A real blast from the past
The Lightning brings back a memorable slugger, right wing Rob DiMaio, from its inaugural season.
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published September 28, 2005
TAMPA - One punch.
That is all Lightning right wing Rob DiMaio needed that night in January 1993 to drop North Stars defenseman Richard Matvichuk.
It was even more dramatic because DiMaio was generously listed at 5 feet 10 while Matvichuk, who ended up crumpled on the ice, is 6-2, 215.
DiMaio rolled his eyes Tuesday when reminded of the moment, and even chuckled when told there are those who believe it is his defining moment as a Tampa Bay player.
DiMaio's view is broader.
"I took a lot of positives from the time I was here," he said. "I think I established myself a little bit in the league with the type of player I was."
The Lightning likes that type of player so much, it brought DiMaio back and completed a circle that began during the club's inaugural 1992-93 season.
DiMaio played almost two seasons with Tampa Bay before he was traded in March 1994 to the Flyers for tough guy Jim Cummins. He also played for the Islanders, Bruins, Rangers, Hurricanes and Stars.
Through it all, DiMaio stayed true to his roots by playing a gritty, hard-nosed, positional game. And while it's not something he does often, he can fight.
"What a warrior," said Terry Crisp, who coached DiMaio during his first Lightning stint.
"Pound-for-pound he might be the toughest guy in the league. One of the few times I choked up around hockey was when we traded Rob DiMaio because he was a heart-and-souler. He gave you everything he had every night."
Lightning center Tim Taylor remembered. He and DiMaio from 1997-99 were part of a formidable checking unit in Boston. So when DiMaio called and asked if Tampa Bay had any openings, Taylor encouraged him.
DiMaio also spoke several times with coach John Tortorella, who had DiMaio with the Rangers in 1999-2000.
"If there was any place I wanted to go it was here," said DiMaio, whose contract with the youth-oriented Stars ran out during the lockout. "I had a relationship with the coach and they won a Stanley Cup. That was the biggest thing for me."
"This is a good fit," Tortorella said. "I'm not a big believer of bringing back old guys from the past of the Tampa Bay Lightning, but Robbie DiMaio is a different story because he is a high-character guy."
DiMaio, 37, signed for two years at $457,000 per year. Expect him on the third or fourth lines on the penalty kill and any time the opposition needs to be slowed down.
"I pride myself on the defensive side of the game," he said. "Nothing in my game will change."
A game DiMaio said was forged in great part with the Lightning.
DiMaio played 74 games and scored six goals over four seasons with the Islanders before Tampa Bay selected him in the expansion draft.
He had nine goals and 15 assists in 54 games that first season, the 24 points just four fewer than his career high earned in 72 games with the 1996-97 Bruins.
"I had a great opportunity to come and play a lot," DiMaio said. "As far as developing my skills and my career, this place had a lot to do with it."
He said he watched on television at his Toronto home as the Lightning won the Stanley Cup.
"In some ways, you'd like to think you had something to do with it," he said.
Taylor said DiMaio will fit right in.
"He brings commitment, work ethic and desire," he said, "everything a championship team needs and requires."
Including a potent left-hand punch.
"I guess that's what some people remember for some reason," DiMaio said of his fight with Matvichuk. "I don't know why. I played pretty well here."
The Lightning hopes he does again.