The Tampa Bay Lightning have placed goaltender Matt Tomkins on waivers, the final move necessary to accommodate Andrei Vasilevskiy's impending return. Vasilevskiy, who engaged in team practices last week, is strongly poised to make a comeback during the team's upcoming three-game road trip, according to head coach Jon Cooper.
This development is significant for the Lightning, currently standing at 9-6-5 and occupying the 10th position league-wide, as they welcome back the former Vezina Trophy winner into their lineup.
Vasilevskiy has consistently demonstrated excellence in the NHL, maintaining a save percentage exceeding .910 throughout his nine-season career. Notably, he achieved a .915 save percentage in 60 games last season, ranking among the top goaltenders in terms of games played between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
During Vasilevskiy's absence, Tomkins made appearances in three NHL games, posting a 1-2-0 record and a .889 save percentage. These games marked the first NHL appearances for Tomkins, a former seventh-round draft pick with a diverse career trajectory since the 2012 NHL Draft. After being drafted from the AJHL, he spent four years at The Ohio State University, transitioning to professional play in the 2017-18 season. His journey included stints in the ECHL, AHL, and the SHL, Sweden's top league, where he performed commendably with save percentages of .908 and .911 in consecutive seasons.
