Tampa Bay Lightning assign Cory Conacher to Syracuse Crunch
The Tampa Bay Lightning have assigned forward Cory Conacher to the Syracuse Crunch as they prepare to kick off their 25th Anniversary Season.
The moment we’ve all been waiting for is finally a mere matter of days away. In just four more days, the Tampa Bay Lightning will take the ice at the Amalie Arena to officially kick off their 25th Anniversary Season. Unfortunately, before the Bolts can officially kick things off, there is still a little team maintenance to be done.
Earlier this morning, Lightning Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman announced in a Press Release on the Lightning’s official site the team has assigned forward Cory Conacher to the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.
The now-27-year-old center played his first NHL game on January 19, 2013, as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning. In the 35 games he would play with the Lightning this season, he would score nine goals and 15 assists for a total of 24 points.
Tampa Bay Lightning
In a move which would shock a good portion of the Bolts Nation, Conacher was soon traded to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a largely untested goaltender named Ben Bishop. Needless to say, once Bishop started to remind Bolts fans of Stanley Cup Champion goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, the wound healed rather nicely.
In any case, Conacher would spend a season and a half with the Senators before he would find himself in a bit of a ping-pong match. Conacher would spend one season as a member of the Buffalo Sabres, the New York Islanders, and the Vancouver Canucks.
Conacher’s time with the Islanders and Canucks also involved him spending time with each team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and the Utica Comets, respectively.
After spending one season with SC Bern of the Swiss National League, Conacher would make his return to the place where it all started. On July 13, 2016, Cory Conacher would sign a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ironically enough, this was around the same time Ben Bishop would find himself headed to a new home, but that’s another story for another day.
In the 2016-17 season, Conacher would play a total of 11 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning. During this time, he would score a goal and three assists for a total of four points. Needless to say, his record with the Crunch last season is far more impressive than the time he spent here in the Sunshine State.
Cory Conacher brought home 17 goals and 43 assists for a total of 60 points in a total of 56 games. These numbers propelled Conacher to the first place spot on the team, alongside Crunch defenseman Matt Taormina, for overall points.
More From Bolts By The Bay: Tampa Bay Lightning To Retire The #4 of Former Captain Vincent Lecavalier
Conacher had a decent showing with the Lightning during the preseason, where he was able to bring home a total of two assists. Unfortunately for Conacher, the Tampa Bay Lightning is stacked to the roof with talent at the forward position, which means permanent spots in the Lightning lineup are very difficult to come by.
It may not seem like it, but there is an upside to the recent development in Conacher’s career. First of all, he will have the opportunity to get some solid ice time and make a real difference with the Syracuse Crunch. Secondly, if he plays the way he played last season, there is no doubt he’ll make an appearance on the Lightning roster in the coming season should someone at the forward position fall due to injury or illness.
Tampa Bay Lightning fans have a lot of expectations for the team in the coming season. After a disappointing end to last season, which culminated with the team’s failure to make the postseason, those here in the Bolts Nation are chomping at the bit to see their team make a return to the glory they once knew.
Next: J.T. Brown Has Not Ruled Out 'Taking A Knee' This Season
All the action kicks off in a couple of days. If there is anything we know for sure, it’s no self-respecting Tampa Bay Lightning fan will want to miss a single moment of the action as the Bolts take on their 25th Anniversary Season. Hopefully, the team’s passion will burn brightly enough for them to make their way to the big game.