Lightning place depth forward on waivers, likely signalling Kucherov's return is near

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Tampa Bay Lightning have placed forward Riley Nash on the waiver wire on Wednesday afternoon.

Nash, 32, was claimed off waivers by Tampa Bay from Winnipeg nearly a month ago. In ten games with the Lightning, Nash didn't record any points, has two penalty minutes and was a minus-one.

According to Erik Erlendsson, this move could indicate that Nikita Kucherov is close to returning to the Lightning lineup. Kucherov has been out since mid-October and had surgery on October 26th for an unspecified lower-body injury.

"#GoBolts have placed C Riley Nash on waivers, per @FriedgeHNIC. This might be the precursor to a Nikita Kucherov activation from injured reserve as Kucherov is expected to be in the day to day category at this point," Erlendsson said in a tweet.

In other related news, Minnesota Wild forward Victor Rask and goaltender Zane McIntyre have cleared waivers this afternoon and have been assigned to the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League.

Oh for Gods sake, Rask— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) January 5, 2022

#GoBolts have placed C Riley Nash on waivers, per @FriedgeHNIC
This might be the precursor to a Nikita Kucherov activation from injured reserve as Kucherov is expected to be in the day to day category at this point— Lightning Insider (@Erik_Erlendsson) January 5, 2022

MUST READ

2 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Unforeseen Events Nearly Force Toronto Maple Leafs vs Utah Hockey Club Game to be Postponed

3 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks NHL Department of Player Safety Makes Official Ruling On Canucks Captain Quinn Hughes

4 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch Canadian Team Unexpectedly Places 6-Foot-3 Enforcer on the NHL Waiver Wire

5 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch Elliotte Friedman Hints at Trade of 30 Million Dollar Defenseman to Canadian Team

8 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch 900-Game NHL Veteran Likely to Retire After Refusing to Sign With Canadian Team

8 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Addresses Struggling Player Nick Robertson in New Interview

11 hours ago  |  By Julien Trekker Terrifying Scene for Carolina Hurricanes Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov as He Blacks Out on the Ice

Nov 23  |  By Tom Banks Angry John Tortorella Calls Out One Flyers Player: Trade is Likely Per Elliotte Friedman

MORE STORIES