Vrbata signing confirmed (Kolzig next?)

Posted Jul 1, 2008 by Erik Erlendsson

Updated Jul 1, 2008 at 12:25 PM

Just got confirmation that Radim Vrbata has indeed signed with the Lightning. He has signed a three-year deal for $9 million.

Word is that Olie Kolzig is next on their radar as a 1B goaltender to Mike Smith (a source indicated something is close) . We’ll see.

Still waiting to hear on Rolston.

Vrbata can slot right into the second line (assuming Rolston is out of the mix) and he is a defensively responsible player. He scored 27 goals with Phoenix last season, which was easily a career high for him. At the age of 27 (he just had a birtday on June 13) he is still young enough to grow and become a consistent top-six forward. Or, he could have just peaked as his previous high in goals was 18, which he did his rookie year with Colorado in 2001-02.