Gary Roberts on waivers

Left wing Gary Roberts was put on  waivers at noon today, meaning we will know by noon on Wednesday whether he was claimed. It was believed Roberts was one of the more likely Lightning players to be traded. But the fact that he is on waivers seems to indicate that Tampa Bay could not make a deal for the 42-year-old and is willing to part with him for nothing.

There still will be three hours remaining before the 3 p.m. trade deadline when we find out if Roberts has cleared, so something could still happen. As Roberts himself acknowledged when rumors swirled last week that he could be on the move to the Flames, "I'm sure a guy like me, maybe I'm not going to be on the top of somebody's list, but at the last minute somebody decides to take a chance on me to add some grit, a guy that's been there."

Other stuff from this morning: Karri Ramo gets the start in net -- really. Ramo was supposed to start Saturday against the Flames, but Mike McKenna ended up playing in the 8-6 victory. Coach Rick Tocchet said he spoke with Ramo and goaltenders coach Cap Raeder prior to the game and decided to give Ramo a rest at the end of a long road trip. Ramo, Tocchet said, will "carry the ball" for the next little while. ... F Paul Szczechura was called up from AHL Norfolk, likely in anticipation of some player movement before the deadline. Szczechura, who said his sore knee is 100 percent healed, was with Norfolk when Steve Downie allegedly slashed a linesman late in Saturday's game with Hershey. "I don't think he meant to do anything," Szczechura said. "It was a faceoff and he hit the puck. Personally, I don't think he meant to do it." ... Right wing Brandon Segal also was called up. ... Defenseman Jamie Heward skated with full equipment for the first time since sustaining  a Jan. 1 concussion on a hit into the boards and from behind by Capitals star Alex Ovechkin. Heward skated for about 30 minutes, did some laps and passed the puck with teammates on the ice early for the morning skate. Heward said he wants to play again this season because if he retired at the end (something he said he does not want to do) he doesn't want the last game of his career to have been one in which he was carted off the ice on a stretcher. ... G Mike Smith also said he wants to play again this season. "If I can play, I'd like to," said Smith, out since Jan. 30 with post-concussion syndrome. "I haven't played that many games as a starter. Any games I play are experience." ... D Marek Malik (foot/ankle), hurt against the Flames, is out. ... D Cory Murphy wasn't at the morning skate to be with wife Natalie, who gave birth Monday at Boca Raton Community Hospital to daughter Keira Layne, 7 pounds, 13 ounces.

Comments

[2WayCenter]

Flasher - I found the original version of that article in a cash on my work PC. The lines were removed - Only the lines that say he found out from his brother were deleted.

Original:

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv98/gigagolf/CanadianPressPilesOn.jpg

Edited:

http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/bob_mckenzie/?id=269564&lid=sublink02&lpos=topRelated_nhl

The question is, why were just those lines deleted from the story?

[2WayCenter]

I read that article yesterday and I swear there was a line or two that said Roberts was a little miffed about not being contacted by the team first. Today those lines are gone.

[Boltflasher]

"So according to this TSN article - http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/bob_mckenzie/?id=269564&lid=sublink02&lpos=topRelated_nhl - Roberts did not find out he was being waived from the team. He did not find out until his brother in Toronto called him"

I could not find this in this article...

[TBLWNSC04]

Pretty classless if you don't call your own player and advise him of the situation. It shows you what they think of you. Then again business is not personal. His wife had to tell him ?

[TBLWNSC04]

I love it when they lose. "You can put your Lightning jersey's back on now !" I remember Game 7 2004, here. I remember Philly fans making an exit with their tail between their legs. That was all the reason to buy a ticket ! Oh the memories.. I kept thiking to myself, justice has been served ! Roenick saying, "The Lightning winning the Cup would be bad for Hockey !" Well, not for Tampa fans.

[Boltflasher]

Several intersting waivers today: Voros, Perrin, Sim, Gerber, Satan (17 goals), and Brendan Morrison...

[2WayCenter]

Yep, Lotta people from Boston here. Other NHL towns too. Good for us, they pay for tickets.

[PD]

Right again Geo..the pattern is rather tough to miss.

[Geografer]

Thunderbug - I'm with you. Though I am not sure that Malik would be able to keep up with Gary (or any other player) - even walking.

Steve-O - I think that if they don't waive him today than they can't. Not 100% sure on this but I think that come the end of trade deadline they can send him down but no one could claim him (as come 3pm tomorrow we can call-up up to 4 guys from Norfolk and there is no more waiver issue - sure hope to see Lundin come back). This is a way to give Robs a chance to play again. Some team may not have been willing to give up a pick (or already gave up the pick they would be willing to use) but would be willing to pick up just the rest of his salary this year. I will be surprised if he isn't claimed by noon tomorrow (possibly by more than one team).

Good luck Robs - hope you get your last run at the cup!

[Geografer]

So according to this TSN article - http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/bob_mckenzie/?id=269564&lid=sublink02&lpos=topRelated_nhl - Roberts did not find out he was being waived from the team. He did not find out until his brother in Toronto called him.

Are you kidding me??

This is exactly why there is a lack of trust with this organiztion. How could you not contact your player and let him know this information? Way to go OK Hockey. Just when it appears you are getting your s*** together and doing right by your players and fans you pull this crap. I bet Lawton's wife would find out through the appropriate channels and not from a relative in different country that she was being let go (of course that would never happen).

[KenB]

Move is for Roberts's benefit. Playoff bound team might not want to pay for him, but would take him for free.

[Steve-O]

Makes little sense to just waive him before the deadline and get nothing. What would one more day have mattered. Odd. Opps, its Lawton, goes without saying.

[Thunderbug]

Can we put Malik on waivers too? Maybe have him carry Gary's sticks and skates?

[Boltz2004]

Congrats to C. Murphy.

As for Roberts... The phone never rang for him? Nothing n return?

Ain't that a kick in the you know what.