Lightning quick: Tampa Bay signs Malone, Prospal, Roberts
Hockey Betting Lines
06/30/2008 -
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Lightning made a big splash in the
free agent market on Monday, signing forwards Ryan Malone, Vinny Prospal and
Gary Roberts.
Malone's deal is for seventh years and worth an estimated $31.5 million. He
was acquired from Pittsburgh along with Roberts Saturday in exchange for a
conditional draft pick in 2009.
"Ryan's signing is a great validation of the organization's plans and
desires as we move forward," Lightning owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie said.
"He fits our strategic plan of adding quality players with a warrior
mentality. We look forward to a long and productive career for Ryan as a
member of the Lightning organization and the Tampa Bay community."
On Sunday, the Lightning also acquired the rights to Brian Rolston from the
Minnesota Wild.
Ownership hopes the deals will invigorate a franchise coming off a horrendous
2007-08 campaign in which Tampa Bay finished with the worst record in the
Eastern Conference. The club also drafted Steven Stamkos first overall earlier
this month.
Malone, a 27-year-old Pittsburgh native, recorded 27 goals and 51 points in 77
games for the Penguins last season. He also tallied six goals and 16 points in
20 playoff games in a career-year for the left winger. In 299 career games,
Malone has 87 goals and 169 points, all with the Penguins.
Prospal agreed to a multi-year contract after the Lightning acquired his
rights from the Philadelphia Flyers on June 18 in exchange for Nashville's
seventh-round pick (previously acquired) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and Tampa
Bay's fourth-round pick in 2009.
"We were very pleased to be able to announce last week that we had reached
terms with Vinny Prospal to bring him back to Tampa," Koules and Barrie
said. "With Vinny's new contract signed and in hand we are now able to
formalize the announcement today. We expect great things from Vinny in
2008-09 and beyond. He fits uniquely alongside Marty St. Louis and Vinny
Lecavalier on our MVP line and the new ownership group is thrilled these three
forwards will lead us into battle next season."
Tampa Bay dealt Prospal to the Flyers on February 25, one day before the NHL
trade deadline. The 33-year-old recorded four goals and 14 points in 18
regular-season contests last year following the trade, adding three goals
and 10 assists in 17 playoff games as the Flyers advanced to the Eastern
Conference finals for the first time since 2004.
Prior to the deal, Prospal registered 29 goals and 57 points in 62 games for
Tampa Bay.
This marks Prospal's third tour of duty with the Bolts. He was originally
acquired from Florida in exchange for center Ryan Johnson and a sixth-round
choice in the 2003 draft on July 10, 2001. He became a free agent on July 1,
2003 and was then reacquired from Anaheim on August 16, 2004 in exchange for a
second-round pick in 2005.
Over 792 games with Philadelphia, Ottawa, Florida, Tampa Bay and Anaheim, the
Czech native has 179 goals and 554 points.
Roberts signed a one-year contract.
"When meeting the media and our fans last week in Tampa we talked about not
leaving Steven Stamkos alone," Koules and Barrie said. "We talked about being
aggressive at the start of the free agency signing period. We think Gary's
signing today represents a great first step for us. He brings the Lightning
leadership, tenacity, grit and experience and he will be great for our young
players, especially Steven. He will be tremendous for the locker room and his
ability to play different roles at the forward position will be beneficial to
the team next season."
A former Stanley Cup Champion with the Calgary Flames in 1989, Roberts was
limited to only 38 games last season because of a broken leg and high ankle
sprain. He scored three goals and 15 points with 40 penalty minutes.
For his career, Roberts, 42, has tallied 434 goals and 903 points in 1,194
games with the Flames, Hurricanes, Maple Leafs, Panthers and Penguins.
Tampa Bay also acquired defenseman Janne Niskala from the Philadelphia Flyers
in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick in 2009 on Monday.
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BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
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SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
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SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
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BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
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BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
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RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers SPORTS TRASH TALK
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from mysportsbook.com.
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