They took everyone by surprise, announcing that their star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy had undergone back surgery and would be out for a minimum of 8 to 10 weeks.
This hurts them a lot.
Thus, the Lightning have an immediate, significant need in the net, and particularly due to their salary situation, they will have to turn to the waiver wire to bring a new goaltender into their organization.
They need a goaltender who is not expensive.
Unfortunately for the Canadiens, Casey DeSmith has already been traded, so Kent Hughes can't trade him to them at a high price.
And unfortunately for the Canadiens, the best goaltender available on waivers is apparently going to be Cayden Primeau.
It seems inevitable that Primeau will eventually be placed on waivers, and rest assured that Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton were not particularly happy to learn yesterday that a team in their division is now in search of a goaltender.
It was the worst possible "timing" to place our young goaltender Primeau on waivers, but Hughes apparently will have no choice.
If Primeau indeed goes through waivers, don't be surprised if Julien BriseBois and the Lightning take advantage of it.
He is a better goaltender than Jonas Johansson (their other goaltender in TB) and he is more ready than their young Hugo Alnefelt.
A file to be closely followed in the coming days.
Unless Kent Hughes manages to trade Primeau to Tampa Bay for a draft pick?
POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 29 | 308 ANSWERS Huge announcement from the Tampa Bay Lightning: bad news for the Montreal Canadiens fans with the injury of Andrei Vasilevskiy Would you trade Cayden Primeau to the Lightning for a 4th round pick? | ||
Yes | 168 | 54.5 % |
No | 140 | 45.5 % |
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