Just because the games aren’t being played doesn’t mean there aren’t things going on in the NHL world. The Tampa Bay Lightning were in the news a bit on Friday as there was some off the ice action. Jack Finley was placed on waivers and Curtis Douglas had to cut a check due to his actions against the Florida Panthers. Other than that, it was a lovely Friday afternoon.
First up was the news that Handsome Jack Finley, the Bolts towering center was placed on waivers. Yes, despite an Olympic break roster freeze, waivers roll on just like normal. Well, mostly like normal. There are a few stipulations that allow players who have been playing all season long a slight break. The Athletic broke it down in an article the other day. One of the differences between normal waivers and Olympic Break waivers is, if a player is claimed, they don’t have to report to their new team until February 17th.
Some teams may look to loan out waivers-exempt players to the AHL in order to let them get some games in or to save on some cap space. As of right now, the Lightning have three players that are waivers-exempt: Dominic James, Max Crozier, and Charle-Edouard D’Astous. With D’Astous’ injury and heavy workload, it’s unlikely the Bolts would send him down at the beginning of the break. If he’s feeling better towards the end, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him get a game or two in with the Crunch.
As for Crozier and James. Well, they aren’t technically eligible to be loaned out according to The Athletic article. One of the restrictions to loaning players out is that they cannot have played 16 or more of the team’s last 20 games. Even after missing the last two games, Crozier is well over that mark as is James. The league wants to make sure players who have been playing actually get a break.
Finley, who has been in and out of the line-up all season will likely clear waivers. That being said, a team looking to add some size and has ice time for him might be intrigued. Finley has produced at the AHL level with 84 points in 164 games. He has skills that should play well at the NHL level, he just hasn’t had a chance to stay in the line-up and develop the consistency needed with the Lightning. On the season he has two goals and one assist in 22 games played.
Switching over to the supplementary discipline side of things. Out of everything that happened in the game against the Florida Panthers (which Jason and Justin talk about on their latest episode), Curtis Douglas ends up as the only one receiving a call, or knowing the NHL, a fax, in regards to supplemental discipline. The big forward has to cut a check to the Players’ Emergency Fund for $2,018.23 (SAY THE LINE), the maximum allowable under the CBA, for serving as an “aggressor” in his altercation with Niko Mikkola.
That’s cool. Douglas earned the fine, his first in the NHL. If the other player doesn’t want to fight and you keep throwing punches, you’re going to get fined. Anaheim’s Ross Johnston was fined for a similar play earlier in the season. It’s part of hockey.
Not counting forfeited game salary for the suspensions of J.J. Moser and Scott Sabourin at the beginning of the season, the Lightning have been fined $134,259.98 for their actions against the Florida Panthers just this season alone. Much like Ron Burgandy, we can’t be mad about that, that’s amazing!