Yzerman won't overpay this summer
TheFourthPeriod.com


Lightning GM Steve Yzerman wants to improve his roster next season, but he isn't planning on overpaying for any big name free agents, reports the St. Petersburg Times.
"As much as I would love to have a big splash on July 1, I don't want to sign a player just to have a press conference," Yzerman told the paper. "It has to make sense. That's the discipline we have to have."

According to the Times, the Lightning is expected to go after a puck-moving defenseman next month, but the amount of available offensive blueliners this summer is thin.

"So there's going to be a real premium on the ones that are there," Yzerman said. "And those guys are not signing one-year deals. Can we afford to do that?"

Yzerman and club owner Jeff Vinik will settle on a budget next week. The salary cap is expected to increase from last season's $56.8 million.