Sure, the San Jose Sharks have their work cut out for them after falling at home in game one of the Western Conference Final and, yes, Philadelphia’s lead over Montreal is just one game despite the lopsided victory in the East opener.

But isn’t there something at least moderately intriguing for Tampa Bay Lightning fans about the possibility of a Dan Boyle/Matt Carle showdown in the Stanley…

Suffice it to say, the rest did me well.

I stayed away exactly a month, which was the minimum I’d promised myself. The itch was there to return early on a few different occasions but I resisted – made myself hold back – and I feel recharged and ready to tackle another active off-season for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

But first, some shameless self-promotion …

Over the course of the…

From great friend of the blog Nicholas Montemagno at The Rangers Tribune:

In 27 games played with the Devils this season, Kovalchuk had just ten goals, in addition to the two he netted in five games played against the Flyers in the quarterfinals. Those are not horrible numbers, obviously, but they are not what we have seen in previous years of his career and they are the only reason why he does not have an atrocious plus/minus rating. His performance in the playoffs this season was below-par, and I think that was the assuring fact that he will not be back with the Devils next season.

This may sound harsh, but Kovalchuk does not give a rat’s tail about the defensive end of the rink. He does not make an effort to backcheck, he does not make an effort to help around by the net, and he is not an option to put on the penalty kill. His only ability is scoring, which he can do quite well, but only when he chooses that he wants to.

People have recently been asking why Kovalchuk did not fit in New Jersey. Well, the Devils, sine their birth, have always been a defense-first team. Kovalchuk does not know how to play a system like that, in fact, he doesn’t know how to play much of any system at all. He is a floater that waits for the puck, and when he gets it, he chooses if he wants to do something with it or not.

Click here for more great stuff from Nicholas.

Welcome, everyone, to the second annual JJ Awards, named ever-so-modestly after yours truly (who also serves as the “model” for the “hardware” itself). These awards showcase both the positive and the negative of the 2009-10 Tampa Bay Lightning season (though, for those of a depressing nature, no “presentation” is actually made).

Before we begin, a little clarity so we’re all on t…

The JJ Awards are about half way done and on the way later today.

In the interim, though I said I would never do this again, my flawed playoff predictions:

East Quarters
(1) Washington over (8) Montreal in five
(7) Philadelphia over (2) New Jersey in seven
(3) Buffalo over (6) Boston in six
(4) Pittsburgh over (5) Ottawa in five

West Quarters
(8) Colorado over (1) San Jose in six
(2…

Neither general manager Brian Lawton nor head coach Rick Tocchet will return to the Tampa Bay Lightning next season, as owner Jeff Vinik announced this morning, paving the way for the fresh start that the organization appears to desperately need after two-plus seasons of turmoil on and off the ice.

Lawton’s ousting came as no surprise, if for no other reason than that an incoming owner severi…