By Jake Ricker
The Lightning have announced the nominees for the hall of fame's inaugural class, and it's time to vote on who should be a part of Lightning history. In this article, we will take a look at how you can vote and who is on the shortlist to be in the Lightning hall of fame.
How to vote.
Lightning fans can download the new Lightning app, which is available on both the IOS and Google Play stores, and create an account. You can also sign in through Ticketmaster, as you are able to buy and sell tickets through the app as well. http://tbl.co/app
Once in the app, you should see a big graphic that says cast your vote. Click on this picture, and it will send you to the voting booth.
You are then able to select two people that have been nominated and cast your vote. Fans will be able to vote one time per account.
Fans that vote through the app will be entered into a giveaway for a chance to win tickets to the Lightning vs. Canadians game on 3/18, which is Alumni weekend. This is also when the Lightning will announce who will be the Hall of Fame's inaugural class.
Who can you vote for?
Because Marty St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier have their numbers hanging in the rafters, they are automatically a part of the inaugural class. The Rest of the Nominees were selected by a group of people chosen by the Lightning (one of those members is play-by-play announcer Dave Mishkin). They will also be voting for who should go into the Hall of Fame along with the fans.
While it is not exactly clear what the rules were for someone to be qualified for the Lightning hall of fame, Dave Mishkin said players had to have a certain number of years played with the Lightning and have been retired for a cetin number of years on the Lightning Power Lunch podcast. He also said there were similar rules for people who are not players, like Jay Feaster. So if you see someone missing from this list, like Ben Bishop, they likely did not meet a requirement like years retired and will be nominated soon.
The plan is for this to be an annual event, so players not in the inaugural class will not lose eligibility and have the chance to be selected in future years. Here is everyone you can vote for this season.
Dave Andreychuk
A man who needs no introduction is one of the top candidates on this list. Andreychuk was signed by the Lightning in 2001 as they looked to add veteran leadership to their roster. Andreychuk was immediately named an alternate captain. After his first season, Andreychuk was named the captain of the team and quickly became the longest-standing captain in franchise history up until that point.
Andreychuk wasn't just a great leader but also a great player. Even at 37 years old, Andreychuk put up a 20-goal season and had another two 20-goal seasons while with the team. Most importantly, Andreychuk helped lead the Lightning to a Stanley Cup in 2004, becoming the first player in franchise history to hoist the Cup.
Despite spending most of his career in Buffalo after retirement, Andreychuk reminds with the Lightning and is now the Vice President of Corporate and Community Affairs. A legend both on and off the Ice, Andreychuk is not only a Hall of Fame member but also has a statue outside Amalie Arena.
Brian Bradley
Bradly is what some might call a blast from the past. Drafted by the Lightning in the 1992 expansion draft, Bradly quickly became an important part of the Lightning organization. He was an alternate captain in the Bolt's inaugural season and put up an impressive 86 points in just 40 games.
Bradly was the first All-Star selection to represent the Lightning and was the first player to score a goal at Amalie Arena. Now Bradly is a Community Relations Representative still working closely with the team. While his time was short in Tampa, Bradly was a huge pillar for the Lightning as they began to build their Franchise.
Terry Crisp
The first coach on the List, Terry Crisp, was the first one to go behind the bench in Lightning history. Crisp coached a total of five seasons and finished with a record 142-204-45 (ties). He did lead the Lightning to their first-ever playoff appearance, which was a tall task considering the Lightning had to work their way from the bottom when first entering the league.
Perhaps more importantly, Crisp left an even bigger impact off the ice. Crisp hosted ticket-selling parties and hockey 101 clinics which were critical in building hockey in the Tampa bay area. In a place where many said it was crazy to put a hockey team, Crisp helped build a foundation that would eventually turn into one of the premier franchises in the NHL.
Phil Esposito
The man who started it all. Without Esposito, there is no Lightning hockey. When bidding for an NHL team, Esposito went up against another group that wanted a team in St. Pete, and while that group was willing to pay more for a franchise, Esposito was willing to pay more upfront and so Tampa Bay hockey was born.
Esposito was called crazy for thinking hockey in Florida would work, but in order to show that it would, he hosted exhibition games at Tropicana Feild, and when fans saw the high-flying action, they were hooked. Esposito never stopped working to get the Lightning to where they are today. Even after selling the team, he still works as the Vice President of Corporate Relations and Radio Color Commentator.
Jay Feaster
Esposito got the Lightning off the ground, and Jay Feaster took the Lightning to the next level. Still searching for the first Stanley Cup, Feaster made many key trades and acquired players like Chris Dingman, Andree Roy, Ruslan Fedotenko, Cory Stillman, and John Grahame. All of who were key parts of the Lightning's 204 cup run.
Feaster was able to take the Lightning and put them atop the NHL. The success only boosted the popularity of the Franchise and helped them get to where they are today. Feaster still works with the team as the Senior Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs.
Ruslan Fedotenko
Game 7, Stanley Cup Finals, Stanley Cup on the line; who do you call? Ruslan Fedotenko! Fedotenko scored both goals in game 7 to help the Lightning reach the top of the mountain. On top of being a Stanley Cup champion, Fedotenko scored 74 goals and 70 assists for a total of 144 total points. While his time was short with the Lightning, his impact will never be forgotten.
Pavel Kubina
Kubina was drafted by the Lightning in 1996 and spent 10 seasons with the Lightning. Only five other players have spent more time with the Lightning. Kubina was a Stanley Cup champion and has the second most games played by a defenseman in Lightning history. He scored 72 goals and 171 assists for a total of 243 points. Not too bad for a seventh-round pick.
Fredrik Modin
The Lightning acquired Modin in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Modin's impact was quickly felt as he put up 48 points in his first season with the Lightning. Modin was also a leader in the locker room and became an alternate captain from 2002-2006. Modin, who is a Stanley Cup champion, ranks ninth in goals (145), 13th in points (286), and 10th in-game winning goals (23) among all Lightning players. Modin is also one of 30 players who have won a Stanley Cup, an Olympic gold medal, and a Men's World Championship.
Henry Paul
A name most might not recognize on this list; Paul was still a huge part of the Lightning's beginnings. Paul was the vice president and secretary of the Lightning, where he played a pivotal role in helping the business side of the team. Paul helped bring in additional investors and helped market the Lightning as they looked to make their mark on the NHL.
Rick Peckham
Peckham was the voice of the Lightning for 24 years. Peckham brought passion to each and every broadcast and gave Lightning fans moments they would never forget. The Lightning honored Peckham after he retired by renaming the broadcast booth area "The Rick Peckham Broadcast Booths" For more on Peckham and his legendary career, be sure to check out our interview with him on YouTube.
Brad Richards
Richards was instrumental in the Lightning's history, and without him, some of the success the Lightning had may have never come to pass. Richards won the Conn Smythe Trophy along with the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2004 and, of course, is a Stanley Cup champion.
Richards ranks 10th in games played (552), 8th in goals (150), and 6th in assists(339), power-play goals(49), and power-play points (213) in franchise history. Richards was an alternate captain from 2006-2008
Rob Zamuner
Zamuner signed with the Lightning as a free agent in their inaugural season. He skated in 475 games with the team and was a consistent part of the Lightning's first seven years. Zamuner was also the 4th captain in franchise history and has the second most shorthanded goals (14).
All of these people have a great case to be in the Lightning Hall of Fame. Now it's up to the fans to decide who they want to be a part of the inaugural class of 2023. Let us know who you would vote for in the comments below!
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