TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Lightning front office is staying busy as General Manager Julien BriseBois announced a series of roster moves involving five players moving between the NHL club and their American Hockey League affiliate in Syracuse.
Highlighting the transactions is the return of young forward Conor Geekie and veteran netminder Brandon Halverson to the main roster, while forwards Mitchell Chaffee and Jakob Pelletier, along with defenseman Steven Santini, head back to the Syracuse Crunch.
Geekie, a 21-year-old former first-round pick, earns his way back to Tampa after a productive stint in the AHL where he racked up 59 points in 57 games this season.
Standing 6-foot-4, the Manitoba native has already suited up for 14 games with the Lightning this year, contributing three points. Joining him is 30-year-old Brandon Halverson, who has been a wall for Syracuse lately.
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Halverson leads the AHL with six shutouts this season and holds a solid 24-11-6 record, providing the Lightning with an experienced option in the crease.
Going the other direction are three players who have been staples for the Crunch this year. Mitchell Chaffee returns to the AHL after recording 24 goals for Syracuse earlier this season. He is joined by Jakob Pelletier, who currently leads the entire AHL in scoring with 77 points.
Rounding out the moves is Syracuse captain Steven Santini. The 31-year-old defenseman heads back to lead the Crunch blue line after appearing in 33 games for the affiliate this season.
These moves represent a tactical shift for the Lightning as they look to optimize their lineup depth heading into Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs series.
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