He shoots, he scores, he rejoices

Vinny Prospal is having fun leading the Lightning in points and assists. But will Tampa Bay's fun end after this season?

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 7, 2003

TAMPA -- Vinny Prospal waggled his stick as if threatening an opponent in a duel, and sheathed it through the gloved hand at his hip.

Chi Chi Rodriguez could not have done it better. But while Rodriguez does his act as a professional golfer after sinking birdie putts, Prospal gave his performance after scoring a goal ... in practice.

It is par for the course.

The Lightning left wing has mastered the art of practice-goal celebrations. If he is not waving his stick, he is flapping his gums at goalies Nikolai Khabibulin and John Grahame.

"He celebrates those goals a little bit too much at times," teammate Pavel Kubina said. "But that's the way he is. He's trying to have a good time."

"It's something that just makes what we do fun," Prospal said. "Hockey should be fun."

Prospal, 28, is having a ball. He leads the Lightning with career highs of 64 points and 47 assists, and his 17 goals are one off last season's total.

He has assists on 12 winning goals and scored four others, and his seemingly endless good nature has prompted coach John Tortorella to remark that Prospal appears never to have a bad day.

Quite a contrast to the summer of 2001, when after his second trade in seven months, Prospal said he believed his days in the NHL were numbered.

The 2000-01 season was a drama. It started with the Senators, ended with the Panthers and produced five goals and 24 assists. His trade to the Lightning for Ryan Johnson and a sixth-round draft pick was even more worrisome.

Journeymen, Prospal thought, just don't last.

"I thought, "Holy (expletive)! I'm going around the league like that,"' he said. "I didn't think I might still be playing in the NHL."

Instead, Prospal's average of 18:17 of ice time is almost four minutes more than 2000-01, and the Lightning's improved scoring touch means more of his pinpoint passes end up in the net.

"Vinny is definitely our best at seeing the ice," Tortorella said.

"It's been great in Tampa," Prospal said. "I'm never going to say a bad word about it. They gave me a second chance."

Still, Prospal faces an interesting decision this summer, when his one-year, $1.55-million contract expires. With 10 pro seasons, including three in the minors, and because he makes less than the league's average salary, Prospal can become an unrestricted free agent.

It is a decision with many considerations.

He and his family, including wife Monika and son Vaclav, 3 in June, love the Tampa Bay area. And if Prospal signs with another team, he continues, in a sense, the journeyman adventure that began two seasons ago.

But with a career season on his resume and a salary cap expected to be part of the collective bargaining after 2003-04, Prospal might believe he must go for the big bucks while he can.

"I would lie if I said I hadn't thought about it or discussed it with anyone," Prospal said of free agency. "It's something I will have to think about after the season. It's going to be a big decision, and hopefully, I will make the right one."

General manager Jay Feaster declined to talk about the contract status of any player because he does not want to distract from the playoff run. But signing Prospal, along with center Brad Richards, defenseman Dan Boyle and captain Dave Andreychuk, must be considered priorities.

"It's so hard to talk about this," Prospal said. "I'm 28 years old, and not too many guys have the opportunity I've got. I never thought the season would go this way for our club and for me. It's just helping me right now."

Areas need fine-tuning. Prospal's defense has been inconsistent, but he has shown a greater willingness to battle for the puck. He already has figured out how to get under the skin of his goaltenders.

"I give them a little something after I score, but they give me something back if they stop me," Prospal said. "That's good. It's a little more competition during practice."

And the odd sword fight not withstanding, very animated.

"He makes weird sounds when he scores goals," Khabibulin said.

"When I stop him next time, I'll try to copy him."