As expected, the Tampa Bay Lightning have signed Jake Dotchin to a two-year contract worth $1.625MM. The average salary of just over $812K is a bargain for a player expected to play a big role for the Lightning this year.
Dotchin made quite an impact in 2016-17, coming up from the Syracuse Crunch to play 35 games for the Lightning in the second half of the season. Recording 11 points in that time, he climbed up the lineup and even played with Victor Hedman at times. While he can cross the line at times—Dotchin is well-known in Toronto circles as the player who injured Kasperi Kapanen, kneed Auston Matthews and received a suspension for injuring Frederik Gauthier in the AHL playoffs—he is also a very effective two-way defender that should be a big part of the Lightning blueline for a long time.
The best part for Tampa Bay might be Dotchin’s handedness, as Hedman and youngsters Slater Koekkoek and Mikhail Sergachev are all left-handed. Dotchin will join Anton Stralman and Dan Girardi on the right side full-time this season.
Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times was first to report the signing was close yesterday.