Tampa Bay Lightning Recall Byron Froese From Syracuse Crunch
In light of the plethora of recent injuries to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s offensive core, the Lightning has recalled forward Byron Froese from the Syracuse Crunch.
The Tampa Bay Lightning is preparing to take on a momentous challenge tonight in the Big Apple. The Lightning is set to take on the New York Rangers for the third and final time, tonight at Madison Square Garden. Just 24 hours later, the Bolts will head north to take on the Ottawa Senators.
As many Lightning fans know by now, the Bolts have been forced to deal with yet another string of ridiculous injuries to their offensive core. The Bolts lost centers Vladislav Namestnikov, Tyler Johnson and Cedric Paquette all in the course of one 60 minute game against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night.
Obviously, even if the Lightning is able to get one of the three back into the lineup tonight, they will still need a little help up front if they want to emerge victoriously in the first game of their back-to-back series. In other words, the Lightning needs to make a move, and fast.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Thankfully, it seems as if the Tampa Bay Lightning is on top of things. The Tampa Bay Lightning announced earlier this morning the team has made the call to their American Hockey League affiliate to recall forward Byron Froese from the Syracuse Crunch.
For those of you unfamiliar with the new name, Byron Froese, who pronounces his last name “Frayz”, Froese was acquired at the NHL Trade Deadline from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for the one and only Brian Boyle. While we’re pretty sure there was no one here in the Bolts Nation ready to part with Brian Boyle, Byron Froese was a heck of an acquisition.
Before making his way to the Tampa Bay Lightning earlier this month, the 26-year-old Canadian center had an opportunity to play in 48 games with the Maple Leafs AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. In this amount of time, Froese was able to score a whopping 24 goals and 15 assists for a total of 39 points.
Since being with the Syracuse Crunch, Froese has added another two goals and an assist for a total of three points in a mere two games. Combined, these numbers place Byron Froese in third place in the American Hockey League in goals scored.
Another thing Froese brings to the lineup is NHL experience. Unlike some of the other prospects in the Tampa Bay Lightning system right now, Froese has more than a little experience at the NHL level. In the 2015-16 season, Froese played in 56 games with the Maple Leafs. In his first season in the NHL, Froese scored two goals and three assists for a total of five points.
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The Tampa Bay Lightning has quite a hefty task in front of them. Playing in a back-to-back series is hard enough as it is, but with the pressure being on at this point in the season, it means every move could prove to be your last. Hopefully, with the addition of players like Froese, the Lightning will be able to get the upper hand and finally bring home a victory over the Blueshirts from the Big Apple.