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© St. Petersburg Times, published January 10, 2003
TAMPA -- The second half of the season began Thursday with the spotlight almost as much on Lightning general manager Jay Feaster as the players.
With the loss of defenseman Jassen Cullimore for possibly the rest of the season with a torn left rotator cuff and defenseman Dan Boyle out until he can tolerate the pain of a crushed knuckle on his left index finger, Feaster's search for a top-four defenseman has taken on some urgency.
"I've been talking to teams for quite a while now," Feaster said. "We're trying to find someone who can take that top-four ice time, and right now, that's easier said than done. It's an everyday thing of talking to teams."
Feaster said he easily could make deals for a No.6 or 7 blue-liner.
"But that's not what we need," Feaster said. "That's why I've said all along we won't make a deal for the sake of making a deal."
While Feaster does not speak about potential deals, it is believed he had talks with the Blackhawks about defenseman Boris Mironov, who was traded to the Rangers on Wednesday. The Bruins' Kyle McLaren and Islanders' Roman Hamrlik also have been mentioned.
The in-house debate likely concerned the wisdom of acquiring a player who makes $3.3-million, is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and walked out on his team for a month.
"You can't make a deal to just make a deal," coach John Tortorella said. "You can't break up the core here. I'm sure the right deal will come along."
Is Feaster feeling pressure to deal? "It's not so much pressure as I want to do my part, too," he said. "The players ... have done such a good job. I want to do right by these players."
POLUSHIN UPDATE: Head scout Jake Goertzen had only raves for center Alexander Polushin after watching him play on the first line for Russia at the World Junior Championships. "He's so unselfish. He can play with the really, really good players and make them better," Goertzen said of the Lightning's top prospect.
Polushin, 19, the 47th overall pick in 2001, had two goals and six assists in six games, was plus-9 and set up the winning goal in the gold-medal game. Goertzen said Polushin still is a year away but the team might bring him to next season's rookie camp. Depending on whether Tampa Bay has its own AHL affiliate next season or continues to share could determine whether Polushin is signed and brought to North America permanently.
"With the Lightning of the past, maybe we try to squeeze him in and bring him along," Goertzen said. "But it's getting tougher to do that because we're getting better."
BENCHED: Lightning right wing Jimmie Olvestad and left wing Andre Roy did not play during the third period and overtime. Right wing Sheldon Keefe played just 10 seconds. Right wing Ben Clymer (groin) and center Brian Holzinger (healthy) were scratched.