Jan Hlavac has signed a one year deal with the Lightning. He’s been in Europe the last three years while being an NHL veteran of five.

The move is for depth at wing, I can’t see much more than that. Yet Jay feaster puts up the on-a-wing=and-a-prayer praise that Jan will be the 2nd line answer that has eluded the Lightning this season:

‘Jan Hlavac is a highly skilled player who we believe will fit in well within our group of top six forwards and a player we hope will develop some chemistry with Brad Richards,” executive vice president and general manager Jay Feaster said. ”He is an excellent skater and is both a playmaker and a guy who can finish. The ‘new NHL’ is tailor-made for Jan’s game, and he expressed through his agent a strong desire to return to the NHL as was evidenced by the cap- and budget-friendly contract Jan signed.”

So is this a solution to problems on the roster (on the cheap!) or is it a bottom-dollar move that the Lightning hope will pan out? It’s worked for the Bolts so far…

last updated June 14, 2007 at 8:31 pm