Tampa Bay Lightning ready for anything on first day of free agency

TAMPA — Steve Yzerman reiterated that he may not sign anyone today, the first day of free agency, when elite players get big-money, long-term deals. But that does not mean the Lightning's new general manager and his staff won't be working.

"I'm not going to sit there and shut the TV off and not answer the phone," Yzerman said Wednesday at the St. Pete Times Forum. "We're prepared. We know all the players available. If there's a player that fits and is interested in coming here, we're definitely going to pursue him."

But he said he will be "selective and careful," and he was adamant that "my position is we're not going to overpay."

That is partly because Yzerman said he will not spend to the $59.4 million salary cap, as per the budget set by owner Jeff Vinik, and because he needs to manage payroll with an eye on the $139 million the team has committed in long-term contracts.

It is a difficult landscape for Yzerman, who faces his first real test as head of hockey operations; he delegated much of the draft decisions to his scouts.

Yzerman would not reveal his plan other than to say his priority is a goaltender to compete with Mike Smith for the No. 1 job, followed by a puck-moving defenseman who could help on the power play.

Speculation is that goalie Chris Mason, 34, who last season played for the Blues, would be a good fit because his salary might be reasonable and he might be willing to sign a shorter-term deal, perhaps two years.

He also has a track record as a No. 1, something that can't be said for Antero Niittymaki, who shared net duties last season with Smith and also is an unrestricted free agent today.

Yzerman said he is interested in re-signing defenseman Kurtis Foster. But there is a growing sentiment Tampa Bay might have an eye on defenseman Paul Martin, 28, who played just 22 games last season for the Devils because of a broken arm injury but is known as a hard hitter and smart with the puck.

The catch: Martin would have to keep his salary at about the $4.5 million he made last season and be willing to take a shorter-term deal, perhaps three years.

It is the kind of deal Yzerman doesn't necessarily expect to see today. "It's no secret July 1 you're paying a premium, and I don't think we're in a position to pay premiums for guys," he said.

If he has to, Yzerman said, "we'll wait into the summer and try to address our needs as free agency cools off a little bit."