Screen Shots: Tampa Bay Lightning, Ottawa Senators and Arizona Coyotes

This is Screen Shots, a regular THN.com feature in which we tackle a few different hockey topics and break them down in a few short paragraphs apiece. Onto the topics we go with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Ottawa Senators and Arizona Coyotes:

The Tampa Bay Lightning got some unfortunate news late this week when star goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy had to undergo back surgery, which is expected to sideline him for more than the first two months of the season. Vasilevskiy’s absence cannot be adequately filled by backup Jonas Johansson, who has just 35 games of NHL experience under his belt.

Consequently, it’s a near certainty Bolts GM Julien BriseBois will go to the free agency, waiver or trade markets to bring in some veteran help for Tampa Bay. 

One option could be Martin Jones, who currently projects to be the third option in net for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Unless the Leafs decide to carry three goalies on their NHL roster, they’ll likely waive Jones before sending him to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. And the cap-strapped Lightning would see Jones’ $875,000 salary as something they could work with over the short term.

Other options for Tampa could be greybeard Brian Elliott, who served as the Lightning’s backup last season and who is a UFA. Veteran Jaroslav Halak, who spent his 2022-23 season with the New York Rangers, might be another option for BriseBois. In any case, the Bolts clearly need help, and with Vasilevskiy out for such a significant period of time, their ability to stay in the playoff race in the tough Atlantic Division could rest on the decision BriseBois makes to replace his top goalie over the short term. The status quo is not an option for them.

The Ottawa Senators made a major management move Friday, revealing they’ve hired former NHL player Steve Staios as their new president of hockey operations. The hiring had been heavily rumored, as Staios had worked closely with new Sens owner Michael Andlauer in the OHL. That said, Staios’ arrival underscores the pressures Ottawa GM Pierre Dorion and coach D.J. Smith are facing this season.

Staios isn’t likely to clean house right away, but if things go awry for Ottawa early in the season – or in the season at all, really – Dorion and Smith are likely to pay for it with their jobs. Even if Ottawa does well this season, Staios will surround himself with hockey management members he trusts, so there’s bound to be change regardless of the Senators’ win-loss record. But Andlauer obviously believes in Staios – who accepted the job after resigning from an advisory position with the Edmonton Oilers – and the message to all Sens employees now that he’s overseeing operations is crystal clear: win, or else.

Finally, a brief observation regarding the key to the Arizona Coyotes' season: the Yotes will be improved at forward, with star rookie Logan Cooley and free-agent pickups Alex Kerfoot and Jason Zucker in tow. And their goaltending is fairly solid, with starter Karel Vejmelka and backup Connor Ingram set to be their tandem. But the biggest area of concern is their blueline.

Even with the trade for young defenseman Sean Durzi and the UFA signing of veteran Matt Dumba, the Coyotes’ defense corps is not anywhere close to the best group in the game.

Adding complications to the matter is the fact that four of their current top-eight D-men are scheduled to be UFAs next summer. Now, if they perform to expectations, some of those veterans could be signed to contract extensions. But at the moment, the optics of the situation paint this defense corps as somewhat transitory. There’s no clear path forward for them on ‘D,’ and that could prove to be the difference between them making or missing the post-season this year.

All things considered, the Coyotes have much to look forward to in the seasons ahead. But if their lack of quality on the back end turns out to be the reason why they don’t make the playoffs this year, no one should be surprised