Lightning Storms 2013-2014

St-Pete's Gazette

With the Pre-Season soon to be here, the Tampa Bay Lightning is ready for another exciting season.  After a strong finish in their Conference and Division in their first season in the SIM, GM St-Pierre and staff were extremely happy with the result.  But was left speachless after loosing in the second round of the playoff by the Ottawa Senators, this year Stanley Cup Champions.

With the new alignment, the Bolts felt in the toughest division of the league.  The task will extremely be hard to fight for a playoff spot when five teams finish with over 100pts in the standing last year.  And also, having the Stanley Cup Champion fighting to retain their title.

GM St-Pierre and managment reviewed a few options and decided to go with a young core with some veteran to lead the team.  Tampa Bay's new captain, Joe Pavelski, will have some leadership to share to achieve success with the team.  He will have the help of Statsny, Setogucchi, McGinn, Stalberg at the offence, all youngster wil lots of potential.

Coach Capuano didn't take long to ask for a strong core of defencemen.  With Yandle, Buffy, Vlasic and veteran Gonchar watching the blue line, some teams will have a hard time shooting from up close to the net. 

"If we can't score, they will not score either" said Capuano. 

GM St-Pierre will also relied on some youngsters to shine on the ice.  With the other McGinn brother, Vey and Aliu on the fourth line, sit and watch some lightning speed.  Also at defence, Weircoch, Postma and Schultz will try to make a name for themself.  And in the mix, some veteran like Grabovski, Hudler, and McLeod to add some experience to the team.

In net was a year to forget for the Bolts!!!  They had a strong core of goalies in Nabokov, Bobrovski, Hiller and yougnster Scrivens.  It all felt apart when Bobrov was traded at the deadline.  Suddenly, Nabokov and Scrivens left the team, and then, thinking we had our goalie for 4 more years in Hiller, he didn't re-sign with the team.   Left with a huge hole in net, the Bolts traded Hiller to the Kings for some first draft picks, and aquired Neuvirth as a back up.  After many attemps to get a #1 goalie, their prayers was granted with the new aquisition Jaroslav Halak.

The Tampa Bay are still shopping around, and not in a rush to make trades, but if the offer is good for the team, we will surely look at new options.

With a few days left before the pre-season, The Tampa Bay, GM St-Pierre, and staff would like to wish good luck and a great season to all, and say "\Welcome" to the new GM's of the league.  Hard work, and well time spent on this SIM league will pay off.

.....and I almost forgot......for the veterans of this league, and for the new GM's, the Tampa Bay Cheerleaders are Back!!!!....and not like last year....they were challenged from the Boston Bruins Cheerleaders.  If you think last year articles were nice.....you guys have no idea what you'll wake up too when you get online!!!!!!!!

Stay tunes.......

John Lu  -  TSN