Lightning trades No. 4 pick

Philadelphia sends speedy forward Ruslan Fedotenko, 23, and two picks to Tampa Bay on the eve

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published June 22, 2002

TORONTO -- Perception and reality.

Lightning general manager Jay Feaster knows both will come into play in the analysis of the trade he pulled off late Friday night.

[AP] Ruslan Fedotenko, right, had 16 goals in his first season and 17 last season.

Tampa Bay sent the No.4 overall pick in today's draft to the Flyers for left wing Ruslan Fedotenko and two second-round picks, the 34th and 52nd overall.

Feaster said the perception will be that he gave up a high pick for a third-line player who lacks a recognizable name or even a little panache. He said the reality will be something far different as he expects Fedotenko to score between 20 and 25 goals and be integral on special teams.

"There certainly were some sexier names out there," Feaster said. "But at the end of the day, it doesn't matter what the name was if we don't win, and we believe this player helps us win."

The picks also gave Feaster some new toys, as the general manager said he would use them as trade bait to try to pick up more players.

"We're not closed for business yet tonight," Feaster said. "We have two picks in the second round. If we can move those and address some needs we will do that."

By 1 this morning, however, it appeared any additional moves would wait until later in the day at the Air Canada Centre.

The trade certainly came in under the radar. Most attention had been focused on the Oilers, who want to trade out of the 14th draft position in an attempt to get Medicine Hat left wing and Edmonton native Joffrey Lupul.

And even Feaster said about three hours earlier the chance he would trade the pick was "50-50."

But Flyers general manager Bobby Clarke apparently covets Lupul, Finnish defenseman Joni Pitkanen and, if he is extremely lucky, Finnish goaltender Kari Lehtonen.

"We talked to Tampa Bay early when they said they were prepared to move the fourth pick," Clarke said. "We think there are five top players before the break line. We think we're going to get a great, great player."

Feaster knows that is what was expected in exchange for the No.4 pick. And he knows fans will say, "Who?" when they hear Fedotenko's name.

But Feaster was clearly jazzed by the trade, which got his first draft as an NHL general manager off to a rousing start.

"It's unfortunate that it will be portrayed as something other than that because it's not an $8-million dollar hockey player," he said of Fedotenko, who made $450,000 last season. "And that's unfortunate. But the results will speak for themselves, and, at the end of the day, that is what our fans want."

Fedotenko, 23, was stuck as a third-line player last season behind Justin Williams and Mark Recchi and averaged just 13 minutes, 56 seconds of ice time.

He had 17 goals, nine assists, somewhat off his rookie numbers of 16 goals, 20 assists. But he was plus-15, and that, Feaster said, opens all kinds of possibilities.

It is easy to envision Fedotenko on a line with center Vinny Lecavalier and Shane Willis. Not only will his skating ability allow him to keep up with his linemates, he can be the line's defensive anchor.

His defense also puts him on the penalty kill. His potential offense puts him on the power play.

"From our perspective, here is a guy who, with third-line ice time, got 16 and 17 goals and has some playoff experience," Feaster said. "We think he can give us 20-25 goals consistently."

Feaster said he was not alone in that assessment. AHL Hershey was a Flyers affiliate for six of the nine years Feaster spent with the Bears as assistant to the president, general manager, then vice president of Hershey Sports and Entertainment. He counts former Flyers great and coach Bill Barber as a friend.

Did Feaster get a scouting report from Barber?

"I won't say who I talked to," Feaster said. "But I did my homework."

Which helped turn the perception of this trade into a reality.

2002 NHL DRAFT

WHEN: Today (rounds 1-3), Sunday (rounds 4-9).

WHERE: Air Canada Centre, Toronto.

TV: 1 p.m. today; ESPN2.

DRAFT ORDER: 1. Panthers; 2. Thrashers; 3. Blue Jackets; 4. Flyers; 5. Penguins; 6. Predators; 7. Mighty Ducks; 8. Wild; 9. Flames; 10. Panthers (from Rangers); 11. Sabres; 12. Capitals; 13. Capitals (from Stars); 14. Oilers; 15. Canadiens; 16. Senators; 17. Capitals (from Canucks); 18. Kings; 19. Coyotes; 20. Blue Jackets (from Devils via Stars); 21. Blackhawks; 22. Islanders; 23. Coyotes (from Blues); 24. Maple Leafs; 25. Hurricanes; 26. Stars (from Flyers); 27. Sharks; 28. Avalanche; 29. Bruins; 30. Sabres (from Red Wings). First Lightning pick: No. 34.

DRAFT PARTY: The Lightning will hold a party beginning at noon at Shots at Channelside in the Ice Palace, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa.

Draft day history

Previous major deals done on or around draft day in Lightning history:

2001 -- Got D Mathieu Biron and a second-round pick in today's draft from the Islanders for D Adrian Aucoin and RW Alexander Kharitonov.

2000 -- Got G Kevin Weekes, D Kristian Kudroc and a 2001 second-round pick from the Islanders for a first-round choice (No. 5 overall) plus two late-round picks.

1999 -- Got G Dan Cloutier, LW Niklas Sundstrom and 2000 first- and third-round picks for No. 1 overall pick.

1998 -- Got G Bill Ranford from the Capitals for a third-round pick and a second-rounder in '99.

1993 -- Got RW Petr Klima from Oilers for a 1994 third-round pick.

Today's lineup
Lightning