Three months away; Lightning announce 2019 preseason schedule

On the day of the grand finale of the 2018-19 NHL season, the Tampa Bay Lightning laid down kindling for the 2019-20 season to come.

Oh, it’s not a huge bit of news – not a personnel hiring, not a staff change, not a transaction — but it does set sights on the Bolts season ahead.

They released the 2019 preseason schedule.

It’s three months from now — give or take a few days. Seriously, competitive play resumes in three months even (not counting intra-squad games during training camp).

So, fans? You can now start planning and/or continue your brooding, but here’s the team’s exhibition schedule, with our games at the Amalie and four on the road

Date                                         Opponent                                Time (EST)

Tuesday September 17                         vs. Carolina Hurricanes                         7:30 p.m.

Wednesday September 18         at Carolina Hurricanes              7 p.m.

Friday September 20                 vs. Nashville Predators             7 p.m.

Saturday September 21                         at Nashville Predators               8 p.m.

Tuesday September 24                         at Florida Panthers                    7 p.m.

Thursday September 26            at Florida Panthers                    7 p.m.

Saturday September 28                         vs. Florida Panthers                  7 p.m.

I think there is a slip-up here and it’s not the Lightning – or the opponent I’ll site — who should be looked at as missing an opportunity. It is a missed chance. It’s in marketing… and it’s in Orlando, or another city in the Sunshine State.

Why aren’t the Bolts and Panthers reaching out and playing their games at a third-party location? As I said, it’s marketing: The Bolts dominated the NHL in 2018-19 and in this case, high tide can raise all boats by having games played at a hockey-able venue. by “raise all boats”, I mean .the opportunity will draw people, be they Lightning fans, Panther fans, general-NHL fans or the curious. It’s something to sell the sport of ice hockey in an open market.

Why aren’t the Bolts and Panthers reaching out and playing their games at a third-party location? As I said, it’s marketing: The Bolts dominated the NHL in 2018-19 and in this case, high tide can raise all boats by having games played at a hockey-able venue. by “raise all boats”, I mean .the opportunity will draw people, be they Lightning fans, Panther fans, general-NHL fans or the curious. It’s something to sell the game in an open market.

It’s been done in the past. It should be on the agenda in the present and in the future and perhaps built-upon (could you imagine an exhibition tournament of four teams or more at, say, Atlanta? Or Orlando? Or Houston? ).

Anyhoo, ticket sales aren’t starting right now for the Bolts preseason… The emptiness of the offseason (and transaction maelstrom in the NHL) will be in effect after the post-game hoopla at TD Garden tonight.