Dylan Duke signs NHL entry-level contract with Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed forward Dylan Duke to a three-year, entry-level contract that will kick in with the 2024-25 season.

Duke will complete the season on an amateur tryout contract with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch.

Duke is fresh off his junior campaign with the University of Michigan Wolverines, scoring a career-high 26 goals and 49 points in 41 games. Michigan lost out in the semifinals against Boston College this past Thursday, but the forward managed two goals and an assist to help the team reach the Frozen Four. Duke had an impressive 54 goals and 100 points in 123 games with Michigan, good for 12th in the NCAA for points over the past three years.

Duke spent two years with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, where he quickly made a name for himself as one of the team’s top point producers. He had 47 points in 46 games with the U-17 team, putting him third in team scoring behind Chaz Lucius and Sasha Pastujov, who finished with 50 points. Duke finished second the following year with 49 points in 50 games, while also skating in three games with the U-17 club.

The Bolts drafted Duke 126th overall in 2021. At the time, he wasn’t special in any specific category, but brought a decent mix of speed, hockey sense and physcality for someone standing at just 5-10. Since heading to college, Duke has ironed out his skills a bit to the point where scouts feel more confident in him being an NHLer in the long run, but he’ll need some extended time with Syracuse to catch up to speed.

The Lightning will host the Buffalo Sabres at Amalie Arena on Monday evening before finishing off the regular season against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. The Bolts clinched the first wild-card spot already and are currently slated to play the Boston Bruins in the first round.