The trade deadline is past, and with GM Bria Lawton's intention to, as he said Wednesday, "get younger," it seems as if Gary Roberts' career might have come to an end. No official word from anyone, but it makes sense that the 42-year-old, 21-year veteran might take this opportunity to retire.

The left wing, a perhaps future Hall of Famer, has said this was going to be his last season, anyway. He even put on a pretty good show on the ice while being showcased as Wednesday's trade deadline approached. But he was not at Thursday's practice at the Ice Sports Forum and his locker no longer had a name plate.

The Lightning declined to say anything about Roberts, and his agent, Rick Curran, was cryptic.

"I'm not quite sure what's going to happen," Curran said. "No decisions have been finalized. He's still a member of the team."

Roberts, who broke in with the Flames in 1986 and won the 1989 Cup with Calgary, has four goals and seven points in 30 games this season (he missed 33 with an elbow injury), and has 438 goals and 909 points in his career.