Prospal Sent Back to Tampa

The Lightning are going to have first crack at signing Vaclav Prospal again, only a few months after the trade deadline after they sent the Czech forward to Philadelphia. In return, the Flyers gain a 7th round pick on Saturday and a conditional pick in 2009, eerily like the one the Lightning received when they sent him away.

The Flyers managed to get something for Prospal, who didn't express much interest in returning to the Flyers for another stint, according to GM Paul Holmgren. The Lightning now get a shot at the forward before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in July and they already have defenseman Alexandre Picard in the first deal, so it has seemingly worked out pretty well for Tampa.

The general understanding of why Prospal left Tampa in the first place was his inability to get along with then head coach, John Tortorella, who has since been let go. A return for Prospal does seem very likely now, moreso at a reasonable cost. The Lightning do have plenty of room under the cap going into the summer, so a deal to keep Prospal away from free agency seems more likely.

To Tampa Bay	Age	Games	Points	Contract
Vaclav Prospal, F	33	80	71	UFA
To Philadelphia
2008 Seventh Round Pick
Conditional Pick in 2009