The CMHL Draft, unlike similar events in the NFL and NBA, is designed first and foremost to build organizations for the medium and long-term future, and not to fill immediate roster needs as the pro football and basketball drafts do.

That was the approach the two-time Stanley Cup (has a nice ring, doesn't it?) champion Tampa Bay Lightning took in the first two rounds of the 2012 Entry Draft.

The Tampa Bay Lightning begin defense of the Stanley Cup this season with arguably more depth than they had during their sun in S7.  The club did a terrific job managing to resign every Free Agent they wanted to, while replacing star blue-liner Brian Rafalski, who retired unexpectedly after the playoffs.

Rafalski was the leader for this club last season, breaking team records for a defenseman with 65 assists and 83 points.  Miikka Kipruspff was also phenominol as he won 58 regular season games and rolled to the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP.

Kiprusoff will be looked upon to repeat something similar this coming season, especially come playoff time, if the Lightning expect to come anywhere near a repeat.

This year's club will have a lot of familiar faces, but some interesting additions could make them just as difficult to defeat as they were last season, when they won the Eastern Conference with a 60-16-6 record.

Meet your 2011 Tampa Bay Ligntning ... 

Fresh off a Stanley Cup victory, the offseason rebuilt began for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The shocking retirement of blue-line ace Brian Rafaski left a huge hole on the back end, and a dozen free agents heading into the off-season left a bunch of question marks for the club.

HOW THE EAST WAS WON

Gunslingers are commonly thought of to be involved in the wild, wild, west.  This season, the east boasted a new gunslinger as the Tampa Bay Lightning posted their first Conference title.

While known stars like Brian Rafalski, Rick Nash and Miikka Kiprusoff get the credit for the great season the Tampa Bay Lightning are having this season, a young winger is having a break-out season with very little fanfare.

The 2010 -11 regular season is two days away, and the Tampa Bay Lightning feel pretty confident after completing the pre-season on top of the CMHL standings.

The off-season has been a busy one for the Tampa Bay Lightning, and they look poised to challenge for a spot among the league's elite. 

The 2009-10 season was rewarding and disappointing all at the same time for the Lightning.  They were among the hottest teams in the league in the second half, finishing the season with a club record 42 wins and 95 points.  Unfortunately that success earned them an opening round series with the much improved Toronto Maple leafs, who edged the Bolts in 4 straight games that could have gone either way.

"The playoffs were a learning experience for us" noted standout rookie goaltender Steve Mason.  "With the changes management has made this summer, we are very excited to get playing."

TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA
July 29, 2010

The Tampa Bay Lightning reached a cross-roads after the 2009-10 season ended, and fans were unsure where the off-season would take them.  The club's management team is showing their fans where this club is headed as the summer prepares for Free Agency next week.

Last season the Lightning set team records for wins and points, as they have the remarkable distinction of having matched or improved their record in every year of CMHL history.  This year lloked to be a challenge given some of the personnel changes that were expected.

In two short seasons, the Tampa bay Lightning have gone from a team without any future in their system to a team with budding stars.

A trio of Lightning prospects have shown this season that they will be a force in the future, adding to an organization that has enjoyed success on the ice this regular season.

Keith Tkachuk has announced today that this will be his final CMHL season, despite the fact that he has enjoyed renewed success since coming to the Tampa Bay Lightning earlier this season.

In a surprise move this morning, the 38 year old forward stated that "this will be my final season, and I am determined to help push the Lightning into the playoffs."