Lightning

GM can afford to wait

ANAHEIM, Calif - Is there an offer out there for goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin the Lightning can't refuse? It's an intriguing question with all that is going on around the NHL.

Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy, whom many consider the game's greatest, announced his retirement. The Flyers shipped starter Roman Cechmanek to the Kings.

The Blues, who played musical goalies this season, are looking to upgrade. And after another playoff disappointment, the Canucks might be considering a change from former Lightning player Dan Cloutier.

Add the way Tampa Bay's season ended - with Khabibulin inconsistent during the playoffs and furious about being benched for Game 5 of the East semifinals - and there is plenty of room for speculation.

The rub: General manager Jay Feaster is not inclined to trade the player who, arguably, is the main reason the Lightning reached the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons.

You never say never, of course. If the Avalanche blows Feaster away by offering, say, Milan Hejduk, another couple of quality players and a high draft choice, Feaster will have a lot to consider.

But all things being equal, it appears the Lightning will begin next season with Khabibulin and John Grahame in net. And that is really when it will get interesting.

The Lightning will have a big decision to make regarding Khabibulin. The team has a $6.5-million option on his contract for the 2004-05 season, which might be the first in which a salary cap governs payrolls.

Let's say the cap is between $32-million and $40-million, as has been speculated. Will the Lightning be comfortable with one player making $6.5-million? Maybe, maybe not.

If not, Khabibulin, 30, will be traded next season. Better that than losing him to unrestricted free agency and getting nothing in return.

That will not be an easy call, especially if Khabibulin, after a frustrating season of tremendous highs and floundering lows, returns to premier form and the Lightning makes another playoff run.

On the other hand, if Khabibulin is playing at a high level, his marketability would bring Tampa Bay a windfall that could boost the franchise to the next level; that is, if you believe Grahame is the goalie to keep it there.

That's not a slam dunk. Grahame's stock certainly rose with his exhilarating 46-save effort in Game 5 of the East semifinal, a triple-overtime loss to the Devils. He is a battler and competes like crazy. But Grahame, 27, had a shot at being a No.1 in Boston this season and failed.

Still, Grahame sees himself as a starter, and without assurances he will at some point get the Lightning's top job, it will be difficult to keep him happy as a backup, not to mention signing him over the summer.

So, what do we have?

Basically, a lot of pressure on Feaster. Not so much right now. The GM can sit back and wait to see if anyone offers a pot of gold; maybe at this month's draft. But around February, with the trade deadline a month away, it will start to get dicey.

Especially if a guy with a gravely voice and a fedora knocks on Feaster's door.

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