Forward Jeff Costello was originally a bit of question mark for the Tampa Bay Lightning organization. He seemed to be a bit if a throw in player when the Lightning traded for defenseman Jason Garrison. Tampa Bay’s exclusivity rights to Costello expired on August 15, and assistant general manager Julien BriseBois originally said that the organization liked what they saw during the Lightning’s summer prospect camp in Brandon, Florida, but wasn’t quite ready to pull the trigger on signing the forward. The thought process was that Costello would be invited to the Lightning’s training camp in fall and the that brass would see from there whether they wanted to offer him a contract.
For whatever reason, that process has been skipped ahead, and the result is a pretty solid depth signing for Syracuse. Costello was signed to an AHL contract today, per the Syracuse Crunch:
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse Crunch have signed left wing Jeff Costello to a one-year, AHL contract Crunch General Manager Julien BriseBois announced today.
Costello, 23, recently completed a four-year career at the University of Notre Dame (Hockey East). As a captain during the 2013-14 season the winger posted 22 points (13g, 9a) in 40 games for the Irish. During his collegiate career Costello totaled 82 points (41g, 41a) in 145 games. A native of Milwaukee, Wis., Costello was drafted in the fifth round, 146th overall, of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators. The Lightning acquired the rights to Costello on June 27 as part of a trade with the Vancouver Canucks.
Costello earned a bit of a name for himself this past summer when he shattered the glass during the Lightning’s prospect camp. Costello was also a part of the winning team during that camp’s 3-on-3 tourney.
