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• The Tampa Bay Lightning play professional hockey in the Southeast Division of the NHL's Eastern Conference. The team is coached by Rick Tocchet and play home games at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida.

• Fast Facts

  1. General Manager: Brian Lawton
  2. Inaugural season: 1992
  3. Finals appearances: One
  4. Stanley Cups: One (2004)
  5. Home: St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida
  6. Head coach: Rick Tocchet
  7. Owners: Oren Koules, Len Barrie], Mark Burg, Russell Belinsky, Jordan Zimmerman, Dr. Richard C. Lehman, Irwin Novack and Craig SherOfficial Site: Front Office

• History

  After the team was founded, then-general manager and Hockey Hall of Fame member Phil Esposito put together a team to debut during the 1992-93 season. They finished their first few seasons near last place in the league, then made their first appearance in the Stanley Cup playoffs in 1996.

  Although the team moved to their brand new arena, the St. Pete Times Forum, in 1996, they again failed to reach the playoffs for the next six seasons. In 2003, the Lightning finished first in the Southeast Division and reached the second round of the playoffs, where they fell to the New Jersey Devils. In 2004, Tampa Bay saw much success in the playoffs, defeating the New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers to reach the Stanley Cup finals. The Lightning won the 2004 Stanley Cup championship, besting the Calgary Flames in seven games.

  On November 14, 2008 the Lightening fired Barry Melrose after just 16 games with the team. Rick Tocchet will take over coaching duties. The Lightning started the season a disappointing 4-5-1. Melrose had just returned to coaching after 13 years. ESPN: Tocchet to take over as Melrose gets fired] (November 14, 2008)

• Players and Alumni

  Below is a list of players who are either currently or formally on the team roster.

• Goalies

  • Nikolai Khabibulin (01-04)
  • Olaf Kolzig (08-09)
  • Mike Smith

• Defensemen

  • Steve Eminger
  • Lukas Krajicek
  • Mike Lundin
  • Marek Malik
  • Andrej Meszaros
  • Janne Niskala
  • Paul Ranger

• Forwards

  • Evgeny Artyukhin
  • Ryan Craig
  • Steve Downie
  • Chris Gratton
  • Adam Hall
  • Jeff Halpern
  • Jussi Jokinen
  • Vincent Lecavalier
  • Ryan Malone
  • Matt Pettinger
  • Vaclav Prospal
  • Mark Recchi (08-09)
  • Brad Richards (00-08)
  • Gary Roberts (08-09)
  • Martin St. Louis
  • Steven Stamkos
  • Radim Vrbata

  
  

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  National Hockey League | NHL Europe | Martin St. Louis | Vincent Lecavalier | Atlanta Thrashers | Brad Richards | Carolina Hurricanes | Stanley Cup | Florida Panthers | Washington Capitals | Tampa Bay Devil Rays | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Orlando Magic | NHL Winter Classic | NHL Trade Rumors | Vintage NHL Jerseys | Joel Quenneville | Barry Melrose | Rick Tocchet | John Tortorella | NHL Awards

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