Lightning The Lamp

Wild trade Brian Rolston to Lightning:

Knowing they had no shot to sign Brian Rolston before he becomes a free agent on Tuesday, the Minnesota Wild traded him late Sunday to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Rolston and the Wild had been talking about a deal since the season ended in late April with a first-round playoff loss to Colorado. But the Wild had made three offers without a counteroffer from Rolston's agent, Steve Bartlett, and talks unofficially died last week.

Not welcome news for Wild fans. Rolston was one of the few Wild players who has an established track record as a legitimate scorer. Yes, he was inconsistent at times, but you don't find many players with his skills and ability to finish. The only bright side of the deal is that at least he wasn't traded to Boston.