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Plenty of Lightning roster spots up for grabs

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 26, 2009

TAMPA - While the regular season opener is less than a week away, the Lightning's final roster to start the season remains muddied.

Tampa Bay reduced its roster by 11 players on Saturday, assigning 10 to its minor league affiliate and returning first-round pick Carter Ashton to junior. That leaves the Lightning with 29 players in training camp for tonight's preseason finale against Atlanta, the same team Tampa Bay faces in Saturday's season opener.

Reassigned to Norfolk on Saturday were: goaltenders – Dustin Tokarski, Riku Helenius and unsigned prospect Jaroslav Janus; defensemen – Ty Wishart and Vladimir Mihalik; forwards – Juraj Simek, Paul Szczechura, Dana Tyrell along with Blair Jones and Martins Karsums, both of whom cleared waivers.

The deadline for rosters to be down to the maximum of 23 is Wednesday.

Among the most difficult decisions will come on the blue line where the team still has 11 defensemen in camp. Lightning general manager Brian Lawton said the team intends to carry eight on the regular season roster, which means three must be trimmed in some fashion.

Assuming Mattias Ohlund, Matt Walker, Victor Hedman, Andrej Meszaros, Paul Ranger and Kurtis Foster are locks in the top six, that leaves Matt Smaby, Matt Lashoff, Lukas Krajieck, Mike Lundin and David Hale vying for two spots. All of the five competing for spots would have to be exposed to waivers should some sort of trade not be able to be worked out by Lawton.

At forward, disappointing training camps put in by some veteran players has opened the door for unsigned prospect James Wright to possibly force his way on the roster, although he would have to be signed to an entry level contract. Another player who would need a contract is veteran center Brett McLean, who has enjoyed a solid training camp and might be on the verge of signing deal.

Among the others competing for spots include Ryan Craig, Adam Hall, Drew Miller, Zenon Konopka and Brandon Bochenski. All but Miller are on one-way contracts, which means they are paid the same whether they play at the NHL or AHL level, while all would have to be exposed to waivers should the team decide to try and reassign any to the minors.

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

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