Lightning Trade Rumors

Tampa courts Sundin
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September 9
Globe and Mail
 
"The Tampa Bay Lightning are believed to be the latest club interested in obtaining free agent Mats Sundin - if he decides to play again. While the NHL community awaits Sundin's decision, his agent, J.P. Barry, confirmed two more clubs have recently expressed interest in his client. Barry would not reveal the two new teams that have joined the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers in the pursuit of the veteran centre, but one is believed to be the Lightning. Sundin not only met with Leafs general manager Cliff Fletcher last Friday and Canadiens boss Bob Gainey on Saturday in Toronto, he also played in the Right to Play charity ..."
Bolting to Sunshine State?
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August 29
Ottawa Sun
 
"Is defenceman Andrej Meszaros ready to Bolt? While The Hockey News reported last night on its website that the Senators defenceman had agreed to terms on a contract "in excess of $5 million (all terms US)" per season with another team, two league sources insisted that no formal offer sheet has been filed with the NHL. Sources told Sun Media last night that Lightning owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie have told the Senators they intend to pursue Meszaros if Ottawa doesn't deal him to the Bolts, but the indications are GM Bryan Murray doesn't feel the least bit threatened. Based on a yearly salary of $5 million, the compensation for signing Meszaros would be a first-, second- and ..."
Maurice to interview first for Islanders job
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July 20
Newsday
 
"Former Toronto coach Paul Maurice has the pole position in the interview process to determine the successor to Ted Nolan as coach of the Islanders. According to an NHL source, Maurice is expected to meet with general manager Garth Snow Monday. The list of confirmed Islanders coaching candidates now numbers seven. Besides Maurice, the list includes former Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella and his assistant, Mike Sullivan, both of whom have received permission from the Lightning to interview. Snow still is waiting for approval to interview former Atlanta coach Bob Hartley and current Providence Bruins coach Scott Gordon in Boston's organization. Former Colorado coach Joel Quenneville is a free ..."
Report: Lecavalier Signs 11-Year Extension
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July 13
Tampa Tribune
 
"Vinny Lecavalier's hockey career will end where it began - in a Lightning uniform. Lecavalier signed an 11-year contract extension worth $85 million, the details of which surfaced on Saturday. The deal, which averages $7.72 million per season as the salary cap hit, was signed on Friday and submitted to the league office. The extension will kick in at the start of the 2009-10 season and carry through the end of the 2019-20 season, just before Lecavalier's 40th birthday. The deal will officially be announced on Tuesday during a scheduled news conference that will be followed by a town hall meeting with ownership, Coach Barry Melrose and Lecavalier. "This is a truly exciting day for ..."
GM Jay Feaster could be leaving Lightning
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July 11
St. Petersburg Times
 
"General manager Jay Feaster, a major component of the Lightning's 2004 Stanley Cup team, is in the midst of negotiations that could lead to his departure from the organization. It was unclear whether it will be through buyout or resignation. But it seems reasonable Feaster, with three years left on a contract that pays between $800,000 and $900,000 a year, will be compensated. An announcement could come as soon as today."
Boyle Agrees To Waive No-Trade To Go To San Jose
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July 4
TSN.ca
 
"Sources tell TSN Dan Boyle has signed his no-trade clause and has agreed to a trade to the San Jose Sharks. The paper work is now in the hands of the NHL. Pending NHL approval the next step will be the finalization of the deal. In return for the 31-year old veteran defenseman, it is believed Tampa will receive a package that will include 23-year old defenseman Matt Carle, a first round draft pick, a prospect and a 4th round pick. Sources say defenseman Brad Lukowich is also part of the deal going to San Jose."
Three Teams Remain In The Hunt For Dan Boyle
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July 4
TSN.ca
 
"The Vancouver Canucks are one of three teams in the running for veteran defenseman, Dan Boyle. Sources tell TSN the Canucks, San Jose Sharks and Philadelphia Flyers are the three teams Boyle is considering, however he has yet to waive his no-trade clause to clear the way for a trade. The belief is Boyle will consent to trade at some point today and will select the team of his choice, however until he officially waives his no-trade, there is always a chance the Lightning's efforts to move him may be scuttled."
Sharks Covet Boyle
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July 4
San Jose Mercury News
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"In February, Tampa Bay signed Boyle to a six-year, $40 million contract with a no-trade clause. The franchise's new owners are trying to persuade him to waive it, with the Sharks one of six teams courting the Ottawa native... The past two weeks have brought a flurry of transactions for the Lightning. At this point, Tampa Bay appears to be looking for a younger and less-expensive defenseman than Boyle, making Matt Carle, Marc-Edouard Vlasic or restricted free agent Christian Ehrhoff a potential part of any trade. Some media reports have had the Sharks as the front-runner, but Bazos would not go so far."
Help on defence hard to find
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July 3
Ottawa Citizen
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"As well, Murray acknowledged yesterday he had talked to both the Lightning about Boyle and to Anaheim about defenceman Mathieu Schneider, who is said to be on the trading block because the Ducks need to find salary room under their cap."
Bolts Shopping Goalie Smith
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July 1
Sportsnet.ca
 
"The Tampa Bay Lightning are shopping goaltender Mike Smith around after signing Olaf Kolzig to a one-year deal, Sportsnet has learned. Kolzig signed for $1.5 million with the Lightning after 15 seasons with the Washington Capitals. Earlier Tuesday, the Capitals signed goaltender Jose Theodore to a two-year deal worth $9 million. Smith was acquired by Tampa Bay at the NHL’s February trade deadline in the deal that sent Brad Richards to the Dallas Stars."
Lightning starts fast; contacts Vrbata, Kolzig
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July 1
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Nothing officially from the team but it is believed the Lightning already has made contact with representatives for left wing Radim Vrbata, who scored 27 goals last season for the Coyotes, and goalie Olaf Kolzig. Makes sense. Vrbata's stock took off when Brian Rolston turned down the Lightning's offer. As coach Barry Melrose said this morning, he could play the right side and the second-unit power play. He also is good on the penalty kill, and was plus-6 last season. Kolzig would be a terrific mentor for Mike Smith, and coach Barry Melrose, this morning, indicated the team "had some goalie issues we need to take care of.""
Lightning Get A Big Jump On The Free-Agent Market
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July 1
Tampa Tribune
 
"The start of free agency is like Christmas morning in July around the NHL. Only the Lightning sneaked into the closet, shook the packages and ripped the wrapping off a couple of presents before they could be put underneath the tree. Tampa Bay got a jump on the market Monday, making official the signings of forwards Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts, acquired from Pittsburgh on Saturday, and Vinny Prospal, who was re-acquired from Philadelphia on June 18. And with the clock ticking to today's noon opening of the frenzied free-agent market, the Lightning were still holding out hope late Monday that Brian Rolston, acquired from Minnesota late Sunday, would join the fold. "We're still just ..."
Wild deals Rolston's rights to Tampa
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June 30
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Hours after Brian Rolston said he intended to become a free agent when the market opens Tuesday, the Wild traded the veteran forward's rights to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday night for a conditional draft pick. A half-hour later, Rolston, who hit the 30-goal mark three consecutive seasons for the Wild, said nothing has changed. "Whether we get something done with Tampa or not, we haven't talked to Tampa yet. We have 24 hours," Rolston said in a phone interview. "But as far as I'm concerned, it's no different today than it was yesterday. I'm a free agent July 1. I wanted to go to July 1 and see where I'm at in the NHL market. This is the last time I might become a free agent.""
Lightning agrees to deals with Malone, Roberts
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June 30
St. Petersburg Times
 
"In what had to be one of the most fast-paced and fluid days in Lightning history, the team on Sunday continued a radical makeover that shows no signs of slowing down or completion. When it was over, the team had contract agreements with forwards Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts (with signings expected today, owner Len Barrie said), and traded late with the Wild for the negotiating rights to forward Brian Rolston. "I told you it was going to be exciting," Barrie said. "Mine and (owner Oren Koules') ears are sore from the phone being in them so much.""
Malone's Signing With Lightning All But Done
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June 30
Tampa Tribune
 
"Lightning ownership promised last week they would be "shockingly aggressive" when it came to the free agent market. Saturday they walked that walk. After Sunday, it appears Tampa Bay is ready to talk the talk. Although nothing official is expected until today, the Lightning have made a pre-emptive strike in free agency, reportedly coming to terms on a long-term contract with forward Ryan Malone while a deal for left wing Gary Roberts also could be close to being announced. They were acquired from Pittsburgh on Saturday for a conditional 2009 draft pick and were scheduled to become unrestricted free agents Tuesday."
NHL Free-agent shopping list
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June 29
Montreal Gazette
 
"The opening bell will sound on Canada Day Tuesday, marking the start of the NHL's free-agent season. Here's a look at some of the players who will be most coveted by NHL general managers."
Lightning gets rights to Malone, Roberts from Penguins
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June 29
St. Petersburg Times
 
"Oren Koules vowed the Lightning would be "shockingly aggressive" during free agency, and the owner is acting like he means it. Continuing a quest to fill the gaps on its forward lines, Tampa Bay on Saturday traded for the negotiating rights to left wings Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts, both of whom can become unrestricted free agents Tuesday. The Penguins got the 2009 fourth-round draft choice the Lightning acquired from the Stars in the Brad Richards deal. If Tampa Bay signs Malone, 28, one of the prime pieces of merchandise in the potential free-agent market, the compensation becomes a third-round pick."
Rights to Malone, Roberts Traded to Tampa Bay
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June 29
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The Penguins have known for a while that Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts wouldn't be part of their lineup next season. Yesterday, general manager Ray Shero made certain the team will have more than good memories to show for their departures. He traded the negotiating rights to Malone and Roberts, both of whom are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents Tuesday, to Tampa Bay for a conditional draft choice in 2009. The draft choice will be a fourth-rounder the Lightning acquired previously from Dallas unless Malone signs with Tampa Bay, in which case it will be upgraded to a third-rounder."
Lightning, Lecavalier apparently close to nine-year, $77-million deal
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June 26
St. Petersburg Times
 
"The Lightning and superstar center Vinny Lecavalier apparently are working toward a nine-year, $77-million contract extension. The terms were first reported by Canada's TSN, and while no one in Tampa Bay's front office confirmed, no one denied it, either. Neither did Lecavalier's agent, Kent Hughes. But Hughes said there are "issues to be worked out" that could change the bottom line. "I'm not commenting on the numbers," Hughes said, adding, "The deal is not complete. I'm confident we'll get something done. But the suggestion this is in a drawer waiting to be registered is inaccurate.""
More changes for the Lightning, Vinny signing for nine years
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June 25
Tampa Tribune
 
"As reported here yesterday, Lecavalier has all but agreed to terms of a nine-year contract that TSN reports is worth $77 million (a great signing at $8.5 million per season considering the stupid money being thrown around the league right now). Nothing can be announced until July 1 at the earliest, but I would look for the formal announcement to be made more toward the middle of the month. Lecavalier has a charity function later in July, so I would expect it will all be m