Everblades mean business this season

When Florida Everblades coach Greg Poss talks to his players Thursday night before the start of training camp, there will be a harder edge to his speech than in past years.

It won’t matter if it’s a prospect aspiring to play in the NHL, a second- or third-year player who wants to reach the American Hockey League or a veteran whose chances for a promotion are limited.

He’ll emphasize commitment levels need to be high. Not just game-in, game-out, but every practice, every weightlifting session, every outing with fans.

If players don’t give their best, they’ll sit. If it persists, they’ll be traded or released.

“The most important part will be attitude and effort,” Poss said. “No matter what stage they’re at or where they come from, we expect every day for them to bring everything they have. If they don’t do it, they’re not gonna play.

“There’s no screwing around. This is our lives. There’s no time for self pity. Here’s a dime, call somebody who cares.”

When asked if he’d like to add anything, Everblades assistant coach Tad O’Had said, “No. That’s spot on.”

Poss’ comments were flavored with a few expletives.

The pressure is on in for a couple of reasons.

For the first time in the team’s 15-year history, the Florida Everblades didn’t make the playoffs. Despite an 8-0-1 start, 6-2-1 finish and 37-27-8 record, they didn’t make the postseason.

Team president and general manager Craig Brush has a strong relationship with Poss. But another nonplayoff season would strain the relationship and create a situation where the two would part ways.

Or, Brush himself could be replaced if a new owner buys the team and building during the season. That new owner may want to bring other people in.

And if things aren’t going well at the time. …

“Every day, a coach’s job is on the line,” Poss said. “Already (on Sept. 25) the first coach in Europe was fired after two weeks.”

When players hit the ice Friday, returnees will include defensemen Jordan Henry, Tyson Gimblett, Mike Little and Cameron Burt and forward Evan Bloodoff. Burt and Bloodoff came from Gwinnett in a trade.

Gone are several players, including captain Mathieu Roy, Trevor Bruess, Charles Landry and Brandon MacLean, who helped the team win the Kelly Cup in 2011-12.

“The guys coming back are the ones we wanted to be back,” Poss said. “They’re willing do the work on and off the ice. If they’re not coming back, there’s a reason.

“Mathieu, it was time for him to move on. Six years is a long time to play in one place. He had a lot of success, but it was time to find a new challenge, something to pique his interest.”

Despite last season’s start, Poss said he, Brush and O’Had knew the roster had to be revamped by Christmas. Call-ups who returned to Florida were upset because they either didn’t get a chance to play or were on the fourth line, Poss said, and their replacements didn’t get the job done.

He admits this is a tough league to play in, but there are also a lot of benefits.

“Guys would come back depressed,” Poss said. “We have no time or patience now. Shut up and play.

“And we had guys for a long time and won a championship with a core group. Sometimes, once a dog catches the rabbit, they’re done.”

Probably the best example of what Poss is looking for is Kristers Gudlevskis. Expected to play for Florida the entire season, Gudlevskis was called up to Syracuse in the AHL, played great for Latvia in the Olympics, then played for the Tampa Bay Lightning, including a game in the playoffs.

“When we told him he was called up to Syracuse, he said, ‘How come? I like it here,’” Poss said. “We told him because the AHL gives him a better chance to play in the Olympics. He didn’t care where he was playing.

“You have to be grateful where you are. If you’re always bitter about things, it’s not gonna work. This is a great organization, a good league, a great quality of life. It’s about making the most of it, not looking at what’s wrong or what’s missing.”

Florida Lightning schedule

The Tampa Bay Lightning will train at Germain Arena today through Thursday. The practices today and Thursday will be shorter because the Lightning will have games those nights against the Dallas Stars (home) and Florida Panthers (away).

Lightning practice schedule

• Today: 9:30 a.m.

• Wednesday: 1:15 p.m.

• Thursday: 10:15 a.m.