Free agency: a correction
The Lightning did some double-checking just now and, with great apologies, informed that free agency does indeed begin at NOON on Tuesday, NOT midnight tonight. The team said it regrets the error and so do I for passing it along.
It means, of course, the Lightning has an extra 12 hours to sign Rolston, plenty of time to turn the area into a "hockey city."
So sorry for the confusion.
Follow the Lightning through the season with beat writer Damian Cristodero and the Times sports staff. We invite your participation in the comments area.
BLAME TSN hahaha Hosers
Posted by: Sleepsaver | July 01, 2008 at 12:25 AM
"The 25-year-old Flint, Michigan native has 12 NHL seasons under his belt..."
I've heard of building through youth, but....
Gotta love those sleepy late-night typos :)
Posted by: Twinebulge | July 01, 2008 at 12:19 AM
I have confidence in Rolston's judgement and so will fianally drift off to never neverland. Will I have nighmares of Jason Ward on the second line? Maybe but I am confident in that if we don't get Rols that OK will not let vrbata or Williams slip through the cracks. The Lightning have it goin' on, why stop now? Rock on OK! GO BOLTS!!!
Posted by: Don in St. Pete | July 01, 2008 at 12:09 AM
I agree with others, thanks for updating these for us DC. Hopefully you will be able to get some sleep sometime next week (by then OK and Len might have slowed down).
Does this mean that I now might have to wait until tomorrow morning to see if he takes the deal? (I read that they gave him until 1 am to decide, but that was before they figured out it was noon tomorrow.) Man I am never going to get to sleep tonight. Good thing I don't have much to do tomorrow, classes aren't important right?
Brian, we love hockey down here, I promise! We might not be the most conventional hockey town, but a bit of variety is good right? I agree Lisa, get his butt on a plane with his kids and wife and they will have forgotten all about those northern hockey towns.
Posted by: wahls | July 01, 2008 at 12:06 AM
They should get him on a private jet and bring him out here and show him around the area. Get Marty and some of the other players with kids to give him all the info and tell him what a great place it is to live.
Posted by: Lisa | June 30, 2008 at 11:58 PM
do it!! DOO ITT!!DOOO IITTTT!!! DOOO IIITTTT!!!
Posted by: evan | June 30, 2008 at 11:55 PM
This in from TSN (get some sleeeeeep everyone):
Tampa Bay Lightning fans should wait before they purchase their Brian Rolston sweaters as the soon-to-be free-agent has indicated to the Lightning that he will decide Tuesday morning if he will accept the team's offer or enter the open market.
The Lightning acquired Rolston's rights from the Minnesota Wild on Sunday in exchange for a conditional draft pick in either the 2009 or 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
The Wild will get a selection in either the 2009 or 2010 draft. The pick will depend on whether Tampa Bay re-signs Rolston before they know what pick Minnesota will get in the deal.
The 25-year-old Flint, Michigan native has 12 NHL seasons under his belt with stints in New Jersey, Colorado, Boston and Minnesota.
Lightning management had hoped to add Rolston to their new look squad after adding both Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts from the Pittsburgh Penguins and Steve Stamkos in the NHL draft.
A 1st round, 11th overall draft selection by the Devils in 1991, Rolston's put up 286 goals and 348 assists in 977 NHL games played.
Last season, he tallied 31 goals and 28 assists in 81 games.
Posted by: Sleepsaver | June 30, 2008 at 11:45 PM
Yes, thanks for the timely updates DC!
Posted by: B | June 30, 2008 at 11:37 PM
Question...is Feaster negotiating this deal?
If he is, I'm worried!
Posted by: Not the Marlboro Man | June 30, 2008 at 11:36 PM
THanks for all the updates id be pullin my hair out without them. Im a diehard fan and i believe that with some depth at foward and defense this team could turn it around very quickly.
Posted by: David in Tampa | June 30, 2008 at 11:35 PM
I hope the powers that be have filled him in on the SenStamkos website and the play it's gotten. This as a great are and I am confident that if Rols does the research he will verify this and sign before noon tomottow. Rock on OK! GO BOLTS!
Posted by: Don in St. Pete | June 30, 2008 at 11:34 PM
That's alright, we'll forgive the error. Just be sure to post something along the lines of "Rolston and Lightning reach a deal"
Posted by: David (Clearwater, Fl) | June 30, 2008 at 11:32 PM