Forward Gabriel Dumont has re-signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the next two seasons. Like Cory Conacher, who was also re-signed earlier today, the first year of the contract is one-way while the second year is a two-way. He will earn $650,000 whether he plays in the NHL or AHL during the first year of his contract. He will earn $650,000 while in the NHL and a lower rate in the AHL during the second year.
Dumont, 26, skated in 39 games with the Lightning this past season, netting two goals and four points. He scored his first goal as a Bolt on February 7 against the Los Angeles Kings. He also appeared in 20 games with the Crunch during the regular season, recording five goals and 10 points. Before signing with the Lightning organization last summer, he spent 7 seasons within the Montreal Canadiens organization.
Dumont was a large part of the Crunch’s leadership group during both the regular season and during the playoffs. The former captain of the St. John’s IceCaps was an alternate captain for the Crunch, serving alongside captains Luke Witkowski and Erik Condra and alternate captain Matt Taormina (among others, as players came and went).
The leadership core received a lot of credit during the playoffs for their calming influence, and where Dumont shined the most was during Syracuse’s playoff run to the Calder Cup finals. Dumont skated in 22 playoff games with the Crunch, registering five goals and 11 points. Dumont came up clutch for Syracuse on several occasions during the playoffs. His two most notable goals over all four rounds were during the game 7 victory in the second round versus Toronto, where Dumont started off the scoring for the Crunch, and during game 4 of the first round vs. Dumont’s old team, St. John’s. In the latter game, Dumont scored at the 2:18 mark of overtime, sending Syracuse onto the second round with his goal.
This depth signing is an exciting one. Depending on where he slots in, he’ll either be a solid presence on the Bolts’ fourth line or a top-six with the Crunch. if assigned to Syracuse, his veteran presence will be huge with many young rookies set to join the Crunch this season. Exactly like Conacher, if Condra doesn’t return to Syracuse, Dumont would certainly be a candidate to wear the C.
