Lightning Sign D-Man Prospect, Avoid Losing His Rights

With his draft rights about to expire, 2022 draft pick and right-shot defenseman Dyllan Gill has agreed to terms with the Tampa Bay Lightning on a 3-year entry-level deal. The 19-year-old would have re-entered the NHL Draft in June if the Bolts had not stepped up to the table.

NEWS: The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed D Dyllan Gill to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Gill was drafted in the 7th round (223rd overall) by the Lightning in the 2022 draft. This contract will begin in the 2024-25 season.#TBLightning #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/hfUoNWUUgZ
— The Bolt Report (@BoltReport_TB) May 22, 2024

The deal comes with a $870K cap hit, parsed out as $775,000 in base salary, plus a $95,000 signing bonus. Gill also has an $80,000 performance bonus in the pact based on games played. In the minors, his salary would be $82,500.

Pretty big Dyll if you ask us! pic.twitter.com/6dJKbNitHd
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) May 22, 2024

The 6'2", 200-pound defenseman was a 7th-round pick in 2022 by the Bolts, and he's played the last four seasons in the QMJHL with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. He followed up that 2022 selection with a tremendous season, showcasing his playmaking skills with 49 assists and 57 points in 68 games, to go with a plus/minus rating of +12. He had another six assists and seven points in five playoff games.

This past season was more difficult, however, as he sat out all but 12 games with an upper-body injury.

As a 20-year-old next season, he would be eligible to be sent to the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL, or Tampa could choose to have him spend an overage season back in junior.