could-the-lightning-dip-into-the-college-free-agent-market-again
Raw Charge
As a team that uses its higher picks to improve their current roster through trades instead of drafting prospects, the Tampa Bay Lightning often have to find alternative means to adding young talent to the organization. Be it through European free agents or undrafted college and junior players, the Bolts have been able to find a gem or three over the years. Another means, and one that played out pretty well last summer with Dominic James, is to sign a college player whose draft rights have expired.
<p>The August 15th date has come and gone, meaning there are a handful of players that are no longer bonded to the team that drafted them and are considered unrestricted free agents. While there were originally <a href="https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2026/08/list-of-expected-collegiate-free-agents.html">20 names on the list</a> some have signed AHL contracts and one, Mason Langenbrunner, has already announced his retirement from hockey, there are still a couple of intriguing names left on the list.</p>
<p>One that tops pretty much every list out there is Cruz Lucius. The 22-year-old was originally a fourth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins, but let them know earlier this year that he wouldn’t be signing with them. After two seasons at the University of Wisconsin the right-shot winger transferred to Arizona State. Injuries limited him to just 19 games in his first season. However, he bounced back last season to finish fourth in scoring in the NCAA with 46 points (15 goals, 31 assists) for the Sun Devils. </p>
<p>Expect him to sign a two-way deal at some point as several organizations should be interested, the Lightning among them. They have a dearth of right-shot forwards in their system and Lucius has enough offensive skill to warrant a look. There are some limits to his game at this point for the playmaker, but he already projects to be a productive AHL forward, and if he can improve his skating while simplifying his game a little he could take the next step. Sometimes his creativity gets the better of him, and as he steps up to the next level of competition he will have to learn what plays he can and cannot get away with. </p>
<p>Another name that popped up was Sutter Muzzatti, a big (6’6″) forward formally of the University of Notre Dame. His production was solid (13 goals, 19 assists in 37 games). He’s a decent skater for his size and is never going to back down from a post-whistle scrum. Could he be worth a look on a two-way deal? Sure, plus it would be a full circle moment as the fifth-round pick the Nashville Predators used to select him originally belonged to the Lightning and was part of the Tanner Jeannot deal. </p>
<p>The most interesting fit out there for the Lightning’s system probably goes to a former third-round pick of the New Jersey Devils – Samu Salminen. The Finnish forward capped off his college career by serving as an alternate captain for the NCAA champion University of Denver. In his second season with the Pioneers, Salminen finished with 29 points in 43 games. He was one of their top face-off performers. Through early March (when he was named the <a href="https://denverpioneers.com/news/2026/3/2/du-pioneers-hockey-samu-salminen-named-nchc-forward-of-the-week.">NCHC Player of the Week</a>) he led Denver with 308 face-off wins while grabbing an edge in 52.8% of his draws. </p>
<p>The Lightning could most definitely use some skill in the face-off dot in their system. The 23-year-old ticks all of the boxes that Tampa Bay looks for in their prospects. He is responsible in his own zone, plays a smart game, and has a little deception in his game. Is he the fleetest of skaters? No, but that has never deterred the Bolts from signing someone. They would also be familiar with his game as he was teammates with Hagen Burrows* the last two seasons.</p>
<p>If the Lightning do dip into the market, it’s very unlikely that anyone they sign has the impact that Dominic James had on the team last year. Then again, James wasn’t expected to join the Bolts either, so who knows? Even if they don’t go immediately to the top league, they can have an impact in the organization. It’s never a bad thing to add solid talent to the organization. </p>
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- <p>*It looks like Burrows won’t be teammates with Jack Pridham this year. The fourth-round pick is transferring to the University of Notre Dame next season. </p></p>
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