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© St. Petersburg Times, published March 2, 2002
TAMPA -- Three days after forward Zdeno Ciger left the bench during a game, general manager Jay Feaster said Friday the 32-year-old will not play again for the Lightning.
Ciger left Tuesday's game against Detroit and did not practice Wednesday, telling team officials he suffers from anxiety attacks. Team doctors have cleared Ciger to play.
In the first step toward severing its relationship with the right wing, Tampa Bay on Friday assigned Ciger to Springfield of the American Hockey League.
"It's not working out here, and we need to come to an end to this situation," said Feaster, who met with Ciger before Friday's game against San Jose.
"We had a good conversation. I think he's frustrated with the way things have worked out. My primary obligation is to the team and the players in that room."
Ciger, who has seen several doctors the past three days, is scheduled for a test Monday is Tampa. He must report to Springfield on Tuesday, but it is unclear whether he will accept the assignment. If he does, the Lightning must continue to pay his $1.7-million salary.
"We're still talking to some doctors," said Matt Keater, Ciger's agent. "We're still in the process of seeking answers to some of the questions around him physically. It's really going to depend on his health, more than anything."
Ciger, who was acquired Dec. 12 in a trade with the Rangers, had six goals in 26 games but one in his past 12. He was minus-12.
TAYLOR SORE, SOMBER: Veteran center Tim Taylor no longer will practice and will nurse his torn groin muscle through the rest of the season.
And he hates it.
"It's just getting worse," said Taylor, who needs about two months of inactivity to heal. "I like to practice, but I just can't right now. I have to take it one game at a time."
B.Y.O. BEADS: It was fun at the time, but what are you going to do with all those Gasparilla beads now? Members of the Rough Riders will collect them at the main plaza outside the Ice Palace before games tonight and March 22. The beads will be repackaged and sold for next year's Gasparilla, with proceeds to benefit children with cancer through Camp Good Days.
ONE-TIMERS: Tampa Bay's Nikolai Khabibulin, goaltender for the bronze medal Russian team, was voted the Olympics' top goaltender by members of the International Ice Hockey Federation. ... Lightning center Vinny Lecavalier (bone chip in ankle) was scratched. ... Forward Ryan Tobler will be recalled from Springfield in time for tonight's game against Florida.