After just one game with the Tampa Bay Lightning Conor Sheary was assigned back to the Syracuse Crunch, but with Anthony Cirelli’s status still in doubt for tomorrow’s game against the Detroit Red Wings, the Bolts recalled forward Dylan Duke. It’s the 21-year-old’s first NHL recall, and should Cirelli not be able to go, Duke would make his NHL debut.
Following a stellar career at the University of Michigan where he put up an even 100 points (54 goals, 46 assists) in 123 games for the Wolverines, Duke made his professional debut at the end of last season with the Syracuse Crunch. He appeared in three regular season games without a point and then put up two assists in five post-season games.
In 36 games, the Strongsville, Ohio native has put up 13 goals with 9 assists and hasn’t been out of place at all at the professional level. Injuries have kept him out of a handful of games, but when he’s on the ice, he’s usually one of the Crunch’s best players.
Duke’s game is not complicated. The 5’10”, 176 lb. forward gets in front of the net and makes things happen. He is no giant of a man, but he’s solidly built and hard to knock off of his skates. Tips, deflections, and rebounds is where he makes his living, but his other skills are a little underrated. He has pretty solid hands and can set up his linemates.
He was projected as a potential second-round pick in the 2021 draft, but fell to the fourth round where the Lightning were happy to grab him with the 126th pick. He joined a prospect-heavy Michigan team that included Matty Beniers, Kent Johnson, and Mackie Samoskevich, but still managed 19 points in 40 games as a freshman. Despite a seemingly endless stream of high draft picks joining him during his college career, Duke usually ended up as one of their top scorers.
The left-shot forward, who can play center and wing was ranked seventh in our most recent Top 25 Under 25, with the high ranking partly based on his ability to play up and down the ice. He’s not going to hurt a team in his own zone, and he has the knack for finding the open areas on offense.
Should Cirelli not be able to go, Duke should be able to plug in on the third or fourth line with Nick Paul moving up to take Cirelli’s spot. He’ll likely stay with the team through the weekend, and then be reassigned back to Syracuse once the 4 Nations Face-Off break begins.
