The Tampa Bay Lightning have had their fair share of drafted college players choose not to sign with the organization. Cole Gutman, Sammy Walker, and Eamon Powell are three rather recent examples of players who felt their path to the NHL lay in a different direction. Now it appears that the tables have turned a bit, and the Lightning are taking advantage of a team’s draft rights expiring on a player. According to his personal Instagram account, University of Minnesota-Duluth forward Dominic James has signed with the Lightning. The team confirmed the signing this morning.
Originally drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the sixth-round of the 2022 draft, James spent four seasons with the Bulldogs, including the last two as an alternate captain. He led the team in scoring last season with 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists), four more than Lightning prospect Jayson Shaugabay. In his four seasons at UMD, James tallied 77 points (30 goals, 47 assists) in 111 games.
A shoulder injury early in his junior season cost him the entire year, but he returned for his senior year and put up career-best stats.
He’s not a prolific scorer, but he fits in with the Lightning model when it comes to prospects. He has a high work rate, is responsible in his own zone, and plays fairly physical. He’s not huge (6’0, 190 lbs.) but he plays a heavy game along the boards and on the forecheck. He grades out well in terms of skating and hockey awareness, but while his offensive game has improved at the college level, it still trends below what most prospects, even late-round ones, bring to an organization.
At 23-years-old he’s a little more developed than most prospects entering the Lightning’s system, but that also means there is less mystery about him. The Bolts know what they’re getting, and the organization should be better for having him in it. He’ll likely compete for a spot on the Crunch this fall, but could very well start the season in Orlando.
