"Tracking Mike Lundin's three-year pro hockey career has been a lot like trying to maneuver a marble through one of those tilting mazes - difficult to keep things moving forward on a steady track that is filled with pitfalls along the path. But once the goal is attained, the journey is appreciated that much more. Not that the Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman is allowing himself to settle into any kind of a comfort zone after earning a roster spot out of training camp. "I don't think in this game, at this level, you can (get too comfortable)," Lundin said. "I don't have the skills to just kind of, and very few guys do have the skills, to just feel that comfortable. For me, I'm sure my whole career is always going to have to be fight to get a spot or move up a spot." Since ending a four-year career at the University of Maine following the 2006-07 season, Lundin has rode the ups and downs of trying to find a spot in the NHL. When entering training camp his first year as a pro, the 6-foot-2, 200-pounder figured to start his career in the East Coast Hockey League, two levels below the NHL. But much to the surprise of himself and other observers, Lundin earned a spot out of camp and appeared in 81 games. He averaged 13 minutes, 48 seconds of ice time and was selected to participate in the Young Stars Game as part of All-Star weekend. The next season, however, brought a new coaching staff and new evaluators to impress. While Lundin found a spot on the roster out of camp, by December he was out of the lineup and eventually was sent to the minors, where he spent the rest of the season with the Norfolk Admirals. Last summer as a restricted free agent, Lundin was feeling unwanted by then-general manager Brian Lawton and the coaching staff, and was hoping to be moved to another team before signing a contract. Three days before camp, however, Lundin signed a two-way contract hoping to get a fair shake in camp, only to be among the final cuts and was sent to Norfolk to start the season. Lundin earned a four-game call-up in November before going back down to the minors. But another recall came Dec. 26, when Lundin scored his first career goal in a victory against Atlanta. He never went back to Norfolk, and by the end of the season was considered the most consistent defenseman on the team and earned an invitation to represent Team USA at the World Championships." http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/oc...-becomes-blue-line-mainstay/sports-lightning/
