The Tampa Bay Lightning created quite a stir in the hockey world today by placing former second-round pick Gabriel Fortier on waivers today. The Tampa Bay Lightning have had a good start to their season, as they have accumulated a 5-3-0 record through the first eight games of the year. That would indicate the team is getting back to the form that has positioned them as one of the favorites to capture the Stanley Cup for the better part of a decade. In a move that catches many by surprise, though, the Lightning are placing former second-round draft pick Gabriel Fortier on waivers. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/ATHornHockey/status/1850605338028044750'> </a></blockquote></div> This move comes after <a href='https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/lightnings-gabriel-fortier-underwent-offseason-surgery/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Fortier had surgery in the offseason</a>, per NHL insider Elliotte Friedman. The fact that he's on waivers at this stage perhaps indicates that he's close to returning to action. He has spent the majority of the last two seasons in the AHL with the Tampa Bay affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, netting 29 and 26 points, respectively. Standing at 5-foot-11, Fortier isn't going to overpower opponents but, rather, relies on his skillset. He has shown the ability to regularly contribute on an AHL level since turning pro in 2018. Still only 24, there is plenty of potential left untapped by Fortier. His NHL experience is extremely limited, and he's played just 11 games to date with a single goal to show for it. Still, he has given them some decent organizational depth up front. It's not likely he will ever gain a full-time spot in the NHL roster of the Lightning. Management knows he will pass through waivers back to the AHL, where he really needs to continue to develop his skills, as he remains a player working his way back from his injury. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/BoltReport_TB/status/1850599397941481921'> </a></blockquote></div> Waivers have a relative quietness with Fortier as the lone player on it this Sunday. That was off the back of a silent Saturday, a further reinforcement of the trend of minimal movement on the waiver wire as the season wears along. While a decision to place Gabriel Fortier on waivers by the Lightning raised some eyebrows, it's no doubt a tactical one that will help him recover and grow as a player. For now, the future of Fortier in Tampa Bay is in doubt, but how he spends his time in the AHL will be what sets his path to see if he can take up a position in the lineup of NHL players again one day.