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Goalie Kristers Gudlevskis went from the Crunch to Tampa Bay and back on Tuesday without ever leaving Syracuse.

(Stephen D. Cannerelli | scannerelli@syracuse.com)

Syracuse, N.Y. — Nick Riopel sure got a good view of Syracuse Crunch games the past few weeks.

But it probably wasn't near as close a look as he wanted.

The Crunch on Wednesday returned Riopel to Kalamazoo of the ECHL. Since his promotion to Syracuse on Dec. 21, Riopel had served as backup but didn't get in any game action for the Crunch.

Riopel became expendable when both Adam Wilcox and Kristers Gudlevskis returned to the Crunch locker room. Gudlevskis was recalled to Tampa Bay and then sent back to Syracuse on Tuesday when it became apparent that Ben Bishop was ready to jump off the IR for the Lightning.

Wednesday, Tampa Bay assistant general manager Julien BriseBois explained the turnaround.

Gudlevskis' transaction was a paper move only and he never left Syracuse. While it was believed Bishop might be ready to come off the IR, until he actually did Tampa Bay had to be in compliance with NHL rules that mandate teams have two goalies on the roster. Hence the "promotion'' of Gudlevskis.

Meanwhile, Wilcox, who also could have counted as Tampa Bay's second goalie, was sent from the Lightning to the Crunch on Tuesday. But BriseBois said the switch was made with Gudlevskis because he had a lower salary cap hit than Wilcox for his brief stay there.

BriseBois said Wilcox makes $808,750 in the NHL for a daily cap hit of about $4,500 while Gudlevskis is at $575,000/$3,200.