Players focused on filling leadership void

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published January 11, 2006

BRANDON - Lightning center Brad Richards said he always will remember the way Dave Andreychuk "had our backs."

Whether it was sticking up for teammates in discussions with the coach and general manager or in confrontations with an opponent, "He was the safety valve," Richards said.

Defenseman Dan Boyle called Andreychuk's presence "soothing." Defenseman Cory Sarich said the captain's experience provided him "the right thing to say in every instance."

Those attributes helped make Andreychuk the voice in Tampa Bay's locker room. In an ironic twist, the left wing's overwhelming stature was one of the considerations in the Lightning's decision to put him on waivers.

General manager Jay Feaster and coach John Tortorella said they believe Andreychuk's presence, and the respect he commanded, hindered others from expanding their leadership role.

So when Andreychuk's skills diminished, the team decided it was time to move on, not only to help on ice but, in a way, for the good of the locker room.

If Andreychuk is claimed off waivers, or if he isn't and is assigned to AHL Springfield (a formality the team doesn't expect him to accept), the Lightning will save about $400,000 in cap space, half his $800,000 salary.

But Tortorella said after Tuesday's workout at the Ice Sports Forum that the move had nothing to do with payroll concerns.

"There's definitely a leadership element in our (locker) room," he said. "But there's also a respect of the captaincy that Dave held. That leadership capability there now will not grow because of the captain still being there, and that's part of this process."

The question is, whose voice will be heard? Whose actions will be noticed?

Feaster said that instead of a captain, a third assistant will be named to join left wing Fredrik Modin and center Vinny Lecavalier. Likely candidates are Richards, right wing Marty St. Louis and center Tim Taylor.

"We have a number of people who we can name captain," Feaster said. "But we're looking to see who is going to emerge from the standpoint of that leadership. We want to see who pushes up. I think it's an opportunity for a number of guys in that room."

"That's the next step in our careers," Richards said. "That's the way change is."

Asked if the team was mature enough for the transition, Richards said, "Why wouldn't we be?"

The Lightning certainly isn't the same team as when Andreychuk came on board in 2001.

The team has been to the playoffs twice, won a Stanley Cup and, through experience and example, understands the level of intensity and amount of preparation it takes to compete in the NHL.

That kind of experience breeds self-confidence.

"I'm sure Dave is very proud of what he's done here and he should be proud of the way he helped us out," Richards said. "But we've accomplished a lot here, too. We know what it's like to win and we know what it's like to be in the down parts, and we've seen how we've gotten out of both of them.

"No disrespect to Dave, we're talking about the situation that's upon us. We have to do it. There's no choice. We can't look anywhere else now."

"We're a mature team," St. Louis said. "Guys don't need something on their chest to be leaders around here. At this time of year, your actions have to speak much louder than your voice. If we're going to go anywhere, your actions are most important."

However it shakes out, Taylor said the struggling team owes Andreychuk a last show of respect as it tries to find its Stanley Cup form.

"We still have a huge job to do and he'd be very disappointed in all of us if we didn't try to get better as a team," Taylor said. "It'd be disrespectful toward him if we let this be a distraction to our team. He wants us to be at our utmost. That's the kind of person he is."

It's the kind of leader he was.

[Last modified January 11, 2006, 00:42:11]