"Let's start with this:

"Without being specific," Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said, "we will increase our payroll."

Now let's go to this:

When it comes to goaltenders Dwayne Roloson and Mike Smith, Yzerman said, "I'd like to explore the opportunity of bringing them both back."

The declarations Monday were the most intriguing from a day when players cleaned out their lockers at the St. Pete Times Forum.

It was also notable that center Steven Stamkos said he sees no impediment to a new deal, though no one really expects otherwise.

Surely there were not many who during the season expected a Roloson/Smith redux.

Roloson, sure, for stabilizing a goaltending black hole after his acquisition Jan. 1 from the Islanders. Smith, though, said he believed he might have been out of the league for good after his demotion to AHL Norfolk.

But Smith returned and in 10 games since Dec. 15 went 6-2-1 with a 1.53 goals-against average and .947 save percentage. And Norfolk's Cedrick Desjardins, expected to be Tampa Bay's 2011-12 backup, had surgery on his right shoulder to repair what is believed a torn labrum and will be sidelined until October.

Still, Smith earned his shot.

"He handled it as well as anybody handled a situation like that," Yzerman said. "It speaks to his maturity and character. I believe he's a better goalie after going through it."

"I'm totally open to the discussion," said Smith, a potential unrestricted free agent who will have to take a pay cut from the $2.4 million he made last season. "My wife and myself love Tampa, and I love playing here."

So does Roloson, a free agent who will be 42 next season but said "physically, I feel great.""