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Dudley cleans house as deadline goes by

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO

© St. Petersburg Times,
published July 1, 2001

The Lightning did some housecleaning Saturday.

Tampa Bay did not tender qualifying offers by the midnight deadline to five players -- making them unrestricted free agents -- and will not pick up the option on forward John Emmons.

Not given offers, which would have ensured negotiating rights, were forwards Stan Drulia, Konstantin Kalmikov, Dan Kesa and Dale Rominski, and defenseman Mario Larocque.

The Lightning likely will not sign backup goalie Wade Flaherty (which should convince Kevin Weekes he is wanted) and forward Jason Podollan, both unrestricted free agents.

The moves cut the number of players the team must sign to 13, including Weekes and captain Vinny Lecavalier.

None of the moves were unexpected, and general manager Rick Dudley said none were made because the Detroit Vipers, Tampa Bay's IHL minor-league affiliate, were shut down.

The Lightning, which still has prospects it could sign, will share the AHL's Springfield Falcons with the Coyotes and have about 10 less positions available for minor leaguers.

The most noteworthy players let go are Drulia, one of the team's best penalty killers the past two seasons, and Larocque, Tampa Bay's No. 1 draft choice (16th overall) in 1996.

Drulia, 33, said his injured back could end his career. Larocque, 23, drafted when Phil Esposito was general manager and Don Murdoch was head scout, was stuck in the minors.

The 6-foot-4, 195-pounder played five games for Tampa Bay in 1998-99 and was minus-4. He had two goals and an assist with 233 penalty minutes in 71 games last season for the Vipers and was minus-36.

"We just felt it was better if Mario moved on ... and started someplace else," Dudley said.

Larocque's agent, Normand Dupont, said his client "is going to have a place to play." "It's just a matter finding the best opportunity."

Dupont said opportunity was limited after the sale of the Lightning to Palace Sports & Entertainment in July 1999.

"Since Rick Dudley was there, he was not in their plans," Dupont said. "I respect that. It's his opinion on a player, but I don't agree with it. ... (Larocque) understands the business side but is still disappointed. He felt he never had a chance to prove something."

QUALIFYING OFFERS: Tampa Bay retained the rights to Lecavalier, Weekes, defensemen Stan Neckar, Mike Jones, Mikko Kuparinen, Marek Posmyk, Nolan Pratt, Cory Sarich and Andrei Zyuzin, and forwards Kaspars Astashenko, Gordie Dwyer, Brian Holzinger and Ryan Johnson.

Of that group, Weekes, Neckar, Holzinger and Johnson are eligible for salary arbitration. The deadline to file is July 15.

WEEKES UPDATE: Agent Paul Theofanous said he and the Lightning speak regularly about a new contract for Weekes.

If there was any doubt the Lightning wants Weekes, it was dispelled by its decision not to to sign Flaherty. Weekes and Nikolai Khabibulin are now its only proven goalies.

The early blueprint is for Weekes to play 32 games, Khabibulin 50.

Asked if he was confident a deal will get done, Theofanous said, "It's not done until you sign on the bottom line."

GOALIE CRUNCH: The other goalies on the roster are Dieter Kochan and Evgeny Konstantinov. Dudley did not seemed concerned.

He said minor-league depth is available and could include any of three prospects: Alexander Polukeyev, 20; Brian Eklund, 21; and Michal Lanicek, 20, on Friday.

Tampa Bay signed Mark Fitzpatrick last season, but the 32-year-old retired.

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