With their second pick in the top 20 of the 1st Round of the 2012 NHL Draft, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected Russian goalie Andrei Vasilevski with the No. 19 pick. Vasilevski joins defenseman Slater Koekkoek as the Bolts' two first rounders who will bolster the Tampa defense, which was a particular weak point in the 2011-2012 season.
The Bolts searched for answers in between the pipes all season, rotating Dwayne Roloson and Mathieu Garon for much of the year. While Vasilevski likely won't be the answer immediately, he could be the long-term solution in net. SB Nation's Travis Hughes has more on Vasilevski:
"...Vasilevskiy's draft stock started to rise after he split time in the World Juniors tournament for Team Russia, but the question of if he will go to North America or stay in the KHL is an obvious concern.
One of the most purely talented goaltenders in the draft, Vasilevskiy also has excellent positional skills and a willingness to take away shooting angles as he fills the net. Athletic and regarded as an excellent butterfly netminder, he could be part of the long term answer in net that Tampa Bay has sought for the last several years."
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