(Ed. Note: Welcome to the Puck Daddy 2013 summer season project, the Nationwide Hockey League of Nations. We’ve recruited 30 writers/blogs to identify the best player of their favorite group’s history for each major nationality that creates the material of our beloved NHL: Canada, USA, Russia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden, Finland and The Remainder of The World. It’s their criteria, so long as they can justify it. Read, debate and revel in! If you want to achieve this on Twitter, it is #NHLoN.)
By The LightningShout crew: W.B. Philp, Editor in Chief; Alexis Boucher, Managing Editor; and Jason Haas, Writer
Canada: Martin St. Louis
Martin St. Louis has been the unquestioned chief of the Tampa Bay franchise throughout his 12 years with them. Many would count on the Bolts Canadian consultant to be Vincent Lecavalier, but while Vinny was a prolific purpose scorer (many a direct result of St. Louis passes), St. Louis was and is the “Coronary heart and Soul” of the Lightning.
The six-time NHL All-Star is the Lightning career leader in assists (556), factors (892), +/- (+19) and shorthanded goals (28). He’s second all-time in video games played (910), targets (336), even strength goals (221), energy play targets (87), recreation successful objectives (fifty nine) and photographs (2449). St, Louis will be the career leader in ten offensive classes within the subsequent two seasons, passing Lecavalier in six of those rankings.
Marty has a trophy case full of NHL honors and this is what separates him from Vincent Lecavalier. He has gained two Art Ross Trophies, the Hart Memorial Trophy, three Lady Byng Memorial Trophies, the Ted Lindsay Award and of course, the Stanley Cup. Not bad for an un-drafted free agent who is just too small to play within the NHL. – W.B. Philp
Finland : Sean Bergenheim
Finns are criminally underrepresented over Tampa’s 20 yr history. They’re so underrepresented that the highest three Finnish gamers only spent one season with the Bolts. Taking that small sample size into consideration, the Lightning’s all time best from Finland is Sean Bergenheim.
In the 2010-eleven season, Bergenheim recorded 14 targets and 15 assists. He bolstered an offense that was suffering from accidents to star gamers. While those numbers will not be too sexy, the playoffs are the place he made a reputation for himself.
In sixteen playoff games, he scored nine targets and registered eleven factors. Three of those targets propelled the Lightning to a collection victory over Pittsburgh after trailing three-1. A two goal performance in sport four of the convention semi ultimate cemented a sweep of the Capitals. From there Tampa went on to the Japanese Convention Finals for the primary time since 2004 the place Bergenheim saw continued success. Not bad for his first time in the NHL playoffs.
Though his time with the team was brief, Bergenheim positively earned a spot in Lightning lore. Sorry, Janne Niskala. – Alexis Boucher
USA: Ryan Malone
When it comes to the US of A, Tampa’s greatest and brightest is left wing Ryan Malone. “Bugsy” may not have loved the identical success as he did in Pittsburgh, however he has been a gradual contributor on the ice when healthy. By means of 285 games, the large forward has 87 targets and 186 factors. A frontrunner in the locker room and an incredible teammate, he has definitely made an impression with the club. He was additionally a part of the USA team that gained silver on the Vancouver Games.
A fan favorite, significantly among the many girls, Malone has been in comparison with a young Reg Dunlop. Not too far off base given his penchant for plaid suits. Another hallmark of his time in Tampa was his epic bromance with goalie Mike Smith. Although he could also be shopped closely this off season, Malone is nicely ahead of nearly each different American who has worn a Lightning sweater.
With talent like Tyler Johnson on the horizon, that might very well change. – Alexis Boucher
Sweden: Fredrik Modin
Tampa’s greatest Swedish participant can also be one of their most underrated gamers of all time. Left wing Fredrik Modin performed for the Lightning from 1999-2006. He compiled 116 targets and 229 points in 363 video games. The large Swede is fifth general in franchise history in objectives scored. Impressive numbers that by no means appeared to garner the identical recognition that some of Modin’s teammates received. An easy mistake when your linemates were Brad Richards and Marty St. Louis. An integral a part of the 2004 Stanley Cup championship workforce, Freddie had eight goals and 19 points throughout that playoff run.
A little bit of a novel presence in that he played with a wood stick for many of his profession, the throwback gear didn’t cease him from profitable the Hardest Slapshot competition at the 2001 All Star Abilities Competitors with a pace of 102.1 mph. On his day with the Stanley Cup, he not only celebrated with champagne but home made birch schnapps. It’s onerous to think about what that actually tastes like, so it’s safe to say Mo is a tough son of a gun. Victor Hedman’s career is a bit too younger to be counted as the Lightning’s all time finest Swede, but he might be a contender in a number of more seasons. – Alexis Boucher
Russia: Nikolai Khabibulin
As a lot as we like Evgeny Artyukhin, the answer here is clearly the “Bulin Wall”.
Nikolai Khabibulin’s finest years came in a Tampa Bay Lightning uniform, together with the 2004 Stanley Cup win. Unfortunately he bolted to Chicago for the money after the lockout…but we’ll all the time elevate a glass to Khabby after which we’ll name a cab.
In all seriousness, Khabibulin is the last great goaltender to don a Lightning uniform. He is at or near the highest of each main Lightning career goaltending statistical category. He leads in wins (eighty three), save percentage (.914), targets towards average (2.39) and shutouts (14). Khabibulin is second all-time in video games played (192), minutes (eleven,080), saves (4,715) and shots in opposition to (5,157). Khabibulin’s performance in the Bolts 2003-04 championship season was nothing short of phenomenal: A 16-7 file with a 1.seventy one goals in opposition to common, a933 save proportion and an astounding five shutouts. Sorry Arty. – Jason Haas
Slovakia: Martin Cibak
It’s not often that a ninth round, 252nd overall draft pick makes the listing, however within the Lightning’s case, sure, “it’s Cibby time” again.
After honing his expertise with the Detroit Vipers, Martin Cibak made the soar to the NHL with the Lightning within the 2001-02 season. Cibak accumulated five targets, 23 factors and 30 penalty minutes in one hundred thirty five games throughout his three seasons with Tampa Bay. He was a contributor in the Bolts Stanley Cup championship season of 2003-04. Cibak beat out the two yr oft-injured, minus-18 defenseman Andrej Meszaros. – W.B. Philp
Czech Republic: Vinny Prospal
The Lightning have had their share of good gamers from the Czech Republic. A case might be made for the franchises first ever decide, defenseman Roman Hamrlik and the profession leader in games performed by a defenseman, Pavel Kubina. But, the choice right here is ahead Vinny Prospal. The middle performed a total of six seasons with the Bolts in three different stints starting in 2001-02. Prospal is eighth all-time in games played (468), sixth in targets (127), fifth in energy play goals (44), fourth in assists (244) and fifth in factors (371).
These numbers actually qualify Prospal as a candidate, but what put him excessive was his put up recreation interview after scoring two targets to beat the Montreal Canadiens in 2008. He had been taken off the top line by then coach John Tortorella, drastically reducing his ice time. The Canadiens game marked his return to the highest line.
“Shove it up to any person’s (Tortorella) butt” for the win. – W.B. Philp
REMAINDER OF THE WORLD CATEGORY
Ruslan Fedotenko (Ukraine)
If recent Stanley Cup Finals have taught us anything, it’s that depth wins championships. Top line gamers are likely to cancel one another out and it’s normally a 3rd or fourth line skater who delivers the demise blow.
Ruslan Fedotenko was exactly that player for Tampa Bay in the 2004 Finals, scoring two goals in Sport Seven to raise the Lightning to its first and solely Stanley Cup championship. While his acquisition wasn’t the preferred deal (Philadelphia despatched Fedotenko and two second round picks to Tampa Bay for the Bolts fourth total decide in the 2002 draft), it’s protected to say that the move worked out beautifully.
Aside from his playoff heroism, “Feds” was a consistent contributor in his four seasons in Tampa Bay with 32, 39, forty one, and 32 factors respectively from 2002-2007, including 26 targets in 2005-06.
Did we point out that he’s married to his billet mom from juniors? Legendary. – Jason Haas
Tampa Bay Lightning, National Hockey League of Nations
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