WASHINGTON - The Lightning is willing to make what player personnel director Bill Barber called "a major move," but general manager Jay Feaster said he will not trade anyone off the current roster.
That means only draft choices, minor-leaguers and prospects will be part of any transaction before the March 9 deadline. Feaster said he is searching for "an impact forward.
"We're certainly looking to improve the hockey team," he said Monday. "But whatever we would like to do, we would do it if we didn't have to take anything out of the (locker) room."
Barber agreed.
"You've got to be real careful playing with chemistry," he said. "It's vital. They've worked hard. They deserve the right to stay together and run this out."
Defenseman Brad Lukowich said that was good to hear.
"We're confident with the guys in the room," he said. "For them to say that just shows the management side is very satisfied with what we've done. We need to build, get better, stay as a unit and complement each other by pushing each other to get better."
Feaster said he will not accompany the team on the three-game trip March 6-10 through Florida, Detroit and Carolina. Barber and chief pro scout Rick Paterson will join him at the team's St. Pete Times Forum offices.
"I can't afford to be out of touch," Feaster said.
Tampa Bay already made one of the trade season's most significant moves by acquiring defenseman Darryl Sydor. Barber said the only way Tampa Bay makes another trade is if it has similar impact.
"The last thing you want to do is go lateral," he said. "It has to be something major. We've been one of the most consistent teams in the league. You don't tamper with that."
FEASTER CHIDES FANS: The general manager said if fans want to help convince owner Bill Davidson to approve another trade that would increase payroll, they should buy more tickets.
Feaster said he has "major concern" about what he believes is lagging attendance at Lightning home games. Particularly frustrating, he said, was the announced crowd of 17,454 - about 3,000 fewer than capacity - for Tuesday's game against the Flyers.
Feaster said consistently full houses would make trades easier to sell.
"One reason we were able to do the Sydor deal was we had credibility with Mr. Davidson," Feaster said. "The very last tenant I told him when I took over and presented him with my plan was that when we start winning, we will fill this building. It's the only thing I haven't been able to do."
The Lightning's average home attendance is 17,055, about 500 more than last season.
"And I don't want to hear that (ticket) price is an issue," Feaster said. "We have one of the lowest average prices in the NHL (in the bottom five, team spokesman Bill Wickett said) and we've already run every kind of special. About the only thing we haven't done is a "buy in the next 30 minutes and the GM will wash your car' deal."
ROSTER EXPANSION: Rosters can expand after the trade deadline with teams getting four free callups. Feaster said AHL players Eric Perrin (Hershey), Gerard Dicaire (Utah) and Eero Somervuori (Hamilton) likely will be the first considered.
Perrin, especially, is deserving. Entering Monday, the center led the AHL with 39 assists and was second with 59 points. He had two assists and five shots as an All-Star starter.
"He has earned the opportunity to play in an NHL game," Feaster said.
But the GM cautioned, "If a 16-point lead (in the Southeast) becomes single digits, then all bets are off."
ODDS AND ENDS: Wednesday's game against the Thrashers will be on ESPN2. ... Defenseman Pavel Kubina played his 435th Lightning game and tied Mikael Andersson for third. ... Defensemen Nolan Pratt and Darren Rumble and left wing Andre Roy were scratched.
