The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-assigned veteran forward Scott Sabourin to the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League.
Sabourin, 33, has been out of action since he was injured during a fight against Arber Xhekaj of the Montreal Canadiens on December 28. This season, he has split his time between the Lightning and the Crunch. He’s appeared in nine games for the NHL club, scoring a goal and adding two assists. At that level though, he’s more known for his physicality which is reflected in his 63 penalty minutes.
For the Crunch, Sabourin has had a bit more of an offensive role. In 20 AHL games this season, the Orleans, Ontario native has scored six goals and added two assists for a total of eight points. His penalty minutes are rapidly reduced in the AHL, as he only has 22 in over twice as many games.
Sabourin has certainly shown his value when given an opportunity in the NHL this season. As a result, it’s unlikely we’ve seen the last of him with the Lightning this season. If there’s another injury to a bottom-six forward, it’s safe to assume that Sabourin will be the likely choice for a call-up.