The Tampa Bay Lightning have made another roster move ahead of the NHL’s looming break, placing centerman Jack Finley on waivers per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Finley lost his waiver exemption just over two weeks ago, after being called up on December 20th. Teams across the NHL will now have a chance to add the 23-year-old, former second-round draft pick.
Finley has spent the bulk of the season on Tampa Bay’s roster. He won an extra forward role out of training camp and rotated into the lineup throughout November. The Lightning briefly assigned Finley to the minors in mid-December on the heels of a five-game scoring drought. The move seemed to provide a spark. Finley scored three points in three AHL games, returned to the NHL with a two-point performance, and earned an outright fourth-line role amid a handful of injuries.
But Finley hasn’t kept his hot streak alive in a nightly role. He has recorded no points and a minus-one over his last 10 appearances, even despite Tampa Bay posting a 9-0-1 record and +19 goal differntial in those games. Finley has bridged his lack of production by averaging the fourth-most hits per game on the team.
Tampa Bay will need more than that to keep the offense firing on all cylinders. A waiver designation could give the Lightning a chance to assign Finley to the minors, where he racked up 60 points in 92 games over the last two seasons. That is, if another team isn’t interested in locking Finley into their own bottom-six role.
I don’t think anyone will pick up Jack Finley. He hasn’t shown enough consistently nor has he played in enough games for other teams to seriously consider him. Plus, he has 2 years of term left on his contract which may keep teams away as well. He should clear waivers IMO.
Tampa will still have to waive 2 more players in order to allow all 3 of the IR players (Point, D’Astous, and Lilliberg) to come back on the main roster. Granted, there is no rush in the matter.
Canucks traded Sherwood and will trade Blueger, and try to trade Kampf. Preds are likely to trade McCarron. Both teams have roster space. Finley would be a perfect fit on those rosters. He’s on a minimum contract; that is no obstacle to a waiver claim.
Wrong again. Are you trying to run down Wilf’s record? Maybe you can get a pass on this one by blaming it on the Panthers.
@Dogsh!t – Wrong again? I’m right more than I’m wrong. At least I give assessments and opinions of my own unlike you who just trolls others and acts like some wannabe hot who’s nothing more than a bonafide poser. Anything you say is moot.
Solid tantrum. Well done. Keep playing to your strengths.
Swing and a miss. Again. When you parrot the obvious you are right, when you opine, you miss.
@Dog – Says the troll.
@Pedro – you’re a clown
Epic blast. You must dominate at recess.
Dogsh!t – Oh, absolutely. I basically own the playground now—thinking of charging admission. I appreciate the motivational speech, truly groundbreaking stuff.
Waive Hedman. Biggest guy on the ice, last guy into the corner retrieving pucks. Slowest processing in making a pass or play.
Make Hagel the captain.
Disagree with this assessment on every level.
You have officially achieved parody-account status. Or you are new to hockey.
Clearly they are not going to waive Hedman. But there is a common denominator to the team turning it around. And that was the injuries to Hedman, McDonough and Cernak, they are fine NHL defensemen, but move like glaciers.
Don’t believe me, look at their record without them.
Hedman is a class guy and a hall of famer, but as a captain he lacks the fire, piss and vinegar that Stamkos had.
Watch it play out. You got a few weeks, watch the tape of the games early in the season. He gave away games and clearly has lost a step or the fire.
Dastous, Crozier, Carlyle, Raddish, Moser, Lileberg all win puck races and battles, can skate, have grit and can move the puck. As a complete unit, that is the backbone of the teams success.
McDonough and Cernak were a great pair last year, but neither has the jump to move the puck out. I would like them split up.
Hedman, while I know he has been out, plays tentatively. It does not work anymore. He needs to be harder on the puck in his own end and make simple first passes going the other way.
That said, if the Olympics get him up to speed and feeling good about himself, that will only help the Lightning.
Mark these words, they have 9 NHL defensemen. Cooper’s biggest worry now is how to manage that if and when they all get healthy.
Someone likely will be moved. Not necessarily related, but they may target McCarron who can win draws and play heavy.
Brandon James is found money. He is another guy, like Dastous, who years from now people will look back and say, how did the Lightning find these guys.
I was excited about Finley. But from the preseason on, when he did not engage in the battles vs Florida, the writing has been on the wall.
I think he has what it takes to play, but just is too tentative. Maybe he can get past that in his head and look more confident. He has the tools.
50 50 on him getting claimed.