The 5 Biggest Storylines to Follow During Tampa Bay Lightning's Offseason

Source: Bleacher Report

The Tampa Bay Lightning entered the 2012 NHL offseason with some interesting storylines. Almost a year later, they remain the same, but another year of struggle makes this year’s stories even bigger. 

The Bolts are going on three years removed from their trip to the Eastern Conference Finals (2010-11). Unfortunately, that playoff success was an exception to the general rule of playoff misses. 

The Lightning will look to turn things around in 2013-14 and get back to the success of the early 2000s. Here are the biggest storylines to follow during the Tampa Bay offseason.

Year-End Grades: The Scorers (Martin St. Louis, Steven Stamkos, And More)

Source: Bolts by the Bay by D. Frederick Cook

If there’s one part of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s game that rarely gets criticized, it’s the scoring. And that’s not going to surprise anyone, considering the Bolts boasted this year’s first and second ranked scorers league-wide (I say this with apologies to Sidney Crosby fans). Tampa Bay scored 148 goals this season, far and away the most by any non-playoff team, and yet their goal differential was -2 (also the best of non-playoff teams, it should be pointed out).

In my last batch of report cards (grading the role players), I touched on the idea that Tampa Bay’s problems can’t be pinned completely on the defense/goaltending. It’s easy to think about hockey in compartments – scorers score, defenders defend,

Team USA brings home bronze medal at World Championships

Source: NHL.com

Team USA finished off its experience at the 2013 IIHF World Championships in victorious fashion on Sunday afternoon. The American side brought home the bronze medal, its first since 2004, as it defeated Finland 3-2 in a shootout in the third pl...

Quick strikes and links for Saturday, May 18th

Source: Raw Charge by John Fontana

Maybe you've noticed over the past few days that Raw Charge and other sites on the SB Nation network have been having technical difficulties? They've been loading, but have been sporadic. Network issues had hit not only SB Nation but it's sister network sites - TheVerge.com and Polygon.com.

As of around 4:30 EDT this morning, those issues should be resolved, with thanks and praise to the Vox Media tech team who have been trying to remedy things for the majority of the week.

Tampa Bay Lightning News

Earlier this week,

Michael Stuart: Martin St. Louis a Future Hockey Hall of Fame Member?

Source: Yardbarker

Earlier this week, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Martin St. Louis was named as a finalist for the 2013 Lady Byng Trophy, an award given to the league’s most “gentlemanlyâ€* player. Reading between the lines, the award really comes down to which player exhibits the best sportsmanship over the course of the season. St. Louis, for his part, has already taken home the trophy twice during his award...

Will St. Louis be hockey Hall of Famer?

Source: Tampa Bay Times

Many analysts believe the Lightning star deserves to be enshrined.

Team USA on brink of medal in Stockholm

Source: Tampa Bay Online

Thursday�s meeting between Team USA and Russia was not exactly the Miracle on Ice, but stunning nonetheless.

Team USA on brink of medal in Helsinki

Source: Tampa Bay Online

Thursday�s meeting between Team USA and Russia was not exactly the Miracle on Ice, but stunning nonetheless.

AHL Eastern Semifinals Game 4: Syracuse Crunch (3) versus Springfield Falcons (2) game thread

Source: Raw Charge by John Fontana

Versus AHL Eastern Conference Semifinals
Game Four
Listen Live on The Fan 1260

Where: OnonDaga County War Memorial Arena, Syracuse, New York
When: 7:00 PM EDT
Media: 1260 AM (radio)

The Syracuse Crunch have the potential to close out the AHL Semifinal round tonight with a victory over the Springfield Falcons. Taking their dominant 3-0 series lead into tonight, the focus should be on the Top Gun line of Ondrej Palat, Tyrler Johnson and Richard Panik and their ability to score not

Best Of Web: May 10 – 17

Source: NHL.com

IN A GALAXY NOT SO FAR AWAY… Leave it to your Tampa Bay Lightning to host Darth Maul at a Bolts game at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. Seriously, this really did happen. As you may recall, last season – on February 16, 2012 to be exact – the ...

Unsung Hero: Cory Conacher, Ottawa Senators agitator and playoff scorer (Puck Daddy)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Cory Conacher has lived two NHL lives this season. He played 35 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring 24 points and counted among the Calder Trophy candidates for most of 2013. But at the trade deadline, he was dealt to the Ottawa Senators in a multi-player deal that had goalie Ben Bishop going back to Tampa. He scored two goals in 12 games, and was no longer in the rookie of the year race. Yet while the Lightning failed to make the playoff cut, the Senators are a second-round playoff team – and Conacher has been an unsung hero for them.

Will Marty St. Louis be a Hockey Hall of Famer?

Source: Tampa Bay Times

Mike Johnson was starting his second season with the Lightning in September 2000, when Marty St. Louis came to training camp.

US beats Russia 8-3 to reach world hockey semis (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

HELSINKI (AP) -- Paul Stastny had two goals and two assists, and Craig Smith added five assists to help the United States rout Russia 8-3 on Thursday in the world hockey quarterfinals.

Team USA prevails, Canada falls during Thursday’s World Championships action

Source: NHL.com

A big showing helped the American side advance deeper into the tournament on Thursday at the World Championships, while a talented Team Canada saw its run end with a quarterfinal defeat to Sweden. Team USA prevailed in a 8-3 win over Russia, wh...

Lightning Corporate Partner golf outing swings into action

Source: NHL.com

Despite this past season’s results, the Tampa Bay Lightning always position themselves to be champions off the ice as well, specifically within the community. That was the case this past week, when on Monday, May 13, members of the Lightning or...

Martin St. Louis Nominated for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy

Source: Bolts by the Bay by Tasha Meares

The National Hockey League announced this morning that Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Martin St. Louis, along with Patrick Kane

"Greetings from Tampacuse" shirts now available from Raw Charge

Source: Raw Charge by John Fontana

If Tampacuse were a location, would it be Tampa, where the Lightning have seen their roster increasingly stocked with products from the Syracuse Crunch, including their head coach? Or is Tampacuse Syracuse, New York,,which has become the beneficiary of the Lightning's current prospect depth and devotion to player development?

The phrase, mashing up Tampa and Syracuse, became a popular hashtag on Twitter this season from both fanbases. Tampacuse, it seems, is a force to be reckoned with and something to take pride in.

And now we've put it on a shirt.

"Greetings from Tampacuse" embraces the blue and white - the primary colors of both the Bolts and

Fans, please remain seated until history is made

Source: Raw Charge by Patti McDonald

It's a sports fans worst nightmare to leave a game early only to vehemently regret the decision afterwards. As everyone knows by now, that's what a contingent of Boston Bruins fans experienced when they left TD Garden with the chips down.

The Bruins trailed the Leafs 4-1 in the third period with less than 10 minutes left. A comeback seemed impossible, but you have to remember this is a game 7 and anything can happen.

But, some fans obviously didn't believe a comeback was plausible, so they left. After all the ups and downs of the 2013 season, they gave up on their B's instead of seeing them through to theend.

Boy, was that a mistake.

Marty St. Louis is a Lady Byng finalist

Source: Lightning Strikes

Lightning right wing is a finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy, given annually "to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability,”  as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Martin St. Louis a finalist for another award

Source: Yardbarker

Lightning right winger Martin St. Louis has been named a finalist for the NHL’s Lady Byng Trophy, which is awarded “to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.” Members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association submitted ballots for the Lady Byng Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. The winner will be announced during the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, with more detail on format to be released at a later date. Following are the finalists for the Lady Byng Trophy, in alphabetical order: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks Kane ranked fifth in the NHL in both goals (23) and points (55), leading Chicago to its second Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history. He played in 47 games, averaging 20:03 of playing time, but was whistled for just eight penalty minutes – the fewest among the top 20 point-producers in the League. Ka...

Highlight video: Syracuse Crunch shut down and shut out Springfield Falcons in game 3

Source: Raw Charge by John Fontana

Editors Note: we still haven't been given the all-clear regarding technical issues on SB Nation; apologies for the inconvenience and annoyance that has created the past day or so... It's affected posting.

Tyler Johnson is good at the hockey. So is Ondrej Palat and Richard Panik for that matter, especially Syracuse Crunch hockey. They're real good at that.

Those three top-guns for the Crunch gave Syracuse a 3-0 win over Springfield last night at the Onondaga County War Memorial in Syracuse. The Crunch

Lightning?s St. Louis among Lady Byng finalists

Source: Tampa Bay Online

Marty St. Louis is a two-time winner of the trophy, given for �sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct with a high standard of playing ability.�

St. Louis, Kane, Moulson are Lady Byng finalists (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Islanders forward Matt Moulson, Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane and Lightning forward Martin St. Louis are the three finalists for the NHL's Lady Byng Trophy, the league's sportsmanship award.

Lady Byng Finalists: Patrick Kane vs. Matt Moulson vs. Marty St. Louis (Puck Daddy)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

The NHL announced the finalists for the Lady Byng Trophy on Thursday, as right wing Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks, left wing Matt Moulson of the New York Islanders and right wing Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning are up for the award given “to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability” as voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. This is the award given to the highest scorer with the fewest penalty minutes, or at least that’s the way it’s seemed for the last few seasons. As you all remember, defenseman Brian Campbell -- more on that in a second -- won the Lady Byng in 2011-12; alas, he had an elephantine 12 penalty minutes this season, so no repeat. It’s a fairly worthless award, although Adam Proteau of The Hockey News made an interesting case on XM Radio the other day: That being a player who takes punishment but doesn’t take penalties in retaliation is a unique brand of toughness for an otherwise delicate award. Of course, that speaks directly to why defenseman should be up for this award every season, and yet Campbell was the first D-man to win since 1954. But we digress … Who wins the Byng this season?

Kane, Moulson, St. Louis finalists for Lady Byng Trophy (The SportsXchange)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks, Matt Moulson of the New York Islanders and Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning are the finalists for the 2013 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, awarded "to the player judged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability."

Kane, Moulson and St. Louis Voted Lady Byng Trophy Finalists

Source: NHL.com

Right wing Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks, left wing Matt Moulson of the New York Islanders and right wing Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning are the three finalists for the 2012-13 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, awarded “to the playe...

St. Louis named Lady Byng finalist

Source: Yardbarker

TAMPA, Fla. The NHL announced that Tampa Bay Lightning winger Martin St. Louis is a finalist for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane and New York Islanders winger Matt Moulson are also finalists. The winner, as voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, will be announced during the Stanley Cup Finals. St. Louis, who led the NHL with 60 points and 43 assists, is a two-time Lady Byng Trophy winner (2009-10 and 2010-11). He was named a finalist for the award on four other occasions. You can follow Andrew Astleford on Twitter@aastlefordor email him ataastleford@gmail.com.

St. Martin, Kane, Moulson are Lady Byng finalists (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Islanders forward Matt Moulson, Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane and Lightning forward Martin St. Louis are the three finalists for the NHL's Lady Byng Trophy, the league's sportsmanship award.

Shutout gives Crunch 3-0 series lead

Source: NHL.com

The Syracuse Crunch took a 3-0 series lead by defeating the Springfield Falcons 3-0 tonight at the War Memorial Arena. The Crunch set a franchise record with their sixth consecutive post season victory, the Crunch are the only team that has not...

Tampa Bay Lightning Year-End Report Cards: The Role Players

Source: Bolts by the Bay by D. Frederick Cook

We could argue for days over the specifics and particular qualities that designate an NHLer a role player, but for the purposes of this article I will provide my own definition and ask that you play along and not bicker about the variables. My definition is this: An NHL role player is a forward whose primary function for his team is anything other than providing offense.

A role player can be a defensive forward, an energy forward, sometimes even a power forward (and possibly even a defenseman), a grinder, a goon, a face-off specialist, an antagonist – the list is long. And although role players can, and often do, provide offense, the offense is usually a bonus. They’re not counted on to score.

More often than not, role

Predicting If Tampa Bay Lightning's Top Stars Will Improve or Decline in 2014

Source: Bleacher Report

If there is one thing the Tampa Bay Lightning have a surplus of, it’s star players. Those stars’ production will be crucial to the team’s success in 2014. Will players like Steven Stamkos, Martin St. Louis and Matt Carle improve or decline next season? 

The Bolts’ disappointing season was only compacted by the individual performances of players like Stamkos and reigning Art Ross Trophy winner St. Louis. Tampa Bay’s potent offense will need to duplicate similar success in 2014. 

Based on career trends, overall production and general player development, here is a

AHL Playoffs: Syracuse Crunch versus Springfield Falcons game thread

Source: Raw Charge by John Fontana

Because of technical issues, we're a little late to get this up but game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Crunch and the Falcons is tonight at War Memorial. This is your gam ethread. Have at it.

Mishkin’s Musings – Second Round Playoff Predictions – Part Two

Source: NHL.com

Yesterday, I previewed two of the Conference Semifinal series. Today, it’s the other two. Eastern Conference Semifinals - #4 Boston Bruins vs. #5 New York Rangers: Following Boston’s Game Six loss to Toronto, Bruins Head Coach Claude Julien ...

Mishkin’s Musings – Second Round Playoff Predictions – Part One

Source: NHL.com

The second round of the NHL playoffs begins tonight with two games. Here are previews and predictions for those two matchups. Tomorrow, I’ll take a look at the other two series. Eastern Conference Semifinal - #1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #7 Ott...

Win a LG Electronics 42-Inch LED TV from Bolts by the Bay

Source: Bolts by the Bay by FanSided

Last month, we gave away a $300 worth of Sports Memorabilia…This month, FanSided and Bolts by the Bay have teamed up with Deals2Buy.com to give away a LG Electronics 42-Inch LED TV!!!

This LG Electronics 42-Inch LED TV is provided by Deals2Buy, a leading website for deals, discounts and close-out inventory offers. Focused on delivering best-of-web pricing, Deals2Buy is known among tech-savvy consumers as the one stop shop for deals on items like laptops, cameras, televisions and other technology products – as well

THN/Yahoo! NHL Awards: Best rookie, comeback player, breakout player (The Hockey News)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

The joint THN/Yahoo! NHL awards roll out continues with Brendan Gallagher, Sidney Crosby and Nazem Kadri being announced as winners.

Tampa Bay Lightning Fan Choice Awards: Top Defenseman

Source: Bolts by the Bay by Tasha Meares

Since the end of the regular season, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been giving fans a chance to vote on their favorite players and moments of the 2012-13 Lightning season. The vote currently on the table is Top Defenseman.

First on the ice is Victor Hedman. Hedman played in 44 games for the Lightning this season.

March 9, 2013;

Conspiracy Theories Abound!

Source: Bolts by the Bay by Tasha Meares

When a series comes down to a Game 7 there are always going to be the “Who, what, when, why, where, and how?” questions circling around. Who could have done better? What happened to the offense? When did this happen? Why did that shot go through? Where was the goalie? How could this have been prevented? All of those are viable questions. However, if you ask the Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, it was all a conspiracy.

Team USA falls to Slovakia, but still will earn quarterfinal matchup Thursday

Source: NHL.com

The American side wrapped up preliminary play at the World Championships on Tuesday, but in losing fashion as it fell to Slovakia 4-1. No matter, however, as the United States will still play in a quarterfinal matchup on Thursday, while Slovaki...

2013 IIHF Men's World Championship preliminary round complete

Source: Raw Charge by CAustin

The Preliminary round of the IIHF World Championship ended Wednesday and quarterfinals begin Thursday in Stockholm, Sweden, and Helsinki, Finland. The tournament will finish up May 19 with the medal round.

As I wrote last time, there are usually some small surprises in the WCs, but generally, things travel along their predetermined course without much deviation. The top three national teams in the world have been Russia, Canada, and Sweden for a very long time, with Finland and the United States rounding out the top five by most accounts. And these teams generally live up to their billing. This year has been the same, with one exception.

There's almost always a surprise team that comes seemingly out of

Quick strikes and links for Tuesday, May 14th

Source: Raw Charge by John Fontana

Tampa Bay Lightning News

Martin St. Louis tells Damian Cristodero that he has full confidence in what GM Steve Yzerman is trying to do with the Lightning. [Tampa Bay Times]
Public service announcement: Bolts.tbo.com no longer works, you can find Erik Erlendsson's Tampa Tribune coverage at www.tbo.com/sports/lightning

Weekly Syracuse Crunch Round-up

Source: NHL.com

Need to Know - The Crunch won both games in Springfield to begin the Conference Semifinals, and are 5-0 this postseason. - Tyler Johnson is tied for the Calder Cup Playoff scoring lead at 13 points with six goals and seven assists. - Syracuse c...

Eulogy: Remembering the 2012-13 Washington Capitals (Puck Daddy)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

(Ed. Note: As the Stanley Cup Playoffs continue, we're bound to lose some friends along the journey. We've asked for these losers, gone but not forgotten, to be eulogized by the people who knew the teams best: The bloggers who hated them the most . Here is Puck Daddy’s own Ryan Lambert , fondly recalling the Washington Capitals . Again: This is a roast and you will be offended by it , so don't take it so seriously.) We are gathered here today to mourn not only the loss of the Washington Capitals, but also the loss of their chances of reasonably competing for a Stanley Cup any time in even the relatively near future. You tend to hear a lot of talk about how one team or another has a "window" in which they can reasonably win the

2013 Stanley Cup Semifinal Television Schedule

Source: Bolts by the Bay by Tasha Meares

Late Monday night after the completion of the final Quarterfinal matchups, the National Hockey League announced the schedule and television coverage for the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Semifinals, which are due to start Tuesday night.

Apr 30, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; A view of the ice before game one of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

In the United States, the NBC Sports

The 2013 Stanley Cup Semifinal Matchups Are In!

Source: Bolts by the Bay by Tasha Meares

After an exciting first round in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Semifinal Matchups are finally set.

The first of those matchups is going to be captain Jonathan Toews and the number one seed Chicago Blackhawks taking on Henrik Zetterberg and

Steven Stamkos Shining For Team Canada

Source: Bolts by the Bay by D. Frederick Cook

Apr. 14, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center. Buffalo beats Tampa Bay 3 to 1. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Steven Stamkos scored his seventh and eighth goals of the season this afternoon when Team Canada defeated Slovenia in their final round robin game at the IIHF Men’s World Hockey Championship.  Team Canada flirted with disaster, nearly being upset by the pesky Slovenians who were up 2-0 at the end of the first period and 3-2 at the end of the second.  Stamkos scored his first goal to tie the game at two in the

St. Louis on Yzerman: ''Full confidence in what he's trying to do''

Source: Lightning Strikes

For all the negativity that surrounded the Lightning this season, right wing Marty St. Louis sounds relatively upbeat about what is in the team's future.

St. Louis on Yzerman: "Full confidence in what he's trying to do"

Source: Lightning Strikes

For all the negativity that surrounded the Lightning this season, right wing Marty St. Louis sounds relatively upbeat about what is in the team's future.

Quick strikes and links for Monday, May 13th

Source: Raw Charge by John Fontana

Tampa Bay Lightning News

In 2013 NHL draft speculation, the Bolts are impressed with Nichushkin, but is he coming to North America? [Tampa Bay Times]
The experience at the Tampa Bay Times Forum is ranked #3 (out of the 30 NHL teams) by Stadium Journey in their 2013 rankings behind Xcel Energy Center in Minnesota and Verizon Center in Washington D.C. [Stadium Journey]

Syracuse Crunch News

A Day In The Life with Lightning scout John Rosso

Source: NHL.com

John Rosso is a second-year scout for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Currently, he was on a break from his scouting duties in Minnesota and a few states further west to attend the scouting meetings in Tampa Bay with the rest of the team’s staff. R...