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© St. Petersburg Times, published September 26, 2001
BRANDON -- The bill for three to eat breakfast at a hotel in Houston probably wasn't that expensive, but Grant Ledyard's gesture had nothing to do with cost.
It was about value.
Without making a fuss, Ledyard picked up the tab for three members of the Lightning support staff and left before any of them realized what he had done.
"We asked the waiter for our check and he said the gentleman at the next table got it," said Dana Heinze, assistant equipment manager. "That doesn't happen too often, but with a lot of veterans on the team it might happen more often. It was classy."
Among the many things newly acquired veterans Ledyard, Dave Andreychuk and Tim Taylor are teaching Lightning youngsters is respect for the hard-working people who make their jobs easier.
"The most important things for young guys is to learn the game and learn how to handle themselves, and part of that is learning how to treat the people around you," said Ledyard, a 39-year-old defenseman playing his 18th NHL season.
"The trainers and those guys work terrible hours and have real nasty jobs, and they deserve some attention for how hard they work. Young players need to know they should be taking care of those guys and not just throwing things at them without even thinking about it."
Ledyard, who learned the ropes from such veterans as Dave Maloney in New York and Marcel Dionne in Los Angeles, said he has played on teams where the training staff did not pay for a meal the entire season.
"It's just the little things," he said.
TIGHT SCHEDULES: Despite efforts to reach an agreement with three teams, the Lightning will not add a sixth game to the preseason schedule. Officials contacted Atlanta, Nashville and Carolina but could not work out a date. The Lightning (2-0-1) has two preseason games remaining, both against Florida, at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Ice Palace and Saturday in Sunrise.
STAYING FOCUSED: Today's 5:30 p.m. scrimmage at the Ice Palace, open to season-ticket holders, isn't quite the same as playing an opponent, but it will have to do.
"A preseason game would be closer to game conditions," goalie Nikolai Khabibulin said. "But there will be some fans there, so it should definitely be more exciting than just practicing."
Because the weekend preseason games are the only things to break up the monotony of training camp before the Oct. 5 opener against the Islanders, coach John Tortorella will try to keep things lively next week.
"We still have a lot of work to do on the team concept, but the players can start getting itchy," Tortorella said. "You don't want to go into the season in a situation where there's any boredom involved. Next week we'll try to have a lot of game situations so they're fresh."
WAIVER DRAFT: The Lightning will announce today which players in the organization will be left unprotected for Friday's waiver draft. The list of 20 protected players -- 18 skaters and two goaltenders -- was due Tuesday.
Among those exempt from the draft are Brad Richards, Cory Sarich, Mathieu Biron, Kristian Kudroc, Jimmie Olvestad, Gordie Dwyer, Matt Elich, Ryan Tobler, Nikita Alexeev and Alexander Svitov. Those players do not require protection because they meet the requirement of an NHL formula for league experience.
Teams cannot lose more than one player.
WHEN: The team will hold a scrimmage at 5:30 tonight. The event is open only to season-ticket holders. Players will sign autographs afterward.
WHERE: Ice Palace, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa.
PRESEASON SCHEDULE: Friday vs. Florida at Ice Palace, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at Florida, 7:30 p.m.
INFORMATION: Call (813) 301-6500.