Islanders ship Roloson to the Lightning

[Phil The Thrill]

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired 41-year-old goalie Dwayne Roloson from the New York Islanders shortly after beating the New York Rangers on Saturday night.

The Lightning, who earned a 2-1 overtime win on Saturday, sent minor league defenceman Ty Wishart to the Islanders.

Roloson is 6-13-1 this season with a 2.64 goals-against average and .916 save percentage in 20 games. He is in the final year of a two-year contract and can become a free agent on July 1. In 532 NHL games, Roloson is 196-229-42-33 with a 2.66 GAA.

"In this trade we give up a promising, former first-round pick. We wish him luck in the Islanders organization," Lightning GM Steve Yzerman said in a statement. "In Roloson we have acquired a proven, veteran goaltender who will provide stability in net."

The 22-year-old Wishart has four goals and 14 assists in 31 games this season with Norfolk of the AHL. He was chosen by San Jose with the 16th pick in the 2006 draft.

Wishart, a six-foot-four, 222-pound native of Belleville, Ont., played five NHL games with the Lightning during the 2008-09 season.

Roloson is one of 11 NHL goalies to play after turning 41.

"He's a goalie that battles hard," Lightning coach Guy Boucher said. "He's done really well this year."

The move by Tampa Bay general manager Steve Yzerman means the Lightning will have three goalies, including Dan Ellis and Mike Smith, who is expected back soon from a left knee injury.

The surprising Lightning, currently leading the Southeast Division, have missed the playoffs the past three seasons.

"It's an opportunity we wanted to jump on," Boucher said. "It's an opportunity Steve felt you didn't want to miss."

Wishart will report to Bridgeport of the AHL.

Boucher said rookie goalie Cedrick Desjardins, who earned the win over the Rangers on Saturday night, will be sent back to Norfolk. Desjardins also beat Montreal 4-1 in his NHL debut on Thursday night.

Steve Yzerman must have something else up his sleeves. Now he has 3 mediocre goalies, so must be planning another trade in the near future.

 

[playmaker7]

Lol I don't see why honestly. What does this move really do for TB?

 

[LeafsFan4Life]

Lol I don't see why honestly. What does this move really do for TB?

Tampa Bay's goaltending has been brutal. Roloson is much better than Smith and Ellis.Good trade for them.

 

[STLZACH]

Yea, Rolo will be better than Ellis and Smith, but not by much...

 

[A.E]

Stevie Y must have grown tired of Mike Smith's inconsistent play and injuries. I can't imagine Tampa carrying all 3 on the roster for too long, so expect Mike to see his way to the waiver wire soon enough. I hope Rollie can continue his winning ways in Florida. So much for the prospect of Nabokov heading to Tampa/

 

[LeafsFan4Life]

Yea, Rolo will be better than Ellis and Smith, but not by much...

Roloson had a pretty good save percentage on a brutal team. The only goalie with a worse save percentage than Smith and Ellis is Brodeur. Roloson should do much better than them on the Lightning.

 

[LeafsFan4Life]

Roloson gets a shutout in his first game with the Lightning.

 

[RJ.]

Roloson gets a shutout in his first game with the Lightning.

Nice way to start off with a new club ! Even if Roloson is old,he still remains a good goaltender

 

[Blake]

Would have rather gotten Rick <___<

 

[LeafsFan4Life]

Would have rather gotten Rick <___<

Really? You would rather have the goalie that can never stay healthy and is still under contract for 10 more years?

 

[Phil The Thrill]

Ricky woulda fucked you guys over so bad.