Lightning Waive Two

The Tampa Bay Lightning are still making changes, 26 games into the season. I suppose when you're in last place in the Eastern Conference after making wholesale changes, what's a couple more changes?

On Monday, the Lightning placed both Radim Vrbata and Chris Gratton on waivers, but for different reasons for each.

Vrbata, a Box 20 forward on the Sheet, has lost all of his confidence in his play and feels that he can reclaim some of that if he was to go back home to the Czech Republic to play. Vrbata signed a 3-year deal with the Lightning, which they won't be on the hook for during the remainder of the season, worth $3 million per season. This season, Vrbata has only scored 3 goals and 3 assists in 18 games with the Lightning and was dropped in the first Waiver Draft of the season... good thing too!

Gratton, a non-pool player, signed a 1-year deal with the Lightning in the summer and has not played well at all. Also in 18 games this season, Gratton has only managed 2 assists. The Lightning are in desperate need of some offense this season, tied for last in Eastern Conference goal scoring with 60 goals for, and Gratton isn't pulling his weight. It will be interesting to see what happens if Gratton clears waivers. Will he be sent down to the minors?

All of the hype and all of the excitement of new ownership, new ideas and fresh faces in Tampa Bay have all gone for naught. The melting pot of talent that we call the Lightning have fallen from 'hopeful' to 'hopeless.' Of course, they are only 9 points out of a playoff spot and this was about the time that the Capitals made their changes last season, from a last place Eastern team to an eighth place Cinderella story. Of course, there is a significant difference between the Capitals of last year and the Lightning of this year... the coaching change in Washington was to one of much AHL experience in Bruce Boudreau and the Lightning put Rick Tocchet in place, who has assistant coach experience.

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