Yzerman's free-agent plan for Bolts: 'very selective'

The past two summers, free agency turned into a frenzy for Lightning fans as the team reached out to seemingly every available player on the market with sometimes reckless abandon.

Under the guidance of new general manager Steve Yzerman, however, expect patience and prudence to rule the day.

So when the market opens at noon today, don't expect every available player to be linked to the Lightning. In fact, don't be surprised if the first day of free agency comes and goes with Tampa Bay staying out of the normal Opening Day scramble.

"We intend to be very selective and very careful," Yzerman said. "It's no secret on July 1 you're paying a premium, and I don't think we're in a position to pay premiums to guys. We'll wait into the summer and try to address our needs as free agency cools off a little bit."

But that doesn't mean Tampa Bay won't be in the mix if the right deal is there.

The Lightning's top need is a goaltender as the team has three under contract - Mike Smith, Dustin Tokarski and Jaroslav Janus - this season, but only one, Smith, who will be at the NHL level. So guys such as Chris Mason - whom Yzerman had on the ready for Team Canada for the Olympics as the team's fourth goaltender - and Dan Ellis could be at the top of the team's list.

At least one more defenseman is also needed, and while pending unrestricted free agent Kurtis Foster is a possibility to return, it's more likely Yzerman will look to the market to fill a role. And perhaps one of the top blue liners on the market, New Jersey's Paul Martin, is not out of reach depending on how high the bidding goes for the versatile 29-year-old.

Just don't expect Yzerman to make a splash in his first foray into free agency.

A big part of that reason is due to the team's current commitments, and those pending, to players already on the roster.

Tampa Bay already has Vinny Lecavalier (10 years), Mattias Ohlund (six years), Ryan Malone (five years) and Andrej Meszaros (four years) already locked up to long-term deals. Yzerman has stated his hope to lock up Marty St. Louis, scheduled to be unrestricted after the season, to an extension as well as Rocket Richard Trophy winner Steven Stamkos, who is set to be a restricted free agent after next season. Down the road is defenseman Victor Hedman as well as current restricted free agents such as Steve Downie and Mike Lundin.

"There's some decisions that I have to make this summer getting into the season, and we'll be organized and prepared to make those at the time," Yzerman said. "But again, I have to keep in mind that core group and keep the commitments moving forward with them, keep the space open. I want to try to improve the team every year, and it's my job to try and get it better, but I'm not going to do anything in the short term that jeopardizes what we have to do two, three, four years down the road."

One player who is not part of the immediate future is forward Todd Fedoruk, who cleared waivers Wednesday which cleared the way for the team to officially buy out the remaining year on his contract. The buyout will cost the Lightning about $750,000 of the $1.125 million left on the deal, leaving the team with a cap hit of $308,333 this season and $375,000 next season.

"In talking with (Coach) Guy Boucher about how he's going to use his players and the rest of the players on our roster, we felt that Todd wasn't in our plan this fall, and we didn't want to have him in the minors at that salary, it wasn't what was best for him or for us," Yzerman said.