Most users agreed that the Tampa Bay Lightning are a borderline playoff contender at best this season. The front office's lack of free-agent spending has incensed many users, but everybody is excited about watching this young team grow around Nikolai Khabibulin, Vincent Lecavalier and Brad Richards. Here are your edited responses:

Still sweeping the cellar
The Lightning had two major holes to fill this offseason and neither were addressed. The Bolts needed a veteran D-man and a goal scoring winger. With these players this team might have been playing significant games in March. However, the lack of Free Agent signings (and just why did the team's top contract negotiator go on vacation July 1st) coupled with the work other teams have done this offseason, does not bode well for next season. The Lightning might improve slightly in terms of wins and overall points, however, a bottom 5 finish in the league is a good bet. The team ending the season ranked no higher than 12th in the Eastern Conference is a safe bet.

Robert Ponichtera
Tampa, Fla.

We still have a ways to go
I do think the Lightning will move forward, at least they better. My concern, or at least one of them, will be Brad Richards. He is no longer a secret and teams will be coming after him. He was their offense in 2001 and if you take him away in 2002, the Lightning will not score very much because management failed to add any scorers. You can not ask the "Boulin Wall" to win every game 1-0. They are improved but they still need more.

Jerry
Valrico, Fla.

Fan loves Caps Lock button
Rick Dudley, PLEASE SIGN SOME FREE AGENTS!!! He made a promise to us that the Lightning would make the playoffs in the 01-02 season and so far, he hasn't aquired anyone who can assure of that via the free agency market this summer. Taylor doesn't hurt the chances but he isn't a Joey Sakic or Jaromir Jagr! RICK DUDLEY, YOU'VE FREED UP TOO MUCH MONEY SO FAR NOT TO SIGN ANY BIG NAMERS WHO WILL HELP THIS TEAM!!!

James Adams
Sarasota, Fla.

Tampa isn't terrible
If Tampa Bay adds a defenseman with experience, other than the aging Svoboda, that should help reduce the number of goals given up. I didn't particularly care for them losing Adrian Aucoin, because I believe he's great on the PP (scored 20+ PPG for Vancouver). But Khabibulin is definitely a plus for this club. And if they could add a wing or two to complement Richards and Lecavalier, that should bolster their offense.

Andrew
New York

Vinny will become superstar
This may be the year Lecavalier makes the transition from future to current superstar. He's gotten better every season, and it's only a matter of time before he's putting up 100-point seasons. Unfortunately, his development will likely be two or three years ahead of his team's. Khabibulin helps, and it's nice to have young defensemen like Kubina, Zyuzin and Gusev, but Tampa Bay's offensive depth is no better than that of an expansion team's.

Andrew Zahnd
Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.

A note to Mr. GM Rick Dudley
You guys need to go and get players. It looks like you don't want to win. Vincent will not get better on this kind of team, and pretty soon will ask to move to get a chance to achieve his lifetime dream which is the CUP. Spend the money,and get results for you and the your fans. It is a beautiful place to play, but good players want to win and you know what you have to do. I know it is easy to say, but other teams are doing it!!!!

Carl Sydeny
St. Paul, Minn.

Fans need to be patient
I think Lightning fans can expect improvement, but unfortunately that's not enough for some. Fans I've talked to are upset the Lightning haven't spent millions on overpriced FA's. They think GM Rick Dudley should be fired if the Bolts don't make the playoffs next season. Personally, I think Dudley is doing it the right way. That is letting the "kids" grow up and adding small "pieces" via trade and Free Agency along the way (I believe we'll see a few more of those "pieces" added this summer). It's hard to wait, but it will be worth it to see Lecavalier and Richards when they're Lightning superstars in a few years.

Chris Bufe
Lake Worth, Fla.

Dudley needs to do right
The Lightning are a joke. They say Cloutier is great, but trade him. They say Aucoin is great, but trade him. They say Mara is great, but trade him too. See a pattern here? So do Lightning fans. They need to loosen up the pocket book and sign somebody who can score. We don't want Jagr or Yashin. What we want is somebody who can net a few goals and play with Modin. Rick Dudley promised us the playoffs next season, I do hope we go, but I am not so sure. We need to quit stockpiling defenders who are young and bring in an experienced D-man. A vet D-man and a goal scorer should be on Dudley's list. He seems to be sitting on his hands. Does he have a deal or is the team too cheap?

John
Tampa, Fla.

Let's be optimistic
Tampa can only get better. They've kept their coach, they've added a GREAT goaltender in Khabibulin (who seems to be happy now that he's out of Phoenix's clutches) and a ton of young talent. Plus, with Matt Barnaby in the lineup, they've got some grit. I thought that Tampa played well towards the end of last year under their new coach, and as long as they believe in themselves and their system, they'll be an explosive and exciting team that may overtake the Panthers for a playoff spot.

Kevin
Naples, Fla.

Time to get defensive
Now with a consistent goaltender (Khabibulin), the Lightning now have to focus on defense. Their centers are playing up to expectations but team defense needs to pick it up a notch. Khabibulin can't stop everything.

Mike
Flat Rock, Mich.

The future is bright
Things are looking up for the Lightning. They questionably have the two best upcoming superstars of the league in Lecavalier and Richards. The main concern behind the Lightning's troubles has been their lack of defense. The addition of Khabibulin gives the team their first "star" goaltender. However, they have to score more goals, and the addition of Tim Taylor and perhaps Svitov into the lineup (if he is ready to play in the NHL) will not be enough. Tampa Bay will not make the playoffs next year, but as the younger players develop, the team will become one of the elite of the league

Dan Jurilj
Ottawa, Ontario

Respect the blueliners
I believe that if the Lightning can gain confidence early in the season that they will find themselves in the race for a playoff spot at the end. With their new pick-ups on defense, Pratt and Biron, and with Jassen Cullimore coming off the outstanding season that he had, the Lightning will finally have a defense that players won't like playing against, and one that will drive Tampa to a successful season. And if Kubina and Zyuzin can develop their game into a consistent one, it'll make the defense that much better. But the ultimate key to this early confidence will be play of Khabibulin. If he plays the way he has in the past, this young team will gain their much needed confidence.

Jeff Taylor
Orlando, Fla.