There may have been a little glimmer of hope that at least one injured defenseman (most likely Max Crozier) was feeling a little better as the Tampa Bay Lightning re-assigned Max Groshev to Syracuse on Thursday. However, it seems that is not the case as the team announced that, while Groshev was heading north, Simon Lundmark was heading west.
The 25-year-old joined the organization as a free agent this summer on a two-year, two-way contract after spending time with the Winnipeg Jets. He’s been a solid member of the Crunch’s defensive corps, appearing in 15 games and posting two assists. The right-handed shot will likely play the same role that Groshev did as a bit of an insurance plan as the Lightning roll through a three-games-in-five-days road trip.
If he does make it into a game, it’ll be his NHL debut after the former second-round pick logged 269 AHL games as well as 118 SHL games.
The Official Press Release:
TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled defenseman Simon Lundmark from the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League, Vice President and General Manager Julien BriseBois announced today.
Lundmark, 25, has played in 15 games with Syracuse this season, recording two assists and six penalty minutes with 19 shots on goal. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound defenseman has appeared in 269 career AHL games between the Crunch and Manitoba Moose, registering 16 goals and 64 points with 88 penalty minutes and three game-winning tallies.
Lundmark was originally drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the second round, 51st overall, of the 2019 NHL Draft. He signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent on July 1, 2025, and is looking to make his NHL debut.