News - Tampa Bay Strengthens Defense with Lundmark Recall

In a strategic move, the Tampa Bay Lightning have called up defenseman Simon Lundmark from their affiliate, AHL Syracuse, following a redistribution in the roster that saw forward Maxim Groshev reassigned to Syracuse earlier this week. Simon Lundmark, who is 25 years old, became part of the Lightning's plans after signing a two-year, two-way contract this past summer following a stint in the Winnipeg Jets' organization. While in Manitoba, the defensive stalwart had an impactful presence, totaling 254 games and contributing 16 goals and 46 assists, amassing 62 points in the process. Despite being a notable second-round selection in the 2019 NHL Draft, Lundmark's transition from a promising two-way player to an NHL regular remained elusive due to suboptimal conditions in Winnipeg. His tenure with the Lightning affiliates shows a professional still in the evolution stage, with 27 games under his belt for the Syracuse Crunch this term, offering five assists and holding a -1 in his plus/minus statistic. An earlier recall in November granted him proximity to NHL action, although not translated to game participation. With the Lightning roster currently affected by injuries to key defensemen such as Victor Hedman, Emil Martinsen Lilleberg, and Ryan McDonagh, Lundmark's presence in the NHL squad brings depth to the roster. This strategic adjustment could serve as a catalyst for Lundmark to finally make his NHL debut as the team continues to manage its injury setbacks and strategically use its depth from minor league ranks to bolster the squad.