With the Tampa Bay Lightning’s season over, general manager Julien Brisebois is focusing on re-signing as many free agents as he can before the start of free agency.
It was announced on May 16 that the Lightning have re-signed forward Mitchell Chaffee to a two-year contract worth $800,000 AAV. The deal is one-way, meaning that he’ll likely need waivers to be sent down to the American Hockey League (AHL).
A former Minnesota Wild prospect, Brisebois signed Chaffee to a one-year contract on July 1, 2023. Coming off of a major injury, the thought was that he could get back in shape and hone his skills with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. He did so well there, earning himself a call-up to the Lightning.
Once there, Chaffee proved to be a valuable addition to the bottom six. In 30 games, he scored four goals and added three assists for seven points. More than that, he was responsible in his own end, with a plus-2 rating that ranked fourth on the team.
Playing in all five Lightning playoff games against the Florida Panthers, Chaffee showed off the physical side of his game. His 23 hits were tied for the most among all forwards, a sign that he’s getting better as a player.
Moving forward, Chaffee has the security of knowing he’s remaining with the Lightning organization for a couple more years. During that time, he can continue taking steps toward establishing himself as an elite NHL player.
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