TAMPA - Jay Feaster doesn't want to hear your conspiracy theory.
The Lightning's signing of backup goaltender John Grahame to a three-year deal Friday does not set in motion a plan to trade him or starter Nikolai Khabibulin.
"I'm so sick and tired of conspiracy theorists who decided in May that I had to trade Nik Khabibulin; who decided at the draft I had to trade Nik Khabibulin," the general manager said. "Now they've decided that because our backup has a three-year deal, I have to trade Nik Khabibulin. I'm sick and ... tired of it, and I refuse to comment on it.
"I'll say this. We have one of the best 1-2 goaltending tandems in the NHL, and I have no intention of trading either one of them. I'll stand on that."
Grahame, a 27-year-old restricted free agent who filed for salary arbitration, will earn $3.75-million overall, which is about the going rate for a backup. Florida signed No. 2 Jani Hurme to a three-year extension in February that will pay him a base salary of $1.1-million next season.
Khabibulin is signed through this season, with a club option for 2004-05, and will earn $4.4-million in 2003-04.
"Someone can get rumors going about anything," Grahame said. "I'll take it as it comes and be happy. Nik is obviously a tremendous goaltender, and I'm happy to do my part."
That would be keeping Khabibulin fresh and competitive and giving the Lightning a chance to win no matter who is in net.
Grahame, acquired from Boston on Jan. 13 for a 2004 fourth-round pick, was 6-5-4 with a 2.23 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in 17 appearances for the Lightning.
His final game of the season sparked the conspiracy theories. Coach John Tortorella benched Khabibulin for Game 5 of the East semifinals against New Jersey, and Grahame made 46 saves in a 2-1 triple-overtime loss.
Grahame will come to camp, Feaster said, competing for playing time as a viable starter but also as the backup.
"I think everyone understands when you have Nikolai Khabibulin, he is your No. 1 guy. He has done nothing to alter that landscape," Feaster said. "There is no question in the coaching staff's mind that John Grahame will do all he can to push Nik to be all he can be and try to prove he deserves to play and play a lot."
Grahame, saying he is as excited as he has been entering a season, doesn't want to label himself just yet.
"Obviously, I want to play, and everyone wants to play when they are there," he said. "We'll see what happens. I always say the one thing you can control is how you play."
Around the league
CAPITALS: Defenseman Jason Doig re-signed. In 55 games, he had three goals, five assists and a team-high 108 penalty minutes.
COYOTES: Left wing Tyson Nash signed. Acquired for a fifth-round pick last month, he had six goals and three assists in 66 games with St. Louis last season.
ISLANDERS: Forwards Arron Asham and Jason Wiemer re-signed. Asham had 15 goals and 19 assists in 78 games last season. Wiemer had nine goals and 19 assists with 116 penalty minutes in 81 games.
OFFICIALS: Leon Stickle was named the supervisor of officials. A linesman for 27 years, he had been director of operations for the minor-league CHL.
- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.
