Andrei Vasilevskiy Injury: What’s Next for the Tampa Bay Lightning?
The Tampa Bay Lightning received a major blow as their star goaltender, Andrei Vasilevskiy, will be sidelined for the first two months of the NHL season. Vasilevskiy underwent a successful microdiscectomy to address a lumbar disc herniation, according to an announcement by the team. This news has raised questions about the Lightning’s prospects without their top netminder and how they can navigate through this challenging period.
Vasilevskiy has been the busiest goalie in the NHL over the past four years, playing more games than any other goaltender, including the playoffs. Some have speculated that his heavy workload may have contributed to his injury. However, the silver lining in his absence is that he will have a reduced workload when he returns, allowing him to recover fully.
On the flip side, the Lightning now face the challenge of staying competitive in the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division without their star goalie. The team will need to explore various options to keep themselves afloat until Vasilevskiy’s return.
One of the main constraints in finding a solution is the team’s salary cap situation. Like many NHL contenders, the Lightning have limited cap space and want to maintain financial flexibility when Vasilevskiy comes back. He currently counts for $9.5 million against the cap and can be placed on long-term injured reserve, allowing the team to exceed the cap by that amount. However, they will need to get back under the cap when he returns, which could limit their options.
Given these limitations, it is unlikely that the Lightning will spend a significant amount on another goalie during Vasilevskiy’s absence. Jonas Johansson, currently the team’s backup, is expected to step up in his absence. Johansson has appeared in 35 NHL games over four seasons with various teams and has shown promise with a .920 save percentage in the AHL last season.
However, the Lightning may still explore other options. One possibility is bringing back veteran goaltender Brian Elliott, who remains unsigned and has not retired. Another option could be Jaroslav Halak, who is currently training in Boston and looking for an NHL opportunity. Halak’s agent, Allan Walsh, is likely to have reached out to Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois soon after Vasilevskiy’s injury news broke.
Alternatively, the Lightning could wait for other teams to place their third-string goalies on waivers for AHL assignment. This could open up opportunities to acquire experienced netminders such as Martin Jones in Toronto, Magnus Hellberg in Pittsburgh, or Anthony Stolarz in Florida.
Regardless of their decision, the Lightning will likely prioritize cost-effective solutions due to their salary cap constraints. They may also choose to rely on their internal options to start the season and assess the situation as it develops.
Losing Vasilevskiy for an extended period undoubtedly presents a significant challenge for the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, with careful planning and strategic moves, they can weather the storm and remain competitive until their star goalie returns. The team’s ability to adapt and find effective solutions will be crucial in maintaining their position in the highly competitive Atlantic Division.
(Photo: Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)