Sign of these times: patience

The Lightning, not enamored with free agents, will eschew spending spree and look to deal instead.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 1, 2000

TAMPA -- Not long ago, it appeared the Lightning was ready to jump into the free-agent pool with both feet. Now it appears the team may merely test the water with its big toe.

With the acquisition of goaltender Kevin Weekes from the Islanders, assistant general manager Jay Feaster said, there is no need to go after Pittsburgh's Ron Tugnutt.

And considering this year's unrestricted free agents are an average lot, a scoring forward and rugged, stay-at-home defenseman more likely will be acquired in trade.

So, as free agents go on sale today, Feaster and general manager Rick Dudley are more likely to be relaxing next to the pool than diving into it.

"As we look at the (unrestricted) pool, we don't have a player jump out that we say is going to put us over the top," Feaster said.

"I think one of the things we and our fans have to keep in mind is that the last thing this organization needs is to start chasing players who are at least 31 years of age who you are paying for what they did and not what they're going to do. It's the worst thing you can possibly do."

That's not to say the Lightning is passing on unrestricted free agents. Feaster said the team will wait until later this month, and maybe even until August, to see who is still available.

"It doesn't mean Rick wouldn't call somebody and say "This guy makes sense' or "This guy could help us in the short term if it's the right kind of deal,' " Feaster said. "But to run out of the gate and say we're the Pac-Men and we have to gobble up free agents, it doesn't make sense to us as a franchise."

What would make sense?

Carolina left wing Gary Roberts scored a modest 23 goals last season, but he is 34 years old. Columbus' Dallas Drake is a relatively youthful 31 but scored only 10 for the Coyotes.

Defenseman Dave Manson is 6 feet 2, 219 pounds, but is 33 and likely will re-sign with the Stars. Carolina defenseman Sean Hill hits hard, but at 6 feet, 203, doesn't quite have the size Dudley covets. And he will ask for $3-million.

"It's one thing if we're sitting here and this club is a perennial playoff team and we have been knocked out in the second round or the conference finals and if we had a certain player ... " Feaster said. "But there's nobody who gets us to a different level at the kind of money it's going to take to do that.

"We'd rather be in a position that if a team calls and says they're moving player X and we sit there and go, "Wow, player X is 26, and he'd look good on the ice next to Vinny (Lecavalier) or with (Cory) Sarich.' That's the thing you'd like to be able to do."

That means trades. Feaster said a scoring forward is a priority. Names thrown around include Ottawa's Alexei Yashin, Washington's Peter Bondra and Boston's Sergei Samsonov.

Yashin won't happen. The 26-year-old is too expensive and perceived as too selfish. Bondra, 32, was talked about, but there are serious questions about how much he has left after a disappointing 21-goal season.

Samsonov, 21, is speedy and has 66 goals in three NHL seasons. He doesn't see eye-to-eye with Bruins coach Pat Burns and played for the IHL's Detroit Vipers in 1996-97, when Lightning coach Steve Ludzik was behind the bench and Dudley was general manager.

Neither Feaster nor Dudley would comment on players from other teams.

Regardless of how players are added, money will be a consideration. Team president Ron Campbell said the budget will be modest, about $25-million, but "with the right player that fits into the team, and in the right circumstances, money is no object."

"It's not because of money. It's not because of lack of knowledge or lack of desire to improve," Feaster said of Tampa Bay's stand on free agents. "The thing we've been consistently told is that it's about building and being there long term. Rick isn't looking for the quick fix."

PETROVICKY IS UNRESTRICTED: Feaster said center Robert Petrovicky was not given a qualifying offer by Friday's deadline, meaning he is an unrestricted free agent and can negotiate with any team.

The 26-year-old had seven goals and 17 assists last season in 41 games of inconsistent ice time. A $600,000 salary made him an expensive part-timer.

"As we bring in guys like (Nils) Ekman and Brad Richards, he didn't get a lot of ice time before," Feaster said. "Where is he going to get it now?"

Petrovicky couldn't be reached. His agent, Rich Winter, said his client is disappointed.

"He never got the opportunity to play for some reason," Winter said. "In the beauty pageant that unfolded in front of Steve Ludzik, Robert Petrovicky wasn't a ribbon winner. Robert's challenge will be to go to the next destination and prove Steve wrong."

Also unrestricted are 31-year-old left wing Reid Simpson and 35-year-old goaltender Daren Puppa. Neither is expected back.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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