'Different' Vinny Lecavalier impresses Tampa Bay Lightning coach Rick Tocchet

TAMPA — Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said he likes what he sees from captain Vinny Lecavalier. So much so, he said he sees "a different Vinny."

"It's his attention to detail, the way he's running the team, the room," Tocchet said Wednesday at the St. Pete Times Forum. "When we have off-ice workouts, he makes sure everybody's in there."

Lecavalier also has accepted a strategy of coming back into the defensive zone for the puck to ignite breakouts instead of waiting for the puck to come to him.

"He's been one of our best players coming down low for the puck," Tocchet said.

Lecavalier, 29, finally healthy after shoulder and wrist surgeries the past two summers, had eight points on a goal and seven assists in four preseason games.

"I just think this is an important year for us," Lecavalier said. "We want to change things, and I think everybody is really stepping up their game in the locker room to make this team better."

WAIVER WORRIES: GM Brian Lawton said one reason he waited until Tuesday to put defensemen Mike Lundin and Matt Lashoff on waivers was for a better chance of getting them through. Both cleared and were assigned to AHL Norfolk.

"It's a little bit more difficult to pick up people on this day," Lawton said. "Everybody's roster is full."

Neither needs to clear re-entry waivers to be called up.

ROSTER (KIND OF) SET: The Lightning has nine defensemen on its 23-player roster, meaning up to three will be scratched.

While Tocchet said, "It's probably not the ideal situation," and Lawton said he has laid groundwork for trades, the GM added he is in no rush to deal.

Remember last season, he said, when injuries forced the use of an NHL-record 22 players on the blue line.

"We believe we have five players who could play in the league right now," Lawton said of Lashoff, Lundin, and David Hale, Lukas Krajicek and Matt Smaby, the bottom three on the depth chart.

"With our experience last year, there's a real shortage of defensemen, and it happens really quickly. We'll evaluate our options on a daily basis."

MINOR MOVE: The Lightning signed Mitch Fritz, 6 feet 8, 258 pounds, to a one-year deal and sent him to Norfolk. Fritz, 28, signed in August 2005 and was traded to the Rangers in July 2007 for D Bryce Lampman. He had six goals, 12 points and 356 penalty minutes in 132 games for AHL Springfield.

Around the league

Sundin done: Mats Sundin ended speculation of his return by announcing his retirement. In 18 seasons, Sundin, 38, had 1,349 points (564 goals, 785 assists), which are 25th in league history.

Coyotes sale: A bankruptcy judge rejected bids by the NHL and Jim Balsillie, who wanted to move the team to Hamilton, Ontario. He upheld the league's right to decide who owns its teams and where they play. He also left the door open for the league to buy the team if it amends its bid to treat ex-owner Jerry Moyes and ex-coach Wayne Gretzky, who are owed money, more favorably.

Hurricanes: Goalie Cam Ward, 25, agreed to a six-year, $37.8 million deal. His 23 playoff wins are a franchise record, his 120 regular-season wins 10 off the record.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.