The Tampa Bay Lightning have had their fair share of drafted college players choose not to sign with the organization. Cole Gutman, Sammy Walker, and Eamon Powell are three rather recent examples of players who felt their path to the NHL lay in a different direction. Now it appears that the tables have turned a bit, and the Lightning are taking advantage of a team’s draft rights expiring on a player. According to his personal Instagram account, University of Minnesota-Duluth forward Dominic James has signed with the Lightning. The team confirmed the signing this morning.
Originally drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the sixth-round of the 2022 draft, James spent four seasons with the Bulldogs, including the last two as an alternate captain.