Earlier today, the Tampa Bay Lightning made public their re-signing of Declan Carlile, committing to a two-year, two-way deal. Carlile, a 24-year-old defenseman, joined the Lightning’s ranks on March 16, 2022, as an undrafted free agent following his collegiate career at Merrimack College. Since his acquisition, Carlile has amassed 140 regular-season appearances with the Lightning’s AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, tallying 16 goals and 54 points alongside an impressive plus-40 rating.
In the previous season, Carlile featured in 61 games for the Crunch, contributing 27 points (7 goals, 20 assists). Notably, his 20 assists marked a personal best. Among the team’s defensemen, he shared the lead in goals and ranked second in assists and plus/minus with a plus-10. During the Calder Cup Playoffs, Carlile participated in eight games, registering one goal and four assists, placing him third in points among all Crunch skaters. Carlile’s NHL debut with the Lightning occurred on January 4, 2024, versus the Minnesota Wild, where he showcased solid defensive play with two shot blocks, one hit, and a plus-one rating in 11:27 of ice time.
We have re-signed defenseman Declan Carlile to a two-year, two-way contract. 👏
📝: https://t.co/FmGhNOTBUu pic.twitter.com/jMjYvBWZxB
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) June 6, 2024
Before transitioning to the professional hockey realm, Carlile left a significant mark on Merrimack College’s program. Across three seasons at the collegiate level, he featured in 83 games, amassing 43 assists and 56 points. Carlile’s freshman year was particularly notable, earning him recognition on the NCAA Hockey East All-Rookie Team and as a finalist for the NCAA Hockey East Rookie of the Year award. Subsequently, during his sophomore and junior campaigns, he garnered nominations for the NCAA Hobey Baker Award, recognizing the top collegiate player, in addition to landing spots on the NCAA Hockey East Second All-Star Team. Furthermore, in his junior season, Carlile was a semifinalist for the NCAA Walter Brown Award, recognizing the best American-born college player in New England.
