With the Lightning’s signing of  free agent defenseman Matt Carle, the blue line crew was bolstered in a pretty big way.  The addition may have far reaching impact in another way. As we’ve documented in the past, Nate Thompson and Teddy Purcell assumed the Bolts’ bromance crown after Mike Smith and Ryan Malone were parted. Last year was a bit rocky for Neddy, but will Carle be the one to finally tear it asunder?

The odds aren’t exactly in Teddy’s favor. Nate and Matt Carle have the whole Alaskan connection coupled with the fact that they have been teammates every year since they were 6 years old on a traveling youth team back home.

“I’m glad he chose to sign with us. It was a good feeling when I found out he was coming to Tampa, and I really couldn’t be more excited,” Thompson said. (Quote Source: Official Lightning Site)

Neddy appeared to be in jeopardy last season after the arrival of Nate’s old teammate Bruno Gervais. Teddy and Matt Gilroy got pretty chummy until Gilly was traded to the Ottawa Senators. Teddy and Nate were reunited, but now they appear to be facing an even bigger obstacle to their friendship.

To complicate matters, Teddy appears to be spending his summer with questionable characters like Paul Bissonnette while Nate was back home on a fishing trip with his fellow Alaskans.

It may be too early to worry, but Teddy himself mentioned a Nate/Matt bromance on Twitter. It’s a long off season, so we’ll just have to wait and see what happens. Like sands through the hour glass, these are the days of our Lightning.