Lightning's Ohlund Goes Under The Knife

  Tampa Bay Lightning veteran defenseman Mattias Ohlund underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on both knees today, and could be out four to six weeks as the Lightning have said he will be out indefinitely. The Lightning placed the Swede on Injured Reserve on October, 4th with inflammation of the right knee. He will begin the rehabilitation process soon.

"He was showing a little bit of improvement," Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said. "But he said it just didn't feel right and figured that if he was going to be out a little bit, let's take that time and use it as wisely as possible, clean up whatever is in there irritating. So maybe he's out a little bit longer, but he should feel better when he does come back."

  Ohlund spent eleven seasons with the Vancouver Canucks through his thirteen year NHL career before arriving in Tampa Bay in July 2009. The skillful offensive defenseman signed a seven-year contract with the Lightning, and has been a key part of the blue-line in many ways. Besides being a major contributor in points scored and minutes on the ice in key situations, Ohlund has been a great mentor to Swedish-born defenseman and future on the blue-line, Victor Hedman, who was drafted 2nd overall in 2009 – the same year the Bolts brought in Ohlund. Ohlund still has five years remaining on his contract.

  Last season Ohlund played in 72 regular season games where he registered 5 assists and a -7 rating with 135 hits. Ohlund was a big part of Tampa’s Easter Conference Finals run in the post season last year where he scored a goals and two assists with a +5 rating in 18 games.

  In 909 NHL games, Ohlund accounts for 93 goals and 250 assists for 343 points and a -6 rating.

  His replacement will come in the form of a couple of depth defenseman on the current NHL roster signed as unrestricted free-agents on the off-season.

  27 year-old Bruno Gervais, who was acquired by the Lightning in June re-signed with the team to a one-year contract in July. He made his Lightning debut last night, notching a goal and an assists with a +1 rating and added two hits in the thrilling loss to the Washington Capitals. In 332 games Gervais has tallied 10 goals and 70 points, but it is his poorly -59 rating that he will be working hard to right with a chance given by Steve Yzerman and the Lightning.

  Matt Gilroy, also 27, was signed as an unrestricted free-agent during the offseason as well, and has appeared twice in this fresh 2011-2012 season. Gilroy enters his third season in the NHL after two promising years with the New York Rangers. In 129 NHL games he has tallied 7 goals and 19 assists for 26 points and a +4 rating.

- Kendall Grubbs