Radim Vrbata's agent says his client wants to play in the NHL; Lightning GM Brian Lawton gives him permission to search for a deal

Rich Evans, agent for Lightning right wing Radim Vrbata, said his client "100 percent" wants to return to the NHL next season. That leaves Vrbata in a bit of a pickle as Tampa Bay GM Brian Lawton said Vrbata does not fit into the team's plans, and Vrbata will end up in AHL Norfolk if he cannot be moved to another team.

Toward that end, Lawton said he has given Evans permission to search the league for a team that will pick up Vrbata's contract that pays $3 million for the next two years.

"He won't fit into our plans," Lawton said. "There won't be a roster spot for him. He has the right to come back and if he wants to he can, and he'll end up in Norfolk."

If he does, Vrbata will still be paid $3 million, he just won't count toward Tampa Bay's salary cap number.

Vrbata was a disappointment last season after signing a three-year, $9 million free agent contract. He had three goals and six points in 18 games for the Lightning before returning to his native Czech Republic to finish out the season. Evans said that decision was Vrbata's and was fueled by the difficult pregnancy of Vrbata's wife, Petra, who in March gave birth to a healthy son, Krystof.

Vrbata had 12 goals, 17 points in 18 games for two different teams in the Czech Republic's elite league. The bonus for the Lightning was that Vrbata stopped receiving checks from Tampa Bay while he was in Europe and saved the team both straight payroll and salary cap money. 

Now, Evans said, Vrbata is ready to return.

"One-hundred percent," Evans said. "He's an NHL player. He wants to play in the best league in the world."

Vrbata, 28, could have some market value. He scored 27 goals in 76 games for the Coyotes in 2007-08 before being signed as a free agent by Tampa Bay. The Lightning probably doesn't want much in return to get him off the roster.

"Every player has to prove himself," Evans said when asked if his client needs to re-establish his reputation. "I don't know how he's thinking in that regard. I only know his intention is to play in the NHL."  

Comments

[Lightning Rod]

NTMM
I agree, he made his choice, now he has to live with it; but he shouldn't be derided for choosing his family first, especially when we don't have all the details. I will always give someone the benefit of the doubt on that one.

[gus georgiou]

nittamaki just announced as signed!!!!!!

[Not the Marlboro Man]

Yo don,
What I was saying is this guy should have came back after his situation had been rectified and played the remainder of the year. I can sympathise that his wife was having trouble, but he should have explained his situation and what his intentions were. He chose to quit, he quit on the team, no one even heard from him, everyone thought this guy was history did any of you expect to ever here from him again? That's why no one wants him back. I don't care if he doesn't makes a difference late in the season, he would have at least showed this team that he would be here when the smoke cleared. Suddenly this guy is now out of money and now he has to re-invent himself with the team? He want a chance to prove himself? What if his wife gets pregnant again? I don't think so! They picked this guy to be a go to guy. They couldn't get Rolston to play here so they chose him instead. He gets here and shows no loyalty to the team at all. If it were me, I would have came back to play that last minute of the last game if that's all the opportunity there was, this would've at least showed the team, I'll be back. This guy chose to stay in Europe and turn his back on the Lightning. I'll hand it to Lawton on this one, he hasn't impressed me that much, but as of late he's gotten it right.

[Lightning Rod]

At $3m, there is no way to trade Vib. by himself, so he has to be packaged, as part of a multi-player trade, hopefully before the season begins. Given the team's comments, if he comes back, the only way he gets back to play in the NHL is if he smokes it up at Norfolk. A very long shot, but you never know. Otherwise, he ends up $3m minor leaguer; or he goes to Russia or elsewhere. One could hope for the later.

As far as some of the really hash comments, about what he did by leaving last year, I will say is: what we know is that his wife was with child and having a reported difficult time where babies and women die all the time. Who are we to judge his decision to put his family first. I for one would not want to have been in his position; but judging him and calling him names, for not playing a GAME in the want of/demand for entertainment, is a twisted point of view to me. Good God, Hockey is only a game; and not life and death. The real and difference in these perspectives couldn't be clearer.

[Casper]

Jim-NJ, et al,

I just had to hit the right level with the single malt--- wouldn’t it be cool if Cory Murphy signed a 2 way contract with us? Nobody has him yet so, I think his agent deludes his thinking as well.

Dang, over six months of crashing night after night, he would very certainly have a shot at being called back up to re-establish his value---as yet taken for granted around these parts.

The only time to say never is: “you never know…”

Gosh, I’d like to keep him and showcase his stuff around crunch time after the candya$$es have had their empty season of unfulfilled promise.

Go Bolts!

[Patrick]

I hope we can trade Vrbata, but I hope we don't have to include a player like Ranger to do it. He's only had one 20 goal season and it was in a contract year. I don't think he had a fair start with the Mullet at the helm, but I just don't think Vrbata is going to live up to his 3 mil a year salary. As our friend Ajax likes to say, that money could easily be better spent.

[Don in St. Pete]

NtMM, I'd say that's pretty harsh judgement on a guy whose situation you know almost nothing about. While I won't stick up for his performance, there were some medical issues with a difficult pregnancy which didn't end until his son was born in March, hardly enough time to come back and make a difference. I will guess that if he can't be moved and isn't invited to training camp that the Bolts will probably face a grievance from the NHLPA which could end up costing them his salary and making him a free agent. Lawton should be working to accomodate his wish to play in the NHL, even with another team, before making comments like that to the press. Hey, i've got an idea! Let's trade Vrbata and Mez to Ottawa for Heater. Sorry for the bad joke but that is likely the only kind of return you could expect for Vrbata at this point although Lawton would probably be happy with a bag of used pucks about now.

[Not the Marlboro Man]

Vrbata is a head case and needs allot of work before he plays NHL with any kind of respect from other players. If I was one of Tampa Bays checking line forwards, I would hunt this tool down every chance I got to give him some pay back for abandoning his team in the rebuilding phase. After his wife had that kid he should have been back playing for his team. I wish I could have dropped out of the war when my wife was dropping a kid. This guy is a home-sick sissy by NHL stadards and Tampa Bay fans should never have any use for him again. I know I certainly have no respect for him, he's a quitter.

[cnw]

I don't think we need to worry about Vrbata again. The article above stated
"He won't fit into our plans," Lawton said. "There won't be a roster spot for him. He has the right to come back and if he wants to he can, and he'll end up in Norfolk."

Ajax, (you brought up this subject in another blog). All the complaining about the new owners is not unfounded, don't you agree? The griping, complaining, and predicting doesn't necessarily mean we want the organization to fail and move away. We expected better and have been shocked at the results. Don't you agree that it has been a very interesting and trying year. At times very amusing and other times very disturbing and tragic with the business decisions that have been made (perhaps because of the owners, the economy, lack of paying fans or a combination of all). It has certainly made me very nervous and I wouldn't want to be employed or in business with this group.

Hopefully, the group will work things out and get on with the business of hockey so all the fans can be happy, if possible. I am since Vinny is now a Bolts for life, as promised, or until he desires to go elsewhere, and the defense and goalie problems are being addressed and should be finalized within the next few weeks.

Go, Bolts!

I feel a much better team will be on the ice and I predict better results for the fans.

[TJ]

Posted this in another thread, but will post here too....TBLightning on Twitter is advising the Victor Hedman has signed his rookie contract. We can officially say "Welcome to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Victor!"

[gus georgiou]

Heard Kotalik signed for 1 mil per season with Rangers. Sounds like Lawton was sleeping on this one for that price and need for 2nd line forward!!!!!!!!!

[2WayCenter]

"However you do need speed and skill players too."

Don, I could not agree more.

[Steve-O]

Many ways to play the Vrbata situation however, if you bring him to camp and he stinks it up again, how do you move him after that. If there is till some mystery to him let his agent sell it to another team and get the salary off of our books.

[Don in St. Pete]

2Way, I agree that they seem inclined to lean in that direction. However you do need speed and skill players too, I.E. MSL and Stamkos. I'm not sure vrbata got a fair shake last season as neither Stamkos nor Malone was ready at the beginning of the season. I agree he doesn't fit in on the Bolts as a linemate for V4 and Prospal as those 2 are already severely challenged with their defensive play. I think you need a reliable 2 way guy who can score to play with the Vinny's. However, Vrbata might be easier to deal if he could be showcased in training camp. Maybe he's ready to compete and MSL can be shifted back with the Vinny's? Still a lot of time before we cross that bridge.

[2WayCenter]

Vrbata is not a Toc type player, and either was Jokinen. He may do well on another team that plays the speed skill game. The new rules make teams like Chicago and Washington contenders. But like it or not, the Toc/Bolts style is about grit more than speed. IMO

Vrbata will not be to camp.

Always fun to hear the Chief moan about touch fouls when watching away games on TV. He is one of the old guard pining for clutch and grab. Lot of complainers in that bunch.

[Don in St. Pete]

Casper, Great post.....I laughed so hard I got a stomach cramp. We are in good position on Smaby as he can't be signed to an offer sheet because he elected to go to arbitration. I'm still hopeful they can work it out before the hearing. It's unlikely they would let him walk even if the lose the hearing as I'm sure his contract demands won't be excessive. The Krajicek deal was reported as around $1.5mil give me a break. I too have heard good things about Wilson and despite a bunch of injuries on Dallas' D last season they still competed.

[Casper]

I hope Vic has better luck w/ #77 than Grats.

It will be good to see the somewhat offensively minded, Smaby sized, Foster if it rids us of Krajicek. I ache at the disgusting possibility we could lose Matt Smaby because of trigger-happy Cowboys manipulating their fantasy hockey toy. If we are interested in building the best defense possible, then Smaby is to be included in those top 6 plans, period.

If I were a lurking GM looking to benefit from Lawton mis-steps, I’d haul in Smaby from this club way before entertaining thoughts about Ranger, Meszaros, Walker, or Foster. I wouldn’t even consider Mr. Tentative, Wrap-Around King, Krajicek if I expected to keep my job.

A good point was made on prudent defensive insurance for the bad shoulder boys.

By far, the best news of the summer would be getting Rick Wilson! A defense coach for a defensively sound Dallas bunch, having LAK history with Cap Raeder! Excellent!!! He also has history with Mike Smith, so there’s one brain cramp that will disappear once he straightens out the blue line assignments.

-Shore up the blue line, check.
-Who dat defense coach? Not checked, yet.
-Nab a #1 or 1A goalie? Not checked, yet.
-Get a 2 way forward, check.
-Divest Vrbata, Not checked, yet.
-Clear the sudden logjam of lunch pail defenders so we can sign Smaby, No.

If we did naught else but bring in Ohlund and Rick Wilson, we’d be in great shape. Let’s not get too bizarre with the fresh faces and get our RFA’s on board.

I’m gellin’; I hope the Bolts do too!

[Tallahassee Mike]

I don't understand this, Lawton. Sure, he kinda sucked last year, but why not at least let him try to make the team? Don't we need forward depth? Who are our scoring guys anymore? Prospal, Vinny,Stamkos, Marty, Malone...why not add a 6th forward, especially considering he's a right hand shot?

Don't get me wrong, I don't have high hopes for the guy, but why not let him try to prove whatever he has to prove? If he's a bust you can shop him then anyway, but I'd hate for us to shop him without seeing him at least come to camp in whatever shape he thinks he's in, and end up trading away a 20 goal scorer for nothing just out of bias from last season.

[Kipp]

He deserves a shot at the roster at least. If he really wants on the team then he'll come back in shape and ready to play.

[gus georgiou]

Hey Minnesota, Vrbata and Krajek for Harding?

[Don in St. Pete]

Last years performance was probably due somewhat to the difficult pregnancy his wife was undergoing. That's over now and if he can't find a team willing to give him a shot the Bolts should let him come to training camp and compete with everyone else. We need scorers and skilled players as much as we need grinders. I'd like to see him get another shot to prove his worth.

[gus georgiou]

Brian, make a trade with this guy ASAP! If you put him in the AHL and still have to pay him, you better make a deal instead, even if you have to pay half of his salary to the other team. There should be someone out there who would want his abiltiy for 1.5 a year and you should be able to get something decent in return.

Come on Lawton, let's make this fiasco turn into something good for once for this team!!

[Super Fly]

If we can get back a pick(s) and/or some depth for the AHL, so be it.

But if we can't move him before the season starts, I don't see why they at least don't take a look at him during the preseason.

[Eric]

We do need another winger...but he is overpaid and a soft player.

At least with Prospal you get a player not afraid to battle along the boards and go to the net.

[Jim - NJ]

Yeah good luck playing again in the NHL. Like you said the nhls the best league in the world. Good luck slacker.