Jon Cooper and the Tampa Bay Lightning made an unexpected announcement on Wednesday, confirming that they have loaned forwards Logan Brown and Cam Atkinson to the Syracuse Crunch. The move follows both players clearing waivers.
Atkinson, who joined the Lightning during the off-season, has spent the entire season in the NHL, registering three goals and five assists for a total of eight points in 37 games. A sixth-round pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2008 NHL Draft, Atkinson has played 807 career regular season NHL games across 13 seasons with the Blue Jackets, Lightning, and Philadelphia Flyers. His last appearance in the AHL was during the 2012-13 season, when he played 33 games for the Springfield Falcons.
Brown, in his first year with the Lightning, has been in the AHL all season, recording seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points in 25 games. Drafted in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft by the Ottawa Senators, Brown hasn’t appeared in an NHL game since the 2022-23 season with the St. Louis Blues, accumulating 26 points in 99 career NHL games.
With the Lightning acquiring Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand on Wednesday, both Brown and Atkinson could face challenges in securing NHL ice time. However, should injuries arise, the team can count on them to step in and contribute.
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