Habster:

The worst kept secret in the NHL which I hope doesn’t backfire on the Tampa Bay Lightning. I hope Barry Melrose is a better head coach than he was an NHL analyst.

He’ll have his hands full even with an improved Lightning team with a raising star like Steve Stamkos in the fold. The Lightning will also get a full season out of Mike Smith and Jussi Jokinen while they’ll have to wait a month or two until Jeff Halpern recovers from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee which required surgery in the off-season.

The biggest question mark for the Tampa Bay Lightning heading into the 2008-09 season (other than goaltending) will be their lack of depth on the blueline. Beyond Dan Boyle, Paul Ranger and Shane O’Brien, there isn’t a lot of proven talent. There are some promising yet unproven young defensemen like Mike Lundin and Doug Janik who could step up and provide strong defense. Dan Boyle will need some offensive help from his fellow blueliners especially on the powerplay where the departed Brad Richards use to man the point.

Regardless where the Lightning finish in the standing next season, they are heading in the right direction after years of bad drafting and poor management decisions with huge contract. The times are a changing in the Sunshine state, let’s just hope Barry does let his grow too long…….Oh by the way Barry, you better check the curves on your player’s stick, just in case!!!