The Tampa Bay Lightning have officially announced the signing of forward Scott Sabourin to a one-year, two-way contract. This agreement provides the Lightning organization with additional depth, particularly for their American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.
Sabourin, a 32-year-old veteran known for a straightforward, physical style, spent the majority of the previous season with the San Jose Barracuda, the AHL affiliate of the San Jose Sharks. In 68 games with the Barracuda, he registered 10 goals and 25 points while serving as an alternate captain, indicating a role beyond just physicality.
His NHL exposure last season was limited to a single game with the Sharks, where he logged just over 10 minutes of ice time. Across five NHL seasons, Sabourin has appeared in a total of 47 games split between the Ottawa Senators (42 games across two stints), the Toronto Maple Leafs (one game — a brief, almost comical footnote in a long career), and the San Jose Sharks (four games). His accumulated NHL statistics stand at two goals and eight points, reflecting a role that emphasizes factors beyond scoring.
Sabourin`s professional trajectory has largely unfolded in the AHL, where he boasts an extensive resume spanning 532 games with numerous clubs. His travels have taken him through organizations such as the Barracuda, Belleville Senators, Toronto Marlies, Stockton Heat, San Diego Gulls, Iowa Wild, Ontario Reign, and Manchester Monarchs. During his lengthy AHL tenure, he has accumulated 88 goals and 181 points, establishing himself as a consistent, reliable professional at that level.
An undrafted free agent, Sabourin initially signed an entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings back in 2013. He later made his NHL debut with the Ottawa Senators in 2019 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, achieving a notable milestone by scoring his first career goal on his inaugural NHL shot. It`s a small detail, perhaps, but a memorable one in a career built on persistence rather than pedigree.
The one-year, two-way contract structure signifies that Sabourin is primarily expected to contribute his experience and physical presence to the Syracuse Crunch roster. His substantial AHL background, coupled with his recent alternate captaincy, makes him a valuable addition for providing veteran leadership, mentoring younger players, and ensuring the Crunch maintain a competitive and professional environment. While not anticipated to be a regular fixture on the Lightning`s NHL roster, his signing offers the organization a seasoned call-up option who is familiar with the demands of professional hockey and can step into a depth role if injuries or other circumstances necessitate. This type of signing is a pragmatic, low-risk move common for teams seeking reliable organizational depth.
Sabourin`s arrival provides the Lightning organization with experienced support on a flexible contract, reinforcing their depth chart from the AHL upward and adding a proven professional presence to the Syracuse roster, ensuring stability and experience is available throughout the system.
Ellis Thorne 
Percy Harlow