We now know what Steve Yzerman had planned for all his stockpiled draft picks.
The Tampa GM -- who had five selections in the first 50 of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft -- has flipped a package of them to Nashville in exchange for backup netminder Anders Lindback.
To Tampa: Lindback, Kyle Wilson, 2012 7th round pick
To Nashville: Two 2012 2nd round picks, 2013 third round pick, Sebastien Caron
The move is Yzerman’s boldest in what’s been a lengthy goalie search. Lindback, 24, is one of the league’s prized backups, having served behind Vezina nominee Pekka Rinne for the last two seasons. At 6-foot-6, 205 pounds he’s a unique physical specimen and has posted solid-if-unspectacular numbers since breaking into the NHL in 2010: 16-13-2 record, .914 save percentage and a 2.53 GAA.
As for the ripple effect:
-- You can all but cross Tampa Bay off the list of suitors for Roberto Luongo, though Yzerman never really sounded that interested.
-- Nashville was all but out of the draft after flipping their first-rounder for Paul Gaustad and their second-rounder for Hal Gill. Now they have the 37th and 50th picks overall.
-- Even though the Lightning now have Lindback and Riku Helenius in the fold, it’s unclear if Yzerman’s goalie search is over. Neither are very experienced.