Tampa Bay Lightning Re-Assign Erik Condra, Adam Erne To Syracuse Crunch
The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-assigned forwards Erik Condra and Adam Erne to their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.
The Tampa Bay Lightning has been through hell the first half of the 2016-17 season. What started out looking like another successful run towards the postseason quickly spun out of control and turned into one of the most challenging seasons to date.
Unfortunately, a great deal of the chaos on the Lightning’s main roster this season has had a lot to do with the ridiculous amount of injuries the team has been forced to deal with as of late. Having no fewer than five of the team’s best players on the injured list at one time has wreaked havoc on the team’s chemistry.
Tampa Bay Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper has been trapped in a juggling war ever since the injuries started in an attempt to keep the team moving forward and, at the very least, maintaining the status quo. This has caused Coach Cooper to make a number of call-ups and reassignments in order to have a balanced line.
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Today being no different than any other day as of late, brings a whole new set of movements between the Tampa Bay Lightning and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. This time, we have two players headed back to the Crunch from the Lightning lineup.
According to Tampa Bay Lightning Beat Writer Bryan Burns, the Lightning have re-assigned both Erik Condra and Adam Erne to the Syracuse Crunch. Before anyone jumps to any conclusions about a player prepared to make a return, keep in mind, there are many reasons for a re-assignment to occur.
While everyone here in the Bolts Nation assuredly hopes for the most obvious reason to be the case, it could also be for nothing more than to get Adam Erne and Erik Condra some playing time instead of sitting on the sidelines awaiting the next Lightning game.
Adam Erne has been quite the asset for the Lightning in his short time on the main roster. While Erne has not yet made his way to the scoresheet in the four games he’s played this season with the Bolts, he has definitely been in the right place at the right time, using his size to his advantage, and helping make plays happen.
Erne is having a pretty good year with the Syracuse Crunch. In the 31 games he’s played so far this season, Erne has brought home eight goals and 10 assists for a total of 18 points. This places Adam Erne in fifth place on the team in overall points.
Erik Condra has four more games under his belt with the Tampa Bay Lightning this season, but much like Erne has not made his way to the scoresheet as of yet. At the same time, he’s having quite the season with the Syracuse Crunch.
Condra has played in 23 games so far this season with the Crunch. In that amount of time, Condra has been able to bring home seven goals and 16 assists for a total of 23 points. These numbers place Condra in a three-way tie for second place in assists and third place on the team in overall points.
The Tampa Bay Lightning has a huge challenge in front of them. If the Bolts have any hopes at all of making it to the postseason, something has to change immediately. The Lightning will get a chance to make said change on Thursday night as they make their way into the Amalie Arena to take on the Buffalo Sabres.
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It’ll be interesting to see how the team reacts after their painful 6-2 loss to the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. The team can definitely feel the pressure bearing down on them. What really matters is whether they rise to the challenge or fall flat in defeat.