Lightning Notebook

Tony Espo: several trades in works

By TIM BUCKLEY

©St. Petersburg Times, published November 9, 1997

SAN JOSE -- Mired in an 11-game winless streak before playing Saturday night against the Sharks, the Lightning is discussing trade possibilities with several teams.

One, Tony Esposito confirmed, is Carolina.

"We're talking to Carolina, sure," he said. "We're not gonna deny talking to them."

It is believed the Lightning has interest in Hurricanes left wing Geoff Sanderson, another rumor Esposito would not deny. "He's one name that came up. We like (center Jeff) O'Neill, we like (center Keith) Primeau, we like Sanderson. We like offense, and those are three pretty good hockey players." Carolina is looking for a wing, he said.

Tampa Bay also has interest in San Jose center Jeff Friesen, said Esposito, the Lightning scouting/development director: "It's no secret we like Friesen." And the Lightning has inquired about Colorado center Mike Ricci, though the Avalanche apparently wants at least a first-round pick.

Whomever the Lightning goes after, Esposito knows it will come at a price.

"You get in a position where guys try to stick you up," he said. "That's life. You have to do what you have to do."

BRADLEY OUT, VUJTEK HOME: As if the Lightning did not have enough medical problems, it now has more.

Center Brian Bradley did not play because of a concussion sustained in Thursday's 5-2 loss to Los Angeles, and center Vladimir Vujtek flew home after complaining of tightness in his chest.

Bradley, slammed into the boards by the Kings' Philippe Boucher, left with what was later described as a mild concussion. The Lightning thought its top-line center would play against the Sharks after he passed an initial neurological exam, but Bradley was held out.

"He's complaining of headaches, so we can't take any chances," trainer Curtis Bell said. "This is something you don't want to mess with."

That broke up the most productive lines of late, one with Bradley at center, Paul Ysebaert on the left wing and Mikael Renberg on the right.

"That line was really starting to go, then we get set back again," Esposito said. "But those things happen."

Bradley was frustrated: "When I move around, my head starts to throb. They said when you have something like this you just can't play."

Vujtek, meanwhile, complained of chest pains more than a week ago and saw a cardiologist in Tampa. "Everything was negative and he was cleared to continue to play," Bell said.

But when Vujtek complained of tightness in his chest again, he was sent home. He is scheduled to be examined Monday in Tampa. "This is not an ankle or a knee that you can just tape up," Bell said, adding it is possible a virus from a lingering cold has infected Vujtek's chest and the lining of the sac around his heart.

Already out for Tampa Bay: Wing Dino Ciccarelli (arthroscopic surgery, elbow) and tough guy Troy Mallette (two herniated discs, neck).

Ciccarelli's surgery, performed in Detroit by Dr. David Collon, was called a success by the team. Collon cleaned out bone chips and said Ciccarelli should be out 10 days. PETERSON CALL-UP: Even though the Lightning knew Ciccarelli, Mallette and Vujtek would be out, Tampa Bay promoted no one from its minor-league system.

The Lightning had to play 10 forwards (two fewer than usual) and eight defensemen (two more than usual). Tampa Bay had no healthy spares.

Brent Peterson from Milwaukee of the International Hockey League will join the team today in Phoenix.