TSN’s Bob Mackenzie reports Mattias Ritola, center, has been claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Lightning from the Detroit Red Wings. While this is Yzerman taking hand-me-downs from his old team, this is certainly going to make the roster reduction tomorrow even more interesting.
And it has.
Eric Perrin, who was in camp on a tryout basis, has been released from his tryout. That puts us right back at square one regarding the roster. The Lightning need to reduce the number of forwards on the team. Chris Durno seems like a candidate to be sent down (as he has cleared waivers) but there is also a chance Johan Harju may end up being demoted to the Norfolk Admirals.
Perrin is now a free agent and could end up anywhere. Including Norfolk. We’ll keep you posted.
But hold on here kids! We ain’t done yet! The Lightning ahve also placed defeneman Mathieu Roy on waivers. That settles the defensive battle once and for all if Roy is headed for Norfolk. If Mattias Ohlund is placed on IR, that lowers the number of defensemen to 7. If he’s not, the Bolts carry 8 defensemen.
Ritola, 23, has played in a total of 7 NHL games. Registering a single point in that span. He had 42 points (19 g, 23a) for Grand Rapids last season.
[Note by John Fontana, 10/05/10 3:09 PM EDT ] Damian Cristodero is reporting things are done — the Bolts are getting under the roster limit a day before the deadline. We’ll have more ont hat after the jump.
Damian speculates, and there is a degree of certainty to everything, that
will make the roster and Johan Harju will be sent to the Norfolk Admirals. Harju is making the transition to the North American game this year and could use more time on a smaller ice surface.
Cedrick Desjardins and Chris Durno will be sent to Norfolk. Desjardins being demoted was a certainty to begin with — it was just a matter of time and the health of Mike Smith that kept him in Tampa.
Of course, there is also the chance the Lightning don’t re-assign Harju. Cristordero talks about Mattias Ohlund’s situation and the fact he could be headed to IR. The Harju move ((if he was indeed sent to Norfolk) coupled with the Ohlund move would give the bolts 22 players on the roster. My thinking is — why send Harju down now if Ohlund going on IR creates roster space? Give him a taste of the NHL level before he does get sent down (when Ohlund is healthy again).
[Note by John Fontana, 10/05/10 4:43 PM EDT ] Johan Harju has indeed been reassigned to the AHL, per the team.
