Whoa there, champ.  Predicting to win the worst division in the NHL?  Sloooooow Dooooooown.

Posted by HockeyinHD on 07/08/08 at 06:24 AM ET

dumb

Posted by Jdunc from Flint, MI on 07/08/08 at 06:45 AM ET

Their defense has to be better than some people think - if it was worse, it would be all peewee players, and I don’t think most kids would be allowed to stay up late enough to finish the games. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/08/08 at 06:48 AM ET

maybe Tampa will invest in an apprentice to help Boyle hang up his skates this season since so much of their plan hinges on his health; as per potential signing of Hutchinson, as Rangers’ fan I know full well he had great season in AHL, but in preseason he looked like a fish out of water with the big club; he was actually sent down before Kasparaitas; who on the Bolts can stop Ovechkin? Kolzig? Tseah, right.

Posted by Percy Weaver from New York on 07/08/08 at 06:56 AM ET

Say what you want people, but B.M. (thats Barry Melrose - not Bowel Movement - if there is a difference) is the coach… This team will be unfrigginstoppable!

oooh, be right back.  Gotta go take a Barry and wipe my Melrose!

Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 07/08/08 at 07:48 AM ET

Their defense is brutal and their goaltending is worse. And when did Barry Melrose ever coach defense.....This guy is a moron. And with all the forwards they signed where exactly is Stamkos going to play? They won’t finish last again with Toronto, Atlanta and Florida still in the league but that’s all I would guarantee at this point.

Posted by kevin from boston on 07/08/08 at 07:49 AM ET

Boyle isn’t with Tampa anymore - he was traded to San Jose.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/08/08 at 08:13 AM ET

LOLZ @ BARRIE

Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 07/08/08 at 08:26 AM ET

They won’t finish last again with Toronto, Atlanta and Florida still in the league but that’s all I would guarantee at this point.

I’m going to laugh if any one of these teams finishes ahead of Tampa. Just one. Since the season hasn’t even started yet, it’s amazing that someone can come out and say “this team will finish first” or “these teams suck worse than Tampa.” Sorry to burst your bubble, that’s just not how it works. Especially when the team you predicted to finish ahead of the other three named teams has a blueline with the integrity of cheese curds.

Mmm, poutine…

Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 07/08/08 at 10:13 AM ET

I know that Barrie must have worn a helmet during his hockey career, but it sure doesn’t seem like it.

Posted by shep from california on 07/08/08 at 10:20 AM ET

Florida has potential.  They have a money goalie in Vokoun, they have really reworked their defensive corps., and their young forwards aren’t bad.  If Deboer can get them to rally aroudn him, Florida could make noise in that division.

But TB… where to begin?

I predict Tampa finishes dead last in the league after going nowhere early on and then they begin the firesale.  They’ll then win the draft lottery and take Tavares.  Stamkos + Tavares, that’s what the league wants in Tampa, so they can try to somehow recapture Crosby/Malkin magic in that market.

It’ll fail of course…

Posted by Primis on 07/08/08 at 01:35 PM ET

Florida has potential.  They have a money goalie in Vokoun, they have really reworked their defensive corps., and their young forwards aren’t bad.  If Deboer can get them to rally aroudn him, Florida could make noise in that division.

Lots of questionable, long-term contracts in Florida: Weiss, Olesz, Stillman, Allen.

Lots of good players to be resigned for significant raises next summer: Booth, Ballard, Bouwmeester (again).

Not a good combination.

Posted by Steve on 07/08/08 at 06:01 PM ET