The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed their final restricted free agent, inking Tye McGinn to a one-year, two-way contract. No financial details were released, but it would be surprising if he earned much more than the $650K minimum salary in the NHL. McGinn will be a unrestricted free agent next summer.
Drafted in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Flyers, McGinn has been a solid AHL player for several years. He played just 21 games with the Syracuse Crunch last season, but really made his mark in the playoffs by registering 16 points in 22 contests. The Crunch would ultimately fall to the Grand Rapids Griffins, but McGinn will likely return as a first line player once again.
In 89 career NHL games, McGinn has just 17 points. The big winger has a nose for the net, but lacks the high-end creativity and skill required to be an offensive player at the NHL level. He could play in a few games next year for the Lightning, but his role will likely be in Syracuse where he’ll try to help along some of the younger Tampa Bay prospects.