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Since the Coyotes have already taken 1 bad contract off of the Lightning, ahem Vrbata, the Lightning were not able to move Prospal to another sucker team and has instead offered to buy out his contract. Prospal has 24 hours to accept the buy out and become a UFA or be put on waivers and see if he is claimed by another team. The cap hit to the Lightning will be 1.67 over the next 6 years.
I'm not thrilled about paying for players that don't actually play, but it looks like the Lightning office is trying to get rid of their bad contracts, definately a step in the right direction. I know that Prospal can have his good years...but he had a terrible year last year, and he's a journeyman that really has not shown consistency from year to year. This has been his 3rd time that he signed with the Lightning after all.
Does this mean that the Lightning are trying to free up cap space for Tanguay? We'll have to see what Lawton tries to do, but I wouldn't be surprised if we sign a few more defencemen, I believe we have like 8 or something...we need a good 10 more to last through the year.
The Lightning have announced their pre-season schedule today. First game of the year is September 16th in Dallas, then a home game on the 18th, then 4 back to back to back to back games from the 21st to the 24th, then finish up in Atlanta on the 27th. Who created that schedule? and how is that better than starting in Europe?My complaining is not the point of my writing, what is my point is that in between all of those back to back games is a game in Everett, WA on the 22nd. Woo. That's only a 2 hour drive from Vancouver! Do I feel a roadtrip coming on? Yes. It may have to happen.
In other Lightning stuff:
-It appears that Hedman has been a busy guy. His angry looking photos have been plastered all over the Lightning website.
Mattias doesn't do angry glamor photos well....deer stuck in headlights on the other hand...
They also seem to think the draft was just on Friday...way to stay on top of things Lightning website people.
-The Lightning have also signed LW Stephane Veilleux for a 1 year deal. From what I've seen when he played in Minny he was a hard working 4th line guy. Good signing.
So three moves today (and one non move), and the team doesn't look so bad.
We picked up a rock of a defenceman in Ohlund.
We signed D Matt Walker who player for the Chicago Blackhawks last year for 6.8 million over 4 years. Walker is a 6'3", 214 pounder from Beaverlodge AB that was known last year from his youtube video where he blocks a shot with his hand and when he gets to the bench you see his broken finger...and it's gross..and then he just keeps playing the rest of the game. What a man.
Lucas Krajicek has re-signed for a 1 year deal
Vinny is still a Tampa Bay Lightning.
With a defensive unit that looks like a defensive unit, it seems like the Lightning are headed in the right direction. I don't want to jump to conclusions too fast, since we'll still have to see what Lawton does tomorrow, but so far so good.
UPDATED
-TSN reports that contract is for 7 years at 3.75 million a season
-The terms are for 7 years for for 26.25 million which is front loaded over 5 years then drops off
Since I live in Vancouver, I have seen a lot of Ohlund. He's a great stay at home defenceman that still has a bit of an offensive side to him. He will be tough when he needs to be, hitting guys into the boards or into the bench and can hold his own in a fight. Clearly one of his roles is to be a mentor for Victor Hedman which I think he will do a fantastic job of. In Vancouver when Bieksa went down with a lacerated calf injury Edler was brought up from the farm as a rookie. Edler was put on the pairing with Ohlund for the season and by the end of it, we could count on Edler being a solid defenceman. I'm excited to see Ohlund get the money he was looking for that Vancouver couldn't give, plus I can still cheer for him since he's moved from one favorite team to the other.
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