The Lightning, leading up to free agency, will look to trade for a No. 1 goaltender, general manager Steve Yzerman said. “My preference,” Yzerman said Thursday night, "is to go with a little bit younger guy that maybe has a little less experience that can step up and play well for us now.” As an example he mentioned Semyon Varlamov, 24, whom the Avalanche acquired last summer from the Capitals for a first- and second-round draft pick and who had a respectable 2.59 goals-against average and .913 save percentage in 53 games. “And if we can’t do anything in that way, we look forward to July 1,” Yzerman said of the start of unrestricted free agency. That equation is significant because it seems to exclude ... Continue reading →

The Lightning is a “serious contender” for the services of Damien Brunner, the Swiss star’s agent said Wednesday night. “I would say Tampa is serious about Damien. I would say Damien is serious about Tampa,” Neil Sheehy said. That Brunner, 26, a highly skilled, fleet-skating right wing, has been released from his contract with Zug of the Switzerland’s elite league -- meaning he can sign with any NHL team -- should accelerate negotiations. Brunner likely will sign before the June 22-23 NHL draft, Sheehy said, adding “several” teams are interested. The Penguins have been reported to be keeping an eye on Brunner. “We have a lot of work to do between now and his decision,” Sheehy said. “But I know Damien was very, very impressed ... Continue reading →

Ryan Shannon, whose disappointing season with the Tampa Bay Lightning ended in March with surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff, signed a three-year deal to play for ZSC Lions in Zurich, Switzerland. Shannon, 29, said the contract, which had to be negotiated with the permission of the Lightning, is a great way to "extend" his career and provide some security for his family. As for a season in which he had just four goals, 12 points and was minus-11 in 45 games while averaging 12:01 of ice time, Shannon said he has no hard feelings about how he was handled. "No, not at all," he said, and added about Tampa, "It's a great place to play, a great hockey city and I'm not sure ... Continue reading →

The Lightning's preliminary pursuit of Finnish goaltender Riku Helenius is one of the more fascinating developments of the offseason.Not because Helenius is the immediate answer to the team's problems in net — as assistant general manager Julien BriseBois said, Helenius is considered a "prospect" — but because it shines a light on one of the Lightning's greatest franchise failures:It never has developed a goalie — not even a consistently reliable backup.Of the 20 goalies Tampa Bay has drafted, Karri Ramo, the 191st pick of 2004, has been the most successful, playing 48 Lightning games from 2006-09 before being traded to the Canadiens.Even Helenius, drafted 15th overall in 2006, had to go to Europe for his star to rise.That sorry record, particularly in drafting, has consequences.Consider ... Continue reading →

Steven Stamkos said he missed playing for Canada at the world championship that wraps up today in Helsinki, Finland, but does not regret the decision to rest and rehabilitate his aching left shoulder."It feels good," the Lightning center said of the irritated bursa sac with which he played the last month of the season."It was just nice to get that month of rest and relax and make sure it was healthy so it didn't hinder me when it came to training."Stamkos, 22, who this season became the 20th NHL player to score 60 goals, was in Tampa on Saturday to receive the Award of Excellence from the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tamp Bay, given to "outstanding role models who give of their time to ... Continue reading →

Though the Tampa Bay Lightning has "tested the waters" to see if goaltender Riku Helenius wants to return to the Lightning, assistant general manager Julien BriseBois was clear Tuesday, Helenius is seen as "a prospect." In other words, he is not considered the immediate answer to the big club's goaltending search and would have to take a two-way contract if he wants to again play for the organization that made him the 15th overall pick of the 2006 draft. Under the best of circumstances that would make Helenius, 24, difficult to sign as he has firmly established himself in Europe, where he could command more money and playing time. But there is another speed bump. Helenius has one year left on his contract with Jyp ... Continue reading →