Lightning claim forward Wallace from Islanders
After seeing players subtracted from the roster the past three game days, Tampa Bay added one hours before facing the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.
The Lightning grabbed forward Tim Wallace off waivers from the New York Islanders. The 27-year-old was not available to play in the 4-3 loss in Winnipeg but was scheduled to meet up with the team prior to Saturday's matinee at Pittsburgh.
Wallace, who grew up and played pee-wee hockey with current Lightning center Nate Thompson in Alaska, has appeared in 55 games with Pittsburgh and the Islanders, including 31 with New York after being called up from Bridgeport in the American Hockey League. While he has not shown an offensive game in the NHL, Wallace has back-to-back 20-goal seasons in the AHL.
After moving three players out in trades and losing center Vinny Lecavalier to injury, the Lightning were thin on forwards, prompting this move for the stretch run.
"We've liked him. He's played 30-something games in the NHL this year and all our reports on him were positive," general manager Steve Yzerman said. "We think he's a guy who can come in and contribute for this year. . . . He's a gritty guy. He's a strong and competitive guy. We thought he'd be able to help us down the stretch."
Thompson offered a scouting report on his childhood friend, who figures to get into the lineup quickly.
"He's a big body, he hits like a truck and he's willing, if need be, to drop the gloves, and is a good all-around player," Thompson said. "(He's) one of those guys you grow up with and we both made it (to the NHL), a life-long friend, so I'm happy to have him here.
