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Lightning: Measuring hope in $$$

It's time for owner Bill Davidson to step up.

By GARY SHELTON
Published April 23, 2007

TAMPA - Even now, even in defeat, you wait for someone to make a play.

Even now, even in disappointment, you still hope someone will dig a little deeper.

Even now, even after elimination, you want someone to have a renewed commitment.

As of today, it is all up to Lightning owner Bill Davidson. Even now, especially now, he has to be a star.

It is hard to imagine that Davidson isn't a bit let down this morning. Another season that wasn't enough has ended. Say what you will about the Lightning, but most of us will agree: It should have been more. It's hard to blame Davidson if he's a little annoyed, too.

The Lightning was bounced out of the NHL playoffs Sunday afternoon, losing 3-2 to New Jersey, and once again, all of its shortcomings were on display. The Lightning is not strong enough in goal, not deep enough on defense and not dangerous enough outside of its triangle of offensive stars.

Over the past two years, Tampa Bay has lost eight of its 11 playoff games, and more and more the roster looks like a few highlights and a lot of heartaches. It would be hard to blame Davidson if he were to sigh and say: "I'm paying that for this?"

That said, the puck is now on Davidson's stick.

More important, the cash is in his wallet.

This is a critical time for a franchise. For months now, those who run the Lightning have sounded like men prepared to retreat. Even as the Lightning pushed toward its fourth straight playoff season, all you heard from the front office was the grinding of gears and the talk of reducing payroll. It was a strange message at a strange time, and the sound of it was ominous.

Although the NHL will spend more on payroll next season, perhaps as much as $48-million per team, the Lightning has suggested it will spend less, perhaps as little as $40-million. That means it will have eight million fewer chances to win than its opponent.

And, yes, that means this team could be broken up.

And yes, one of the Big Three of Vinny Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis or Brad Richards could go.

This isn't the time. Disappointment aside, this is the time of year the Lightning needs to go shopping. This is the time that Dollar Bill needs to increase, not decrease, his team's salary.

Look, the easiest thing in the world is to spend someone else's money, and yes, I have heard how the Lightning is supposedly hemorrhaging money every time it manufactures ice cubes. Any day now, I expect Lightning CEO Tom Wilson, the counter of beans, to suggest that a new toll booth be constructed on the crosstown with every quarter siphoning straight into the St. Pete Times Forum.

Still, there is a time to raise and a time to fold. Considering the Lightning is holding three aces, this seems like the time to press forward.

In Vinny, Marty and Brad, the Lightning has the best player, second-best player and third-best player in team history. As long as the window is open, why not take every chance at winning another Cup? Why not buy a couple of wings for Richards' line? Why not invest in another defenseman? Why not look for a bargain in goal? Why continue with a roster of third-liners on the second line and fourth-liners on the third?

Later, after the window closes, when it is time to retool, perhaps that is when you squeeze nickels so hard you leave thumbprints. For now, you spend, and you insist to those in charge that you spend more wisely.

Already, coach John Tortorella has begun to plead his case. The ice had barely been cleared Sunday when he began his campaign.

"We need to keep adding pieces," he said. "If they cut the payroll, we're in trouble. I hope our ownership stands behind us here. If they don't, we might lose one of our top three guys."

That's a sobering thought, but think of it like this. If the payroll is $48-million, then the $20-million paid to the Three Amigos is roughly 42 percent. As we have learned, that's tough for a team to swallow. But if the payroll is $40-million, paying half to three guys is too much to ask.

So which of these three are you prepared to lose? Think about it. St. Louis is about to turn 32, and he has a no-trade clause, so that limits some options. Richards is the highest paid at $7.8-million, and he had a bad year, so that limits some others.

In other words, the most marketable guy would be Lecavalier. And if the Lightning loses him, it might as well trade everyone and start over, which would be a far greater loss than Sunday's.

As of now, the Lightning turns its eyes to Detroit and to Davidson.

As of now, it needs for him to make a save.

Gary Shelton can be reached at (727) 893-8805.

[Last modified April 23, 2007, 06:47:45]