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Deadline passes, but Bolts' Barrie keeps working on buyout

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 23, 2009

Updated: 09/23/2009 03:00 am

EVERETT, Wash. - Tampa Bay Lightning co-owner Len Barrie reiterated Tuesday that he is still trying to work on a deal to buy out fellow co-owner Oren Koules despite the league stating Monday that Barrie's exclusive 60-day window has closed.

Barrie issued a statement reading: "The process is still ongoing and Oren and I are working to protect our investments and do what's best for the team. I'm still working on a deal, and so is Oren. Both of us want this resolved before the start of the season. Everyone will be advised when the process is complete."

Tampa Bay opens the season Oct. 3 in Atlanta.

Bolts, Vrbata meet again: Former Lightning RW Radim Vrbata walked into a hotel shared by his former team and current team Tuesday and exchanged pleasantries for a brief period.

After a tumultuous year with Tampa Bay last season, Vrbata said he is happy to be back in the desert with Phoenix, where he enjoyed his greatest on-ice success with 27 goals in the 2007-08 season. He parlayed that into a three-year, $9 million contract with the Lightning. But a rough start combined with some issues involving his then-pregnant wife led Vrbata back to his native Czech Republic, where he finished the season.

He said he holds no ill will toward Tampa Bay.

"There are no hard feelings," said Vrbata, who suited up for the Coyotes in Tuesday night's preseason game. "It was a situation where it worked out for both sides. It's over with and there are no hard feelings. There's nothing that can be done to change it."

Vrbata had three goals and six points in 18 games with Tampa Bay last season, but was an occasional healthy scratch and missed other time with what was classified as groin issues. In November, with his wife in the middle of a high-risk pregnancy, Vrbata said he opted to return to the Czech Republic to guarantee he would be with his wife when she gave birth to the couple's first child.

The move "had nothing to do with hockey," Vrbata said. "I mean, it was a reason but it wasn't the reason. If my wife hadn't have been pregnant I would have finished the season in Tampa, or wherever, but it was more about her than hockey."

Vrbata said had he and his wife stayed in town two weeks longer, she would not have been allowed to fly. And had they stayed, it would have made for an uncomfortable situation should he have been traded or sent to the minors, as was happening with some teammates.

"That's what was happening with Chris Gratton and Gary Roberts, so I didn't want to be in a situation where I was sent somewhere else and she was stuck in Tampa and couldn't fly anywhere else expecting a baby," he said. "So that was the reason. It wasn't about money, it wasn't about hockey so much."

When Vrbata expressed a desire to return for this season, the Lightning granted him permission to speak to other teams about a trade. In August, Tampa Bay sent him to Phoenix for D David Hale and LW Todd Fedoruk.

Down night: According to Lightning coach Rick Tocchet, there were few highlights from Monday's 3-1 loss to Ottawa in Regina, Saskatchewan, Tampa Bay's third preseason game.

With a lineup full of players battling for roster spots, particularly at forward, Tocchet said it was mainly the team's youngest players who made the best impression. He mentioned unsigned junior prospects C James Wright and LW Carter Ashton, along with tryout C Brett McLean, as those who put in the right effort.

"After that, the forwards were very disappointing for guys trying to get a job," Tocchet said after the game. "And I don't really care about mistakes. I'm looking for life, I'm looking for people trying to win a job. You want to see guys on the bench with their eyes wide open and ready to go."

Nuts and Bolts: Tuesday was the first-ever preseason meeting between Tampa Bay and Phoenix. The teams will meet again tonight in Loveland, Colo. ... G Antero Niittymaki is expected to start and play all three periods.

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