Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Rookie defender has big impact

Kristian Kudroc has impressed the Lightning with physical and smart play.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 24, 2001

BRANDON -- He is big. With skates and pads on, he is huge.

And they don't call him The Rock for nothing.

Lightning rookie defenseman Kristian Kudroc, all 6 feet 6, 245 pounds of him, is tough to miss on the ice. And if you have been plastered into the boards by the thundering jolt that is a Kudroc body check, he is impossible to forget.

Kudroc is just 19 years old. He makes mistakes, and he averages just 7:48 of ice time. But he has made enough of an impression since being recalled from the IHL's Detroit Vipers on Jan. 31 that he likely will spend the rest of the season with Tampa Bay.

He may even have a regular gig with the team next season.

For now, though, he is a welcome addition (and that is putting it mildly if you listen to the Lightning coaches) to a team still looking for defensive consistency and extra muscle.

"He's not safe," coach John Tortorella said. "He's going to make mistakes, but through aggression. It's not intimidating to him. I think he just enjoys playing."

"I'm still nervous, but just a bit," Kudroc said. "I don't want to try to do too much. But I do what I have to to help the team."

Kudroc was the final piece of the trade that brought goaltender Kevin Weekes from the Islanders for the No. 5 pick in last year's draft.

In fact, general manager Rick Dudley has said that if Kudroc was not included, the deal may not have gotten done.

An unknown at the time just months out of juniors, Kudroc played so well in Detroit, the Lightning has called him up three times. There haven't been many minuses.

He has a goal and two assists and is plus-2 in eight games going into today's matchup with the Flyers. His first goal was a winner, Feb. 1 against the Sabres.

In his first game with the Lightning in late November, Kudroc blasted Islanders star Mariusz Czerkawski. The wing crumpled to the ice looking very much like he wanted the number of that truck.

That kind of hit prompted Tortorella to give Kudroc a second nickname: Search and Destroy.

Kudroc still smiles when asked about drilling Czerkawski, and hitting in general.

"It makes you feel great," he said.

"Sometimes you have a bad day and then you can punish somebody to put your frustrations out. It feels good. But you have to think when to hit and when to make the play."

One of his favorite plays is slapping a bear hug on an opponent and running him into the boards.

Kudroc even has a nice offensive instinct.

Against the Blues on Tuesday, the big man pinched just enough off the blue line to muck up a St. Louis clearing attempt and deflect the puck to Todd Warriner, whose second goal of the game gave the Lightning a 2-1 lead en route to a 3-2 victory.

"I think he shows great energy, and that's what you need," defenseman Grant Ledyard said. "He's physical and he hasn't shown me he wants to throw away the puck."

Still, he is 19, and Tortorella said he will be careful about throwing Kudroc into pressure situations. Against the Blues, Kudroc had just 2:43 of ice time on four shifts, none in the third period.

"But it still doesn't hurt him to be there watching," Tortorella said.

And practicing. The coach said Kudroc was so efficient clearing the puck during three-on-two drills Thursday at the Ice Sports Forum, the forwards weren't getting enough work.

"There will be some rocky times," Tortorella said. "But there's a freshness about him. He has those eyes. They're just beaming."

"Now I have to work even harder to stay in the league," Kudroc said. "I try to listen to the coaches and the other players. I know they are trying to help me. I'm just working hard to be the best I can."

Today: Lightning at Flyers

WHEN/WHERE: 1; First Union Center, Philadelphia.

TV: Lightning Hockey Network. Citrus County: Ch. 18 for upgrade, digital and Black Diamond, Ch. 20 for regular system; Hernando: Ch. 18 for upgrade and digital; Hillsborough: Ch. 44; Pinellas: Ch. 7; Pasco: Ch. 62 on cable-ready TVs, Ch. 67 with a cable box; Verizon Media (Clearwater, Pinellas Park): Ch. 525; Moffat Communications (Zephyrhills), Ch. 2. Call (866) 835-3562 for information.

RADIO: WDAE-AM 620.

THE LOWDOWN: Lightning left wing Fredrik Modin (strained groin) is questionable. ... Defenseman Ben Clymer was recalled from Detroit, where he had 5 goals, 8 assists and 88 penalty minutes in 53 games. He will play forward. ... The Flyers lead the Atlantic Division and are second in the Eastern Conference with 75 points. The Lightning is last in the Southeast and conference (40). ... Flyers center Daymond Langkow, a former Lightning, has a league-leading nine-game point streak. ... Tampa Bay's Brad Richards leads all rookies in points (47), assists (31), power-play assists (14) and power-play points (20) and is second in goals (16). ... Flyers goaltender Roman Cechmanek is fourth in the NHL with a 2.08 GGA. ... The Lightning is the worst road team in the NHL (four wins). ... The Flyers are 12th in the league in home power-play efficiency (18.1 percent). The Lightning is 29th (10.3) on the road in that category. ... The Flyers are 16th (85 percent) in home penalty killing. The Lightning is 26th (79.5) on the road. ... The Lightning is second-worst in the league with 11 short-handed goals allowed. -- Compiled by Brant James.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright