Tampa Bay Lightning anger KISS fans with Ace Frehley gaffe

On March 11, the Tampa Bay Lightning plan to use a time-tested marketing scheme to attract a few extra fans to their game with the Ottawa Senators: a concert featuring an over-the-hill rock star with a cult following. In this case, it was former KISS lead guitarist Ace Frehley, performing as part of their outdoor concert series.

To promote the show, the Lightning had banners depicting the "Spaceman" hanging around the St. Pete Times Forum.

Turns out they got the character correct ... but the wrong man behind the makeup.

A member of KISSAslylum.com, a fan site, posted a photo of the banner with the following note:

"Thought is was kind of funny that the photo they are using is one of Tommy Thayer as the Spaceman."

Thayer joined KISS as the new "Spaceman" in 2002, after Frehley left the group for a second time. A former member of a KISS tribute band, he's been their lead guitarist ever since, wearing the same makeup as Frehley did during the group's heyday.

Which, of course, brings us to the Lightning's affront to KISS fandom in getting their Aces shuffled. From the St. Pete Times and writer Susan Thurston:

The news hit the virtual world over the weekend when a fan posted a photo of the poster online. Reaction was swift, with many fans hissing. "I'd be so p----ed off," wrote one fan on blabbermouth.net, a site devoted to hard rock news and reviews. "There's only one Spaceman!!"

On Monday, Lightning officials acknowledged the error. After discovering it last week, they immediately ordered 15 new banners. "We regret the mistake, and proper banners will be in place soon," said Lightning spokesman Bill Wickett.

The error happened when the in-house creative services department pulled a photo from a past Kiss concert without verifying it was of Frehley, Wickett said. They hung the banners Feb. 12 as part of a new "All In" campaign, not knowing Frehley was no longer with the band.

You'd figure they'd know that from his appearance fee.

Anyway, the banners will be corrected and the Lightning have done their part to restore peace in the New KISS vs. Old KISS wars, which are like Kirk vs. Picard for costumed classic rock nerds.

This is the second hockey-related appearance for Frehley during the 2010-11 NHL season, having performed "New York Groove" at the New York Rangers' home opener on October. Here's what the Lightning fans have to look forward to:

Maybe the Lightning can convince him to sing "Hockey Paradise" instead.

Stick-tap to Brian Buschman for the story.

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Puck Daddy's 2011 NHL Trade Deadline Live Blog, Hour 3

Ed. Note: We're live blogging every hour of the NHL trade deadline until its completion at 3 p.m. EST. Older time-stamped entries are found at the end of the post.

10:47 a.m. ET: We have our first deal! Dale Tallon gets his day started by dealing Radek Dvorak and a fifth-round pick to the Atlanta Thrashers for Niclas Bergfors and Patrick Rissmiller.

Dvorak is scheduled to become unrestricted this summer and has seven goals and 21 points this season. Bergfors will be restricted on July 1 and has scored 11 times and tallied 29 points through 52 games with Atlanta.

Bergfors, you'll remember, recorded 21 goals in his rookie campaign last year and was red-hot after being part of the Ilya Kovachuk deal. 

One Milbury floating head here. Both teams helped here if Bergfors and Dvorak are re-signed in the summer. Given Bergfors' history immediately after being traded, he might just go on a nice scoring tear for the Panthers. Florida gets younger, while Thrashers GM Rick Dudley adds some veteran depth up front as the team makes a playoff push in the Eastern Conference.

10:38 a.m. ET: Two weeks after being dealt to the Atlanta Thrashers from the Boston Bruins, defenseman Mark Stuart has signed a new three-year deal worth $5.1 million.

10:25 a.m. ET: Because he hasn't been re-signed by the New York Islanders, center Zenon Konopka has garnered some interest as 3 p.m. ET approaches and while initial reports this morning had Vancouver pegged as a possible destination, Chris Botta of Islanders Point Blank/Fanhouse shot that idea down:

A Canucks source to Point Blank a minute ago: "I've heard the rumors, but Zenon Konopka is not high on our wish list. He's not even in the middle of our list."

The "Brad Richards Watch" continues as the New York Post's Larry Brooks reported this morning that Dallas Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk lowered his demands from a week ago from the New York Rangers. Brooks reports that the asking price for Richards is now Artem Anisimov, a No. 1 pick and a top prospect. On Thursday, Brooks reported that Nieuwendyk had asked for Derek Stepan, Brandon Dubinsky and Marc Staal.

10:10 a.m. ET: Florida Panthers center Stephen Weiss is one of the names that could be on the move today and according to Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos, he'll only waive his no-trade clause to move to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ken Campbell of The Hockey News says it's not true that Weiss would only waive his NTC to go to the Leafs. Deadline Day fun already!

Decisions ahead for Panthers GM Dale Tallon as he also has David Booth, Tomas Vokoun and Marty Reasoner as potential trade targets from other teams.

Meanwhile, Leafs forward Clark MacArthur looks like he'll be staying in the blue and white for at least the rest of this season, despite drawing plenty of interest on the trade market.

From the Toronto Star:

Meanwhile, MacArthur's agent, Don Meehan of Newport Sports. told The Star from New York late Sunday that he does not believe the Leafs intend to trade his client on Monday unless they get a boffo offer out of the blue.

"My impression is they want to make a deal with Clarke," said Meehan. "They'll watch him for the balance of the year, see how he does, see how the team does, and then reflect on that. It's not something they have to do right now."

And a signing as we kick off Hour 3. TSN's Bob McKenzie reports that Justin Williams has inked a four-year extension worth $14.6 millon deal with the Los Angeles Kings. Williams has 20 goals and 49 points in 62 games with the Kings this season after being acquired from Carolina at the 2009 trade deadline.

Reminder: The Yahoo! Sports trade tracker which will be updated throughout the day, and our Puck Daddy Trade Deadline Chatter Box, in which 24 of the NHL's top insiders will keep you updated throughout the day. 

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Original Blue Jacket Klesla dealt to Phoenix for Upshall, Lepisto

Only one player has been with the Columbus Blue Jackets since Day One and that man is now a Phoenix Coyote.

Nick Kypreos broke the news that Columbus dealt defenseman Rostislav Klesla and minor-leaguer Dane Byers to the Coyotes for Scottie Upshall and Sami Lepisto. Klesla was Columbus' first ever draft choice back in 2000.

On Saturday night, Upshall sang the praises of the Coyotes fanbase on Twitter after a dinner with soon-to-be owner Matthew Hulsizer, now he's on his way to another non-traditional market.

Phoenix wanted to upgrade their defense and if Klesla can remain healthy after battling the injury bug the last three seasons, he's a guy that can eat 20 minutes a night. Upshall (upcoming UFA) has rebounded nicely after tearing an ACL last January with 16 goals through 48 games this season.  

We'll give this one Two Milburys. When healthy, Klesla can provide a veteran presence on the blueline for the Coyotes, but he's played more than 70 games in a season just twice since the 2003-04 season and is currently bothered by a bruised knee. He's also signed for three more seasons so Phoenix gets some financial flexibility in the deal. Lepisto will add to the Blue Jackets' depth, but Upshall's energy and production will benefit them immediately and in the future if GM Scott Howson re-signs him.

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Puck Daddy's 2011 NHL Trade Deadline Live Blog, Hour 1

Ed. Note: We're live blogging every hour of the NHL trade deadline until its completion at 3 p.m. EST. Older time-stamped entries are found at the end of the post.

8:54 a.m. ET: Because last night's signing and trade sucked up all of our time, we didn't have a chance to craft a proper drinking game post for the NHL Trade Deadline. So we endorse this one from Dirty Dangle ... although we'd like to add that everyone should take two drinks when they hear "puck-moving defenseman" and three drinks if someone waives their no-trade clause to move. Follow Wyshynski and Leahy on Twitter for more drinking game fun throughout the day. 

8:40 a.m. ET: With Chris Phillips signed yesterday, the attention turns to Filip Kuba as the Ottawa Senators defenseman most likely to move. He'll make $3.7 million next season, the last of a 3-year deal. He had a no-trade clause last year but it doesn't carry over to the final two years of his deal. As the Ottawa Citizen wrote:

Kuba’s problem is threefold: He’s 34, has had a terrible year (only nine assists and is minus-26) and he has a year left on his contract at $3.7 million.

The Senators would probably have to take a contract back to flip Filip.

8:15 a.m. ET: Before we begin, two vital links for you today: The Yahoo! Sports trade tracker which will be updated throughout the day, and our Puck Daddy Trade Deadline Chatter Box, in which 24 of the NHL's top insiders will keep you updated throughout the day. Bookmark them. Know them. Love them.

Centers are at the forefront early here on 2011 NHL Trade Deadline Day. The words "Brad Richards" and "Dallas Stars" and "keeping him" were being tossed around with frequency last night, but there's been nothing official on that yet. Stephen Weiss of the Florida Panthers, who had a no-trade clause and is signed through 2013, appears on the market.

And then there's Jason Arnott of the New Jersey Devils, who also had a no-trade clause and wants to play for a Cup contender rather than a playoff bubble team. From Fire & Ice:

"I don't want to go to a team that's battling for the playoffs," Arnott said. "It would make more sense just to stay here and battle it out and try to make it here. So, I'll have to see who's interested and just go from there."

Among the teams that have been rumored to be interested were Pittsburgh, Washington, Los Angeles and Montreal. Indications today at least were that the Penguins were not interested right now and that Washington might see Arnott as a secondary option if it is unable to pull off another deal.

Translation: He'd play for Washington, but do the Capitals have better (re: younger) options?

• • •

Like we said: Posts every hour running down the latest news. We'll spotlight some of the trades, and any non-Deadlineageddon news, with their own posts throughout the day. Keep in mind that we're also running our Puck Daddy Chatter Box featuring 23 of the top hockey insiders on Twitter and occasional live chats throughout the day. Follow Wyshynski and Leahy on Twitter for chat times.

Also, keep in mind this is the day on which we unleash The Milbury Scale: Rating a trade's fairness and effectiveness with floating noggins featuring perhaps the most inept general manager in the history of the NHL.

Here's how it works:

One Milbury: A fair trade that helps both teams, both in the short term and in the long run. No winner, no loser: Just a solid deal founded on smart financial and hockey needs.

Two Milburys: A trade that could, down the road, burn one team in a big way. We're talking a trade of blue-chip prospects for a rental, if the team that's renting clearly isn't going to win it all this season.

Three Milburys means a clear winner in a deal at the time of the trade. Someone got a little too desperate, or someone just got hosed.

Four Milburys! Bertuzzi, McCabe and eventually Jarkko Ruutu for Trevor Linden! Roberto Luongo and Olli Jokinen for Mark Parrish and Oleg Kvasha! YASHIN! DISASTER!

So there's that. Coming up: The trades and rumors, as they roll in. What are your predictions for deadline day?

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