Alex Tanguay and Tampa Bay: Mutually interested parties

A month makes a world of difference.

Reporting in on July 14th about how Alex Tanguay did not fit in Tampa Bay's plans due to money issues, Damian Cristodero of the St. Petersburg Times dumped a bucket of cold water on things:

Asked how Tanguay, 29, with 193 goals and 580 points in 659 career games, might feel about lining up next to Vinny Lecavalier, [Agent Bob] Sauve laughed and again said he could not comment.

The conversation is probably moot, though, if the scuttlebutt about what Tanguay wants in a contract are true. One agent said he heard Tanguay wants $5 million for one year. He made $5.375 million last season. If his asking price is true, that's way too much for Tampa Bay, which has a payroll headed toward $50 million before signing players such as Matt Smaby, Matt Lashoff, Martins Karsums and Mike Lundin.

A couple of weeks later, that tune changed and Tanguay was indeed a target.

And now?  It's a mutual interest between the two parties.  Cristodero cites Tanguay's new agent Steve Kotlowitz being more open and forthcoming about any interest and negotiations:

"Tampa is certainly one of the teams Alex has strong interest in," Kotlowitz said Thursday.

But then reminds fans that the Lightning are on a budget - if still greatly under the Salary Cap.  He floats trimming payroll by tryign to move three different targets on the Lightning roster: defensemen David Hale, Lukas Krajicek or forwards Ryan Craig and Brandon Bochenski. 

Erik Erlendsson at the Tampa Tribune had supposedly also made positive comments about Tanguay talks, via Twitter (which I cannot confirm at this time due to Twitter's technical issues today).