Tampa Bay Lightning’s Options For Starter With Vasilevskiy Injured
By Noah Wilson
On Friday, the Tampa Bay Lightning announced that superstar goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy would be out for 8-10 weeks due to a lumbar disc herniation that required a microdiscectomy, which was successful. This is the first time in the last six years that Vasilevskiy won’t be starting for the Lightning.
With Vasilevskiy out until possibly the next calendar year, the Lightning will need to find another goaltender to take over the starting role, whether that comes from within the organization, through free agency, or through trade. Here are some potential options for goalies who could take over the net to start the season.
Jonas Johansson
Jonas Johansson was brought in by the Lightning during the 2023 offseason to fill in the likely backup role after Brian Elliott’s departure. Johansson took over the net in the Lightning’s preseason game against the Carolina Hurricanes on September 28th and played a great game, finishing with 42 saves without letting a single puck go past him.
Johansson hasn’t had much of a career yet in the NHL at 28 years old, playing only 35 games since the 2019-20 season and has some concerning career totals, with a .887% save and 3.32 GAA in those 35 games. However, he had a decent season in his three games with the Colorado Avalanche last season, putting up a .932% save and 2.10 GAA.
Chris Driedger
Chris Driedger, currently of the Seattle Kraken, spent most of the 2022-23 season out with injury. Before his injury, however, Driedger’s career totals were doing really well, with a .917% save and 2.45 GAA. He’s a decent short-term option for the Lightning and while he may have struggled in the 2021-22 season, putting up a .899% save and 2.96 GAA, so did the rest of the Kraken that season.
Driedger had a good run with the Florida Panthers in his two seasons there, putting up no less than a .920% save and never going above a 2.07 GAA. The Lightning will need to trade for Driedger, but with Seattle seeming to stick with Joey Daccord as the backup, Seattle will be forced to trade Driedger or risk losing him to the waiver wire. Outside of Johansson, Driedger is the easiest player to get as the part-time starter.
Antti Raanta
Antti Raanta, who currently plays for the Carolina Hurricanes, is at risk of losing his job as a backup and the Lightning could take advantage of that. At 34 years old, Raanta has good experience in the league as a starter and could be a great option to replace Vasilevskiy. With great career numbers in 253 games, having a .918% save and 2.43 GAA, along with a great season with the Hurricanes, putting up a .910% save and 2.23 GAA, the Lightning would be making a mistake by not trying to trade for him. With a $1.5m AAV price tag, it’s a no-risk move that should be taken.