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Bolts Beat: Trip For Dads A Good Idea, But...

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON

eerlendsson@tampatrib.com

Published: February 16, 2009

TAMPA - For the first time, the Lightning this week will hold a father/mentor trip, which has become a staple of many teams around the league. Many of the clubs, such as Washington and the New York Islanders last week, hold the trip during a two-game swing through the Sunshine State.

On the surface, the trip is a nice gesture on the team's part, but couldn't Lightning management have chosen a better option than hosting the fathers for this week's game in Carolina on Friday? Tampa Bay plays at home on Thursday against New Jersey, departs for Raleigh after the game, plays the next night and returns home after facing the Hurricanes.

Sure, there are two games to watch, but that leaves less than 24 hours travel time for the trip. And with the players in game-day mode Friday - pregame skate, pregame meal, pregame nap, game - how much time are the fathers going to be able to spend with their sons?

Not to mention Raleigh isn't exactly a hot spot for entertainment options on the NHL circuit, particularly when the team won't arrive at its hotel until well after midnight.

Word is the trip was originally set to take place in January when the team spent three off days in Phoenix, but was changed.

The trip also was originally only going to include the players' dads and not the hockey operations staff after the team declined to pay for them. So the players in the locker room stepped up and offered to pay the additional costs to allow staff members to bring their fathers.

A LOT OF DOUGH: St. Pete Times Forum employees were informed last week that starting March 1 they no longer will be allowed to park for free. Employees were offered a plan to pay $30 per month to use a vacant lot near the Forum on event nights.

The team mentioned in a letter to employees that the lot is leased for $250,000 annually. And while other parking options were offered - 10 one-day passes for $20 or one-day passes for $5 - if 1,000 employees purchase the monthly plan for a full year, it brings in $360,000 to the Forum, more than $100,000 above the cost to lease the land. That wouldn't include any employee using a different parking option.

Speaking of bringing in more revenue, anybody checked out the prices for Westshore Pizza inside the Forum lately? One slice goes for $6, two slices for $10 or for the bargain price of $37 - a President's Day Special - you can purchase a full eight-slice pizza.

Call me crazy, but wouldn't picking up a couple of $5 Little Caesars pizzas on the way to a game make more sense?

SELLER'S MARKET: With playoff races tight and the trade deadline a little more than two weeks away, the number of teams looking to trade players might be slimmer than normal.

In the Western Conference, all 15 teams still have realistic chances to make the playoffs, although that can change with one bad week.

With the limited number of sellers, perhaps that explains why so many scouts have been keeping an eye on Lightning games of late. Tampa Bay has veterans such as Mark Recchi, Gary Roberts and Marek Malik (assuming he's healthy) that teams seeking experience might look to add for the stretch drive.

There is also reported interest in Vinny Prospal, with at least one team - Columbus - possibly looking for a center. Prospal played significant time in the middle the past two games with Blue Jackets pro scout Peter Dineen in attendance.

NUTS AND BOLTS: Doesn't look good for goalie Nikolai Khabibulin making his first start for the Blackhawks at the Forum this week. In his first trip (Dec. 2, 2005) to face the Lightning after signing with Chicago, Khabibulin took the night off. With Khabibulin nursing a lower-body injury, he might not get the nod Tuesday when the Blackhawks come for a visit. ... Former Lighting general manager Jay Feaster will be part of TSN's panel on the network's trade deadline show. Feaster will be in the studio with former Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella.

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835.

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