Who do you think will start in T.B?

[Jake]

Ollie, Smith, or Ramo?

[dw13]

Smith

[Hawkeye]

Olli. Apparently they are shopping Smith. Therefore they will go with Kolzig

[two24four]

I have heard that if they keep Smith though he will be there starter, they brought Ollie in to be his backup and help him along, Smith is a very good goalie, he was just stuck behide Turco in Dallas.

[dw13]

I have heard that if they keep Smith though he will be there starter, they brought Ollie in to be his backup and help him along, Smith is a very good goalie, he was just stuck behide Turco in Dallas.

Yeah I agree with that, I think they brough Ollie in to help him, and the team in the locker room.

[chicagohockey]

Khabibulin I hope.

[moans]

if its Kolzig that would be amazing. My guess is Smith though.

[doofdoof]

I have heard that if they keep Smith though he will be there starter, they brought Ollie in to be his backup and help him along, Smith is a very good goalie, he was just stuck behide Turco in Dallas.

I expect that this is the most likely scenario. Unless TB really do not have any faith in Smith, I cannot see Ollie as the starter

[sketchyt]

I see Smith in a 60/40 split.

[secol]

Smith if they keep him in a time share......similar to what sketchyt mentioned

[Lucca Brazzi]

I'm thinking tandem as well. Ollie is past being a true starter, and Smith is just gearing up, so there will likely be a split.

[sketchyt]

However, if Smith falters early, all hop on the Kolzig train!

[Counter-Trey]

However, if Smith falters early, all hop on the Kolzig train!

Thats what I see happening too. They will start Smith no doubt but may be forced to go to Kolzig early.

I expect Kolzig to a do a good job. Not sure what he was offered contract wise from the Caps, or if he lives in Florida or what, but the man has something to prove by going to Tampa and not retiring as a Capital.

[dripsey3]

I think Smith will be the starter, but now that Boyle has headed out West, what kind of a D will he have in front of him?.

[MrScientist]

I think Smith will be the starter, but now that Boyle has headed out West, what kind of a D will he have in front of him?.

Tampa's D is young; who knows if this will be the breakout year.

[chgorman]

I think Smith will be the starter, but now that Boyle has headed out West, what kind of a D will he have in front of him?.

Boyle wasn't all that great defensively anyways, was he? They'll most likely lose some offence with Boyle being traded, but I'm not sure they're much worse off defensively. Maybe boltsfan can confirm this, as, TBH, I don't watch TB much, just have heard that Boyle isn't all that spectacular defensively.

[secol]

Boyle wasn't all that great defensively anyways, was he? They'll most likely lose some offence with Boyle being traded, but I'm not sure they're much worse off defensively. Maybe boltsfan can confirm this, as, TBH, I don't watch TB much, just have heard that Boyle isn't all that spectacular defensively.
yeah I think the same as well although he's not quite as bad as what his +/- would've suggested....

[Jake]

A split is what I thought as well, I just wanted to confirm it or hear if anybody like Boltsfan has heard anything different. As usual, thanks for all of the input guys

[MrScientist]

I haven't heard much other than the fact that TB is shopping Smith. One thing I can tell you is that Tampa is super high on Ramo, so he'll have a much longer leash than either Kolzig or Smith, if they end up with all 3.

Here's my opinion of Boyle. While he is a primarily offensive defenseman, he was also a notch above anyone else in Tampa. In a sense, the D is in a rebuilding phase ... they have at least 3 solid defenders in the fold, IMO. The 3 are Ranger, Carle, and Kuba, and lest we forget that Carle and Ranger are very young. I went to two Tampa games last year (@ Detroit and vs. Washington) ((on vacation)) and most of the rest I catch on Center Ice. O'Brien was inconsistent last year but he should be decent. I can't tell with Lundin yet, and I haven't seen enough of Picard either, but he seems like he'll be good. What can people tell me about Wishart? Is he still a year or two away?

Oh, and today's signings of Arytukhin and Recchi: Recchi - Meh. Arytukhin I'm excited about. The dude is a monster. He finally got past his prima-donna stage of demanding a bunch of money and I'm glad he did. He was a force a couple of years ago and I hope he's the same way.

We do seem to have a logjam at forward, but I'm not worried. Here's what people are forgetting: bums like Ouellet, Roy, Ward, etc. are now expendable and will either get dumped or end up in the AHL. Tampa can also be more patient with their prospects like Jones, Smaby, and Quick, and they're replenishing the farm at the same time. You can maybe toss Ramo into that group, but I think they want him on the big team.

EDIT: Replace Ouellet with Darche.

[Hawkeye]

I haven't heard much other than the fact that TB is shopping Smith. One thing I can tell you is that Tampa is super high on Ramo, so he'll have a much longer leash than either Kolzig or Smith, if they end up with all 3.

Here's my opinion of Boyle. While he is a primarily offensive defenseman, he was also a notch above anyone else in Tampa. In a sense, the D is in a rebuilding phase ... they have at least 3 solid defenders in the fold, IMO. The 3 are Ranger, Carle, and Kuba, and lest we forget that Carle and Ranger are very young. I went to two Tampa games last year (@ Detroit and vs. Washington) ((on vacation)) and most of the rest I catch on Center Ice. O'Brien was inconsistent last year but he should be decent. I can't tell with Lundin yet, and I haven't seen enough of Picard either, but he seems like he'll be good. What can people tell me about Wishart? Is he still a year or two away?

Oh, and today's signings of Arytukhin and Recchi: Recchi - Meh. Arytukhin I'm excited about. The dude is a monster. He finally got past his prima-donna stage of demanding a bunch of money and I'm glad he did. He was a force a couple of years ago and I hope he's the same way.

We do seem to have a logjam at forward, but I'm not worried. Here's what people are forgetting: bums like Ouellet, Roy, Ward, etc. are now expendable and will either get dumped or end up in the AHL. Tampa can also be more patient with their prospects like Jones, Smaby, and Quick, and they're replenishing the farm at the same time. You can maybe toss Ramo into that group, but I think they want him on the big team.

Dumping Ouellet would be a mistake IMO... he's got decent enough skills to put up 40-50 pts and was the only one last year on that team who managed to have a +/- over 0. Maybe he ain't flashy, but he competes hard and is a hell of a good two way player. I'd be happy to have him on my team.

Don't know why you call him a bum. There's alot more players on that team that I'd qualify as bums before Ouellet.

[MrScientist]

Dumping Ouellet would be a mistake IMO... he's got decent enough skills to put up 40-50 pts and was the only one last year on that team who managed to have a +/- over 0. Maybe he ain't flashy, but he competes hard and is a hell of a good two way player. I'd be happy to have him on my team.

Don't know why you call him a bum. There's alot more players on that team that I'd qualify as bums before Ouellet.

I was thinking of Darche when I said that :blah:, but I think Ouellet will still have to earn his spot in camp.