TAMPA - Lightning CEO Tom Wilson said he expects to sign general manager Jay Feaster and the coaching staff to new contracts before the end of the season.
Feaster is waiting for his option to be picked up. Contracts for coach John Tortorella, associate coach Craig Ramsay, goaltenders coach Jeff Reese and video/assistant coach Nigel Kirwan run out after the season.
"We don't expect to get into the offseason without everybody having the security that you expect and the fans expect," Wilson said Thursday. "We just aren't that worried about it. We're confident it's going to happen."
Wilson said Feaster could get done "in the next month or so," the coaches at some point after that.
Tortorella was rebuffed during the summer when he asked for extensions for himself and his staff, and said he would not talk about a new contract until after the season. Wilson did not think it would be an impediment.
"It's a two-step process," he said. "Jay first, coaches second. Nobody is holding it up."
Wilson also said Feaster will be given leeway to trade for a player who increases payroll because he has done a "beautiful job" while "building credibility with (owner) Bill Davidson."
Wilson said he is pleased with the financial improvements the team has made. But he reiterated a new collective bargaining agreement is key to the company's continued operation in Tampa.
"I'm not even sure the CBA can solve all our problems," he said. "It really is a matter of us bringing in more fans and bringing our gates up to the league average with a better CBA that works for us. If that comes together, we love the sport, we love the team and the city. But it all has to work together."
Will the company consider staying if it does?
"Absolutely," he said.
As for the contracts, Wilson said, "You can only praise the job Jay has done. And John has done a spectacular job. So it all will be put to bed."
LEFT-HANDED COMPLIMENT: Dave Andreychuk is back on left wing, but it has nothing to do with his scoring slump. The captain, who had one goal entering Thursday, said he was tentative defensively on the right.
"I felt like too many pucks were going through me," Andreychuk said. "It's not as if things weren't going well. I just thought we could be better along the boards. I know I could be better."
Andreychuk started the season at right wing because of the team's overabundance of left wings. To accommodate his return, linemate Chris Dingman shifted from left to right.
"I know the position a lot better," Andreychuk said of left wing, where he has scored the bulk of his 614 goals. "I know where to put my stick and where to get into the passing lanes."
CANCER FIGHT: The Yerrid Foundation purchased 5,000 tickets for Saturday's game against the Sabres as part of the Tampa Bay Fights Cancer campaign. Tickets were distributed to cancer patients, survivors and their families.
"It's a great thing," Foundation president Steve Yerrid said. "It allows us to recognize these people's willingness to want to live."
ODDS AND ENDS: The Lightning plays five games in eight days to finish November. ... Center Martin Cibak and left wing Andre Roy were scratched.
