Former Lightning Forward Still In Search Of A Contract

Former Tampa Bay Lightning forward Cam Atkinson is still searching for a contract this off-season.

Cam Atkinson, the former Tampa Bay Lightning forward, is currently an unrestricted free agent. His most recent contract—a one-year, $900,000 deal with Tampa Bay—expired at the end of the 2024–25 season. Atkinson, now 36 years old, is still searching for a new team this off-season.

The 36-year-old was brought into the organization on a one-year deal with the hopes that he could bring additional scoring to the Lightning lineup. Their hopes faltered as Atkinson struggled to find his footing, scoring four goals and nine points in 36 games. 

With a large enough sample size, the Lightning realized that Atkinson wasn't going to be able to contribute at a high level, placing him on waivers on March. 4. He was recalled and sent down on multiple occasions following the waivers' placement, but never played any games with the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL. 

Prior to joining the Lightning, Atkinson played 10 seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets and three with the Philadelphia Flyers, although he missed the entirety of the 2022-23 season. His best years were with the Blue Jackets, scoring a career-high 41 goals and 69 points in the 2018-19 season, when the Blue Jackets infamously swept the Lightning in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

A few days before the start of free agency, GM Julien BriseBois spoke to the media, stating that Atkinson, alongside Nic Perbix and Luke Glendenning, would be hitting the free agent market. Perbix has signed with the Nashville Predators, and Glendenning also remains without a contract. 

At the moment, neither Atkinson nor Glendenning has garnered much interest in the free agent market, but they are strong candidates to receive professional try-outs when training camp and pre-season roll around.