25 year old forward claimed by the Tampa Bay Lightning after being waived by the Florida panthers
Due to salary cap constraints, the Florida Panthers put forward Rudolfs Balcers on waivers yesterday. Balcers won't be traveling very far because today he has been claimed by their arch rival the Tampa Bay Lightning. Balcers had two goals and two assists in fourteen games for the Panthers this season.
With the signing of veteran Eric Staal and the likely return of Aaron Ekblad and Patric Hornqvist this weekend, the Panthers were forced to make a roster move.
Balcers is a solid bottom six forward that will probably fit in very well with Tampa. Balcers is good on the forecheck and can chip in a few goals. Balcers is only making $750,000 so for Tampa Bay that is easy to accommodate.
Although Balcers is primarily a bottom six forward, some Panther fans are sad to see him go while thirty-eight-year old Eric Staal has no points in seven games, is a minus three, and is thirteen years older then Balcers.
With all due respect to Staal who has had a remarkable NHL career, he is at the very end of his career and should not have been kept. However when you're towards the salary cap ceiling sometimes your options are limited and losing a forward on waivers can happen. Let's see how Balcers performs with his new team.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 12 | 78 ANSWERS 25 year old forward claimed by the Tampa Bay Lightning after being waived by the Florida panthers Did the Panthers make the right decision waiving Balcers? | ||
| Yes | 11 | 14.1 % |
| No | 27 | 34.6 % |
| Who cares | 33 | 42.3 % |
| It should�ve been Staal | 7 | 9 % |
| List of polls | ||
![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Mitch Marner (16) warms up prior to the during the first periodau- during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/531807.webp "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Mitch Marner (16) warms up prior to the during the first periodau- during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images")
