The Lightning on Friday signed restricted free-agent defenseman Max Crozier to a three-year deal worth an average annual value of $775,000.
The signing sets the stage for Crozier, 25, to compete for a regular role in the Lighting’s lineup next season. The deal is a two-way contract for 2025-26 but becomes a one-way deal for the final two years, suggesting the team expects Crozier to be a blueline regular by then, if not sooner.
The right-shot defenseman has 18 NHL regular season games under his belt, including five with the Lightning this past season. He was called up during the first-round playoff series against the Panthers but did not play.
Crozier just finished his second full season at AHL Syracuse, where he set career highs with nine goals and 34 points in 52 games. His plus-16 led all Crunch players.
Crozier, who was an arbitration-eligible RFA, could wind up replacing right-shot defenseman Nick Perbix, who will become an unrestricted free agent if unsigned by July 1. That could reunite Crozier with left-shot defenseman Emil Lilleberg.
The two paired at Syracuse two seasons ago in their first North American pro season. They developed impressive chemistry together in the AHL and played briefly together with the Lightning.
Crozier’s strength has been his ability to manage the puck and get it quickly out of the defensive zone. He was second among Syracuse defensemen with 0.65 points per game and scored three power-play goals, potentially giving the Lightning another right-shot defenseman option on the power play to go along with Darren Raddysh.
Tampa Bay’s only remaining arbitration-eligible restricted free agent is forward Gage Goncalves, who is arbitration-eligible.
