Because in Florida hockey fails in popularity. They have NFL, College Football, NASCAR, Baseball, Basketball, and beaches all year
- SabreNation

exactly..when it comes to hockey ..you guys are out to lunch(team too)he he) but seriously I thought it was all about shuffle board and seniors dances..thats why I don't take you seriously since in your own words hockey isn't even a top 10 sport there ...and it shows..go dolphins

im hearing hemsky this years first for Reimer
- Daddichronic

Just stop listening to those voices in your head.

Not happening.

Reimer isn't worth Gagner and a prospect, let alone a first, probably a lotto draft pick, on top of it.

Heading down next month to check out the Leafs game - a buddy lives there. You can get tickets as cheap as $8.00! That's less than 1 beer at the ACC!
- Canuckleafer

$45 at the TBTF, I know, just checked while buying my Lightning vs Redwings tickets

exactly..when it comes to hockey ..you guys are out to lunch(team too)he he) but seriously I thought it was all about shuffle board and seniors dances..thats why I don't take you seriously since in your own words hockey isn't even a top 10 sport there ...and it shows..go dolphins

- Daddichronic

Actually to most of America hockey isn't a top 5 or 6 sport. Also I forgot Golf

Actually to most of America hockey isn't a top 5 or 6 sport. Also I forgot Golf
- SabreNation

I agree..thats whats (frank)ing up hockey..too many U.S teams whos fan base dont give a sh$t..keep it in Detroit,Chicago,New york, and scrap the rest..its teams like toronto montreal and tje teams up above that keep all the floridas and Phoenix and tampa going

I'm sure MLSE isn't worried about paying an additional 2 million. The cap hit is the only thing of concern.
- Canuckleafer

As I clearly stated in my post, this "doesn't matter from a Leafs perspective", just being factual

Because in Florida hockey fails in popularity. They have NFL, College Football, NASCAR, Baseball, Basketball, and beaches all year
- SabreNation

Average Bolts '13-'14 attendance 18,407 per game. Average Bolts attendance '12-'13 was 19,055 per game. Damn that's a lot of people who disagree with your post

I agree..thats whats (frank)ing up hockey..too many U.S teams whos fan base dont give a sh$t..keep it in Detroit,Chicago,New york, and scrap the rest..its teams like toronto montreal and tje teams up above that keep all the floridas and Phoenix and tampa going
- Daddichronic

See post about attendance at Lightning games and then tell me its teams like Toronto and Montreal keeping Tampa going. Ignorance is bliss

Scrivens to the Oilers for the 3rd rounder!!

See post about attendance at Lightning games and then tell me its teams like Toronto and Montreal keeping Tampa going. Ignorance is bliss
- uf1910

I have to agree unfortunately, I lived in Tampa for over 10 years and I will say this, that fan base has been a complete joke for almost their whole existence... just recently has it started getting better but still when teams like my Flyers and the other big market teams come to town their fans own that rink and most Lightning fans have very little knowledge of the game, just fair weather fans, free tickets from work, etc. etc. etc. but of course there is still some loyal hardcore fans. Just not nearly enough. The other Tampa teams have the same problem but right now the Lightning are Tampas most popular team I would say....

I have to agree unfortunately, I lived in Tampa for over 10 years and I will say this, that fan base has been a complete joke for almost their whole existence... just recently has it started getting better but still when teams like my Flyers and the other big market teams come to town their fans own that rink and most Lightning fans have very little knowledge of the game, just fair weather fans, free tickets from work, etc. etc. etc. but of course there is still some loyal hardcore fans. Just not nearly enough. The other Tampa teams have the same problem but right now the Lightning are Tampas most popular team I would say....
- GOA88

Our ownership history had a lot to do with the poopty fan base. But these numbers have been consistent for 5 years now since Vinik took over. Sure there are road fans in the building, but now instead of it being 1/2 road fans for those type of games it is 20%. However, we don't play those teams every game.

As for fair weather fans, Bolts haven't made playoffs since 2011 yet have been in top half to top 10 attendance every season since Vinik took ownership in 2010.

I have to agree unfortunately, I lived in Tampa for over 10 years and I will say this, that fan base has been a complete joke for almost their whole existence... just recently has it started getting better but still when teams like my Flyers and the other big market teams come to town their fans own that rink and most Lightning fans have very little knowledge of the game, just fair weather fans, free tickets from work, etc. etc. etc. but of course there is still some loyal hardcore fans. Just not nearly enough. The other Tampa teams have the same problem but right now the Lightning are Tampas most popular team I would say....
- GOA88

finally..someone I can talk to..on that note I completly take you for what your saying to be the truth

Average Bolts '13-'14 attendance 18,407 per game. Average Bolts attendance '12-'13 was 19,055 per game. Damn that's a lot of people who disagree with your post
- uf1910

how long have the bolts been in hockey and you only have two years of attendence for me..it took a torotonian kid to get you guys a fan base..before stamkos tell me what you had..I dare you..

how long have the bolts been in hockey and you only have two years of attendence for me..it took a torotonian kid to get you guys a fan base..before stamkos tell me what you had..I dare you..
- Daddichronic

a cup?

a cup?
- Feeling Glucky?

Damn beat me to it

how long have the bolts been in hockey and you only have two years of attendence for me..it took a torotonian kid to get you guys a fan base..before stamkos tell me what you had..I dare you..
- Daddichronic

Listen, he is going to defend his town, its an inferiority complex. I get worse arguements from other Lightning fans. He is right in some ways but the fan base will never be like a true hockey market.... ITS FLORIDA. For a hockey team in Florida they have a great fan base, for what thats worth......

how long have the bolts been in hockey and you only have two years of attendence for me..it took a torotonian kid to get you guys a fan base..before stamkos tell me what you had..I dare you..
- Daddichronic

Ok, I'll play your game but you're not going to like what I say.

2009 attendance (pre-Vinik which is the first true stable Lightning owner since Bill Davidson when we won the cup in 2004) 15,497 (21st in the NHL)
2010 (first year for Vinik) 17,268 (17th in the NHL)
2011 18,468 (13th in the NHL)
2012 19,055 (8th in the NHL)
2013 18,407 (11th in the NHL)

As for what the Bolts had before Stamkos, they've had a very uneven history of poor ownership (hillbillies, Art Williams, absentee Japanese group, hell even the final years of Davidson ownership was bad). And this doesn't even mention that when the Bolts actually had some success on the ice and even won a cup they lost the ENTIRE NEXT SEASON to lockout and thus lost the fan base momentum that was generated by winning the cup. Not to mention they lost that entire year with those players and thus had to let Khabibulin and Cullimore and those type of players walk b/c of the artificially low salary cap.

Listen, he is going to defend his town, its an inferiority complex. I get worse arguements from other Lightning fans. He is right in some ways but the fan base will never be like a true hockey market.... ITS FLORIDA. For a hockey team in Florida they have a great fan base, for what thats worth......
- GOA88

Inferiority to what? To Philadelphia and the glowing reputation your fan base has?

No, that actually has nothing to do with it. I am simply trying to erase this ignorant feeling that Tampa is a bad market for hockey b/c we are in Florida yet once this franchise actually got an owner worth spending money to go see the fans have been showing up to the tune of the top half of NHL attendance figures. Pre-vinik this franchise was a joke due to poor ownership, nothing can change that. But in spite of poor results on the ice sans 2010/11 run this team has been drawing to over 90% capacity. And we don't play Philly and Toronto and those types every game so how do you average 90% when it's all road fans for 20% of the games. The math doesn't add up yet you people keep arguing that

how long have the bolts been in hockey and you only have two years of attendence for me..it took a torotonian kid to get you guys a fan base..before stamkos tell me what you had..I dare you..
- Daddichronic

Oh, and the Lightning were founded in 1992. They started playing at the fairgrounds in a place called Expo Hall. Then they played at what is now called Tropicana Field (was called the Thunderdome). Then the Ice Palace was built and has since been renamed the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

During this time we have had 5 different owners with the longest ownership run at 8 years under the Davidson group. Not exactly a glowing rendition for stable ownership. However, that all changed with Vinik who spent over $45M in arena improvements and got none other than Mr Detroit Steve Yzerman to leave to be our GM. So if you want to point at our history as your main argument then by all means continue.

Ok, I'll play your game but you're not going to like what I say.

2009 attendance (pre-Vinik which is the first true stable Lightning owner since Bill Davidson when we won the cup in 2004) 15,497 (21st in the NHL)
2010 (first year for Vinik) 17,268 (17th in the NHL)
2011 18,468 (13th in the NHL)
2012 19,055 (8th in the NHL)
2013 18,407 (11th in the NHL)

As for what the Bolts had before Stamkos, they've had a very uneven history of poor ownership (hillbillies, Art Williams, absentee Japanese group, hell even the final years of Davidson ownership was bad). And this doesn't even mention that when the Bolts actually had some success on the ice and even won a cup they lost the ENTIRE NEXT SEASON to lockout and thus lost the fan base momentum that was generated by winning the cup. Not to mention they lost that entire year with those players and thus had to let Khabibulin and Cullimore and those type of players walk b/c of the artificially low salary cap.
- uf1910

first o
keep in mind tickets coast about 10 bucks 90% of tickets are givin away ans short of the past 4 years you are at the bottom 10 for attendencesince existence

first o
keep in mind tickets coast about 10 bucks 90% of tickets are givin away ans short of the past 4 years you are at the bottom 10 for attendencesince existence
- Daddichronic

Again, those years before this 5 was under the Barrie/Koules (aka hillbillies) ownership group who had no clue what the (frank) they were doing when they weren't openly fighting with each other. Again, I will not argue about the Bolts past. It is checkered with poor ownership, poor results, and mostly a product not worth paying to go see. But that is the past and if you or anyone else wants to continue living under some ignorant misconception that this franchise is anything like it was 5+ years ago then by all means continue.

And actually it wasn't a "Toronto kid" who built the Bolts fan base. It was a good owner in Vinik who actually put a product on the ice including that "Toronto kid" and dedicated himself to this city and this community that built the fan base and got the people showing up.

Again, those years before this 5 was under the Barrie/Koules (aka hillbillies) ownership group who had no clue what the (frank) they were doing when they weren't openly fighting with each other. Again, I will not argue about the Bolts past. It is checkered with poor ownership, poor results, and mostly a product not worth paying to go see. But that is the past and if you or anyone else wants to continue living under some ignorant misconception that this franchise is anything like it was 5+ years ago then by all means continue.

And actually it wasn't a "Toronto kid" who built the Bolts fan base. It was a good owner in Vinik who actually put a product on the ice including that "Toronto kid" and dedicated himself to this city and this community that built the fan base and got the people showing up.
- uf1910

we will both agree on that....cant and wont argue on this comment

Hey Ek, with all the Buff talk, it seems like nobody knows how to use him. Is he a offensive D-man, or is he a winger?
After looking at his negative plus/minus numbers, and his slow mobility, we might as well just stick with Gill. I understand that Buff may have that extra attitude, but is it worth the extra salary, weight, and lack of D play?
What about Mark Fistric? He's cheap (under a million/year), and hard to play against (hits, and blocks shots). If you check out YouTube, you can see how he levels folks, and makes players fear the paint. And look Mah, he can actually play D.
Thanks.

I'd think Buff could do some damage, but i would only make a trade for him with a packaged deal with Kane. If we are going to have to give up our young players (mainly forwards) such as Couts, Schenn, Read, or Laughten, we need some offensive return and not just a fat D man that could be a huge risk. Especially with all that Cheese Wiz in front of him in Philly.

Having said that, Berube could be the coach who won't put up with Buff's bs and straighten him out