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Barber, Denis Officially Gone From Bolts

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 26, 2008

TAMPA - While the Lightning created a couple of big splashes earlier this week, Wednesday was a day for the ripple effects.

Hall of Fame player Bill Barber, who spent the past six years as the team's director of player personnel, made his resignation official.

New owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie quickly brought in Brian Lawton, a former agent and No. 1 overall draft pick, to replace Barber in the role of vice president of hockey operations.

Goaltender Marc Denis cleared waivers and the team bought out the final year of his contract.

And Tampa Bay announced which of the team's restricted free agents will receive qualifying offers.

Barber, a two-time Stanley Cup winner as a player and former coach of the year, spent six seasons with the Lightning, but he expressed to General Manager Jay Feaster during the weekend his desire to spend more time with his children and grandchildren.

"It just came to a point where I figured it was time for a break," Barber said. "It's been 42 years for me now going to training camps, and I just figured it was time to put the brakes on here and take some family time."

Barber said the ownership change had nothing to do with his decision, that he expressed to Feaster several times during the season the constant travel was wearing on him.

Lawton, 42, was the first overall pick by the Minnesota North Stars in 1983 and spent the past 14 years as an agent representing players such as Mike Modano and current Lightning center Jeff Halpern.

The buyout of $3 million on Denis' contract cost the team two-thirds the value, or $2 million. It will count $1 million against the salary cap for each the next two seasons.

Tampa Bay extended qualifying offers to center Ryan Craig and minor-league defensemen Justin Fletcher and Jay Rosehill. Among those who were not qualified, thereby becoming unrestricted free agents, were 2003 second-round draft pick Mike Egener and third-round pick goaltender Jonathan Boutin, plus Zbynek Hrdel, Marek Kvapil, Ryan Munce and Mario Scalzo.

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835 or eerlendsson@tampatrib.com.

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