In the midst of a four day break, the Tampa Bay Lightning have decided to recall both Slater Koekkoek and Erik Condra from the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL. No word yet on the corresponding roster moves.
For both players this is a return to the NHL, as each have suited up this season for the Lightning. Koekkoek, the team’s first round pick (10th overall) from 2012, has played 17 games for the Bolts this year, registering four points. The 22-year old is waiver-exempt and has been sent up and down several times already this year, as they continue to develop him into a long-term NHL piece.
Condra, a veteran of 355 NHL games has been dominating the AHL through the first part of the season. With 18 points in 19 games, he’s proven why he’s spent the past five seasons entirely in the NHL (excluding some time in Germany during the most recent lockout). While Condra has always been a bottom-six player, he has been an effective one and earned a three-year, $3.75MM deal prior to last season. He is waivers eligible and will require them again if he’s sent back down, but has already cleared once this season due to his price tag.