Goalie derby kicks off today
Marc Denis, Johan Holmqvist and Karri Ramo will compete for two jobs.
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
Published September 15, 2007
BRANDON - Lightning goaltender Marc Denis turned down an interview request Friday.
No matter, goaltenders coach Jeff Reese picked up the slack, sticking up not only for Denis, who is trying to resurrect his career after a brutal season, but Johan Holmqvist and Karri Ramo, the other contenders for Tampa Bay's two goalie spots.
"We're tired of hearing about goaltending," Reese said. "I know I am, and I can just imagine how they all feel. I think they've got a lot to prove, and I think they'd like to silence a lot of people."
The process starts today at the Ice Sports Forum, where the Lightning plays its first scrimmage and coach John Tortorella begins deciding who will man the team's most important and, for the past two seasons, most criticized position.
"I'm not going to dodge it. We have some questions there that have to be answered," Tortorella said. "My mind is wide open as far as that position is concerned."
It is quite a situation for a team that otherwise would be considered a conference contender.
Holmqvist, 29, with 29 wins last season, including two in the playoffs, has the inside track to be No. 1. But his inconsistency and short-side problems were troublesome.
Denis, 30, brought in to backstop the team to prominence, had the league's worst save percentage at .883, tied for the sixth-worst goals-against average at 3.19 and did not dress for the playoff series against the Devils.
Ramo, an AHL All-Star last season, is supposed to be pretty darn good. But he is 21 with 70 minutes of NHL experience.
The team has four scrimmages and five preseason games to figure it out.
"That's not a lot of time, and I need to make a fair evaluation on all of them," Tortorella said.
So the coach said all three will play during scrimmages, though he has no idea of the rotation.
Holmqvist said it should not matter.
"We know the situation. We know we have to perform, and that's a great challenge," he said. "I mean, we all know we can do better, but you only can worry about what you can do. I just focus on the games."
If you thought the focus on the goalies was acute last season, you ain't seen nothing yet.
The team believes it has upgraded offensively and plugged defensive holes. What it needs is a significant boost from last season's combined .884 save percentage, the league's worst.
The Lightning sees reasons for optimism beyond the goalies' superb physical conditions.
Holmqvist's one-year, $1-million deal was a compromise with the Lightning indicating a good year could secure No. 1 money.
Denis is fighting for his career, and there is nothing better than a motivated athlete.
As for Ramo, he is fearless.
"Yeah, I can play there," he said of the NHL. "Playing anywhere as a starting goalie is pressure all the time. I just take it normally, just have fun and stop the puck."
What a great way to silence the critics.
Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.Lightning camp
Where: Ice Sports Forum, 10222 Elizabeth Place, Brandon
Admission: Free
Upcoming schedule
subject to change
Today-Tuesday: Scrimmages and practice, 10 a.m.
Wednesday: Pregame skate, 10:30 a.m.; vs. Stars, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday: Practice, noon
Friday: Practice, 10 a.m.
Sept. 22: Pregame skate, 10:30 a.m.; vs. Capitals, 7:30 p.m.