Forward Dylan Duke will get another look in the preseason with the Lightning. He won’t make the opening night roster after being cut from camp on Sunday, but he’s been recalled ahead of tonight’s exhibition game against the Panthers, the team announced.
The 21-year-old is slated to play most of his first professional season with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, although there’s a decent chance he’ll be near the top of Tampa’s list for mid-season call-ups. His showing in tonight’s contest will likely go a long way toward determining that.
A fourth-round pick back in 2021, the Ohio native has played the last three seasons on a star-studded University of Michigan squad. He ramped up his production every year, topping out with 26 goals, 23 assists, and 49 points in 41 games in 2023-24. He finished third on the team in scoring behind the Blue Jackets’ Gavin Brindley and the Penguins’ Rutger McGroarty and earned himself a spot on the Big 10 Conference’s Second All-Star Team.
Duke joined the Crunch for the final few games of the regular season and the playoffs, posting a combined two assists and a -1 rating in eight contests. He’ll be looking to make a much greater offensive impact after a summer of training. The sniper is under contract through 2026-27 and can play both left wing and center, although he’ll likely suit up at the former if he lands a full-time NHL role.