The Olympic break has been a bit of a blessing for the Tampa Bay Lightning, as they've seen a number of players recover from injuries during the weeks off. One such player is defenseman Charle-Edouard D'Astous who was injured a month ago.
D'Astous has been a breakout player for the Lightning this season, as he's been tasked with taking a bigger role than expected due to the number of injuries on the Tampa Bay blue line. He started the season with the Lightning's American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, before being recalled after just four games.
Since getting his first opportunity in the NHL, D'Astous has taken tremendous steps forward. He's played in 43 games for the Lightning this season, scoring three goals and tallying a total of 17 points along with 57 penalty minutes.
D'Astous's performance this season has earned him a contract extension as well, as he signed a one-year extension with the Lightning back in January. While he's not the biggest name returning to the Lightning's lineup on Wednesday, D'Astous has become an important part of Tampa Bay's defensive depth.