Ownership didn't want to spend money, we couldn't draft/develop players, and we could never replace key guys, especially Khabibulin in net. Star power and a very weak SE division had probably kept us afloat for a little bit but we were never going to challenge for a cup again like 2004. Super frustrating.
2008 was us finally hitting rock bottom. Dan Boyle was injured throughout the season. His own skate fell out of his stall and cut him. Tortz lost the lockerroom. I specifically remember two things, 1: him dismissing Andre Roy, a big locker room guy from the team. Marty and Vinny plead for him to return but to no avail. And 2, Tortz doing something with the team bus, I think letting them off, driving around, and then picking them up again to symbolize them not showing up for games. I believe Jay Feaster said he would have fired him even if the new owners didn't in the 2008 offseason. Matt Cooke changed Lecavalier's career forever. Insult to injury, nobody came to Vinny's defense and that pissed off Tortz on the bench. And then the new owners, before they were officially in charge, made the move at the deadline to trade Brad Richards. By July 2008, new co-owner Len Barrie forced Boyle off the team in a trade to San Jose, threatening to bury his career with the Atlanta Thrashers if he didn't accept. Such a terrible year. Only positive thing looking back was drafting Stamkos. But even that whole thing caused some drama on these boards. I remember the fan base here on HF being split between those actively cheering for us to lose to have better draft odds, and those who didn't like that.