Lightning re-sign Holmqvist

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Lightning re-sign Holmqvist

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CronoX
Moonwalker

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Post: #1

Lightning re-sign Holmqvist

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=208237&hubname=nhl

Quote:

The Tampa Bay Lightning have locked up another potential free agent for next season, signing goaltender Johan Holmqvist to a one-year contract.

Holmqvist, 28, posted a 27-15-3 record with the Lightning this past season with a 2.85 goals-against-average and a .893 save percentage.

"As we said at the end of the season, Johan Holmqvist is one piece of the puzzle for us in net, and it was one of our top priorities this off-season to get him re-signed at a number that made sense for us," Lightning general manager Jay Feaster said in a statement. "By signing a one-year deal, Johan has demonstrated that he intends to build on last year's performance and firmly establish himself - once and for all - as a legitimate No. 1 goalie in the NHL."

Holmqvist spent the 2005-06 season with Brynas IF Gavle of the Swedish Elite League and led the league in goals-against average with 1.95.

Holmqvist played in four NHL games between 2000-01 and 2002-03 with the New York Rangers, posting a 4.32 GAA and a .868 save percentage. He was a seventh-round pick, 175th overall, by the Rangers at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.

Not a big surprise since a) they have no cap space to sign a marquee UFA goalie and b) Holmqvist was servicable enough.

05-19-2007 04:59 PM

GoSabres3
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Post: #2

RE: Lightning re-sign Holmqvist

Holmqvist was pretty good during the regular season, but struggled in the playoffs. He can still be a #1 goalie with Tampa.

MILLERTIME IN BUFFALO!!!!!!

05-23-2007 07:40 PM

tkaine
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Post: #3

RE: Lightning re-sign Holmqvist

They won't win anything big with him, but he'll keep them in the game for the time being and they can trade up later.

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05-23-2007 08:05 PM

oldskool791
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Post: #4

RE: Lightning re-sign Holmqvist

holmqvist you could tell in the playoffs is tampa bays weak spot this should be on tampas checklist is looking for a better goalie to become a more complete team

05-23-2007 08:17 PM

CronoX
Moonwalker

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Post: #5

RE: Lightning re-sign Holmqvist

the problem is, they don't have the cap space to go out and sign a top-notch FA goaltender like a Giguere or trade for a guy like Nabokov. They need to make a trade somewhere to free up cap space or trade for a very cheap, young goalie (Montoya? Toivonen?) and hope they develop into a starter.

"First rule in roadside beet sales, put the most attractive beets on top. The ones that make you pull the car over and go “wow, I need this beet right now”. Those are the money beets. -D.K. Schrute"

05-27-2007 01:57 PM

tkaine
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Post: #6

RE: Lightning re-sign Holmqvist

CronoX Wrote:

Toskala is on the trading block and his salary is only $1,375,000 through 2008. San Jose isn't missing many pieces, if SJ picks up a top-2 D man from free agency Tampa should be able to steal him in a trade if they can give up a 5-6 Dman and/or a left winger.

Though with Toskala being the steal that he is, unless they give up a top-line left winger or a top 2 D man someone will probably make a better offer.

We'll see, I guess. This is also assuming that Nabokov doesn't get moved (which he probably won't due to the tradability of Toskala and Nabby's NTC).

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05-27-2007 02:11 PM