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Lack Of Trade Signaled End For Roberts

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 12, 2009

OTTAWA - As Gary Roberts pondered his future over the weekend, he understood exactly where he stood with the Lightning had he chose not to retire. While he would have been with the team, he was probably not going to see the ice outside of practices.

"I knew if I didn't get moved at the trading deadline there was a possibility that I was not going to play another game there, just because when you're out of the playoffs and as a team you're trying to evaluate your younger players I kind of felt they were going to go that route, and I understood that," Roberts said.

The team stated that had Roberts decided to return the door would have been open, but Roberts said he never had to have that conversation.

"The opportunity, was it there? Let's say we never had to get into that point," Roberts said. "I can say once I made my decision that if I didn't get moved and that I was possibly going to retire I can say we never got down that road where I said I'd like to come and practice for a month with the guys. I never asked that question, and didn't get into that part of it."

The season proved to be a difficult go for the 42-year-old, who signed a one-year contract with a base salary of $1.25 million and included a bonus clause that paid him $10,000 for each game he played. Roberts wound up getting little ice time at the start of the season and appeared in only 30 games due to injury as he watched a season full of optimism quickly unraveled.

"I can say we all went in with great expectations," he said. "I guess when you have 13 new faces, new coaching staff, new ownership, new general manager, you know, sometimes you might get lucky and it might click right away. For the most part I think we all felt it would. It turned out to be definitely not that initially.

"But I understand that they were in a tough position, too, trying to evaluate and make decisions to better their club. And sometimes those decisions didn't always work out to help us."

Lightning general manager Brian Lawton said the door remains open for Roberts to return to the organization in some capacity should he show interest in returning to hockey.

SUSPENSION UPHELD

The 20-game suspension handed to prospect RW Steve Downie by the American Hockey League was upheld following a review and unanimous vote by the league's board of governors on Tuesday. Downie, who was suspended for physical abuse of an official, is eligible to return to the Norfolk lineup on April 11.

Lawton said the team will not pursue the situation any further and abide by the decision.

"Although we disagree with the suspension . . . we accept and respect the decisions of the American Hockey League," Lawton said. "We thank the Board of Governors for hearing the appeal and giving the player a voice in the proceedings. Where Steve is concerned, we think he is a player with a bright future and a quality person. We look forward to his remaining a part of the Lightning organization and developing into a consistent NHL player."

NUTS AND BOLTS

D Richard Petiot, who was recalled from Norfolk on Tuesday on an emergency basis, became the 19th different defenseman used by the Lightning this season. He is also the 47th different player to appear in a game for Tampa Bay. ... Former Lightning D Filip Kuba missed the game with the flu. ... LW David Koci was a healthy scratch.

Erik Erlendsson

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