THN.com Blog: Q&A with Lightning GM Brian Lawton, Pt. 1
"THN: Was Mattias Ohlund the one guy who you had targeted from Day 1?
BL: We had three guys on our list that we really felt would be beneficial and we really felt like we needed to get one of them to get back on track to respectability
Mattias was on that list, the other two, of course, were Scotty Niedermayer and (Jay) Bouwmeester."
I wouldn't read too much into Lawton naming Ranger. For all we know it could be posturing by letting other GMs know we won't be forced into moving him like I'm sure other teams are hoping. Posted via Mobile Device
I don't think they're sending out BS on Ranger. He was fine until they expected him to be a put in #1-2 minutes and then went 2 seasons playing with injuries. He'll be fine (if he can stay healthly) and his contract is very friendly.
He's here this year in the top 4. If he gets injured again then he'll be gone.
"Hiring a defense czar, as many pundits tickle themselves saying, in the calibre of Rick Wilson was the single most important thing to improve the entire Lightning club. Young Hedman will benefit immeasurably from this type leadership, long after Ohlund heads back home. I can’t wait to see what happens when Coach Wilson’s chainsaw is fired up beneath Paul Ranger’s backside! Dallas’ loss is our gain."
" It is hard to decrypt Brian Lawton. Has he found his calling as an architect or is he a lackey in a supporting role of our ownership soap opera? Some moves reflect brilliance and others were shoulder shruggers. It is also hard to discern if the ownership drama queens are indeed in peril or acting in a choreographed melodrama intended to drop the guard of our SE rivals. "
"It is also hard to discern if the ownership drama queens are indeed in peril or acting in a choreographed melodrama intended to drop the guard of our SE rivals. "
i think this poster can rest assured that the owners aren't acting out an elaborate melodrama costing them league-wide credibility and season ticket holders in order to get an edge in 24 division games....that would be playing possum on a scale never before seen in pro sports..."surprise! we DO know what we're doing!"
Actions will always speak louder than words and there is one thing to take notice of between last year and this year.
They signed a mixed basket of goods last season. Smurfs with good skills (Niskala, who i'm still kind of pissed we let walk) and then guys with no real purpose (Koci). There was no consistency. They threw some names on a wall and started tossing darts.
This year was actually calculated. They invested for now, and the future, whether or not people want to believe it. Take someone like Foster for example - say he bounces back in a big way. Powerplay QB, mentors Hedman a bit, starts putting up stellar numbers, signed to a KILLER deal if he somehow goes, say, 5-20-25 at the halfway point.... now you have a solid trade chip for picks/prospects. Same with Krai, if he doesn't get moved early. Can log some bottom minutes, and moves the puck decently. Another guy that could net a pick and/or prospect, depending on production.
Some people hate to admit it, but Brian Lawton, right now, is doing a great job now that Koules and Barrie have ****ed off and left him alone. He and Tocchet seem to be on the same page with the characters and roles of players they want, and now they have a solid coaching staff behind him, too. Things are looking up.
