The Lightning are hoping to acquire some immediate blue line help through a trade or two, and if they're willing to part with goalie Rick Tabaracci they could walk away from this year's draft proceedings with their wish list fulfilled.
At least two clubs, Calgary and Ottawa, already have expressed interest in Tabaracci and both have young defensemen to give back in return. The only problem is, the Lightning aren't quite sure they want to deal Tabaracci.
``My plans are not to trade Rick Tabaracci at the draft,'' Lightning General Manager Phil Esposito said Monday. ``We've got a situation where we will have to do something with one of our goalies at some point. But I'm not sure that now is the right time.''
Although Esposito denied it, there is a chance his hesitation to trade Tabaracci stems from concern over Daren Puppa's health. Puppa played in only six games because of groin and back problems last year. And when the Lightning finished their season, with Puppa missing four of the last five games because of back stiffness, there was still no guarantee Puppa wasn't finished himself.
Esposito said he has that assurance now. He says Puppa and his doctors both have told him Puppa is 100 percent healthy and ready to play. Nevertheless, Esposito may want to see for himself during training camp.
But there is risk involved in that strategy, too, because the longer the Lightning wait the greater the chances they will lose leverage as a result of the impending waiver draft.
With three goalies, the Lightning would have to leave either Puppa, Tabaracci or Corey Schwab unprotected for the waiver draft and run the risk of losing one and getting nothing in return.
That's why the Lightning will at least listen to offers for Tabaracci this week. And considering what some teams have to give, at least one of those offers may be worth taking.
The Flames, for instance, are reportedly prepared to part with Cale Hulse, a gritty 6-foot-3, 210- pound stay-at-home defenseman who the Lightning have a great deal of interest in; or Todd Simpson, a 6-foot-3, 215-pounder cut from the same mold as Hulse.
Calgary, which so far is offering only center Cory Stillman and left winger Chris Sullivan, is also reportedly willing to give up one of a group of younger defensemen, including Chris O'Sullivan and Joel Bouchard.
The Senators, meanwhile, are willing to give up either Sean Hill or the Czech-born Stan Neckar. Neither is considered an exceptional talent - Hill is a lot like Bill Houlder; Neckar is big and tough but very raw. But with the Lightning preparing to deal David Shaw during this draft (possibly to San Jose for a middle-round draft pick) they may be worth taking a chance on.