Boyle, Burke sign for repeat bid

Tampa Bay bolstered its defense, signing defenseman Dan Boyle and goaltender Sean Burke.

By BRANT JAMES
Published August 10, 2005

	[Times file photo: Dirk Shadd]
	Dan Boyle had two goals and eight assists in the playoffs as the Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2003-04.

TAMPA - Dan Boyle took a little less to accomplish a little more. His gesture was rewarded quickly.

The restricted free agent defenseman and one of general manager Jay Feaster's top offseason priorities signed a three-year, $10-million deal Tuesday that returns another major piece of the Lightning's Stanley Cup-winning defensive core. Hours later, Feaster used the savings to sign unrestricted free agent Sean Burke, one of the top free agent goaltenders on the market, to add depth to a position hurt by the departure of Nikolai Khabibulin.

"I took a little less that might allow us to sign another player somewhere else on the roster," Boyle said before he knew the team had agreed to a two-year, $3.2-million deal with the former Flyer. "The top priority should always be to be on a winning team. We proved we have the guys to do it (and) hopefully we can have the rest done and can compete for another Stanley Cup."

The Lightning identified Burke as a possible replacement for Khabibulin, the most sought after free agent goaltender in the unrestricted crop. Indeed, Chicago signed him to a four-year, $27-million deal last week.

Burke is 86-69-28 with a 2.37 goals-against average and 13 shutouts in his past four seasons but finished the 2003-04 season as a backup in Philadelphia. He is expected to challenge John Grahame for the starting goaltender job.

Boyle's return leaves two main pieces of business for Feaster: signing restricted free agents Martin St. Louis, the Hart Trophy winner who led the league with 94 points, and Vinny Lecavalier (32 goals, 66 points). Lecavalier has intimated personally and through his agent, Kent Hughes, that he is willing to also take less to stay and would like to secure a long-term deal, Feaster said.

Boyle will earn $2.75-million this season and $3.625-million the final two, making his "annualized" salary cap figure $3.33-million. By agreeing to a three-year deal, he in essence allowed the Lightning to purchase his first two years of free agency eligibility.

Boyle said he has not spoken to St. Louis but saw Lecavalier in Montreal recently and "very briefly talked that we like it in Tampa and would like stay there."

Feaster spoke to Lecavalier's agent for an hour Tuesday and came away "with a very high level of trust" that Lecavalier will not file for salary arbitration today.

"We've basically come to the understanding of, if we don't get a long-term deal done, what a one-year deal will look like," Feaster said. "He is willing to do a deal that is less than what he could command on the unresticted market next year."

St. Louis' negotiations have proved much more thorny. As the league MVP, he has certain leverage, but Feaster said term and dollars have not yet worked for either side.

"We're still negotiating, but we're not making a whole lot of progress right now," he said.

Boyle, a gritty and skilled puck-handler, figures to be even more valuable this season if the NHL adheres to a "zero-tolerance" on offense-mucking clutching, obstruction and interference. He had nine goals and 30 assists in the 2003-04 regular season, led the team with 22 minutes, 45 seconds of average ice time and was a plus-23. Boyle added 10 points in the playoffs. His previous two-year deal would have been worth $5.05-million if not for the lockout.

Also on Tuesday, the Lightning retained left wing Dmitry Afanasenkov, 25, and signed right wing Rob DiMaio to a two-year deal. Afanasenkov, a restricted free agent, accepted the team's qualifying offer of $702,000. DiMaio will earn $457,500 this season - $24,000 more than the league minimum - and $500,000 the next. Afanasenkov had six goals and 10 assists in 71 games last season, averaging 12:20. He had a goal and two assists in 23 playoff games. DiMaio, 37, an original Lightning, nine goals and 15 assists in 69 games with Dallas in 2003-04.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: Martin St. Louis; Vinny Lecavalier (arbitration eligible).

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT: Dave Andreychek

[Last modified August 10, 2005, 00:38:10]