The Tampa Bay Lightning have officially announced the signing of veteran forward Scott Sabourin, bringing an experienced player into their organizational depth chart. The club inked the 32-year-old to a one-year, two-way contract.
For those unfamiliar with the player, Scott Sabourin is a 6-foot-4, 207-pound right-shot forward who has carved out a lengthy professional career primarily in the American Hockey League (AHL), with intermittent appearances in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Last season, Sabourin spent the vast majority of his campaign with the San Jose Barracuda, the AHL affiliate of the Sharks. In 68 games, he registered 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points, notably serving as an alternate captain. His performance in the AHL suggests a role player capable of contributing secondary offense while providing veteran leadership.
His NHL exposure last season was limited to a single game with the San Jose Sharks, where he logged just over ten minutes of ice time without recording a point. This single appearance adds to a career NHL total that stands at 47 games across five seasons.
Sabourin`s NHL journey is quite the snapshot of a depth player`s path, featuring stints with the Ottawa Senators (on two separate occasions totaling 42 games), a blink-and-you-miss-it single game with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and his four games with the Sharks. Over these 47 NHL contests, he has accumulated two goals and six assists for eight points, alongside a plus/minus rating that reflects the challenging situations players in his role often face.
The bulk of his professional career has unfolded in the AHL, where Sabourin boasts an impressive 532 games played for no fewer than seven different franchises, including the Barracuda, Belleville Senators, Toronto Marlies, Stockton Heat, San Diego Gulls, Iowa Wild, Ontario Reign, and Manchester Monarchs. His AHL statistics—88 goals and 93 assists for 181 points—underscore his consistent contribution at that level.
An undrafted player, Sabourin originally signed his first professional contract, a three-year entry-level deal, with the Los Angeles Kings organization back in 2013. Perhaps one of the more memorable moments of his career for fans came during his NHL debut with the Senators in 2019 when he scored his first career goal on his very first NHL shot against the rival Maple Leafs. A debut certainly etched in highlight reels, if not followed by extensive NHL tenure.
What a Two-Way Contract Signifies
The one-year, two-way contract is a standard agreement for players like Sabourin. Technically, it allows the player to be paid different salaries depending on whether they are playing in the NHL or the AHL. For the team, it provides maximum flexibility, allowing them to move the player between the main roster and the minor league affiliate (in this case, the Syracuse Crunch) without clearing waivers, provided certain conditions are met.
Adding Depth to the System
For the Lightning, this signing represents a move to bolster organizational depth, particularly at the forward position. While Sabourin isn`t projected to crack the everyday NHL lineup out of training camp, he brings valuable experience, leadership, and a physical dimension that can be beneficial for the Syracuse Crunch. He serves as a reliable call-up option in case of injuries on the main roster, providing a veteran presence who understands the demands of professional hockey.
In the competitive landscape of the NHL, having seasoned players like Sabourin in the pipeline is crucial for maintaining a strong system from top to bottom. While not a headline-grabbing move, it`s a practical addition that provides the Lightning with options and experience within their forward group below the NHL level.
