With Max Crozier sidelined after sustaining an undisclosed injury in the Tampa Bay Lightning’s game against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, it appears they have recalled Steven Santini from the Syracuse Crunch to serve as their seventh defenseman. The was spotted on the ice during the team’s optional skate prior to their game against the Detroit Red Wings.
Roster move: The #GoBolts have recalled defenseman Steven Santini from AHL Syracuse.
— Benjamin Pierce (@boltsben.bsky.social) October 17, 2025 at 11:31 AM
After signing a one-year deal with the Lightning in the summer of 2024, Santini spent the majority of the season with the Syracuse Crunch, posting 17 points (6 goals, 11 assists) in 58 games. He appeared in one game with the Lightning, an 8-3 victory over the Calgary Flames where the Boston College product logged 11:37 of ice time, blocking two shots and landing a hit.
The 30-year-old right-handed shot signed a two-year deal to stay in the organization this past summer, and was named the Syracuse Crunch’s captain just prior to the season starting. Santini does have 124 games of NHL experience, mostly with the Devils (114 games), over his eight-year career. He’ll likely serve as the seventh defensemen, with Darren Raddysh rotating back into the line-up to pair with Emil Lilleberg.
It’s unfortunate that Crozier, who has three assists on the season, is missing time. The 25-year-old rookie was playing well in his first full time role in the NHL, averaging 13:07 of ice time. It’s unclear how long he’ll miss. Coach Cooper summed it up as, “more than day-to-day, hopefully less than week-to-week”.
Like his status, the team is being even more vague than usual, as they haven’t even classified it as lower-body or upper-body. Crozier did fall awkwardly in the first period of the game on Tuesday, as he appeared to catch a rut in the ice.
Max Crozier played a couple of shifts after this, but is this when he got hurt? pic.twitter.com/2pdBGntczf
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) October 15, 2025
There were some encouraging signs on the injury front for the Lightning as both Zemgus Girgensons and Nick Paul were on the ice. Paul skated prior to the morning practice yesterday, but it still looks like he won’t be back in action until some time in November. There is no time table for Girgensons, but he was at the morning skate for the first time since suffering his injury in the pre-season game against the Florida Panthers.
Update!
The Lightning have announced the recall. They also recalled forward Scott Sabourin. He’ll start serving his four-game suspension.
