Lightning Get Their Yzerman....

Go ahead Hockey fans...let's just say it together....Steve Yzerman, General Manager. Only he won't be the GM of the team that he has been associated with for 27 years, the Detroit Red Wings.

No, Stevie Y, today was named the GM....of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Check out more from TBO.com RIGHT HERE

((Stevie Y//Courtesy: Dave Sandford/Getty Images/TSN.ca))

Yzerman has been out of hockey for a few years now. He was the VP of Hockey Operations for the Red Wings and he put together this years Canadian Olympic Hockey team. He does have some idea of what he is doing.

This is also the Lightning's owner, Jeff Vinik, putting a stamp on the team that he now owns. With the talent in Tampa already, it should be very interesting to see how it will play out.

Enjoy the Lightning's New GM's Hall of Fame induction Ceremony from 2009. Thanks You Tube:

And here's some sound from the presser, thanks to our friends at Fox 2 in Detroit
((HT: MyFoxDetroit.com))

Tampa Bay Lightning Fire Some People....

It appears the Rick Tocchet coaching era in Tampa has come to an end. As has Brian Lawton's run as the General Manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

New owner Jeff Vinik has apparently decided to clean house after the Lightning finished their 2009-10 season 34-36-12 and again, out of the playoffs.

More from FoxSports Florida RIGHT HERE

Vinik felt the need to sort of apologize to the Fan Base, check out his letter RIGHT HERE

Vinik is probably not wrong here. Despite having the NHL's top goal scorer in 20-year old Steven Stamkos, All-Stars Vincent LeCavalier and Martin St.Louis, the Lightning really haven't done much of anything since their Stanley Cup run of 2004. It probably hasn't helped that ownership has changed hands 3 times over that period of time either.

Here's Vinik addressing the housecleaning, thanks to our friends at WTVT in Tampa
Chip Carter was called in early, the HQ is fairly sure...
((HT: MyFoxTampa))


Check out video of better times in Tampa.
Thanks You Tube/ABC/NHL

Lightning Sale Approved

It looks to finally be official. The Tampa Bay Lightning sale has been approved by the NHL. Something that should be a relief to the Bettman and the rest of the league.

Boston businessman Jeff Vinik will take over the team from the semi-disfunctional Oren Koules and Len Barrie who have seemingly been fueding since they purchased the oft-sold franchise.

More from TBO.com RIGHT HERE

((Jeff Vinik photo//Courtesy: Tampa Bay Lightning))

The Barrie-Koules group spent a ton of money and didn't generate tons of results for the Lightning. Though they haven't been bad, they haven't duplicated the success the team had under the late Bill Davidson either.

The one thing this does do is hopefully bring some stability. Though the Lightning are not among the teams on that "List" of potential movers, this should make sure that they are Tampa for a long, long time. The official announcement is expected when the Bettman is in Tampa on Friday.

Here is an interview with Vinik from when the planned sale was announced. Thanks Fox13 Tampa Bay.