On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Lightning assigned three players to the Syracuse Crunch. Forwards Mitchell Chaffee and Waltteri Merelä along with defenseman Max Crozier. With the Lightning off until February 7th it makes sense that they sent the trio down to their AHL affiliate so that they can get some playing time as the Crunch have three games before the Lightning return to action.
It is interesting to note that Emil Lilleberg, who was also waivers exempt, was kept in Tampa. This is the second time the Lightning have had a break where they could re-assign the 22-year-old but chose not to.