2008–09 Tampa Bay Lightning
Division5th Southeast
Conference13th Eastern
2008–09 record24–40–18
Home record12–18–11
Road record12–22–7
Goals for210
Goals against279
Team information
General managerBrian Lawton
CoachBarry Melrose (Oct.–Nov.)
Rick Tocchet (Nov.–Apr.) interim
CaptainVincent Lecavalier
Alternate captainsAndrej Meszaros (Oct.–Nov.)
Jeff Halpern (Nov.–Apr.)
Martin St. Louis
ArenaSt. Pete Times Forum
Average attendance16,054 (82.3% total)
Team leaders
GoalsMartin St. Louis (30)
AssistsMartin St. Louis (50)
PointsMartin St. Louis (80)
Penalty minutesEvgeny Artyukhin (151)
Plus/minusRichard Petiot (+5)
WinsMike Smith (14)
Goals against averageMike Smith (2.62)

The 2008–09 Tampa Bay Lightning season was the 17th season for the franchise in Tampa Bay. After a season of turnover in ownership, management and players, the team had a turbulent regular season. The Lightning failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Off-season

On June 3, it was announced that head coach John Tortorella would not return to the team despite having one year remaining on his contract.[1]

On June 18, 2008, the NHL Board of Governors approved the sale of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The sale of the Lightning was made to movie and television producer Oren Koules. The deal depended the closing of the financial deal of US$200 million to buy the team and lease the St. Pete Times Forum. Koules, 47, played in Medicine Hat and Calgary in the Western Hockey League (WHL) in the early 1980s. In more recent years, he achieved success with the Saw movie franchise and the television sitcom Two and a Half Men. Among his business partners in the Lightning deal is former NHL player Len Barrie.[2]

On June 24, the Lightning announced that Barry Melrose was hired as the team's new head coach. Melrose had not coached in the NHL since 1995 with the Los Angeles Kings. Since that time, he had served as an analyst for the ESPN networks.[3]

Goaltender Marc Denis' contract was bought-out by the Lightning on June 25, almost two years to the date after his acquisition from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Denis had one year remaining on his contract.[4]

The Lightning acquired the rights to left wingers Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a conditional draft pick in 2009.[5] Malone then agreed to a seven-year contract with the Lightning two days before he was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.

The Lightning acquired the rights to right wing Brian Rolston from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a conditional draft pick in 2009 or 2010. Rolston would later sign with the New Jersey Devils.

The whirlwind 32 days of questionable moves by new ownership came to a head on July 4 when, despite coming off a recent contract extension, Dan Boyle was traded along with Brad Lukowich to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Matt Carle (who would be traded in early November), Ty Wishart, a first-round draft pick in 2009 (which was traded in August) and a fourth round draft pick in 2010. Boyle was pressured to waive his no-trade clause by Tampa Bay's ownership, who said they would otherwise place him on waivers where he would likely be claimed by the Atlanta Thrashers. Frustrated at interference in the team's hockey operations by owners Len Barrie and Oren Koules, seven days later, general manager Jay Feaster resigned, despite having three years remaining on his contract.[6] Indeed, Brian Lawton had already taken over the position, though not officially until October 2. John Tortorella would later go on to label the new owners as "cowboys" for these and other dubious moves,[7] a moniker that would stick with them.

On August 29, the Lightning acquired defenceman Andrej Meszaros from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for defenceman Filip Kuba, as well as Alexandre Picard, and a first-round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft (obtained in the Dan Boyle deal with the San Jose Sharks). The Lightning would go on to sign Meszaros to a six-year contract worth $24 million.

On September 18, the Lightning announced that their new team captain would be Vincent Lecavalier.

Preseason

The Tampa Bay Lightning will be playing five pre-season games before opening the season against the New York Rangers on October 4 in Prague. Of special note, this is the first time that Tampa Bay will be opening the season outside of North America. This will also be the first time that the Lightning will play a pre-season game outside North America, playing Eisbären Berlin in Germany on September 28. It was announced later that the Lightning would also play against Slovan Bratislava of the Slovak Extraliga on September 30.

DateOpponentLocationTimeResult
Saturday, September 20PittsburghMellon Arena7:30pm5-4 W (SO)
Monday, September 22PittsburghSt. Pete Times Forum7:30pm3-2 L
Tuesday, September 23NY RangersSt. Pete Times Forum7:30 pm3-2 W
Thursday, September 25NY RangersMadison Square Garden7:00 pm4-2 W
Sunday, September 28Eisbären BerlinBerlin, Germany10:00 pm4-1 W
Tuesday, September 30Slovan BratislavaBratislava, Slovakia12:00 pm3-2 W (SO)
  • Note: all times EST and bold games are home games.

Regular season

The Lightning struggled on the penalty kill, finishing the regular season with the most power-play opportunities against (405) and the most power-play goals allowed (89).[8]

Divisional standings

Southeast Division
GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1y – Washington Capitals8250248272245108
2Carolina Hurricanes824530723922697
3Florida Panthers8241301123423193
4Atlanta Thrashers823541625728076
5Tampa Bay Lightning8224401821027966

Conference standings

Eastern Conference
R Div GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1z – Boston BruinsNE82531910274196116
2y – Washington CapitalsSE8250248272245108
3y – New Jersey DevilsAT8251274244209106
4Pittsburgh PenguinsAT824528926423999
5Philadelphia FlyersAT8244271126423899
6Carolina HurricanesSE824530723922697
7New York RangersAT824330921021895
8Montreal CanadiensNE8241301124924793
8.5
9Florida PanthersSE8241301123423193
10Buffalo SabresNE824132925023491
11Ottawa SenatorsNE8236351121723783
12Toronto Maple LeafsNE8234351325029381
13Atlanta ThrashersSE823541625728076
14Tampa Bay LightningSE8224401821027966
15New York IslandersAT822647920127961

bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, z – placed first in conference (and division)

AT – Atlantic Division, NE – Northeast Division, SE – Southeast Division

Game log

2008–09 Game Log
October: 3-3-3 (Home 1-2-3, Road 2-1-0)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationAttendanceRecordPoints
1October 4New York Rangers1 – 2Prague†17,0850-1-00
2October 5New York Rangers1 – 2Prague‡17,0850-2-00
3October 11Carolina Hurricanes3 – 4 OTSt. Pete Times Forum18,5520-2-11
4October 16New York Islanders3 – 4 OTSt. Pete Times Forum14,4200-2-22
5October 18Minnesota Wild0 – 1 SOSt. Pete Times Forum15,1910-2-33
6October 21Atlanta Thrashers3 – 2 OTSt. Pete Times Forum13,9221-2-35
7October 25San Jose Sharks0 – 3St. Pete Times Forum16,8311-3-35
8October 28Toronto Maple Leafs3 – 2Air Canada Centre19,3482-3-37
9October 30Buffalo Sabres5 – 2HSBC Arena18,6903-3-39
† Tampa Bay was the designated 'home' team on October 4.
‡ New York Rangers were the designated 'home' team on October 5.
November: 3-7-4 (Home 2-2-2, Road 1-5-2)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationAttendanceRecordPoints
10November 1Ottawa Senators3 – 2St. Pete Times Forum16,1044-3-311
11November 5New Jersey Devils3 – 4 SOPrudential Center11,6194-3-412
12November 6New York Rangers2 – 5Madison Square Garden18,2004-4-412
13November 8Philadelphia Flyers2 – 1Wachovia Center19,4125-4-414
14November 10Washington Capitals2 – 4Verizon Center17,9325-5-414
15November 12Florida Panthers0 – 4BankAtlantic Center12,1045-6-414
16November 13Detroit Red Wings3 – 4St. Pete Times Forum20,5445-7-414
17November 16Carolina Hurricanes2 – 3 SORBC Center13,7815-7-515
18November 18Florida Panthers3 – 4 SOSt. Pete Times Forum16,1765-7-616
19November 21Nashville Predators4 – 1St. Pete Times Forum16,4446-7-618
20November 23New Jersey Devils3 – 7St. Pete Times Forum14,2226-8-618
21November 26New York Rangers2 – 3 SOSt. Pete Times Forum16,9916-8-719
22November 28Minnesota Wild2 – 4Xcel Energy Center18,5686-9-719
23November 29Colorado Avalanche3 – 4Pepsi Center18,0076-10-719
December: 4-6-3 (Home 1-2-2, Road 3-4-1)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationAttendanceRecordPoints
24December 2Philadelphia Flyers3 – 4 OTWachovia Center19,2276-10-820
25December 4Boston Bruins1 – 3St. Pete Times Forum15,5986-11-820
26December 6Buffalo Sabres3 – 4St. Pete Times Forum17,1546-12-820
27December 8Boston Bruins3 – 5TD Banknorth Garden16,9736-13-820
28December 10Buffalo Sabres2 – 4HSBC Arena18,4316-14-820
29December 11Montreal Canadiens3 – 1Bell Centre21,2737-14-822
30December 13Ottawa Senators0 – 2Scotiabank Place18,4467-15-822
31December 18Colorado Avalanche1 – 2 SOSt. Pete Times Forum16,3337-15-923
32December 20Atlanta Thrashers3 – 4Philips Arena14,3957-16-923
33December 23Pittsburgh Penguins2 – 0Mellon Arena17,0648-16-925
34December 26Florida Panthers4 – 3 SOBankAtlantic Center16,9619-16-927
35December 27Florida Panthers6 – 4St. Pete Times Forum18,22610-16-929
36December 30Montreal Canadiens1 – 2 SOSt. Pete Times Forum20,45410-16-1030
January: 7-7-0 (Home 4-3-0, Road 3-4-0)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationAttendanceRecordPoints
37January 1Washington Capitals4 – 7Verizon Center18,22710-17-1030
38January 3Carolina Hurricanes2 – 3St. Pete Times Forum15,87310-18-1030
39January 4Atlanta Thrashers4 – 1Philips Arena10,75011-18-1032
40January 8Phoenix Coyotes1 – 4Jobing.com Arena13,73611-19-1032
41January 9Anaheim Ducks4 – 3Honda Center17,17412-19-1034
42January 12Los Angeles Kings3 – 1Staples Center16,51113-19-1036
43January 13San Jose Sharks1 – 7HP Pavilion at San Jose17,49613-20-1036
44January 15Philadelphia Flyers4 – 1St. Pete Times Forum15,60414-20-1038
45January 17Florida Panthers3 – 4St. Pete Times Forum17,21714-21-1038
46January 19Dallas Stars4 – 2St. Pete Times Forum13,99115-21-1040
47January 21Buffalo Sabres5 – 3St. Pete Times Forum15,61116-21-1042
48January 27Montreal Canadiens5 – 3St. Pete Times Forum15,91217-21-1044
49January 29Carolina Hurricanes2 – 3RBC Center16,40517-22-1044
50January 30Philadelphia Flyers1 – 6St. Pete Times Forum18,12017-23-1044
February: 3-7-2 (Home 3-3-1, Road 0-4-1)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationAttendanceRecordPoints
51February 3New York Islanders1 – 3Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum9,80817-24-1044
52February 4Pittsburgh Penguins3 – 4 OTMellon Arena16,97717-24-1145
53February 7New York Islanders1 – 0St. Pete Times Forum14,81018-24-1147
54February 10Atlanta Thrashers1 – 3St. Pete Times Forum13,49018-25-1147
55February 12Toronto Maple Leafs6 – 4St. Pete Times Forum16,52619-25-1149
56February 14Washington Capitals1 – 5St. Pete Times Forum17,24919-26-1149
57February 17Chicago Blackhawks3 – 5St. Pete Times Forum15,43119-27-1149
58February 19New Jersey Devils2 – 3 SOSt. Pete Times Forum14,40819-27-1250
59February 20Carolina Hurricanes1 – 4RBC Center17,71119-28-1250
60February 22Boston Bruins4 – 3St. Pete Times Forum18,45420-28-1252
61February 24Edmonton Oilers3 – 5Rexall Place16,83920-29-1252
62February 27Vancouver Canucks1 – 2General Motors Place18,63020-30-1252
March: 4-6-5 (Home 1-4-3, Road 3-2-2)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationAttendanceRecordPoints
63March 1Calgary Flames8 – 6Pengrowth Saddledome19,28921-30-1254
64March 3Pittsburgh Penguins1 – 3St. Pete Times Forum19,90821-31-1254
65March 6St. Louis Blues3 – 4 OTSt. Pete Times Forum13,83121-31-1355
66March 7Carolina Hurricanes3 – 9St. Pete Times Forum15,69221-32-1355
67March 11Ottawa Senators2 – 3 OTScotiabank Place19,23121-32-1456
68March 12Toronto Maple Leafs4 – 1Air Canada Centre19,20922-32-1458
69March 14Florida Panthers4 – 3 SOBankAtlantic Center17,73423-32-1460
70March 17Toronto Maple Leafs3 – 4 SOSt. Pete Times Forum18,79323-32-1561
71March 19Washington Capitals2 – 5St. Pete Times Forum16,54123-33-1561
72March 21Atlanta Thrashers3 – 4 SOSt. Pete Times Forum15,39123-33-1662
73March 24Columbus Blue Jackets2 – 1 OTSt. Pete Times Forum14,45424-33-1664
74March 26Montreal Canadiens2 – 3 OTBell Centre21,27324-33-1765
75March 27Washington Capitals3 – 5Verizon Center18,27724-34-1765
76March 29Ottawa Senators0 – 3St. Pete Times Forum16,42724-35-1765
77March 31Boston Bruins1 – 3TD Banknorth Garden16,99624-36-1765
April: 0-4-1 (Home 0-2-0, Road 0-2-1)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationAttendanceRecordPoints
78April 3New Jersey Devils4 – 5 OTPrudential Center17,62524-36-1866
79April 4New York Islanders1 – 3Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,80924-37-1866
80April 7Pittsburgh Penguins4 – 6St. Pete Times Forum19,53824-38-1866
81April 9Washington Capitals2 – 4St. Pete Times Forum18,89124-39-1866
82April 11Atlanta Thrashers2 – 6Philips Arena17,12224-40-1866
Schedule

Record vs. Opponents

Team Points Record
New Jersey* 106 0–1–3
NY Islanders 61 1–2–1
NY Rangers 95 0–3–1
Philadelphia 99 1–2–1
Pittsburgh 99 1–2–1
Boston* 116 1–3–0
Buffalo 91 2–2–0
Montreal 93 2–0–2
Ottawa 83 1–2–1
Toronto 81 3–0–1
Atlanta 76 2–3–1
Florida 93 3–2–1
Carolina 97 0–4–2
Washington* 108 0–6–0
Chicago 104 0–0–1
Columbus 92 1–0–0
Detroit* 112 0–1–0
Nashville 88 0–1–0
St. Louis 92 0–0–1
Calgary 98 1–0–0
Colorado 69 0–1–1
Edmonton 85 0–1–0
Minnesota 89 0–1–1
Vancouver* 100 0–1–0
Anaheim 91 1–0–0
Dallas 83 1–0–0
Los Angeles 79 1–0–0
Phoenix 79 1–0–0
San Jose* 117 0–2–0

Notes: * denotes division winner; teams in bold are in the Southeast Division; teams in italics qualified for the playoffs; points refer to the points achieved by the team whom the Thrashers played against

  = Member of the Atlantic Division
  = Member of the Northeast Division
  = Member of the Southeast Division
  = Member of the Central Division
  = Member of the Northeast Division
  = Member of the Pacific Division

Playoffs

The Tampa Bay Lightning failed to qualify for the 2009 NHL playoffs.

Player stats

Skaters

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals 

Goaltenders

Note:  Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;
Regular season
Player GP Min W L OT GA GAA SA SV Sv% SO
Mike Smith412471141891082.6212821174.9162
Karri Ramo2413114107803.66756676.8940
Mike McKenna15775481463.56406360.8871
Olaf Kolzig‡8410241253.66245220.8980
Riku Helenius1600000.00221.0000

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Lightning. Stats reflect season totals.
‡Traded mid-season
Bold/italics denotes franchise record

Awards and records

Records

Milestones

Regular Season
PlayerMilestoneReached
Steven Stamkos1st NHL GameOctober 4, 2008
Steven Stamkos1st NHL Assist
1st NHL Point		October 28, 2008
Steven Stamkos1st NHL GoalOctober 30, 2008
Steven Stamkos1st NHL Hat TrickFebruary 17, 2009

Transactions

Trades

July 4, 2008 To Tampa Bay
Matt Carle
Ty Wishart
1st-round pick in 2009 – Kyle Palmieri
4th-round pick in 2010 – James Mullin		 To San Jose
Dan Boyle
Brad Lukowich
August 29, 2008 To Tampa Bay
Andrej Meszaros		 To Ottawa Senators
Filip Kuba
Alexandre Picard
1st-round pick in 2009 – Kyle Palmieri
September 29, 2008 To Tampa Bay
Conditional 6th-round pick in 2009 – Jaroslav Janus		 To Nashville Predators
Nick Tarnasky
October 6, 2008 To Tampa Bay
Lukas Krajicek
Juraj Simek		 To Vancouver Canucks
Shane O'Brien
Michel Ouellet
November 7, 2008 To Tampa Bay
Steve Eminger
Steve Downie
4th-round pick in 2009 – Alex Hutchings		 To Philadelphia Flyers
Matt Carle
3rd-round pick in 2009 – Simon Bertilsson
November 25, 2008 To Tampa Bay
Future Considerations		 To Phoenix Coyotes
Wyatt Smith
November 30, 2008 To Tampa Bay
Lauri Tukonen		 To Dallas Stars
Andrew Hutchinson
February 7, 2009 To Tampa Bay
Wade Brookbank
Josef Melichar
4th-round pick in 2009 (pick ultimately forfeited)		 To Carolina Hurricanes
Jussi Jokinen
March 4, 2009 To Tampa Bay
Matt Lashoff
Martins Karsums		 To Boston Bruins
Mark Recchi
2nd-round pick in 2010 – Alex Petrovic

Free agents

PlayerFormer teamContract Terms
Adam HallPittsburgh Penguins3 years, $1.8 million
Olaf KolzigWashington Capitals1 year, $1.5 million
Radim VrbataPhoenix Coyotes3 years, $9 million
Mark Recchi[9]Atlanta Thrashers1 year, $1.25 million
David KociChicago Blackhawks1 year, $525,000
Brandon BochenskiNashville Predators2 years
Marek MalikNew York Rangers1 year, $1.25 million
PlayerNew team
Marc DenisMontreal Canadiens
Junior LessardAtlanta Thrashers
Craig MacDonaldColumbus Blue Jackets
Doug JanikChicago Blackhawks

Claimed from waivers

PlayerFormer teamDate claimed off waivers
Matt PettingerVancouver CanucksOctober 21, 2008
Cory MurphyFlorida PanthersJanuary 19, 2009

Draft picks

Steven Stamkos was the first overall selection in 2008

Tampa Bay entered the NHL Draft Lottery with a 48.8% chance of winning the lottery after stumbling to a 31–42–9 record in the regular season. The Lightning finished last in the league just four years after winning their first Stanley Cup.[10]

Tampa Bay's picks at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft[11] in Ottawa, Ontario.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality Club Team
1 1 Steven Stamkos (C)  Canada Sarnia Sting (OHL)
4 117 (from San Jose) James Wright (C)  Canada Vancouver Giants (WHL)
5 122 Dustin Tokarski (G)  Canada Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
5 147 (from San Jose) Kyle De Coste (RW)  Canada Brampton Battalion (OHL)
6 152 Mark Barberio (D)  Canada Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
6 160 (from Florida via Chicago) Luke Witkowski (D)  United States Ohio Junior Blue Jackets (USHL)
7 182 Matias Sointu (RW)  Finland Ilves (Finland Jr.)
7 203 (from Anaheim) David Carle (D)  United States Shattuck-Saint Mary's (USHS-MN)

See also

Farm teams

References

  1. ↑ "Lightning Head Coach John Tortorella Will Not Return For 2008-09" (Press release). Tampa Bay Lightning. Archived from the original on July 1, 2008. Retrieved June 29, 2008.
  2. ↑ Oilers sale to Daryl Katz approved by NHL
  3. ↑ Barry Melrose Named Head Coach of Tampa Bay Lightning Archived July 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Lightning Buy Out Contract of Goaltender Marc Denis Archived July 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ Lightning Acquire Rights To Ryan Malone, Gary Roberts Archived July 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ "Lightning General Manager Jay Feaster Resigns".
  7. ↑ "Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos".
  8. ↑ "2008-09 NHL Summary".
  9. ↑ CANOE - SLAM! Sports - Hockey NHL - Tampa Bay - Lightning sign Mark Recchi to one-year deal
  10. ↑ CANOE - SLAM! Sports - NHL - Bolts win draft lottery Archived April 13, 2008, at archive.today
  11. ↑ "NHL.com – Stats". June 21, 2008. Retrieved June 21, 2008.
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