Commitment over cash
That's the philosophy for coach John Tortorella, who wants his Lightning players to stay for a chance to win.
By TOM JONES
Published July 16, 2005
BRANDON - Lightning coach John Tortorella sounds off the names like he's calling roll.
Nikolai Khabibulin, Martin St. Louis, Vinny Lecavalier.
And on he goes.
Dan Boyle, Ruslan Fedotenko.
And on.
Dave Andreychuk, Tim Taylor.
He calls out the names of the Lightning free agents, all key components to the Stanley Cup run in 2003-04 and all key ingredients, one would think, in the team's attempt to repeat as champion.
Tortorella hopes all will return. He has spoken to each of them and stated the Lightning's case. But Tortorella's message at the end of it all is simple and brutally honest. If you're more concerned about money than winning, don't come back.
"We want them to want to be here and not just make a business decision," Tortorella said Friday. "If it's about chasing money, be on your way. Because we want guys who want to play and also be treated fairly by an organization. There's no begging. We're not going to beg."
When Tortorella lists the players eligible for free agency, he pauses on each name and talks sincerely about what they mean to the Lightning.
He talks about Khabibulin's spectacular playoff performance.
"He's a huge piece of the puzzle," Tortorella said. "Huge!"
He talks about how Lecavalier has matured and how St. Louis has evolved.
He talks of Andreychuk's voice in the locker room and Taylor's leadership on the ice. Of Fedotenko's clutch goals and Boyle's quarterbacking on the blue line. He smiles every time he mentions a new name.
The Lightning has 13 free agents and likely will have about $24-million a year to sign those players. It doesn't seem possible that all 13 will be back, especially if it's simply about money.
There must be give and take, Tortorella said. The players must be willing to take a few dollars less for a few victories more.
"I know that (general manager) Jay Feaster and the Tampa Bay Lightning organization is going to treat the players fairly when it comes to contract negotiations," Tortorella said. "We know how well they've grown, how well they've matured. We know they have a Stanley Cup under their belt.
"Having said that, I think it has to be a two-way street, too, when you're dealing with the cap and so many people to be signed. We hope the players understand what we have to offer them, not just in dollars and cents, but where this organization is going. The question is: Do you want to be a part of it?"
If so, great. If not?
"If you have some people who are disgruntled and they don't want to be here, why bother with them?" Tortorella said. "Because chemistry is the most important thing. That's what won us a Stanley Cup - our system and our chemistry."
A repeat could come down to three names: Khabibulin, St. Louis and Lecavalier. Is there enough money to sign all three?
Certainly the Lightning can't afford to pay all three the maximum salary a player can earn - about $7.8-million. Tortorella hopes the free agents - especially the big three - consider the Lightning's predicament.
"Yeah, we want you back here and you're going to be treated very fairly as far as compensation," Tortorella said he told the free agents. "But we also have a big part of our team to sign."
The assumption is the market is going to be flooded with free agents, casualties of other teams' efforts to get under the salary cap. But Tortorella doesn't want to hear about who might be available.
He wants "his guys."
"We're not looking for free agents," he said. "We don't even want to go there. We miss what we had here. We've missed it for over a year now. We like our team. In the meetings that Jay Feaster and I have had, we're not targeting anybody outside of our organization. We want to get our guys signed."
Tortorella is already ready for training camp regardless of who shows up. His camp schedule has been drawn up since the 2004-05 season was canceled. He mailed letters to Lightning players Friday to tell them what's expected when camp opens with a meeting Sept. 12.
He hopes when he looks over the room of players that night he will see Khabibulin and St. Louis and Lecavalier and Fedotenko and all the other players who won a Stanley Cup in June of 2004 and are prepared to win another in June of 2006.
And if some are not there, Tortorella's drive will not be diminished.
"If we have to blow this thing up and start over, we will," Tortorella said. "But I believe we have players who want to be a part of something special. That's really the question. It's not about making the most money, it's about one question: Do you want to be a part of this team again?"