Ward sticks with Lightning

Jason Ward, 28, acquired from the Kings at the trade deadline for a fifth-round draft choice, was a steal and had four goals and eight points in 17 games

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published May 10, 2007

The Lightning locked up one of its most versatile players on Wednesday when it signed wing Jason Ward to a two-year, $1.35-million deal.

"He was at the very top of the list, " general manager Jay Feaster said of his offseason priorities. "He's somebody we wanted to have in our organization."

Ward, 28, acquired from the Kings at the trade deadline for a fifth-round draft choice, was a steal and had four goals and eight points in 17 games.

Ward was minus-11 and had some puck-handling issues, but he mostly played on the second line with center Brad Richards, had plenty of penalty-kill and power-play time and became one of the team's best forecheckers.

Ward, who was a potential unrestricted free agent, is ideally a third-line player, though that could depend on how successful Tampa Bay is at acquiring a scoring wing for Richards. Whatever his job description, his straight-ahead style meshes perfectly with Tampa Bay's system.

"I'm with a team that was excited to have me, " said Ward, who will make $675, 000 a season, a $25, 000 raise. "It would have been foolish to go anywhere else."

ARTYUKHIN STANDOFF: Feaster said power forward Evgeny Artyukhin rejected a one-year, $475, 000 contract offer and, at this point, may play a second straight season in Russia.

Sabres' Drury looking, moving forward

Dressed in black and wearing a frown to match, ever-brooding Sabres co-captain Chris Drury made it clear his focus was on the future and not the past.

Drury wasn't in the mood to entertain questions about what happened in February, when he was knocked out and bloodied by Ottawa forward Chris Neil's blindside hit. And forget the bad blood that exists between the Sabres and Senators as they prepare to open the Eastern Conference finals.

Drury was only looking forward to getting the best-of-seven series started in Buffalo today.

"I don't think I have a choice, " Drury said. "If you get caught looking behind you, you're not going to be ready for the next challenge. ... It's our job to get mentally and physically ready for Game 1."

The Senators are prepared, too, although coach Bryan Murray was pleased to know there were enough story lines to keep everyone occupied this week.

"I think we all know the history, " Murray said. "It's a matter of just playing now."

There's been plenty to discuss about the Northeast Division rivals. The series is a rematch from last year, when Buffalo eliminated Ottawa, the East's top-seeded team, in five games in a second-round series.

And then there's what happened Feb. 22, when Neil's check sparked a brawl between the teams.

Drury downplayed the hit, even though he missed four games because of a concussion.

"I don't really have any feelings on it, " Drury said. "For me, it ended when I stood up, got stitched up, showered up and that was it."

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report. Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.

[Last modified May 10, 2007, 07:46:32]