Tampa Bay Lightning: 50 Greatest Moments In Franchise History

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Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

46. Tampa Bay Lightning Trades For Dwayne Roloson

Date: January 1, 2011

When you think of the goaltending struggles the Tampa Bay Lightning have had over the years, you can trace it back to the 2010-11 season where the goaltending tandem of Dan Ellis and Mike Smith was not doing well and there was a need for a new face in the net for the team that had been doing very well offensively.

The talented duo of Marty St. Louis and Steven Stamkos was carrying the team and supporting cast of Vinny Lecavalier and Teddy Purcell helped the offense chug forward.

On New Year’s day of 2011, while most of us are celebrating with our families, General Manager Steve Yzerman picked up the phone and made a trade for goaltender Dwayne Roloson of the New York Islanders for defenseman Ty Wishart. Though he was an older goaltender, Roloson continued to put up great numbers for the Islanders, with a stellar 2.34 GAA and .916 SV% at the time of the trade.

In two seasons with Tampa Bay, Roloson finished with a 3.31 GAA and .899 SV%, including a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2010-11 season where all the team needed was an upgrade in net and Roloson was that upgrade. 

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