This former Philadelphia Flyers forward is in a good place to bounce back with his new club.
Back in June, the Philadelphia Flyers decided to buy out forward Cam Atkinson. The 35-year-old winger just had a tough 2023-24 season with the Flyers, posting 13 goals, 28 points, and a minus-22 rating in 70 games. This was the worst pace of production Atkinson has had in his 12-year career.
While it was a down year for Atkinson, he quickly found a new home in free agency, signing a one-year, $900,000 contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Riverside, Connecticut native will now look to turn things back around with his new club.
When looking at the Lightning's forward group, they may provide Atkinson with a great chance to bounce back. The Lightning's depth at right wing is not the strongest, and there is a spot to fight for on their second line because of it. Due to Atkinson's past offensive success, he is a clear candidate for a top-six spot on the Lightning. In addition, he should see time on their power play as well.
Cam Atkinson
© Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
If Atkinson impresses at camp and secures a second-line role, it would be an excellent opportunity for him. This would allow him to play with two impactful forwards in Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli. This, in turn, could help him get his offensive numbers back up.
Ultimately, Atkinson could end up being a good low-risk, high-reward signing for the Lightning if he gets his scoring touch back. It will be intriguing to see if he can successfully land a spot in Tampa Bay's top six from here.
