By Michael Wax
The Lightning's Hall of Fame voting is back once again. Last year's inaugural class saw Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, and Phil Esposito dawn the blue jackets and take their place in Lightning history. In year two, fans will once again have the opportunity to vote for who they want to be inducted into the 2024 Lightning Hall of Fame class. In this article, we'll look at how to vote, as well as who is on the ballot.
How to Vote
Lightning fans can download the "Lightning" app, which is available on both the IOS and Google Play stores, and create an account. You can also sign in through Ticketmaster, where you can buy and sell tickets as well. http://tbl.co/app
Once you click on the graphic, you'll to greeted with a short description, followed by pictures of 12 potential inductees.
Once you click on a particular inductee, a short video will pop up listing the accomplishments of said individual. All of these videos are narrated by the Lightning's own Paul Kennedy.
If you vote through the app, you'll be asked to provide your information to be entered into a giveaway for a chance to win tickets to the Lightning vs. Flyers game on 3/9, when the Lightning will announce the second class of the Lightning Hall of Fame.
Who was Removed?
The Lightning had 12 finalists for the inaugural class. Even though the number will stay the same in year two, the names are going to be a bit different. The Lightning's first-ever coach, Terry Crisp, was taken off the ballot, as was 2004 game seven hero Ruslan Fedotenko. One of the most underrated players in Lightning history, Frederik Modin, was taken off the second ballot, as was former Lightning captain Rob Zamuner. Finally, with his induction last season, founder Phil Esposito was also taken off the list. Those five were replaced by a new set of five, which we will get into shortly.
Who can you vote for?
As stated before, the Lightning's Hall of Fame has three members: Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, and Phil Esposito. Lecavalier and St. Louis were automatically inducted due to their retired numbers, while Esposito was voted in by a combination of fan votes and a panel of Lightning personnel. Those personnel were the individuals who named the finalists for fan voting, and have done so again this year. Despite three people going in last year, the standard for entry will remain at a maximum of two individuals per season.
Here is everyone you can vote for this season.
Dave Andreychuk
When it comes to being an exemplary captain, look no further than former Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk. After he signed with the Lightning as a free agent for the 2001-02 season, Andreychuk played in 278 games over four Seasons for the Lightning. A three-time 20-goal scorer, Andreychuk captained the Lightning to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, also ending the drought for the most number of games played Without a cup in league history.
Andreychuk provided leadership and stability for a team that was in turmoil in the early 2000s. Still a vital member of the Tampa Bay community, Andreychuk is currently the Vice President of Corporate and Community Affairs for the Lightning.
Ben Bishop
This is one of the five additions to the ballot.
Before Vasilevskiy, there was Bishop. Ben Bishop was brought to the Lightning during the 2013 trade deadline, and, over the next five years, would set numerous records and pilot the Lightning to one of their biggest periods of success. Bishop played in 227 games across his five years in Tampa, going 131-64-20 with a .921 save percentage. His 131 wins ranked second all-time and lightning history behind Vasilevskiy, and his .921 is still a franchise best.
Bishop’s 2015-16 season might just be the best in team history. Bishop finished fourth in wins (35), second in save percentage (.926), first in goals against average (2.06), and second in shutouts (6). Though he didn't win the Vezina that season, this compilation of statistics is rivaled by few in Lightning history.
Bishop also shined in the playoffs, winning 21 of a possible 36 games over two years with Tampa and putting together a .927 save percentage, 2.90 goals against average, and five shutouts. A gamer in the truest possible sense, Ben Bishop has earned his spot as a finalist for the Tampa Bay Lightning Hall of Fame.
Dan Boyle
Another new addition, Boyle was instrumental in the Lightning’s first taste of greatness. Acquired in a trade with the Panthers in 2002, Boyle would play six seasons in Tampa. During his 394 games, he would put up 66 goals and 187 assists for 253 points. Boyle would receive votes for the Norris in four different seasons in Tampa, including a 4th place finish in 2006-07.
Boyle was incredibly vital to the early-2000s Lightning, and would help them capture the 2004 Stanley Cup.
Brian Bradley
Brian Bradley was the Lightning’s first star. Selected by the Lightning in the 1992 expansion draft, Bradley put up 42 goals and 86 points in 80 games. While he would never reach those heights again, he remained a solid contributor and helped the Lightning reach the 1996 playoffs in just their fourth season of existence.
Bradley’s 42 goals in 1992-93 was the franchise record until Vincent Lecavalier scored 52 in 2006-07.
Ryan Callahan
Another addition, Ryan Callahan never wore the ‘C’ but exemplified everything a captain should be. A part of the first-ever captain swap in NHL history, Callahan came to the Lightning in 2014 and helped guide the Lightning to the Stanley Cup Final a year later. Though he saw drops in his point totals in every season in Tampa, Callahan’s grit and effort made him a fan favorite in his time in Bolts blue.
Callahan also launched the Ryan Callahan Foundation in 2016, helping pediatric cancer patients and their families. For all of his community work, and his never give up play style on the ice, Ryan Callahan had the heart of a Hall of Famer.
Jay Feaster
The mastermind behind the first Lightning championship, Jay Feaster made some incredibly important moves to get the Lightning the players they needed for the cup. Some of Feaster’s trades included getting Nikolai Khabibulin, Dan Boyle, Chris Dingman, Vaclav Prospal, Tim Taylor, and Ruslan Feotenko.
Feaster is currently the Vice President of Community Hockey Affairs, and has been helping the next generation of Lightning fans both play and get involved with the game.
Nikolai Khabibulin
Khabibulin is another new addition, and was the difference maker in the Lightning’s first cup. In 192 games, Khabibulin put up 83 wins and a .914 save percentage with 14 shutouts. In the 2004 playoffs, Khabibulin went into overdrive, winning all 16 games and putting up a .933 save percentage, 1.71 goals against average, and playoff-leading five shutouts.
Pavel Kubina
Many people talk about Ondrej Palat as the late round gem in Lightning history, but a case could be made for Kubina. A 7th-round pick in 1996, Kubina played in 662 games over ten years for Tampa (two stints), putting up 72 goals and 171 assists for 243 points. A defensive stalwart, Kubina helped the Lightning win the 2004 Stanley Cup, and the 2011 Lightning reach the Eastern Conference Final.
Henry Paul
Paul may be an unknown name to most Lightning fans, but he was Phil Esposito’s right-hand man during the founding of the Lightning. Paul was a co-founder, as well as the president and general counsel through 1997. Paul even inducted Esposito into the Hall of Fame last year.
Rick Peckham
The voice of the Lightning for 24 years, Rick Peckham has solidified himself to many as the voice of Lightning hockey for a generation. Peckham's calls spanned from Martin St. Louis to Ryan Callahan to Steven Stamkos, ending with his call of Brayden Point's Game 5 OT winner in 2020. Peckham was honored in 2021 with the Foster Hewitt Award, and in 2022, which the renaming of the Lightning broadcast booths to the Rick Peckham Broadcast Booths.
Brad Richards
There have only been three Conn Smythe Trophy winners in Lightning history, and one of those honors belongs to Brad Richards. Drafted in the third round of the 1998 draft, Richards played in 552 games across seven seasons with Tampa. In those games, Richards put up 150 goals, 339 assists, and 489 points, all of which still rank in the top eight in franchise history. Richards finished 2nd in Calder Trophy voting in 2000-01, and won the Lady Byng Trophy in 2004.
In the ‘04 playoffs, Richards put up 12 goals and 26 points, scoring two goals in game six of the Stanley Cup Final to give the Lightning a chance to bring the series back home to Tampa.
John Tortorella
Loved or hated, John Tortorella brought results to the Lightning. A mid-season replacement in the 2000-01 season, Tortorella coached seven seasons in Tampa and brought the Lightning 239 regular-season wins and 24 playoff wins, including the 2004 Stanley Cup.
All of these people have a great case to be in the Lightning Hall of Fame. Let us know who you think should be the next inductees into the Lightning Hall of Fame.
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