I'll have some more on this in Thursday's paper, but wanted to give you guys a heads up on where things stand between the team and forward Ryan Craig. It certainly doesn't seem as if arbitration can be avoided. Craig said the sides are still talking, but GM Jay Feaster said he is not optimistic anything will get done before Friday's hearing in Toronto. Feaster also said that a too-high arbitration award could cause the team to try to trade the player.

That would be too bad. It would be hard to find a more standup guy than Ryan Craig. You can never question his commitment, and now that his knee is probably feeling better, he might be able to become a more consistent goal scorer. He certainly earns his money in front of the net on the power play. And money, of course, is the problem.

Feaster declined to comment on the numbers but conversations with others who should know what's going on paint this picture:

The Lightning, it is believed, offered Craig three years at $750,000 each year which would buy out one year of unrestricted free agency. Craig it is believed, proposed two years at $1-million each. That gap will widen further during an arbitration hearing at which Craig is expected to ask for one year at about $1.2-million. The Lightning could counter at around $650,000.

Arbitrators can award any salary they deem appropriate.

Why would $1.2-million be a strategic request? The collective bargaining agreement this season does not let teams walk away from arbitration awards unless they surpass $1.221-million. There also is a player, Chuck Kobasew of the Bruins, who will make $1.2-million next season. Kobasew scored five goals and had 19 points in 50 games last season. Craig had 14 and 27 in 72 games. That is a good comparable for Craig, 25, who would enter camp slotted on the fourth line and with special teams responsibilities.

Here's the other problem for Feaster. He already has committed $42.816-million of the $44-million the team has said is available for salaries. Said the GM, "So we're going to wait until the arbitration decision comes in, and if it's a number that doesn't work for us in our budget, then we'll have to look at other options, including moving the player. ... We like Ryan Craig. We think he can play a very valuable role on our team. But certainly not at those kinds of numbers.''