Lightning agree to settle Veilleux's medical costs

[playmaker7]

It appears as though the Tampa Bay Lightning and outgoing forward Stepane Veilleux have managed to avoid some ugliness.

The St. Petersburg Times is reporting that the Bolts have agreed to cover the cost of Veilleux's medical bills and that no grievance will be filed against the team by the NHLPA.

According to Veilleux's aganet, Allan Walsh, the 28-year old forward underwent successful surgery on Thursday at the Cleveland Clinic to repair a cyst, nerve impingement and a torn labrum in his right shoulder. The Lightning had disputed that the injury was hockey related and originally stated that their would not cover the $15,000 costs of surgery and rehab.

"We had conversations with Tampa," Walsh told the Times. "They have accepted financial responsibility for Stephane Veilleux's surgery and rehab, and the matter is resolved to all parties satisfaction, and it's over."

The Times stated that the Lightning refused to comment on the matter.

The Lightning appeared to balk at the notion that the injury was an impingement of the suprascapular nerve, an injury that is most commonly associated to athletes who engage on repetitive overhead motions. Veilleux is an avid tennis player who took on Andy Roddick in an exhibition tennis match this past March in Tampa.

He played in 77 of the Lightning's 82 games this season, missing three games with a back injury. He scored three times and added six assists and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st.

[font="Verdana][size="3"]Situation probably would have escalated if they didn't do it. Well thats a nice little parting gift by Tampa[/size][/font]

 

[Apotheosis]

15k? That is nothing to any NHL franchise like the Tampa Bay Lightning. Surprised Tampa had refused to pay.. They should have known what was coming.

 

[Enigma 61]

Damn seems like a huge surgery operation for him...Good for them for covering it for him.