GM doesn't regret Weekes deal

SUNRISE -- It was no surprise to Lightning general manager Jay Feaster that his e-mail got busy after he put Shane Willis on waivers.

The right wing was part of the first trade Feaster made after becoming GM, sending popular goaltender Kevin Weekes to the Hurricanes for Willis and left wing Chris Dingman. If Willis is claimed, Tampa Bay loses half of the trade's value.

The e-mailers believe it is worse than that.

"The basic message has been, 'You gave Weekes away for nothing,' " Feaster said Wednesday.

Despite Willis' failure to secure a roster spot, Feaster said he would make the deal again.

"First of all, we had a backup goaltender who didn't want to be a backup goaltender who was scheduled this year to make $1.5-million," he said of Weekes. "Clearly, that didn't fit where we needed to go this season. Also, at the time, (Martin) St. Louis and (Fredrik Modin) were out and (Brian) Holzinger and (Tim) Taylor. We needed to do something for the team, potentially, for offensive production."

But Willis, who scored 20 goals as a rookie in 2000-01, never found a comfort zone with Tampa Bay and had four goals and three assists in 21 games.

He had a goal and no assists in five preseason games, and Feaster said Willis fell behind left wing Nikita Alexeev and center Martin Cibak, both of whom were sent to AHL Springfield, where Willis will play if not claimed.

Feaster said he would make the trade again.

"At the time, we couldn't project we would have (center Alexander) Svitov and (right wing Ruslan) Fedotenko," he said. "At the time, we picked up a guy who had scored 20 goals."

He also got Dingman, who provides muscle and is a consistent performer in a third- and fourth-line role.

Of putting Willis on waivers, Feaster said, "I'm not going to apologize for doing the right thing. If he clears, we expect him to go down to Springfield and work hard so he is the first recalled. If he clears, we think there will be a time when he can contribute."

If he is claimed by noon today, Feaster should expect more e-mails.

POSITION NOT IMPORTANT: It appears for the second straight season, Vinny Prospal will play mostly away from his natural center position. He will start the season at left wing with Fedotenko and center Vinny Lecavalier.

Not that Prospal minds.

"I did it all last year," he said of playing wing.

He had one of his best seasons with 18 goals and 55 points.

Asked if ice time was the priority, he said, "You said it exactly right."

ODDS AND ENDS: Asked if Svitov will play tonight, coach John Tortorella said, "Maybe." ... Modin, day to day with a groin strain, practiced and could play. ... The Lightning was at its hotel by 4 p.m. Tortorella said he wanted "no bumps in the road," which included making sure the players were rested. But he also said there would be a team dinner. ... Left wing Andre Roy will miss the first six games to complete a 13-game suspension levied last season for leaving the penalty box and physical abuse of an official.