Lightning Recall 6'4" Dominant Defenseman Conor Geekie From AHL
The Tampa Bay Lightning have called up top prospect Conor Geekie from AHL Syracuse, the team announced. The 20-year-old center is expected to make his return to the lineup in Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres. To remain salary-cap compliant, Tampa Bay reassigned winger Cam Atkinson to Syracuse in a corresponding move.Geekie, a 2022 first-round pick acquired from Utah in last summer’s Mikhail Sergachev trade, had been with the Lightning’s opening-night roster but saw his ice time decrease as the season progressed. After being sent down to the AHL in early February, he has thrived with Syracuse, tallying 11 goals and 9 assists (20 points) in 24 games—ranking third among active Crunch skaters in points per game (0.83). His strong play has earned him another NHL opportunity as the Lightning evaluate their lineup ahead of the playoffs.Though Geekie’s initial stint with Tampa Bay yielded modest production (6 goals, 6 assists in 49 games), he showed promise in a second-line role alongside Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli, averaging 12:09 of ice time per game. His physical play (8.67 hits per 60 minutes, fourth on the team) and solid possession metrics could make him a candidate to reclaim a top-six spot, potentially displacing Gage Goncalves, who has recently filled that role.Meanwhile, Atkinson continues to be a cap-related roster flexibility move. The 35-year-old winger, who cleared waivers in March, has been reassigned multiple times in recent weeks without actually joining Syracuse. He is expected to rejoin the Lightning for the playoffs. Atkinson has recorded 4 goals and 5 assists in 38 games this season after signing a one-year deal with Tampa Bay.Geekie, the organization’s top-ranked prospect per The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler, has positioned himself for a potential spot on next season’s opening-night roster with his combined NHL and AHL performance.Image - David Kirouac-Imagn...
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