Bolts by the Bay
Fansided

Five backup goalie options next season for the Tampa Bay Lightning

By Stephen Parrino

Mar 11, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Brian Elliott (1) makes a save against the Chicago Blackhawks in the second period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Brian Elliott (1) makes a save against the Chicago Blackhawks in the second period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Jan 22, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Winnipeg Jets goalie David Rittich (33) defends the net against the Philadelphia Flyers in the second period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Winnipeg Jets goalie David Rittich (33) defends the net against the Philadelphia Flyers in the second period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports /

David Rittich

Age: 30
2022-23 Contract: $900,000
Stats: 21 GP | 2.68 GAA | 0.901 SV%

Rittich falls in the middle of the options presented so far. Neither young nor in the closing stages of his career, but he has proven himself to be of NHL quality.

With stops in Calgary, Toronto, Nashville and Winnipeg, the 30-year-old has been as close to a sure-thing, in terms of saving 90-91% of the shots he faces, as one can be. From there, though, he has not been able to breakout further.

Before the Markstrom era in Calgary, Rittich played more than 40 games a year during the 2019 and 2020 seasons, but lacking true starter numbers he was dealt to Toronto at the 2021 trade deadline and has served as the backup with Nashville and Winnipeg since.

Rittich’s play with Winnipeg did rebound after a down year in 2022 with Nashville, but his next contract should still be within range of what the Lightning are looking to pay. However, it is possible he could find a larger potential role elsewhere than serving behind Vasilevskiy — something that could be more important to Rittich at this point of his career.

Home/Analysis