Svoboda's Tampa Bay days done

SUNRISE -- If Petr Svoboda makes a comeback from postconcussion syndrome, it will be with another team. The Lightning will not pick up the defenseman's option for next season.

"Medically, there is no suggestion whatsoever he will be cleared to play," general manager Jay Feaster said.

"If you're not ready to play, there's nothing you can do," Svoboda said. "That's the way it is."

Svoboda, 36, has not played since he was injured Dec. 14, 2000, at Phoenix. Though Svoboda said he is "pretty much back to normal," he added, "but not to play hockey."

Svoboda, acquired in December 1998 from the Flyers for Karl Dykhuis, made $2.5-million this season and will get a $500,000 buyout. He said he can perform day-to-day activities without a problem but experiences headaches, nausea and dizziness when he works out.

He said he is not ready to retire, and teams have inquired about his availability through agent Doug Messier.

"I think what Petr is going through is an accumulation of how he played the game," Lightning coach John Tortorella said. "He always competed and held the puck to the bitter end and wasn't afraid to take a hit."

"If everybody played the game like Petr did, it would be a wonderful game," Feaster said. "He's a warrior. He's been wonderful for our franchise."

HEADING HOME: The season was too short for forward Dave Andreychuk, who will miss the playoffs for the third time in 20 seasons.

"It's a disappointment," he said. "Obviously, you have kids now so you can't really go anywhere. So you take a couple of weeks off and start to get ready for next year."

Andreychuk, 38, said he will decide in a few weeks whether to play another season, but indicated it would not be a difficult decision.

"Nothing is definite but the way I feel right now, I want to come back," he said. "When you're not in the playoff race, it makes you want to play."

Andreychuk scored his 21st goal and 245th power-play goal in Sunday's season-ending 3-2 overtime win against Florida at National Car Rental Center. He is four power-play goals behind Phil Esposito's NHL record.

HEADING HOME II: Grant Ledyard spent what might be the final game of his career behind the Lightning bench, helping Tortorella and associate coach Craig Ramsay.

The 40-year-old defenseman will not be back with Tampa Bay next season, and said if another team does not call early in the summer, he will end his 18-year run.

"I've been putting on skates since I was barely 2 years old and I'll probably keep wearing them until I'm 70," Ledyard said. "My body isn't telling me it's time to quit. But at 40 years old I have responsibilities to my family."

Ledyard suggested coaching might be in his future.

NO ST. LOUIS: Right wing Martin St. Louis missed his second straight game because of a concussion.

"It is very frustrating," he said.

St. Louis, who finished with 16 goals and at plus-4, missed 26 games with a broken right leg, played five and was hurt again when Carolina defenseman Bret Hedican cross-checked him in the chin.

"He was trying to contain me with the stick across my chest," St. Louis said. "It's just the way he hit me, right on the button."

St. Louis, who made $290,000 this season, said negotiations on his new contract have not begun.

"I'm ready to start working out to get ready for next year," he said. "I not only want to pick up where I left off, I want to elevate from there."

ODDS AND ENDS: Nikolai Khabibulin's 15th minute in goal was the 20,000th of his career. ... Vinny Prospal had assists on all three goals, giving him a career-high 37.