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      Tampa Bay Lightning re-sign Sean Day to one-year, two-way contract

      Day, 25, has spent most of his pro career in the AHL but played two NHL games in 2021-22.

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      The Tampa Bay Lightning are widely perceived to have the best development system in hockey. So when one of their players makes noise at the AHL level, it’s relevant; you never know when today’s Syracuse Crunch star becomes tomorrow’s major contributor for the Lightning at the NHL level.

      On Monday morning, the Bolts and GM Julien BriseBois announced a one-year, two-way contract extension for defenseman Sean Day, who first signed with the Lightning organization in 2020 and has spent the past three seasons toiling with the Crunch.

      Day, 25, is best known for making a splash in major junior as the fourth player and second defenseman ever to earn OHL exceptional status and compete as a 15-year-old, which he did in 2013-14, following the path of John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad and Connor McDavid before him. Day possessed significant potential as an offensive defenseman. By the time he reached his draft year of 2016, however, his prospect stock had fallen and he wound up slipping to the third round, where the New York Rangers took him 81st overall. Though he was raised by Canadian parents, he was born in Belgium and became the first Belgian-born player drafted to the NHL.

      In the Rangers system, Day bounced between the AHL and ECHL. He’s been more successful since joining the Lightning pipeline beginning in 2020-21. His most notworthy pro season to date came in 2021-22, when he compiled 40 points in 69 games with Syracuse and earned his first cup of coffee in the NHL, playing two games for the Lightning, during which he averaged 10:43 of ice time.

      Day had no goals and 14 points in 63 AHL games this season and played one game during the 2023 Calder Cup playoffs. He brings a heavy frame at 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds, but his offense has evaporated.

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