Confirmed: Helbling Gone

According to Tampa Bay General Manager Jay Feaster, the Lightning released Timo Helbling.

"While it is tough to find good young defensemen," Feaster stated, "our Tampa Bay coaching staff, in particular, Craig Ramsay, felt that Timo simply wasn't picking-up and demonstrating a willingness to play our system."

Feaster also mentioned Springfield coaches were frustrated with what was perceived to be a failure on Helbling's part to learn from his mistakes.

Also, the additions of Andy Delmore and Doug Janik caused Helbling to re-examine his role with the club and the restricted free agent who played in nine games with Tampa last season was seeking a one-way contract from the team. The club was not going to give him a one-way contract and combined with the above-stated issues, the team and Helbling mutually agreed to his release.

This leaves the Lightning with 48 contracts against the 50-man limit.

***8/10 Update: Helbling has signed with the Hershey Bears of the AHL. The Bears also signed defenseman Don Grover, who participated in the Lightning's prospect camp last month as a tryout player. He had been invited to Springfield's camp as a tryout player.