Sports: Dudley makes the rounds

Dudley makes the rounds

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Where is Rick Dudley looking for deals? Just about everywhere. The general manager said he spoke this week to nearly every team in the league.

"There's nothing cooking at the moment," he said Friday. "We're trying to make the rounds and see what's out there that can help us now or in the future."

Dudley's search has accelerated since Wednesday, when Tampa Bay lost Martin St. Louis for what might be the rest of the season with a broken right fibula. Dudley said one of his most recent conversations was with Blues GM Larry Pleau. That is interesting because the Blues are in the market for a goaltender, and a player who could generate a good return is Kevin Weekes, who is not happy in his backup role.

Dudley said Weekes was not discussed. Dudley has said he would rather not trade Weekes, who has helped Tampa Bay form one of the league's best goaltending tandems.

Another area the Lightning has strength from which to deal is defense, especially in the minors. Most attractive to other teams likely would be Kristian Kudroc, Josef Boumedienne and Sascha Goc.

Dudley wasn't giving hints.

"I'm talking to most of the GMs in the league on a weekly basis and will continue to do that," he said.

ST. LOUIS SURGERY: Spokesman Bill Wickett said the insertion of a metal plate into the right wing's leg by team doctor Richard Lehman was a success. The Lightning's leading scorer is expected out 8-10 weeks.

NO DEAL: Dudley said general managers no longer are calling about Vinny Lecavalier. Asked about the possibility of trading the 21-year-old center, Dudley said, "No. I'm not entertaining that thought."

KIDS DAY: Sixteen members of the West Mall Lightning, a team of 9-year-olds from Toronto, attended the morning skate at HSBC Arena and got handshakes and autographs from players.

The team was in town for a tournament and arranged to meet the Lightning, whose nickname and colors it adopted when Tampa Bay entered the NHL in 1992.

An unexpected thrill came when coach John Tortorella gave pucks to the players through an opening in the glass.

"Very classy," West Mall coach Carlos Sousa said. "In this day of multimillion dollar teams, it's great for them to take the time to do this. The kids will remember this the rest of their lives."

ODDS AND ENDS: Former Lightning player Chris Gratton is having a tough time with the Sabres. Through 50 games he had four goals and was minus-17. ... Tampa Bay left wing Dave Andreychuk played his 1,411th game and passed Norm Ullman for 13th all-time. ... Center Tim Taylor returned after missing eight of nine games with a groin strain. ... Left wing Dmitry Afanasenkov and defenseman Grant Ledyard were scratched.