Tampa Bay Lightning forward Mitchell Chaffee is coming off a solid 2024-25 season, setting career highs in NHL games played (66), goals (12), assists (6), and points (18).
On Thursday, Chaffee appeared on Daily Faceoff’s Morning Cuppa Hockey, where he discussed how he’s been spending his offseason and what it’s like training with teammate Nikita Kucherov.
“Last summer, I came down at the end of July, so this is my first full summer down here, and it’s been great,” Chaffee said of his decision to spend his offseason in Tampa. “We’ve got the ice, weight room and training staff. Everything’s ready for us when we get here.”
Chaffee said Kucherov has been focused on practicing his passing, puck handling and situational skating this offseason.
“You watch him do it in a game, but then he'll come in and do it in practice, and he does it all summer. It’s been a big emphasis for me this offseason too.”
Chaffee originally went un-drafted in the NHL Entry Draft, despite a strong three-season collegiate career at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. In 2020 he began his professional journey with the Iowa Wild, the AHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild.
After his entry-level contract with Minnesota ended, Chaffee signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Bolts on July 1, 2023 and continued playing in the AHL. While in Syracuse, Chaffee had 12 goals and 26 points in 36 games before he was called up to the Lightning. His path hasn't been the easiest one, but he's constantly working to get better with every season.
“I think at every level, I've tried to prove myself,” said Chaffee. “I've always started on the third and fourth line, I've always tried to work my way up and earn more minutes. It’s not always the easiest thing to do, stepping in and not playing a ton of minutes, but trying to make those minutes that you get, very impactful.”
“I like playing a physical game. You can play up and down the lineup that way, and I try to have enough skill to complement that.”
The Lightning opted for a quiet offseason, choosing to stay the course rather than making any major additions after their early playoff exit against the Panthers.
“Obviously, our whole team was a little bit sour with what happened in the playoffs," said Chaffee. "I think it was maybe a week or two after we lost, I'd say more than half the guys on the team were already back in the gym. I know like some guys were already skating weeks.”
“I don't know if it gets any better than Tampa. The weather, how you're treated, the organization, it's just top notch. Everything is just incredible here. I've been focusing a lot this summer on constantly getting better.”
Photo Credit: © Kyle Ross-Imagn Images