In a question and answer session with season ticket holders, Tampa Bay Lightning GM Jay Feaster said he would like to sign Vincent Lecavalier to a long-term deal before his contract runs out after the 2008-09 season, reports Erik Erlendsson of The Tampa Tribune.

“We will do everything we can to get Vinny re-signed before it ever gets to that point [free agency]“, Feaster said.

During the same Q&A, Feaster hinted that if goalie Marc Denis does not play up to par he could be demoted to the “minor leagues or play his way into a trade.”

Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun reports that the Detroit Red Wings, Colorado Avalanche, and the Philadelphia Flyers are the top contenders in the sweepstakes for unrestricted free agent forward Peter Forsberg.

The Oilers have very little wiggle room to sign any free agents, as the club already has 49 players on its protected list, just one under the NHL limit.

And while there may be some degree of interest in the likes of Jason Allison, Jeff O’Neill and Mike Johnson, it’s unlikely the Oilers would move in on them either. That is unless one of them decides to sign a two-way contract.

“Agents have all called, but they’re all looking for one-way deals. We can’t do that,” said [Oilers Vice-president of Hockey Operations Kevin] Prendergast.

For now, Oilers GM Kevin Lowe is said to be intent on giving rookies such as Robert Nilsson a long look in training camp to see if they can to fill out the roster.