Jakob Pelletier is getting another crack at the NHL, and this time, he’s hoping to make it stick.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled the 24-year-old winger from the Syracuse Crunch ahead of their matchup with the Columbus Blue Jackets. It’s a move that speaks to both Pelletier’s strong play in the AHL and Tampa Bay’s ongoing search for depth scoring as the season grinds on.
Pelletier has been lighting it up in Syracuse. Through 35 games, he’s notched 19 goals and racked up 41 points - numbers that lead the Crunch and have put him back on the radar for NHL minutes. It’s been a bounce-back campaign of sorts for the former first-round pick, who’s trying to carve out a consistent role in the big leagues after a few detours.
Originally selected 26th overall by the Calgary Flames in 2019, Pelletier came into the league with plenty of promise. But like a lot of young forwards, translating junior dominance into NHL production hasn’t come easy. After a stint with the Flames and a brief stop with the Flyers - who chose not to extend him a qualifying offer this past offseason - Pelletier signed with the Lightning as a free agent.
He’s only had one game in a Lightning sweater so far, logging just over six minutes of ice time back on November 15 against the Florida Panthers. No points, no major moments - but also, not much of a chance to show what he can do.
Now, with another opportunity in front of him, Pelletier will be looking to bring that AHL scoring touch up to the NHL level. He’s played 87 career NHL games to date, tallying 11 goals and 29 points. That kind of production suggests there’s still untapped potential - especially for a player who’s shown he can drive offense when given the right role.
For Tampa Bay, the recall is low-risk, high-upside. They’re a team that knows how to develop and utilize talent, and if Pelletier can find a rhythm, he could add a spark to their bottom six - or even push for more.
This is a player with pedigree, work ethic, and now, a little bit of urgency. The Lightning are giving him another look. The rest is up to him.