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Demers sees bright future for Tampa Bay

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO and SHARON GINN

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 19, 2001

MONTREAL -- Jacques Demers still keeps an eye on the Lightning.

Tampa Bay's former coach, who led the team from 1997-99 and is now a hockey analyst for RDS television in Canada, said he likes what he sees.

"They have the best talent now that they've ever had," Demers said. "They have the best potential of any team in the league. I believe that. They have so much talent on this team, and it's all young."

Demers, who coached the Canadiens to the 1993 Stanley Cup, praised Lightning general manager Rick Dudley for "some good moves that will pan out."

He cautioned, however, "This will take time."

That's why he said he felt badly for recently fired coach Steve Ludzik.

"He was dealt a very difficult situation in Tampa," Demers said. "Right now they have a bunch of kids who are trying to find a way to win, and a bunch of kids who will be very good in the future."

KEEP YOUR HEAD UP: Two well-played games in a row against the Stars and Sabres and no points to show for it. That's what Tampa Bay faced as it went into Thursday night's game against the Canadiens at the Molson Centre.

"It's frustrating," coach John Tortorella said. "We tried to show them all the positives. Sooner or later it's going to break. There's no sense getting down about it. We have to learn from it and keep our concentration on the team concept."

Defenseman Cory Sarich agreed.

"It's very important we don't try to become individuals," he said. "On another level, each guy has to give a little extra, but within the team concept."

MOVES: The Lightning called up defenseman Marek Posmyk from the IHL's Detroit Vipers and sent defenseman Maxim Galanov and left wing Kyle Freadrich down. Both were scratched in their previous four games.

That non-activity was deemed especially unacceptable for Freadrich, who is working to become more than an enforcer.

"He has to play," Dudley said. "He has come so far. We can't let him lose that."

Posmyk had five goals, 10 assists and 36 penalty minutes in 30 games for Detroit, and was plus-5. The 6-foot-5, 228-pounder was scratched from Thursday night's game.

"He needs to practice with us a little bit," Tortorella said. "We'll see where he fits in."

POST-GAME PARTING: WDAE-AM 620 host Steve Duemig announced on the air Wednesday that he no longer will host the Lightning's post-game show. He said he was unhappy with the format, which at one time last season featured Duemig fielding fans' calls. The show, which airs after home games, now is entirely interview-oriented.

Jason Dixon, the Lightning's director of broadcasting and programming, said he will become the de facto host beginning with Tuesday's game. "We thought this would be a chance to put the players out front so the fans could get to know the players and coaches," said Dixon, who said the way Duemig chose to resign was "not the most professional thing."

ODDS AND ENDS: The Toronto Globe and Mail reported Thursday that George Gillett, chairman of Booth Creek Ski Holdings Inc. of Beaver Creek, Colo., is working to buy the Canadiens. ... Forward Stan Drulia was a healthy scratch.

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