The Tampa Bay Lightning have officially inked forward Scott Sabourin to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal, announced by the club, brings an experienced depth player into the organization.
At 32 years old, Sabourin arrives in Tampa Bay following a season primarily spent with the San Jose Sharks` AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. While serving as an alternate captain, the rugged forward appeared in 68 games, tallying 10 goals and 25 points – solid production at the minor league level.
His NHL exposure last season was limited to a single game with the Sharks, registering no points in just over 10 minutes of ice time. This brief appearance is somewhat characteristic of his NHL career to date.
Standing six-foot-four and weighing in at 207 pounds, Sabourin is known more for his physical game than his offensive output at the highest level. Across parts of five NHL seasons, he has played a total of 47 games, split between the Ottawa Senators (in two separate stints), Toronto Maple Leafs, and San Jose Sharks. His NHL statistics stand at two goals and eight points, accompanied by a cumulative minus-10 rating. It`s perhaps a testament to perseverance that one of those goals famously came on his very first NHL shot during his debut with Ottawa against Toronto in 2019.
Sabourin`s professional journey has largely unfolded in the American Hockey League, where he has accumulated extensive experience. With 532 AHL games under his belt across numerous teams – including Belleville, Toronto (Marlies), Stockton, San Diego, Iowa, Ontario, and Manchester, in addition to San Jose – he has consistently contributed, posting 88 goals and 181 points. His path to professional hockey is also notable as he was originally undrafted, signing his first entry-level deal with the Los Angeles Kings back in 2013.
The one-year, two-way nature of this contract provides the Lightning with flexibility. Sabourin is a likely candidate to report to the Syracuse Crunch, Tampa Bay`s AHL affiliate. There, his veteran presence and physical style can offer leadership and depth, potentially providing an option for an NHL call-up should the need arise for a specific, grinding role. While not a move designed to headline the offseason, it`s a calculated addition to fortify the organizational pipeline with a known quantity who understands the demands of professional hockey.
