The NHL has moved its base of operations to the gulf coast of the Sunshine State for the 2018 All Star weekend.
While NHL fans revel in Gasparilla and celebrate the great game that is hockey, there will be long faces and much consternation across the state on Florida's Space Coast.
On Thursady, Florida Pantehrs rookie head coach Bob Boughner told media that veteran goalie James Reimer will be out “a few weeks… with a pulled groin.
.@FlaPanthers coach Bob Boughner on the status of injured goalie James Reimer: "Best case scenario is two weeks." #FlaPanthers #OneTerritory pic.twitter.com/Z3UzTNf7XF
— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) January 26, 2018
I knew something was up when the Cats called up rookie goalie Samuel Montembeault on Thursday. Montembeault will serve as back up to rookie goaokie Harri Sateri.
Bob Boughner broke the news on Friday that Reimer will be now be out “a few weeks… with a pulled groin. Reimer, who will turn 30 in March, joins Roberto Luongo in the goalie Cats' M*A*S*H unit. Reimer and Luongo have been healthy at the same time for only 21 of Florida's 46 games this season.
How the hell is Boughner going to eran a playoff bearth while riding two rookie goalies who have a combine three games of NHL experience between them?
At the All Star break, the Panthers are 11 points outside of a wild card spot. There is no timetable for Luongo's return. The soon-to-be 39 year old goalie has a lot of miles on his tires and his body is breaking down. Luingo has played in only 15 games this season. There is a long shot that the veteran tendy can begin practicing late next week, however, there are no guarantees. Even if Luongo does start practicing around February 1, he will need sreasonable amoubt of time on ice to get himself back in NHL game shape.
In the meantime, Sateri, 28, is the starting goalie for the Panthers.The yong Finn played three seasons in the KHL before signing a two-way free agent deal with the Cats. Sateri has North American hockey experience having played four seasons with the AHL’s Worcester Sharks after being selected by San Jose in the fourth round in 2008 out of the Finnish Liiga.
Montembeault, 21, was the Panthers' third round pick in 2015.
Until further notice, Boughner will have to deploy the neutral zone trap and hope his forwards and D can limit shot attempts against his third and fourth goalies.
.@FlaPanthers Bob Boughner talks about how it's a tough situation at goalie and how it effects the approach to games. #FlaPanthers pic.twitter.com/xBi0pC32RG
— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) January 26, 2018
Cats GM Dale Tallon would be wise to drive to Tampa right now to find a trade partner. Tallon hasn’t thrown in the towel yet and should phone Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill, who has a veteran tendy who can help stop the pain and suffering in the Cats goal crease.
Robin Lehner posted two impressive road shutouts in his last two starts before the All Star break.
Lehner made 30 saves on 30 shots faced in Buffalo's 4-0 blanking of the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night. On Tuesday night, Lehner made 33 saves on 33 shots faced by Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers. In 35 starts, Lehner's record is now 11-18-6, with a 2.87 GAA and .912 save percentage. Lehner has faced 1080 shots on goal and has made 985 saves. He's allowed only 95 goals against while earning 3 shutouts.
Lehner, 26, will be a restricted free agent this summer and Botterill may be open minded to trding Lehner before the February 26 trade dealine because he will have veteran tendy Chad Johnson to turn to for the rest of the season. Lehner is a $4M AAV this season.
The Sabres will likely be handing their net to two time AHL All Star Linus Ullmark next season.
Like teh Chicago Blackhawks, the Panthers are one of the teams looking to add a starting goalie at the reade deadline. The Cats and Hawks are at the crossroads in their seasons and must stabilize their goaltending now. Or, they will golfing in early April.
At what cost can Tallon acquire Robin Lehner?
A second round draft choice and right defenseman Mark Pysyk may be enough to get a deal done. Botterill announced Friday that veteran right shot D Zach Bogosian will be having hip surgery next week. Bogosian will be lost for the rest of the season.
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If it weren’t for bad luck he’d have no luck at all.
According to the Buffalo Sabres, their veteran defenseman Zach Bogosian will undergo hip surgery next week.
The procedure has an estimated recovery time of 4-6 months. As a result, Bogosian will remain on injured reserve for the duration of the season, but is expected to be ready for the start of 2018 training camp.
“The news regarding Zach’s injury is unfortunate,… Sabres GM Jason Botterill said.
“Zach has been dealing with this injury since the beginning of the season. After consulting with our medical team, we felt that it was important to get this taken care of now so that he can be back to full strength and ready to contribute at the beginning of next season.…
The procedure has an estimated recovery time of four to six months. As a result, Bogosian will remain on injured reserve for the duration of the 2017-18 season, but is expected to be ready for the start of the team’s 2018 training camp.
The Sabres’ terrible season can be directly linked to their 177 man games and counting lost to injury.
Bogosian has dealt with serious injuries his whole NHL career.
The tragic Hip allowed him to play in only 18 games this season. He played in 56 seasons last season. He played in 64, 21, and 41 games respectively in the previous seasons.
Bogosian, 27, is a $5,142,857 salary cap hit this and the next two seasons.