Not right away but next season if the team doesn't make significant inroads in the playoffs. Team president Ron Campbell said ownership has approved a payroll of $40-million. That is $2-million less than this season's current cap number of $42-million. It is $4-million less than the current league-wide cap. How much less it will be than next season's cap will be determined after the league calculates this season's revenues and sets a new bar.

Campbell said the $40-million number allows the team to keep its star players but also run the business more responsibly. Campbell estimates without a playoff run this season, Palace Sports & Entertainment, the Lightning's parent company, will lose $9-million on its entire Tampa operation.

Even so, there are no plans, Campbell said, to cut salary this season, and the team is looking for ways to improve as it strives to get to the playoffs. The equation changes, of course, if the teammakes a deep playoff run. Then, Campell said, things can be reassessed.

Campbell said the team is not for sale but it cannot sustain such losses. Campbell said the only year the company turned a profit in the city was the 2004 Cup season when it made $3.8-million.

Hey, at least it won't be a fire sale at the trade deadline.