The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled 25-year-old Swedish defenseman Simon Lundmark from the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League.
This season, the Lightning's defensive depth has been tested mightily. Players like Charle-Edouard D'Astous, Declan Carlile and Maxwell Crozier have had to step up while Ryan McDonagh and Victor Hedman have been on the shelf. Now, another young player may get the opportunity to show what he can do at the NHL level.
Simon Lundmark was originally drafted 51st overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2019 NHL Draft. He spent a few more seasons with Linkoping HC in the Swedish Hockey League before making the jump to North American for the 2021-22 season, when he joined the Jets' AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose. He's been a regular in the AHL ever since, but he's never had the opportunity to make his NHL debut.
The Jets opted not to tender a qualifying offer to Lundmark over the summer, which led to him signing a two-year deal with the Lightning on July 1. With the Crunch this season, Lundmark has recorded five assists in 27 games. It remains to be seen when, or if, Lundmark will get his opportunity to make his NHL debut.