Lightning Sign Jansen Harkins

While the volume of signings has certainly slowed down from Wednesday, there are still some serviceable depth players looking for new homes.  One that is now off the market is forward Jansen Harkins as the Lightning announced that they’ve signed him to a one-year, two-way contract.  PuckPedia reports (Twitter link) that the deal pays $850K in the NHL, $250K in the AHL, and has a guaranteed payout of $400K.

The 29-year-old played in 44 games with Anaheim last season, notching three goals and five assists while recording 113 hits in 9:35 per night of ice time.  Harkins also missed time with a hand injury and another upper-body issue while he was a healthy scratch at times as well.

A second-round pick back in 2015, Harkins has yet to really establish himself as more than a depth player although he now has 305 career NHL appearances over parts of six seasons.  In those outings, he has 18 goals and 27 assists along with 409 hits.  Predominantly a winger now, Harkins has also won nearly 53% of his draws.

Harkins has had considerably more success offensively in the minors.  In 225 games at the AHL level, he has 62 goals and 99 assists but hasn’t seen action there since a brief stint back in the 2024-25 campaign.  The two-way provision suggests that Tampa Bay is hoping they’ll be able to sneak him through waivers to have him play a big role with AHL Syracuse.  He has been claimed once before, however, back in 2023, so making it to the minors won’t be a guarantee.  Accordingly, it’s also possible that Harkins breaks camp in a depth or reserve role on the Lightning’s roster.