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Dominic James

Lightning Notes: Finley, Vasilevskiy, McDonagh, James

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The Lightning announced that they have assigned forward Jack Finley to AHL Syracuse on a conditioning stint.  The stint can last for up to two weeks but he will remain on Tampa Bay’s active roster while on assignment.

The 23-year-old has played in 11 games for the Lightning this season but has only suited up twice over the past nine contests.  He has a goal and an assist in those outings along with 18 hits but is only averaging 8:49 of playing time per game.  Waiver-eligible for the first time this season, this assignment allows him to get a few games in with the Crunch where he can have a more prominent role in the lineup.

More from Tampa Bay:

  • There could be some good news on the horizon on the injury front as Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times provided updates on several players. First, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy won’t return on Saturday but could be an option to start on Monday against Florida.  He has missed a little more than a week with an undisclosed injury.  The hope was that he wouldn’t be out for long but he ultimately landed on IR to allow for Brandon Halverson’s recall.  Vasilevskiy has had a very strong start to the season with a 2.31 GAA and a .916 SV% in 19 starts so far.
  • Meanwhile, defenseman Ryan McDonagh did some individual skating drills as he works his way back from a leg injury that has kept him out for more than a month. Following practice, head coach Jon Cooper upgraded him to day-to-day.  The 36-year-old, who recently signed a three-year extension, has been his usual steady self when in the lineup, averaging over 20 minutes a night.  With Victor Hedman out long-term again, McDonagh nearing a return will be crucial for a back end that has been beaten up this season.
  • Lastly, rookie center Dominic James was a full participant in practice and could be an option to return on Saturday against the Islanders. If not, he should be back for Monday’s contest versus Florida.  The 23-year-old signed with Tampa Bay this past offseason after declining to sign with Chicago, who drafted him back in 2022.  After a good start in the minors, James was recalled less than two weeks into the season and has been up ever since.  He has five points in 18 games so far and has missed the last three games with an undisclosed injury.

Tampa Bay Lightning Make Multiple Roster Moves

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There are hardly any teams currently dealing with as many injuries as the Tampa Bay Lightning. Needing additional depth for their contest tonight against the New Jersey Devils, the Lightning announced they’ve recalled defenseman Declan Carlile and Steven Santini from the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch.

Additionally, Tampa Bay has swapped two players around its injured reserve, albeit an expected one. Erik Erlendsson of Lightning Insider reports that Tampa Bay has activated forward Dominic James from the injured reserve and placed defenseman Maxwell Crozier on it. 

After all the movement on the active roster, it leaves Tampa Bay with 13 forwards and eight defensemen available for tonight’s contest. It’s expected that one of Carlile or Santini will suit up tonight, though there’s no guarantee either defenseman will participate.

If Carlile plays, it’ll be his fifth career performance in the NHL. The former undrafted collegiate free agent is in his fifth season with the Lightning organization and has primarily played for the Crunch since the 2021-22 season.

For the first few years of his career, Carlile had been expected to put up between 20 and 30 points in the AHL with a relatively high +/-. However, this season, his offensive game has taken a significant jump, scoring two goals and 10 points in 15 games. He’s the highest-scoring defenseman on the team by a four-point margin and the fifth-highest scorer overall.

Meanwhile, Santini has far more NHL experience from his playing days, although it has been limited in recent years. Since the beginning of the 2019-20 campaign, Santini has appeared in 10 NHL games. Before then, from 2016 to 2019, Santini had suited up in 113 regular-season contests for the New Jersey Devils. He’s spent the last two years in the Lightning organization, scoring six goals and 21 points in 71 games.

Lightning Place Dominic James On Injured Reserve

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The Lightning have placed forward Dominic James on injured reserve, per Erik Erlendsson of Lightning Insider. He sustained an undisclosed injury in Saturday’s game against the Capitals. Thanks to Tampa’s light schedule, he’s only been ruled out for tomorrow’s game against the Rangers as a result of the backdated placement.

James and the Bolts hope it’s only a light interruption as he works through his first taste of NHL action. The 23-year-old pivot was a sixth-round pick by the Blackhawks in 2022 and spent four seasons at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, but he became a free agent this year on Aug. 15 after failing to come to terms on an entry-level deal with Chicago. He landed one from Tampa at the beginning of camp. He didn’t crack the opening night roster but got off to a hot start with AHL Syracuse, rattling off three goals and five points in his first four professional games. That earned him a recall to the Lightning’s roster in late October, and he’s stuck there for a few weeks now.

The injury is particularly tough timing as he was beginning to find his groove. After going without a point through his first seven games, James had a three-point effort, including his first NHL goal, in their 6-3 win over the Golden Knights on Nov. 6. He followed that up with an assist over the weekend before sustaining his injury. His last two showings leave him with a 1-3–4 scoring line through his first nine NHL games, averaging 12:46 of ice time per contest and going 46.4% on faceoffs.

James has gotten an extended look centering Tampa’s third line between Gage Goncalves and Oliver Bjorkstrand while Nick Paul remains on injured reserve following offseason surgery. The trio has been the Bolts’ best so far at controlling play at 5-on-5 with a 65.3% share of expected goals in 53 minutes together, according to MoneyPuck. With James out, veteran Yanni Gourde will get more consistent top-nine deployment.

Tampa Bay Lightning Recall Dominic James

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The Tampa Bay Lightning announced today that forward Dominic James has been recalled from their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.

James, 23, was originally a draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, selected in the sixth round, 173rd overall. The selection was made after James’ freshman season at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he scored six goals and 18 points in 39 games and helped the school win its third NCHC Tournament title.

After his freshman season, James quickly grew into a key player in Duluth. He was tied for the team lead in scoring as a sophomore with 28 points in 35 games. Although he missed almost all of 2023-24 after undergoing shoulder surgery, he rebounded very well in 2024-25. James led Duluth in scoring with 30 points in 35 games, and although the program didn’t reach the same highs they’d reached in his freshman season, James had nonetheless positioned himself well to earn an entry-level contract.

James signed a two-year entry-level deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning in September, and it’s possible he and/or his representatives (led by Wasserman’s Chris Lepkowski) felt James would have a clearer path to NHL action in Tampa Bay compared to Chicago. Had he signed in Chicago, James would have joined an organization with an extremely crowded prospect pool – they were recently ranked No. 5 in the NHL by EliteProspects. By contrast, the team at EliteProspects ranked the Lightning’s prospect pool last in the NHL.

While it’s impossible to say for sure what kind of opportunity to play in the NHL James would have received had he signed in Chicago at any point while his rights were held by the team, it’s clear that if his decision to sign in Tampa was indeed motivated by potentially seeing a fast-track to the NHL, James’ decision has been rewarded. This call-up is James’ first, and positions him to potentially make his NHL debut tomorrow against the Blackhawks.

James didn’t just earn this recall through his exemplary NCAA play, though, it’s his fast start to his first pro campaign that likely sealed the deal. James is currently tied for the Crunch’s team lead in scoring Jakob Pelletier, who is a 2019 first-round pick with 86 games of NHL experience. James has scored three goals and five points in four games, helping Syracuse to a strong 4-0-0 start. James’ performance in front of the Lightning coaches and executives during training camp and the preseason also likely helped his case. Per Natural Stat Trick, he registered two assists in four preseason games to go alongside 10 hits.

As for where James might play should he be dressed for tomorrow’s game, it’s possible he gets a look in the fourth-line left wing spot. According to team reporter Benjamin Pierce, Jack Finley and Curtis Douglas both got looks in that spot at practice today. While both Douglas and Finley have a size and strength advantage over James, the Lightning may turn to James for more of an offensive spark.

Lightning Sign Dominic James To Entry-Level Deal

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The Lightning have signed college free agent forward Dominic James to an entry-level contract, per a team press release. It’s a two-year deal for the 23-year-old, who was initially a Blackhawks draft pick but became an unrestricted free agent last month after failing to sign with them following his senior season at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

PuckPedia reports that the deal will carry a $910K cap hit and an AAV of $975K, breaking down as follows:

2025-26: $775K NHL salary, $97.5K signing bonus, $102.5K games played bonus
2026-27: $850K NHL salary, $97.5K signing bonus, $27.5K games played bonus

James, a sixth-round selection in the 2022 draft, had a strong showing for the Bulldogs in 2024-25 after losing most of his junior year to injury. He appeared in 35 games, serving as an alternate captain and leading the team in scoring with a 14-16–30 line. Those numbers brought him to 30 goals, 47 assists, and 77 points in 111 games for his collegiate career.

The Michigan native went undrafted twice before being selected by Chicago. In the 2021-22 campaign that preceded his selection, he worked his way onto the United States’ roster for the World Juniors, scoring one assist in five games at the tournament amid his freshman season in Duluth.

James wasn’t a huge loss for an already deep Blackhawks prospect pool. He didn’t check in as one of the top 15 names in the system to watch when Scott Wheeler of The Athletic did his last round of rankings in February. He could challenge as a top-10 or top-15 piece in a markedly weaker Tampa pool, though. He’s a significant addition for the club in that regard, especially after they lost a college free agent to the Avalanche when 2021 sixth-rounder Alex Gagne signed in Colorado a few weeks ago.

He’ll be ticketed to spend the year with the Bolts’ AHL affiliate in Syracuse. A midseason call-up wouldn’t be out of the question, but expecting him to compete for an NHL job – particularly after not starting camp with the Bolts – isn’t realistic.

Blackhawks Notes: James, Bedard, Sörensen, Brossoit

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It seems unlikely that the Chicago Blackhawks will sign one of their collegiate prospects to an entry-level deal. Relayed by Scott Powers of The Athletic, Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson shared in the team’s end-of-season press availability that prospect Dominic James will likely pursue other options for his professional career and become an unrestricted free agent on August 15th.

Normally, a former sixth-round draft pick becoming a collegiate free agent wouldn’t be newsworthy. However, James has established himself as a particularly capable two-way winger in the NCAA, possessing a defensive and offensive maturity that NHL teams would be interested in.

Although last year was mired by injury, James scored 30 goals and 77 points in 111 contests for the University of Minnesota-Duluth over the past four campaigns. He’s unlikely to earn a full-time role in the NHL out of training camp next year, but cleaner paths toward the NHL should emerge for him this offseason.

Other notes from Chicago:

  • Although he’s ineligible for unrestricted free agency for some time, the Blackhawks can sign Connor Bedard to a long-term extension on July 1st. It doesn’t sound like he’ll have any issues if that came to pass, as Ben Pope of The Chicago Sun-Times quoted Bedard saying, “I love it here, and I have a great relationship with Kyle and everyone… I know that I want to be here for a long time.” It wouldn’t be surprising, especially considering the past several years, to see a former first-overall selection sign an extension relatively quickly with the club that drafted him.
  • After another disappointing campaign, it’s understandable that Chicago would want to explore different coaching options this summer. Still, that doesn’t mean interim head coach Anders Sörensen wants to leave the organization. Pope reported that Sörensen is open to taking another role within the organization. Before being named the team’s interim head coach on December 5th, he served as head coach for the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs since 2022-23.
  • Despite being signed to a two-year, $6.6MM contract last summer, netminder Laurent Brossoit didn’t appear in a game for the Blackhawks this season due to injury. Still lacking clarity regarding the seriousness of his injury, Pope shared that Chicago was hopeful Brossoit “may” be healthy for next season, and could battle for a roster spot out of training camp. Regardless of Brossoit’s status, the Blackhawks already have their tandem for next year in Spencer Knight and Arvid Söderblom.

West Notes: Anhorn, James, Mangiapane, Danault

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The Jets have displayed interest in top college free agent defenseman Dylan Anhorn, Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press reports. The Canadian blue-liner has displayed mutual interest in returning north of the border after spending five years in the American collegiate system with Union and St. Cloud State. Anhorn, 25, was one of many who had their 2020-21 season lost due to the COVID pandemic, permitting him to play a fifth year of NCAA puck this season. Serving as St. Cloud’s captain, the left-shot defender led the team with 27 assists and a +14 rating and totaled 33 points in 38 games. He’s been a veritable force in college ever since making the jump from the BCHL in 2019, tallying 36 points and a +2 rating in 66 games with Union before transferring to St. Cloud in 2022. He erupted for over a point per game there last season but had his campaign stunted by injuries, limited to 23 games. The 6’0″, 190-lb Calgary native was St. Cloud’s nominee for this year’s Hobey Baker Award and won an NCHC championship with the school in 2023.

Elsewhere in the Western Conference:

  • Blackhawks forward prospect Dominic James will return to the University of Minnesota-Duluth for his senior season in 2024-25, per Scott Powers of The Athletic. The alternate captain of the Bulldogs had his season end all the way back in October after just two games, recording one assist before undergoing season-ending surgery to address an upper-body injury. Chicago had considered offering him an entry-level contract, per Powers, but a jump to the professional ranks would have been difficult after such a lengthy period away from the ice. James, 21, went undrafted twice before Chicago took a flyer on him in the sixth round of the 2022 draft after a banner freshman season with the Bulldogs. Finishing with six goals and 18 points in 39 games, James helped them capture the NCHC championship and was named to the All-Tournament Team. He was also named to the U.S. national junior team, representing his country at the 2022 World Juniors with an assist in five games.
  • Flames winger Andrew Mangiapane could return tomorrow against the Jets after a three-game absence, head coach Ryan Huska told Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960. The 27-year-old sustained an undisclosed injury against the Blackhawks on March 26, causing his third, fourth and fifth absences of the season. It’s been another season of solid middle-six production for the diminutive winger, tied for sixth on the team in scoring with 13 goals and 38 points in 69 games. He’s averaging 16:06 per game, down from last season’s career-high of 16:49.
  • Kings center Phillip Danault will again be a game-time decision with an upper-body injury tonight in a crucial game against the Kraken, interim head coach Jim Hiller told Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period. Their playoff chances could drop south of 90% with a loss, per MoneyPuck, opening a small window for the Blues and Wild to make miracle late-season runs into playoff position. Danault was also listed as a game-time decision for Monday’s 4-3 loss to Winnipeg but did not play. Their top shutdown center hasn’t played since March 28 against the Oilers and has now missed two contests.

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