract with a team (Hi Sergei Gonchar!). So hockey websites have
time to put lists together. It’s the time of year where Best Left
Wingers in Franchise History is a popular subject.
Every few years some sites like
to throw a "Mount Rushmore" type of list together. The four players or
people that are the best for each organization. Raw Charge has yet to
succumb to the temptations, mainly because we love all of the players
equally. That hasn’t stopped some outsiders and insiders to compose
their own.
John Buccigross posted the most recent example with an article a few weeks ago
on ESPN updating his original 2009 "Mount Rushmore" of each team.
His criteria for picking the best four players to represent each
franchise: " a combination of impact, love and production, determined by
both sides the brain, some research and some feel. It’s not all about
the numbers." In 2009 his players were: Dave Andreychuck, Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards and Martin St. Louis. The recent update replaced Andreychuck with Steven Stamkos.
A year after Buccigross’ original column, Puck Daddy spent the summer having team bloggers create a "Mount Puckmore"
for each team. Jon Jordon listed Lecavalier, St. Louis, Andreychuck
and Phil Esposito. Puck Daddy allowed for the spots to be taken up by,
"players, coached and executives" thus allowing the Esposito inclusion.
There’s not much to argue with
either list. Despite the way he left, St. Louis deserves a spot on the
mountain. Lecavalier was the first "superstar" and is at the top or near
on most statistical categories. Richards Stanley Cup
run in 2004 was one for the ages and Andreychuck brought a Cup and
respect to the team. Without Esposito there is no hockey in Tampa.
So I’m not going to even try to compete with them, plus remember I love all players equally. Instead I’m going to present the Tampa Bay Lightning Mount Rushmore of Guys You Forgot Played for the Lightning.
Yes, it’s a bit of an awkward
title and for that I apologize. My criteria was pretty basic.
Scrolling through the all-time roster of players I chose the four names
that made me think, "Oh yeah! He did play for the Lightning!". For the
most part I didn’t include players that were part of the original
expansion draft or players that were paper transactions only (sorry
Niklas Sundstrum). They had to be recognizable names, but, and this is
the catch, when most hockey fans thought of them they pictured them in
another team’s jersey.
Wendel Clark
Without a doubt he is the George Washington of the mountain. A most-beloved former number one pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs,
Clark played 65 games with the 1998-99 Tampa Bay Lightning. He was one
of the few bright sports (another being a young rookie from Ile Bizard
named Vincent Lecavalier) on a dismal team that only won 19 games.
Before being traded to Detroit at the deadline, Clark notched 28 goals
and 14 assists. His 42 points ended up being good for second best on
the team behind Darcy Tucker’s 43.
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| Behold the greatest Lightning card of the Late 90s. The hair, the uniform, the mustache. |
Notable memories include:
never seeing him smile, the receding hairline/Fu Manchu look and being
the lone Lightning representative in the 1999 All-Star game in Tampa (he
had one assist).
Stephane Richer
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| Totally forgot he was an assistant captain till I scanned this card. |
Richer was a prolific scorer
in the late 80s and early 90s. As a Montreal Canadien he twice scored
50 goals in a season. He ended his career with an impressive 421 goals
overall. For the Lightning he played parts of three seasons from 1998
to 2000 and scored 28 goals in in 110 games (which ties him for 38th all
time with…..Wendel Clark). He was also the second Stephane Richer to play for the team.
Notable memories include: He
was absolutely brutal on breakaways; he fancies expensive suits, loafers
and no socks and he was The UNDERTAKER in an existentially hilarious
Lightning ad campaign because he "buries goals".
Kolzig was my favorite goalie
during the early years of my hockey fandom. Heck, he might still be my
favorite goalie of all time. Awesome name, awesome nickname (Godzilla)
and he was pretty damn good. So I was excited to see him come to Tampa
as a free agent in the summer of 2008. Sure, Mike Smith
was the starter, but in my heart I thought that Olie the Goalie has a
shot of rekindling some of the old magic and taking the team to the
playoffs. It didn’t happen. Kolzig appeared in 8 games and posted a
2-4-1 record before a ruptured bicep ended his season.
Notable Memories for me: The
visceral shock of seeing him in a Lightning uniform and without a beard.
Being involved in the most blatant salary dump trade of all time. On
March 4th, 2009 he was, while still injured, traded to Toronto along
with severely concussed Jamie Heward, prospect Andy Rogers
who was dealing with an injured back and a 4th round pick for middling
prospect Richard Petiot. So, if you think salary cap circumventing deals
like Marc Savard to the Panthers is something new - it’s not.
The summer of 2008 was really
weird for Lightning fans. The team, with Those Who Shall Not Be Named
running the team, were wheeling and dealing throughout the summer. Gone
were Marc Denis, Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich. The team also traded picks for pending free agents Ryan Malone, Brian Rolstron and Gary Roberts.
Malone got the big money, signing a 7-year deal worth over $31 million. Rolston ended up signing with Devils.
Roberts fell somewhere in the middle. He signed a one-year deal with
the Lightning. I honestly have no recollection of Gary Roberts playing
for the Lightning. The stats say he suited up for 30 games and recorded 4
goals and 3 assists for that debacle of a team before being placed on
waivers. There are pictures of him in a Lightning uniform as well so it
must be true.
Notable memories - none.
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| See. He was a member of the Lightning. Unless Upper Deck photoshopped this card. |
One good thing did come out of
his brief time with the Lightning. After his rookie season, Steven
Stamkos decided to train with Roberts in the off-season. The next season
young Stamkos would score 51 goals. Fans would also be treated to you
tube videos of Stamkos doing things like this:
Overall a pretty impressive
group of individuals with numerous all-star appearances, Stanley Cup
rings and memorable moments in the NHL. Sadly, not too many of them with
the Lightning.
Honorable Mentions: Bill Ranford, Benoit Hogue, Craig Janney, Brian Holzinger, Mark Fitzpatrick, Evgeni Nabokov.
1 comment:
I too was super excited about Oli the goalie
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