Meet the Lightning

By Times staff
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 10, 2002

GOALIES

35 NIKOLAI KHABIBULIN

• PRONOUNCED: hah-bee-BOO-lihn.
• AGE: 29.
• HT/WT: 6-1, 196.
• THE SKINNY: In his first full season after an almost two-year absence because of a contract dispute with the Coyotes, Khabibulin was one of the world's top goaltenders. His seven shutouts were a team record and only a voting foulup kept him from being named MVP of the All-Star Game. The International Ice Hockey Federation named him the best goaltender in the Olympics in leading Russia to the bronze medal. Khabibulin works with a minimum of movement. He is almost always square to the shooter and there might not be a quicker glove. He also has made huge strides with his puck-handling.
• SALARY: $3.873-million.

30 KEVIN HODSON

• AGE: 30.
• HT/WT: 6-0, 180.
• THE SKINNY: Give Hodson credit. After a layoff of more than two years, he came to Tampa six weeks before training camp, got himself into shape and won a job. Hodson will tell you his success is all about mental preparation, something he took for granted his first time through the league. Hodson, who has not played a regular-season game since February 2000, is aggressive, athletic and not afraid to play the puck. Can he carry a team for a whole season? Probably not. But he seems well suited for the 15 to 20 games Tampa Bay expects him to play.
• SALARY: $200,000.

DEFENSE

• 22 DAN BOYLE
• AGE: 26.
• HT/WT: 5-11, 187.
• THE SKINNY: Acquired from the Panthers in January for a fifth-round draft choice, Boyle was a breath of fresh air on a back line that was miserable at the transition game. His ability to create with the puck and as a passer significantly opened up the Lightning offense. He had five goals and 15 assists in 41 games with Tampa Bay. He was, however, a defensive liability, going minus-15. Boyle must improve in that area without allowing his offense to suffer.
• SALARY: $850,000.

5 JASSEN CULLIMORE

• AGE: 29.
• HT/WT: 6-5, 239.
• THE SKINNY: The Lightning's most consistent defender continues to get better. Cullimore is smart and does not try to overextend himself. His body checking has improved and last season he led the team with 171 hits. Cullimore hits hard and with the new loose glass at the St. Pete Times Forum, his hits should resonate even more. A little more scoring would be welcomed. It might happen with the Lightning's commitment to getting the back liners more involved in the offense.
• SALARY: $1.45-million.

13 PAVEL KUBINA

• PRONOUNCED: koo-BEE-nuh.
• AGE: 25.
• HT/WT: 6-4, 236.
• THE SKINNY: The future is now for Kubina, who got a big contract in the offseason. With a booming slap shot and a willingness (some might say he is too willing) to get involved in the rush, Kubina is set offensively. Though he had a team-high 125 blocks last season, his defense was spotty. Too many times he had to sprawl to break up plays after being caught out of position. The former seventh-round pick has immense talent and played well for the Czech Republic in the Olympics and World Championships. If he can harness that talent correctly, and be more physical, Kubina can be a star.
• SALARY: $2.25-million.

37 BRAD LUKOWICH

• PRONOUNCED: loo-KUH-which.
• AGE: 26.
• HT/WT: 6-1, 205.
• THE SKINNY: The classic stay-at-home defender, Lukowich was acquired in June from the Stars for a second-round draft choice and is expected to add muscle and discipline around the net. Lukowich struggled with the transition from Dallas' system to Tampa Bay's but made strides as training camp progressed. The Lightning believes Lukowich was an underused and undervalued commodity with the Stars, and given a regular shift will develop into a steady, sturdy player.
• SALARY: $825,000.

2 STAN NECKAR

• PRONOUNCED: NEHTS-kahsh.
• AGE: 26.
• HT/WT: 6-1, 209.
• THE SKINNY: Neckar played well through the first half of last season but struggled in the second. That, and concerns about his wobbly knees, which have slowed him down, put him on the bubble during training camp. Neckar, who came to Tampa Bay from the Coyotes in the deal to acquire Nikolai Khabibulin, accepts his stay-at-home role and does it without fear of body contact.
• SALARY: $1.2-million.

44 NOLAN PRATT

• AGE: 27.
• HT/WT: 6-3, 203.
• THE SKINNY: Pratt missed almost half of last season with a broken foot and then a broken leg. When he played, he was steady and brought some needed muscle. Pratt is not going to stray too far from the net. He is not flashy, can hit and is not afraid to stand up for his teammates. If he can stay healthy, he should be a regular contributor. You might not notice him, but all that means is he is doing his job.
• SALARY: $650,000.

21 CORY SARICH

• PRONOUNCED: SAHR-ihch.
• AGE: 24.
• HT/WT: 6-3, 203.
• THE SKINNY: The most improved player on last season's team, Sarich went from minus-25 in 2000-01 to minus-4, and from 71 giveaways to 42. A heavy hitter, he has learned to maintain his defensive position rather than strike and possibly take himself out of a play. He also learned to grow from his mistakes and not dwell. Sarich has one NHL goal and has not scored in 133 games. Not odd considering his stay-at-home style, but somewhat surprising because he has a pretty good slap shot.
• SALARY: $850,000.

FORWARDS

25 DAVE ANDREYCHUK

• PRONOUNCED: AN-druh-chuhk.
• AGE: 39.
• HT/WT: 6-4, 220.
• THE SKINNY: It should be a season of milestones for the left wing. He is seven goals short of becoming just the 14th player to score 600 goals, and needs five power play goals to pass Phil Esposito's record of 249. He also should move into the top 10 in games played. Beyond the statistics, Andreychuk's presence in the locker room has been positive and calming for what is still a very young team.
• SALARY: $850,000.

7 BEN CLYMER

• PRONOUNCED: KLIGH-muhr.
• AGE: 24.
• HT/WT: 6-1, 198.
• THE SKINNY: It is difficult not to like Clymer, who last season made the transition from defense to right wing with enthusiasm and energy. A booming slap shot and good hands helped him to a career-high in goals, and his versatility allowed him to help out on the back line in a pinch. He also played some point on the power play. Tampa Bay now wants to see consistency. If developed, it is not unreasonable to believe Clymer can score 20 goals. He has a feisty streak, won't back down and can leave an impression when he hits.
• SALARY: $715,000.

11 CHRIS DINGMAN

• AGE: 26.
• HT/WT: 6-4, 235.
• THE SKINNY: The left wing was acquired in March from the Hurricanes, along with right wing Shane Willis, in the Kevin Weekes deal, and had four assists and 26 penalty minutes in 14 games for Tampa Bay. Dingman provides muscle, but it is believed he also can provide an offensive spark. He knows how to use his body to shield the puck and is difficult to knock off it once he gets it. He had just 11 giveaways last season.
• SALARY: $625,000.

17 RUSLAN FEDOTENKO

• AGE: 23.
• HT/WT: 6-2, 195.
• THE SKINNY: Much is expected of the left wing, who was acquired from the Flyers for the No. 4 overall pick in the draft: 20 to 25 goals and a defensive sensibility that is supposed to help Vinny Lecavalier's line. Fedotenko said expectations come with the territory, and he will get more of a chance to shine than he did in Philadelphia, where he was a third-line player and not used on the power play. Fedotenko will be used in all game situations, which should substantially boost his average ice time from last season's 13:56.
• SALARY: $715,000.

9 BRIAN HOLZINGER

• AGE: 30.
• HT/WT: 5-11, 186.
• THE SKINNY: Talk about bad luck. After missing almost three-quarters of last season with a shoulder problem, Holzinger broke his left leg just before training camp in a pickup game at the Ice Sports Forum. The center is expected to be out four to six months. The Lightning could use his speed. Holzinger would like the chance to redeem himself after scoring one goal last season.
• SALARY: $1.25-million.

28 SHELDON KEEFE

• AGE: 22.
• HT/WT: 5-11, 184.
• THE SKINNY: Keefe came into training camp in tremendous shape and impressed the coaching staff with a vast improvement in his skating. The right wing is an agitator and is not afraid to get his nose dirty in front of the net. He also is willing and able to do whatever is asked, which is why coach John Tortorella toyed with making him a utility player; switching his position from game-to-game or even shift-to-shift.
• SALARY: $975,000.

4 VINNY LECAVALIER

• PRONOUNCED: luh-kav-uhl-YAY.
• AGE: 22.
• HT/WT: 6-4, 207.
• THE SKINNY: Is this the season Lecavalier fulfills the expectations that have dogged him since clueless owner Art Williams called the just-drafted 18-year-old the Michael Jordan of hockey? Many seem to think so. The center, possessing so much talent it is astounding he is coming off consecutive down years, seems happy and appears to be getting along with coach John Tortorella. Though a bruised right shoulder kept him out of some preseason games, he worked hard in training camp. Lecavalier is the only Lightning player to score at least 20 goals in three consecutive seasons. Still, last season's numbers were his worst since he was a rookie, and he must improve on faceoffs. He can't afford another step back.
• SALARY: $2-million.

33 FREDRIK MODIN

• PRONOUNCED: moh-DEEN.
• AGE: 28.
• HT/WT: 6-4, 220.
• THE SKINNY: This is a big year for the left wing who must prove, after last season's injury plagued effort, that he is the same player he was in 2000-01, when he scored 32 goals, including a team-high eight on the power play. Much will depend on staying healthy and if the surgically repaired torn cartilage in his right wrist has healed. Modin's slap shot can reach century-mark speeds, and his stealthy wrist shot isn't bad either. A warrior who fought through pain almost all last season, Modin has the character any team covets. Now he needs to put up some numbers.
• SALARY: $1.7-million.

41 JIMMIE OLVESTAD

• PRONOUNCED: OL-vuh-stahd.
• AGE: 22.
• HT/WT: 6-1, 194.
• THE SKINNY: One of just two Lightning players to earn a plus rating last season, the right wing is a defensive gem who hustles and never gives up on a play. If only he could score. A couple of goals here and there would have secured a roster spot. Olvestad is a favorite of coach John Tortorella. But on a team that needs scoring, Olvestad was still battling at preseason's end to earn a position.
• SALARY: $550,000.

20 VACLAV PROSPAL

• PRONOUNCED: PRAWS-pahl.
• AGE: 27.
• HT/WT: 6-2, 194.
• THE SKINNY: It is likely no one has a better time playing hockey than Prospal, who was one of the Lightning's most versatile and valuable players last season. The center even celebrates practice goals. A good skater and creative with the puck, Prospal tied a career high with 55 points, including a personal-best 37 assists. He was all over the map while doing it, getting time at all forward positions and a regular turn on the power play. It should be more of the same this season. His 52.8 win percentage on faceoffs was a bonus. Likes to be called Vinny.
• SALARY: $1.55-million.

19 BRAD RICHARDS

• AGE: 22.
• HT/WT: 6-1, 194.
• THE SKINNY: Most players would have been thrilled with a sophomore season like Richards'. But the highly skilled center scored one fewer goal than his rookie season and earned the same number of points. In his mind, that was disappointing. So Richards went to work over the summer and came into camp looking strong. General manager Jay Feaster has not backed off last season's statement that Richards could one day match Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman in leadership and productivity. Richards is well aware he must improve defensively and on faceoffs. If he doesn't, that should be disappointing to him as well.
• SALARY: $975,000

36 ANDRE ROY

• AGE: 27.
• HT/WT: 6-3, 221.
• THE SKINNY: Finally, the Lightning has the kind of enforcer that makes teammates feel safer simply by his presence. Trouble is, the left wing must sit out the season's first six games to finish a 13-game suspension he got last season for leaving the penalty box and then wrestling with linesmen after a brawl with Rangers tough guy Sandy McCarthy. Acquired in March from the Senators for forward Juha Ylonen, Roy had a goal and an assist in nine games with Tampa Bay. Roy believes he can contribute offensively, and he does have a hard shot. But it will be hard punches, or at least their threat, that most often will change a game.
• SALARY: $700,000.

26 MARTIN ST. LOUIS

• PRONOUNCED: san loo-EE
• AGE: 27.
• HT/WT: 5-9, 181.
• THE SKINNY: How would you feel if your salary went from $290,000 to $1-million with one stroke of a pen? If you are St. Louis, you believe you must raise the bar set last season. The right wing was on his way to a career year when he broke his right leg in January. St. Louis said he at least has to pick up where he left off. A tireless worker who masterfully avoids getting caught up with the big bodies around the league, St. Louis' energetic play is fun to watch. He his a fan favorite.
• SALARY: $1-million.

16 ALEXANDER SVITOV

• PRONOUNCED: SVEE-tov.
• AGE: 19.
• HT/WT: 6-3, 217.
• THE SKINNY: The rookie center shows all the signs of future stardom. The question is, should he get some experience at AHL Springfield, where he would likely get more playing time, or should he learn on the job in the NHL? With a sharp wrist shot, defensive awareness, faceoff ability and a slowly emerging willingness to get involved physically, it will be hard to keep Svitov out of Tampa. Svitov's play was even more noteworthy because the No. 3 overall pick of the 2001 draft was sidelined most of last season because of a tug of war for his services in his native Russia.
• SALARY: $1.134-million.

27 TIM TAYLOR

• AGE: 33.
• HT/WT: 6-1, 188.
• THE SKINNY: A healthy Taylor is a huge asset for Tampa Bay. The center is a leader in the locker room, plays defense and can win faceoffs, something few Lightning players did with consistency last season. Taylor won 54.6 percent of his draws before being lost for the season with a right groin tear that still has not completely healed. Still, Taylor looked good in preseason and has high hopes after extensive physical therapy strengthened the muscles around those injured.
• SALARY: $1.6-million.

24 SHANE WILLIS

• AGE: 25.
• HT/WT: 6-1, 192.
• THE SKINNY: There is too much talent -- too much speed and too hard a shot -- to believe the right wing will again struggle so mightily. Willis had four goals and three assists in 2 games for Tampa Bay after being acquired in March from the Hurricanes with Chris Dingman in the Kevin Weekes deal. The move hit Willis hard. But he is a season removed from that disappointment and it is time to start putting up some numbers. He had 20 goals and 44 points in 2000-01 as a Carolina rookie. Willis got off to a slow start in training camp.
• SALARY: $615,600.

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