RW Willis placed on waivers

TAMPA -- Jay Feaster said he called every other general manager -- yes, even Florida's Rick Dudley -- in an attempt to trade Shane Willis.

When nothing panned out by Tuesday, the day rosters had to be sent to the league, the Lightning GM said he had no choice.

He had to put the right wing on waivers.

Tampa Bay's final cut gave right wing Ben Clymer the last spot on the 23-player squad.

"We feel very strongly that we did not see the desperation and passion and willingness at this point to pay the price for him to be here as part of a 23-man roster," Feaster said of Willis.

If Willis, 25, clears waivers at noon Thursday, he will be assigned to AHL Springfield. If he is claimed, Tampa Bay loses him without player compensation and Feaster has a bit of a public relations problem.

With his first trade in his first job as an NHL general manager, Feaster acquired Willis and left wing Chris Dingman from the Hurricanes for popular goaltender Kevin Weekes.

If Willis is claimed, Feaster loses half the trade's value.

"The criticism is something I clearly recognize I open myself up for," Feaster said Tuesday. "But I hope everybody understands there were a lot of ways to go without opening myself up to criticism."

Feaster could have sent to Springfield players such as center Alexander Svitov or right wings Sheldon Keefe and Jimmie Olvestad, all of whom, because of a lack of NHL games played, would not have had to clear waivers.

But all three have earned roster spots, and Feaster said he wanted to reinforce that positions are earned on merit.

Feaster could have put Fredrik Modin (day to day with a groin strain) on injured reserve so he would not count against the roster.

But such a designation must remain for at least seven days, meaning the left wing would have been lost for Thursday's opener at Florida and Saturday's home opener against Carolina.

So Feaster said he did what he had to do if the team is going to be run as a "meritocracy."

"I promised myself I wouldn't let the fact that I'm going to be ripped cloud the fact that I had to do the right thing," Feaster said. "I did what I believe to be in the best interests of the hockey club."

"I look at a general manager making a point to the hockey club that the best 23 men are here," coach John Tortorella said. "I think it's a great message for the hockey club."

Feaster said Clymer got the nod over Willis because, "Ben's a more versatile player."

Clymer, 24, a converted defenseman, can play an offensive or checking role and can take turns on the power play and penalty kill. He also can return to the back line in a pinch.

"Ben hasn't been all that productive," Feaster said of Clymer's no-goal, three-assist preseason. "But when you assess where they are, Ben is willing to pay the price."

"He plays with jam and he brings more as far as a utility player," Tortorella said.

THE X FACTOR: When it was obvious Svitov earned a job, it gave Tortorella an excuse to move Vinny Prospal from center to left wing on the No. 2 line with Vinny Lecavalier and Ruslan Fedotenko.

That forced Willis, who was battling for a spot on that line, down the depth chart and off the first two lines, where his offensive style is best suited.

"Shane didn't have a bad camp, other guys had better," Tortorella said.

Prospal was one.

"Everywhere we put Vinny Prospal something happens," Tortorella said. "And it was hard for me to have him in a third-line center role and not have the energy he brings."

Svitov, 19, was another.

"He's intelligent and has an arrogance in the way he handles things," the coach said. "He deserves to be seen in some NHL games."

THE PAYROLL: Tampa Bay starts the season with a payroll of $30.5-million, an increase of $4.5-million over last season, but still $8-million below last season's league average.