Goalie who was once described as the 'worst goalie ever seen' secures a starting job

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Matt Garland
October 10, 2023 (8:38)

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The Tampa Bay Lightning have been to the Stanley Cup final in three of the past four seasons, facing adversity along the way with star players Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos spending long periods of time out injured. This season they face injury troubles at the most valuable position. Future Hall of Famer Andrei Vasilevskiy will miss the next 8-10 weeks recovering from back surgery. Times are desperate in Tampa.

On Sunday. Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper announced that Jonas Johansson would be the starter in Vasilevskiy's absence beginning tonight in the season opener against Nashville.

The savvy head coach is possibility trying to instill some confidence in the journeyman goalie. Johansson has been claimed off waivers three different times so far in his career.

The 28 year old was once called the worst goalie ever seen by Buffalo Sabres beat writer John Vogl following a trade from the team. In just 35 NHL games he has an 11-13-4 record with 1 shutout, a 3.32 Goals-Against-Average and an .887 Save-Percentage.

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The leash will be short for Johansson, with known reports that general manager Julien BriseBois has been gauging the market for goalie insurance for Tampa.

Previously on HockeyUnplugged

Connor McDavid praises Connor Bedard on professionalism

Two players who requested trades sign identical massive contract extensions

Leafs had hidden clause in Martin Jones' contract to stop waiver claim

POLL
OCTOBRE 10 \| 118 ANSWERS Goalie who was once described as the 'worst goalie ever seen' secures a starting job How will Tampa do with Vasilevskiy possibility missing the first 20 games of the season
.500 hockey	48	40.7 %
15-5 Johansson will play well	21	17.8 %
5-15 GM overpays for help in net	18	15.3 %
5-15 Tampa rides it out until Vasi is back	31	26.3 %
List of polls

Goalie who was once described as the 'worst goalie ever seen' secures a starting job

How will Tampa do with Vasilevskiy possibility missing the first 20 games of the season