Lined Up Update

I was at the Friday Fan luncheon today and Jay Feaster talked about Andreychuk Tortorella informed Fester that Andreychuk has been skating and feels good. Andy wants to come back for another year and Andy will be negotiating his own contract this time. Jay is waiting to hear from Andy.

Thanks for the update Missk…

Do you find it strange that Feaster seemed to have so much PR SCHEDULED yesterday? Out in public with Fantastic Friday, on WDAE, etc? I guess Nik’s decision was such an iron thing — they knew it was coming Friday – that they knew they’d have to play it one way or another

The defence is looking sparse with Pratt and a mystery player back there. Any idea who fills the third pairing?

HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES!!!!!
Jay Feaster has done it again! First, Vinny and then Marty. How does Jay Feaster do it? All I can say is both Marty and Vinny can now can say to rest of the league,“THE CHAMPS R STILL HERE!” Dave Chappelle would say this,“I’M RICH BIATCH! HONK, HONK!” Way to keep Vinny and Marty here in Tampa, Jay. You’re the best damn GM in the NHL. Davidson wasn’t fooling when he gave you a raise and a contract extension this past summer.

The Lightning are now at about $35.5 million in pure salary for 05-06 according to TSN, and who knows what in terms of cap salary. That leaves about $3.5 million for three to four players just to get to a 22-23 man roster. With no space left over for insurance.

Someone is probably on their way out. Feaster is treading very close to the cap limit.

Feaster has stated he will only carry a 20-man roster because of the CAP limit. The TSN number is actual salaries not the averaged salary number which has been reported will be applied to the CAP.

Without Andreychuk and a Dman, averaged salary number stands at $36,554,762. I expect the Dman to make the minimum $450K (an NHL vet or someone already signed in the Bolts system), that brngs the number to $37,004,762. That number doesn’t leave much for Andreychuk considering the Lightning are looking at going no higher than $37.5M per Feaster. Hopefully Andy will sign for something like $550K.

Sorry I forgot to report that Andreychuk is skating daily and expects to play this season. I spoke with him yesterday.

Sorry one other thing, you have Helbing as a Dman on your list and I don’t count him as “signed” for the NHL team. It could be him, it could some other Dman but the contract can’t be for more than $450K.

In Tortorella’s world, the best player in Camp/preseason games will make the NHL team.