OTTAWA — Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Jay Feaster confirmed that his club will select Steven Stamkos first overall at the NHL entry draft tomorrow, but revealed his team won't hire a coach until the new ownership group finalizes its deal to purchase the Lightning.
The NHL board of governors yesterday unanimously approved the sale of the Lightning to a group led by Oren Koules and Len Barrie as well as Darryl Katz's purchase of the Edmonton Oilers, pending the closing of both transactions. The Lightning sale is expected to be completed by the end of the month.
Feaster was attending the Behind the Bench dinner last night to honour the late Roger Neilson. Feaster was among more than 10 NHL GMs to attend the affair, along with 21 of the league's 27 NHL head coaches. The Atlanta Thrashers, Los Angeles Kings and Lightning are the three teams currently without a head coach.
Feaster would not confirm the various two-month-old reports that Barry Melrose will be installed as the Lightning's new bench boss, but did admit the new coach will be hired by the new ownership group.
Steven Stamkos poses onstage during the 2008 NHL Entry Draft Top Prospects Media Luncheon as part of 2008 NHL Stanley Cup finals in Detroit. (Getty Images)
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“It's not my search. I think that the owners have some real ideas in where they want to go,” said Feaster, who jokingly added, “one of the reasons I showed up [at the coach's dinner last night] was to see who sits down, so I can find out who is my new coach.”
Feaster was queried as to the possibility of trading the first overall pick. He said that there have been no “substantial” offers. He also admitted there was a possibility that Stamkos could be signed before the draft, but that a deal would have to come together quickly because no serious discussions have been held as of last night.
“Oh yeah, it's the worst kept secret,” said Feaster, confirming the Lightning will pick Stamkos. “They don't come along all that often. He's a special player and a special kid.”
Rule changes
Besides the approval of ownership transfers, the board endorsed rule changes recommended by NHL GMs and the competition committee, and approved the recommendations that goalie equipment needs to be only large enough to provide adequate protection and should be proportionate to the size of the goaltender.
The three rule changes were: the first faceoff of a power play will be in the zone of the team that was penalized; after the puck hits a crossbar or post and goes out of play, the ensuing face-off will remain in that zone; and that “any contact between opposing players while pursuing the puck on an icing must be for the sole purpose of playing the puck and not for eliminating the opponent from playing the puck. Unnecessary or dangerous contact could result in penalties being assessed to the offending player.”
Niedermayer's decision
Speaking on the NHL Live radio program in New York yesterday, Anaheim Ducks GM Brian Burke continued to answer questions about the possibility of him bolting for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He said he has no issue working for the Ducks, but that one of his concerns continues to be that his family is on the East Coast, while he works in California. “I'm not going to apologize for putting my family first,” he said.
Burke also said he has given Scott Niedermayer a deadline of tomorrow to make a decision as to whether he'll retire or play out the final year of his deal. He added that they will wait until after July 1 to sign restricted free agent forward Corey Perry, which makes him a risk to an offer sheet.P
Prospal returns
The Lightning reacquired forward Vaclav Prospal from the Philadelphia Flyers for a seventh-round selection and a conditional pick yesterday. Prospal was dealt to the Flyers on Feb. 25.
