Andrei Vasilevski
Justin Abdelkader of the U.S. collides with Russia's goaltender Andrei Vasilevski (R) during the first period of their men's ice hockey World Championship group B game at Minsk Arena in Minsk May 12, 2014. Reuters/Alexander Demianchuk

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced this week that young goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy of Russia had a successful surgery near his left collarbone, which was treated after a blood clot.

The 21-year-old from Tyumen, Russia is set to rejoin the squad in two to three months, and is expected to fully recover from the injury, Lightning Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman confirmed via a press release in the team’s official website.

In his rookie season, Vasilevskiy, who was drafted in the first round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by Tampa Bay or the 19th overall selection, impressed despite playing in limited games. The young Russian started 13 of 16 games and accumulated a record of 7-5-1. He also allowed 2.36 goals per game, on the average. Vasilevskiy also played four postseason games and has a 1-1 record in the playoffs with 51 saves and six goals allowed.

"It's a little bit of a setback for the start of the year," Yzerman said via Tampa Bay Times, adding that they are considering signing another player before the start of the NHL season, which opens in the first week of October.

In Lightning related news, All-Star center Tyler Johnson, who suffered from a broken right wrist in the championship series is expected to join the squad by training camp.

While Vasilevskiy will enter just his second year in the NHL, he is already a veteran in the international scene representing Russia since 2010 as part of the team’s youth and junior squads. The Russian made his debut for the senior team in 2014 when he played in two games at the world championships.

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