In 2024 the Tampa Bay Lightning signed right-handed shooting forward Cam Atkinson to a one-year, $900,000 contact from the Philadelphia Flyers. The hope was that he would give a spark to their secondary scoring. However, the 36-year old underwhelmed in that department, scoring just four goals, recording five assists, nine points, and a -4 record through 39 games with the Lightning.
His 2024-25 stats are the lowest of his 13-season career between the Columbus Blue Jackets where he spent his first 10 seasons, the Philadelphia flyers (2021-24), and then this one season with Tampa Bay.
The Lightning placed Atkinson back on waivers in March after he struggled to find his offensive spark in Tampa Bay.
With a goal to improve their repertoire of forwards on the roster, they will be looking for playmakers, players who can add scoring value, and Atkinson’s numbers weren’t where the Lightning wanted them to be heading into the season.
According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, Atkinson will now hit the unrestricted free agent market when free agency opens in a week.
The Riverside, Connecticut native was drafted in 2008 in the 6th round by the Blue Jackets. Over the course of his 13-season career, the veteran has 253 goals scored, 236 assists, 489 points, and a career -11 record through 809 games between Columbus, Philadelphia, and Tampa Bay. He is a two-time all-star and a player who is able to make plays happen, as shown by his career stats, he was just unable to make anything happen in Tampa Bay and thus, the Lightning and Atkinson do appear likely to be parting ways come July 1st.
The Lightning will have the rest of the weekend and through Tuesday before Atkinson officially becomes free for teams to sign, but as it stands now, it is likely he will be moving on and testing the waters of signing with another club through free agency.