Taylor promoted to alternate captain

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published January 13, 2006

BRANDON - The way Tim Taylor sees it, it's business as usual.

The Lightning center accepted the A that designates him as Tampa Bay's third alternate captain, but said it doesn't mean he will alter his style on the ice or in the locker room.

He certainly won't change his message.

"There are 20 guys in this room," Taylor said Thursday at the Ice Sports Forum. "We're going to win as a team."

And overcome a major upheaval.

It's not every day a team loses its captain. But when Dave Andreychuk on Tuesday was assigned to AHL Springfield, a procedural move that allows him to continue drawing his $800,000 salary but likely ended his Hall of Fame career, Tampa Bay lost the voice and face of the franchise.

Rather than name a new captain, coach John Tortorella picked Taylor to join Vinny Lecavalier and Fredrik Modin as alternates. General manager Jay Feaster said the arrangement, which likely will last the rest of the season, gives all Tampa Bay players a chance to grab leadership responsibilities.

That is what Taylor is counting on as the Lightning tries to find a way out of a 4-9-0 slump that left its confidence fragile.

"I sense guys are ready to take a step up," he said. "It's their time now to lead on and off the ice."

Perhaps. But Taylor, 36, from Stratford, Ontario, by default steps into Andreychuk's shoes.

The pair worked together to lead the locker room. Andreychuk, because of his credentials, got the spotlight. But Taylor, their union representative, was not afraid to pressure teammates, especially, Tortorella said, in the 2003-04 playoffs.

"He's been in the background," Tortorella said. "But the room knows what he brings. That's the most important thing."

Still, Taylor said the circumstances of his promotion are difficult.

"It would have been easier for me to accept if it had been at the end of the year," he said. "Making the transition now is harder because I don't want to take away from anything Dave has done. But at the same time, I think we've built this together."

Taylor, a solid checker and faceoff man, is in his fourth season with the Lightning and 12th in the league. He wore an A with the Bruins and Rangers, won a Stanley Cup with the 1996-97 Red Wings and soaked up leadership lessons from former teammates such as Steve Yzerman and Ray Bourque.

"He's a veteran who's been through it," goaltender John Grahame said. "When you're looking for leadership, guys with experience have first-hand knowledge. You respect them that much more."

"He's got the experience and he's a guy who can keep things under control," right wing Marty St. Louis said. "Tales has been a leader."

Taylor pulled no punches assessing the Lightning.

He said heads immediately hang when things go wrong on the ice. Instead of taking responsibility for making things happen, as was done during their Stanley Cup run, he said he and his teammates are waiting for things to happen.

That is why tonight's game with Columbus at the St. Pete Times Forum is so important.

"It's the first game without our captain who had led us for four years," Taylor said. "It's a game for players to step up."

And a game to give Andreychuk a final salute.

"If we just packed our bags and said things aren't going well and the season is over and continue what we're doing, it would be disrespectful to him because he started something great here," Taylor said. "We have to continue his legacy and what he's taught us and honor him by going out and doing the job."

As for the pride of wearing an A, Taylor shrugged.

"It's just a letter," he said. "I'm not going to take over for Dave. I'm going to continue doing something we started."

[Last modified January 13, 2006, 01:46:17]