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Denis Could Yet Draw Interest

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 30, 2007

Updated: 12/29/2007 10:11 pm

TAMPA - That the placing of G Marc Denis on waivers has been a difficult transaction for everyone involved was echoed by Lightning GM Jay Feaster following Tampa Bay's 4-2 loss to Philadelphia.

Denis went unclaimed on waivers. He is set to report to Norfolk (AHL) and is expected to start in the Admirals' game Monday at Wilkes-Barre.

"I said to him when I met with him that we need him to go in and get back on top of his game," Feaster said. "The opportunity to play his way back on top of his game and regain his confidence isn't something that's going to happen here."

Denis likely would not have received playing time had he remained on the Lightning's roster as Tampa Bay has chosen Karri Ramo and Johan Holmqvist as its top two goaltenders.

"He needs to play and hopefully he performs real well and as I told him, we'll give him every opportunity to get back to the NHL in the context of re-entry waivers," Feaster said. "At $1.4 million this year and $1.5 million next year, that's a very reasonable contract for an NHL goaltender so if he can get back on top of his game, then I think he stands a real good opportunity to have somebody show interest in him."

Feaster said Denis has come up in conversations with other general managers around the league.

"I've had general managers say our guys really liked him and our guys don't understand his numbers right now so from that standpoint clearly there are teams who recognize that he's an NHL goaltender and he played and had that success and he's not been able to have that success here," Feaster said.

The move has been especially tough for Feaster, who has had a relationship with Denis since Denis first went pro in the Colorado Avalanche organization.

Feaster was the general manager of the Avalanche's affiliate, the Hershey Bears, when Denis came in as a rookie in 1997.

"Because he's such a good guy, because he's such a team guy it's very, very difficult," Feaster said. "Nobody is more disappointed that things didn't work out than Marc and I. We were together before and we very much wanted it to work."

HELENIUS POSTS SHUTOUT: G Riku Helenius, the Lightning's 2006 first-round draft pick, posted a shutout for Finland against Kazakhstan in the World Junior Championships on Saturday. Helenius stopped all 15 shots he faced in Finland's 5-0 win. Finland is off until Monday when it plays the United States in the final game of the qualifying round.

NUTS AND BOLTS: The Lightning closed December with a 5-8-1 record and have had successive losing months for the first time since December and January of the 2002-03 season when they went 5-6-4 and 5-6-3. ... The Lightning had 36 hits in Saturday's loss to Philadelphia's 24.

Cristina Ledra

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