The Tampa Bay Lightning announced today that defenseman Sean Day has been reassigned to the team’s AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. In a corresponding move, the Crunch reassigned defenseman Zachary Massicotte to their ECHL affiliate, the Orlando Solar Bears.
Day was originally recalled on December 14th, as additional cover for the team as Victor Hedman dealt with an injury. But with Hedman now back, Day’s services on the Lightning’s NHL roster are no longer needed. Day did not dress for the Lightning’s one game that Hedman missed. Instead, Haydn Fleury slotted into the lineup and Day took Fleury’s spot in the press box as the team’s spare defenseman.
Hedman’s return to health and today’s subsequent reassignment to the AHL means Day’s most recent call-up will end without the opportunity to play in another NHL game. The 25-year-old defenseman has two games already on his resume and is undoubtedly hoping to receive more. It’s been a long journey towards the top of an NHL team’s minor-league defensive depth chart for Day, who was a rare “exceptional status” player in his junior hockey days.
Although Day was allowed to join the OHL in advance of his peers, his development stagnated somewhat with the Mississauga Steelheads, Kingston Frontenacs, and Windsor Spitfires. He earned a pro contract with the New York Rangers, the club that drafted him, but spent half of his rookie pro year in the ECHL. After spending the bulk of 2019-20 in the ECHL, Day joined the Syracuse Crunch and immediately made significant progress toward his NHL dream. He scored 40 points in 69 games for the Crunch in 2021-22, earning himself two NHL games.
Last season Day’s production fell all the way down to just 14 points in 63 games, though it has recovered somewhat this year. With this reassignment, Day will return from Tampa to resume his top-four role with the Crunch hoping to receive another call-up chance down the line.
As for Massicotte, Day’s call-up opportunity gave him the chance to play in the first AHL games of his season. The six-foot-four 22-year-old defenseman spent almost all of his rookie professional campaign in the ECHL with the Allen Americans, save for four games played with the Belleville Senators.
Massicotte played on the Crunch’s top pairing next to Philippe Myers for the team’s shutout victory over the Utica Comets two days ago, giving him some valuable exposure in the AHL. Just as Day returns to Syracuse with the hope of earning another call-up to Tampa, Massicotte will return to Orlando looking to earn another call-up to Syracuse.