Arty I am with you on this one, it kills me to go to certain games when I know Lightning season ticket members who are in my section will be wearing another teams colors. I understand such is the way with a team in the south but if you moved down here root for your local team whole heartedly... I do. I've asked some of them who's colors would you wear if their home town team came in here for a playoff game and never get a good answer. It kills me even more when I see parents making their kids wear the other jersey when those kids have been born and raised in Tampa.. you want to cheer for your home town team after moving here ok well let your kids cheer for their home town team now like you do.
- stammerman

I guess it would be better if we always rooted for the away team...

I guess it would be better if we always rooted for the away team...
- Feds91Stammer

It would be better if you always rooted for the Lightning... Are you saying if the Redwings and Bolts meet up in the playoffs you being a season ticket member to the Lightning will be cheering for the Wings? If so that just plain sucks.

Let's see here, I was born in New York and raised their until I was 10 years old when my father decided to move the family south to the Tampa area. My family was die hard Rangers, Giants, and Yankees fans. My father and mother still are fans of the NY teams but they root for the Bolts, Bucs, and Rays and will even cheer for the HOME TEAM meaning the Bolts even when the Rangers visit because this has been home for the past 22 years to my family and they feel its the right thing to do. Me and my brother being young my father basically instilled in us to root for the Bolts and Bucs because they were the team we would see live in person on a yearly basis, makes no sense to root for a team we would hardly ever get to see live. Then the Rays came along and it was a natural transition to cheer for them as well. So I stand by what I said, its a problem that all southern market new expansion teams have (ie Bolts and Rays) the Bucs have moved past it at least, hopefully in the next 15 years as the younger generation of Lightning and Rays fans become paying adults it reduces it to the point of nothing.

It would be better if you always rooted for the Lightning... Are you saying if the Redwings and Bolts meet up in the playoffs you being a season ticket member to the Lightning will be cheering for the Wings? If so that just plain sucks.

Let's see here, I was born in New York and raised their until I was 10 years old when my father decided to move the family south to the Tampa area. My family was die hard Rangers, Giants, and Yankees fans. My father and mother still are fans of the NY teams but they root for the Bolts, Bucs, and Rays and will even cheer for the HOME TEAM meaning the Bolts even when the Rangers visit because this has been home for the past 22 years to my family and they feel its the right thing to do. Me and my brother being young my father basically instilled in us to root for the Bolts and Bucs because they were the team we would see live in person on a yearly basis, makes no sense to root for a team we would hardly ever get to see live. Then the Rays came along and it was a natural transition to cheer for them as well. So I stand by what I said, its a problem that all southern market new expansion teams have (ie Bolts and Rays) the Bucs have moved past it at least, hopefully in the next 15 years as the younger generation of Lightning and Rays fans become paying adults it reduces it to the point of nothing.
- stammerman

I could never switch allegiances even if I just moved permanently to a new market. Also, parents often are a huge influence on kids in terms of everything from sports teams to religion to political views. I know for sure my son is being raised a die-hard rangers fan even if hes born and raised in toronto.

I could never switch allegiances even if I just moved permanently to a new market. Also, parents often are a huge influence on kids in terms of everything from sports teams to religion to political views. I know for sure my son is being raised a die-hard rangers fan even if hes born and raised in toronto.
- rangerdanger94

You not switching I understand I see it here in Tampa but for me let your kids make their own choice, why force your allegiance on them especially if you permanently move to another market. If they can choose some will stick with their parents team and some will pick the local team. I have a friend who is trying to force Boston on his kid who was born here in Tampa and because of it his son is more of a Rays and Bolts fan, I love it and take him to Rays, Bolts, and Bucs game with his dad who is coming to accept it. My dad gave me the option I could root for either the NY teams or the Tampa teams, he was taking me to see the Bolts and Bucs because its where we lived as he is a huge sports fan. I chose the local teams because as I grew older I knew this was my home and its who I always saw play. Still stand my argument and always will. Like I said I am glad that I see more and more young Tampa kids cheering on the Bolts, Rays, and Bucs because as they get older and becoming paying customers it will be less and less of an issue.

You not switching I understand I see it here in Tampa but for me let your kids make their own choice, why force your allegiance on them especially if you permanently move to another market. If they can choose some will stick with their parents team and some will pick the local team. I have a friend who is trying to force Boston on his kid who was born here in Tampa and because of it his son is more of a Rays and Bolts fan, I love it and take him to Rays, Bolts, and Bucs game with his dad who is coming to accept it. My dad gave me the option I could root for either the NY teams or the Tampa teams, he was taking me to see the Bolts and Bucs because its where we lived as he is a huge sports fan. I chose the local teams because as I grew older I knew this was my home and its who I always saw play. Still stand my argument and always will. Like I said I am glad that I see more and more young Tampa kids cheering on the Bolts, Rays, and Bucs because as they get older and becoming paying customers it will be less and less of an issue.
- stammerman

I honestly don't think it's 'forcing' anything. When you're young, you want to be like mom or dad. Cheering for the same team gives you something to bond over. It's pretty normal.

I honestly don't think it's 'forcing' anything. When you're young, you want to be like mom or dad. Cheering for the same team gives you something to bond over. It's pretty normal.
- Michael_Stuart

What if they want to cheer for the local team or another team, would you let them? That's what I am saying. Hell take moving markets out of it completely here in Florida with college football its the same, you might be an FSU or Miami fan but your kid want to root for Florida... would you not let them?

I guess that's what I mean, let the child make the choice they might root for Dad's team but they might choose another... if your a die hard and your kid is not can you accept it?

What if they want to cheer for the local team or another team, would you let them? That's what I am saying. Hell take moving markets out of it completely here in Florida with college football its the same, you might be an FSU or Miami fan but your kid want to root for Florida... would you not let them?

I guess that's what I mean, let the child make the choice they might root for Dad's team but they might choose another... if your a die hard and your kid is not can you accept it?
- stammerman

Parents who 'force' their kids to cheer for their team are in the minority, I think. If the parent is a die-hard, the kid will likely cheer for the parent's team. That's just the environment shaping them.

Panik's cap hit is?

Mike said :

If it's Morrow on a one-year deal or Iginla on a three-year deal, I'll take the former every day of the week.

Agree 100% - I forgot Iginla's deal was 3 years.

Again, why all the Carle hate? I understand fully what we got with him and I am sure the front office knew what they were getting when they acquired him. They can watch game tapes and we played against him many times, so we knew his strengths and weaknesses. At the time, we needed a puck mover on the blue-line and that is what we got.

Carle on most teams is a #3 or #4 defenseman. In my book, he has more upside than Brewer. If we have to free up cap space, I say we move Brewer for a six-pack of Molson.

Gudas as of now is 3rd pairing guy. I like his physicality a lot - we need that. That hip-check is golden and makes other teams think twice. Eventually, with more seasoning, he might move up to a second-pairing. I look at him like a Kasparaitis type of d-man.

Again, why all the Carle hate? I understand fully what we got with him and I am sure the front office knew what they were getting when they acquired him. They can watch game tapes and we played against him many times, so we knew his strengths and weaknesses. At the time, we needed a puck mover on the blue-line and that is what we got.

Carle on most teams is a #3 or #4 defenseman. In my book, he has more upside than Brewer. If we have to free up cap space, I say we move Brewer for a six-pack of Molson.

Gudas as of now is 3rd pairing guy. I like his physicality a lot - we need that. That hip-check is golden and makes other teams think twice. Eventually, with more seasoning, he might move up to a second-pairing. I look at him like a Kasparaitis type of d-man.
- GalacticStone

Gudas has much more offensive ability than Kasparaitis did. Gudas just needs to pick his spot more to be a more effective Dman. He runs out of position to make a hit too often which leads to scoring chances or him taking a penalty. He took the 4th most penalties in the NHL last season. He could be a very good 2nd pair guy, he just needs to learn how to play under control.

Parents who 'force' their kids to cheer for their team are in the minority, I think. If the parent is a die-hard, the kid will likely cheer for the parent's team. That's just the environment shaping them.
- Michael_Stuart

When we start winning cups the fans will jump on the wagon for good!

Panik's cap hit is?
- Artyukhin76

Connolly is $850,500 I assume Panik's is similar

When we start winning cups the fans will jump on the wagon for good!
- todd1a

Already were 10th in the NHL in attendance last year. Plus you have a class act owner that is willing to spend money and a GM that has a pair. I only see things getting better for this organization. I'm excited to see what Vinik does with Channelside.