Lindback Traded to Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning have solidified their situation in goal for the foreseeable future Friday when they acquired Anders Lindback from the Nashville Predators. The Lightning sent a pair of 2012 second-round picks, a 2013 third-round pick and goaltender Sebastian Caron to the Predators in exchange for Lindback, forward Kyle Wilson and a 2012 seventh-round pick.
"We are very pleased to announce this trade today," vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman said upon making the announcement. "We believe Anders will join the team and give us a nice lift at the goaltending position as we prepare for the 2012-13 season. He has the potential to develop into the No. 1 goaltender we covet."
"I'm very excited to now be with the Tampa Bay Lightning," Lindback said. "I had some great years with Nashville but I was in a tough spot behind Pekka Rinne. My dream all my life has been to be a number one goalie in the NHL and I think I have a great opportunity to be that in Tampa Bay." Lindback is coming off his second full NHL season, in which he played 16 games as Rinne's backup. He went 5-8-0 with a 2.42 goals-against average and .912 save percentage. He has appeared in 38 career NHL games, all with Nashville, registering a 16-13-2 record, with a 2.53 goals against average and a .914 save percentage.
The 6-foot-6, 203-pound goaltender was a seventh-round pick (No. 207) of the Predators in 2008. He'll replace Dwayne Roloson, last season's starter, who is an unrestricted free agent. Tampa Bay also has veteran Mathieu Garon as well as well as 22-year-old Dustin Tokarski, a 2008 draft pick who led Tampa Bay's AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, to the Calder Cup championship.
