Tampa puts Marc Denis on waivers

Goaltender Marc Denis was put on waivers by the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday.

Denis, 30, has been a disappointment since signing a lucrative three-year contract in the summer of 2006. The Montreal native is set to earn $3 million US next season, a modest raise.

Despite his lucrative contract, Denis was supplanted by unheralded Johan Holmqvist for the playoffs in April.

Denis couldn't rebound, losing four consecutive starts to begin this season. A win in his hometown on Dec. 11 was his first since March.

Denis went 1-5 in 10 games with Tampa Bay this season, with a lowly 4.05 goals-against-average and .859 save percentage.

After being in net for Canada's world junior championship in 1997, the netminder started his NHL career with Colorado before enjoying his greatest success over five seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

He has appeared in 348 career games, recording 16 shutouts and a 3.02 average.

Other NHL clubs will have an opportunity to claimDenis off waivers by 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, an unlikely scenario given his price tag. He will likely be sent to Norfolk of the American Hockey League.

Tampa Bay have lost six of their last seven games, with Holmqvist increasingly making wayfor Finnish rookie Karri Ramo.