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Brad Richards asks those who have been judging the Tampa Bay Lightning from afar to think again.
"It looks bad and it looks panicky, but in this room we have a lot more composure than people think and we will find a way," Richards said after the club practised yesterday at Lakeshore Lions Arena. "That's how we won the Stanley Cup (two years ago). We found ways. This is our team, and it is not that different than the one of two years ago."
The Lightning is not guaranteed of participating in the post-season dance. Following an 8-5 loss at the hands of the Sabres in Buffalo on Thursday night, Tampa is in the uncomfortable spot of seventh place in the Eastern Conference, just a point ahead of the Montreal Canadiens. Not far back are the Atlanta Thrashers, who have 66 points after last night's loss to Ottawa.
Much of the offence for the Lightning is being supplied by the same group that did it in 2003-04, but one big change has been in goal, where John Grahame and Sean Burke have not been as consistent as Nikolai Khabibulin was two years ago.
General manager Jay Feaster wanted to add goaltending depth and another defenceman before the NHL trade deadline on Thursday, but instead was the only GM who did not make a move in the final 24 hours before the deadline.
Richards is at a bit of a loss to explain the plight of the Lightning this season, though Cory Stillman and Dave Andreychuk have been missed. Martin St. Louis, with 43 points in 59 games, is a normal human being again after winning the Hart and Art Ross Trophies in 2004.
"I wish I could tell you," Richards said. "Things will be going great, and then things will be going awful. Sometimes we have not been on the same page.
"Two years ago, we were used to everything being perfect. We just went on the ice and won games. It hasn't been like that and, at times, we have not handled it the right way. But I don't think we're panicking right now. Hopefully, we can get a push in the last 20 games and get everything rolling."
Clarke wanted Recchi
Mark Recchi was a popular commodity before he was snapped up by the Carolina Hurricanes, and one man who attempted to get him was Philadelphia Flyers GM Bob Clarke. Had the latter been successful, it would have marked Recchi's third stint with the Flyers.
"We tried," Clarke said. "We made our best shot and it wasn't enough."
Clarke tried to relieve the Pittsburgh Penguins of Recchi by offering two second-round picks. But Penguins GM Craig Patrick wanted a prospect, and Clarke was not interested in trading 2005 first-rounder Steve Downie. Recchi went to the 'Canes for prospects Krys Kolanos and Niklas Nordgren as well as a second-round pick.
But Clarke, who thankfully never holds back from putting forth his opinion, was pleased with himself after prying defenceman Denis Gauthier from the Phoenix Coyotes.
"He'll move up in the middle (of the ice) and hit people," Clarke said. "Like (Darius)Kasparaitis he'll go after the better players on other teams. I think that was one area where we felt we had to get better."
Kasparaitis, of the New York Rangers, tried to take out Peter Forsberg with an open-ice hit in the most recent Flyers-Rangers match. The clubs meet three more times this season.
Luongo to stay?
Mike Keenan signed his captain to a long-term deal on Thursday and may have convinced his franchise player to do the same. Goalie Roberto Luongo was impressed that Keenan, the GM of the Florida Panthers, re-signed Olli Jokinen rather than trade him.
"It's a positive for the organization that I'm going to take into consideration," Luongo said. "Not only the fact they were able to get (Jokinen) signed, but that there was not a fire sale. Those are two huge factors. The only thing left to be seen is who we sign in free agency this summer. If everything goes well, I'm sure I'll be signing long-term in the future also."
Luongo is slated to be an unrestricted free agent in July 2007. In January, he turned down a five-year, $30-million US offer and re-iterated he does not want negotiations to start again until after the season.
Coach Jacques Martin, meanwhile, said it is possible Luongo will start the rest of the Panthers' games.
Sutter speaks out
Calgary Flames general manager Darryl Sutter couldn't help but take a few shots at reporters on Tuesday. The topic was the trade deadline.
"The names that you guys keep saying are out there? They're not out there," he said. "The guys you say are on the market? Those aren't market players. And the players that are on the market? I don't think they're as good or as dependable at this time of year as the players we have.
"The neat thing about it all, is when there is not a story, there are people who try to make stories up. I know it's like a tidal wave for you guys because you have all these grand ideas, but they're not really that grand."
So, the record has been set straight. Thank you.
Around the rinks
The Buffalo Sabres' Chris Drury has appeared in 80 playoff games, all with the Colorado Avalanche. That's more than teammates Martin Biron, Ryan Miller, Toni Lydman, Rory Fitzpatrick, Derek Roy, Henrik Tallinder, Ales Kotalik, J.P. Dumont, Taylor Pyatt, Thomas Vanek, Paul Gaustad, Jason Pominville, Daniel Briere, Brian Campbell, Jochen Hecht, Maxim Afinogenov and Andrew Peters combined ... For the first time in their history, the Edmonton Oilers won't have a first-round pick, having traded it to the Minnesota Wild for goalie Dwayne Roloson ... The St. Louis Blues had agreed to trade Dean McAmmond to the Oilers, but the deal was not done before the deadline ... John LeClair of the Penguins was happy to see Recchi go to a Cup contender, but was disappointed he was not moved. "I don't want to talk about it," LeClair said when asked about staying in Pittsburgh ... Off-season changes are coming for the Phoenix Coyotes. "There will be a big difference in September," coach Wayne Gretzky said. "If you're not winning, you need to get better. It's as simple as that. We need to add some depth to this organization and we need to add some blood to this organization." ... The Ottawa Senators went on a tour of owner Eugene Melnyk's horse farm during a trip to Florida this week and when they left the estate, they were given gift bags that included video iPods and customized leather belts. What to get a bunch of rich hockey players who have everything? Now you know.
terry.koshan@tor.sunpub.com