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Lightning's Vrbata Is Said To Be On Waivers, Homesick

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 8, 2008

BOSTON - One of Tampa Bay's prized free agent acquisitions is bolting for home.

Lightning right wing Radim Vrbata, who was signed to a three-year contract worth $9 million on July 1, has asked the team to release him from his contract so he can return to his native Czech Republic, according to a team source.

A report on TSN.ca this afternoon stated Vrbata was placed on waivers by Tampa Bay after he approached ownership on Sunday morning expressing his desire to return home.

Vrbata has until noon Tuesday to clear waivers. Provided he is not picked up by another team, he will be free to negotiate a deal in the Czech Republic. Should that scenario play out, Tampa Bay will not be responsible for the remaining salary on his contract this season, and the balance of his salary cap hit also would be wiped clean

Vrbata did not accompany the team to Boston on Sunday. A team spokesman said this morning that Vrbata remained in Tampa to be with his pregnant wife, although her due date four months or so from now. When asked about the report, the spokesperson would neither confirm nor deny its validity.

Lightning general manager Brian Lawton was not immediately available for comment. He is attending league meetings in Palm Beach along with owner Oren Koules.

After scoring 27 goals with Phoenix last season, Vrbata was expected to add some punch to the Lightning offense and provide scoring depth. He has struggled with his game, with no goals, and was getting less than 15 minutes of ice time under former head coach Barry Melrose at the start of the season.

Since interim coach Rick Tocchet took over in mid-November, Vrbata seemed to be playing better, scoring three goals. He was a healthy scratch last week in Philadelphia and sat out Thursday's game with what was said to be a groin issue, an injury that kept him out of five games earlier in the season.

Vrbata returned to the lineup Saturday against Buffalo but played only 10 minutes -- with three shots on goal -- and finished a minus-1.

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