The Tampa Bay Lightning look different after struggling with little cap space. Ryan Kennedy and Mike Stephens discuss what to expect from the Bolts in 2023-24. Andrei Vasilevskiy [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk0ODY0MjI2OTAzMjcwNTYy/usatsi_19576537.jpg] Andrei Vasilevskiy The Tampa Bay Lightning's hopes for staging a Stanley Cup run this season suffered a serious setback with goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy's eight-to-10-week recovery from lower-back surgery. With backups Jonas Johansson and Matt Tomkins lacking NHL starter experience, the Lightning could be forced to find a short-term replacement for Vasilevskiy. Easier said than done. There are no netminders comparable to the Lightning starter in the trade or free-agent markets. Their lack of salary cap space [https://puckpedia.com/team/tampa-bay-lightning] further complicates things. They will get cap relief with Vasilevskiy and his $9.5-million cap hit going on long-term injury reserve. However, they'll have to be cap-compliant when he's ready to return. In other words, they need a cheap short-term replacement who can be buried in the minors or quickly peddled elsewhere once Vasilevskiy returns to the crease. The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun [https://theathletic.com/4910634/2023/09/28/andrei-vasilevskiy-injury-lightning-salary-cap/] suggested free-agent options such as Jaroslav Halak or former Lightning Brian Elliott. Trade or waiver targets could include Toronto's Martin Jones, Pittsburgh's Magnus Hellberg or Florida's Anthony Stolarz. Daily Faceoff's Matt Larkin [https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/which-goaltenders-could-the-tampa-bay-lightning-pursue-to-replace-andrei-vasilevskiy] proposed pursuing Buffalo's Eric Comrie or Calgary's Daniel Vladar via the trade market. Max Miller [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/san-jose-sharks/analysis/sharks-can-help-lightning-with-vasilevskiy-injured] thinks San Jose's Kaapo Kahkonen might interest the Lightning. Josh Wegman of The Score [https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2725390/bargain-bin-goalies-lightning-could-target-with-vasilevskiy-injured] offered up Montreal's Sam Montembeault or Cayden Primeau, Detroit's Alex Lyon, Anaheim's Alex Stalock or Louis Domingue of the New York Rangers. The Canadiens aren't parting with Montembeault, as he's pencilled in as their starter this season. Kahkonen's $2.75-million annual cap hit [https://puckpedia.com/player/kaapo-kahkonen] is too expensive for the Lightning as is Vladar's $2.2 million [https://puckpedia.com/player/dan-vladar]. Even Comrie at $1.8 million [https://puckpedia.com/player/eric-comrie] appears to be out of their price range. Primeau, Lyon, Stalock and Domingue are more affordable options but not much of an improvement over Johansson and Tomkins.
