While the Tampa Bay Lightning might be done filling out their roster for the 2024-25 season, their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, still could use a few more players on the roster. On Tuesday they added some defensive depth as they signed Tyson Feist to a one-year AHL contract.

We have signed defenseman Tyson Feist to a one-year AHL contract.https://t.co/WddBx4O88m

— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) July 30, 2024

Feist started last season with the Chicago Wolves before Syracuse acquired him for future considerations at the trade deadline to shore up a defense that, well, needed shoring up. He ended up playing in 10 games for the Crunch and picked up 2 assists. In 22 games with Chicago he had 1 goal and 4 assists.

Last year wasn’t the first go-round with Syracuse as he had appeared in 6 games with them during the 2022-23 season. He spent most of that year with Orlando in the ECHL where he had 16 points (5 goals, 11 assists) in 29 games.

Feist brings some depth and familiarity to the Crunch blueline in a season where there is going to be some growing pains as new players get to know each other. Based on a quick look at their roster, their depth chart looks something like this.

Outside of Carlile and Crozier, there isn’t a lot of experience playing in Joel Bouchard’s system. So bringing Feist in gives them another player that kind of knows what’s going on. that being said, he’s going to have to earn his playing time to avoid being on the shuttle back-and-forth to Orlando.