Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Maxwell Crozier. David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Lightning place rookie defenseman on injured reserve

Originally posted on Pro Hockey Rumors | By Gabriel Foley | Last updated Oct 17, 2025 6:10 PM ET

The Tampa Bay Lightning have placed rookie defenseman Maxwell Crozier on injured reserve, per Erik Erlendsson of Lightning Insider. The move is retroactive to Tuesday, which will force Crozier out of the lineup for at least two days.

Tampa Bay then used the vacant roster spot to recall Scott Sabourin from the minor leagues.

Maxwell Crozier suffered the injury on Tuesday

Crozier is bearing through an undisclosed injury after leaving the team’s Tuesday matchup against the Washington Capitals in the first period. He only played 4:27 in total ice time.

The injury was a hit of bad luck after the top Bolts rookie scored three points in his last two games. He was the productive motor of Tampa Bay’s bottom pair, next to third-year-pro Emil Martinsen Lilleberg.

#GoBolts placed D Max Crozier on IR, which is retroactive to Tuesday so he's out at least through the weekend. #TBLightning, who called up D Steven Santini earlier, have recalled F Scott Sabourin, who still must serve his four-game suspension at the NHL level. Tonight is Game 1
— Lightning Insider (@Erik_Erlendsson) October 17, 2025

We have recalled forward Scott Sabourin from the @SyracuseCrunch. https://t.co/pBuqVguknP
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) October 17, 2025

Crozier broke camp with the Lightning after posting 34 points and 75 penalty minutes in 52 AHL games last season. He entered this season with 18 games of NHL experience under his belt, though only two assists to go with it. That production set a low bar that Crozier has well cleared to start the season, making his injury timeline worth following closely.

Scott Sabourin rewarded for strong start in AHL

Tampa Bay will use Crozier’s IR placement to award Sabourin for a strong start in the AHL. He scored a point in each of the Syracuse Crunch’s two games to start the season. It’s a quick start, after Sabourin posted 25 points and 111 penalty minutes with the San Jose Barracuda last season.

He has played in 25 NHL games over the course of his career — stretched across stints with the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks. He’s scored 15 points in those appearances. Now, Sabourin could suit up for a fourth club, and offer Tamp a hotter stick than rookie Curtis Douglas, who is without a point through three games so far.

This article first appeared on Pro Hockey Rumors and was syndicated with permission.

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