Lightning’s Dominic James will make NHL debut Thursday against Blackhawks

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper told reporters Thursday that forward Dominic James will make his NHL debut against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The news comes one day after the Lightning recalled James from their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.

Through four games with the Crunch, James had three goals and two assists for five points. He signed with the Lightning last month, agreeing to terms on a two-year entry-level contract that will pay him an annual average value (AAV) of $910,000.

James, 23, was originally a sixth-round pick of the Blackhawks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, but Chicago did not sign him before last summer’s August deadline, making him an unrestricted free agent.

In 2024-25, James, a native of Plymouth, Mich., dressed for his senior season with the University of Minnesota-Duluth in the NCAA. He scored 14 goals and recorded 16 assists for 30 points in 35 games. Through four college seasons, James recorded 30 goals and 44 assists for 77 points in 111 career games.

Before committing to Minnesota-Duluth, James spent parts of three seasons in the USHL with the Lincoln Stars, scoring 14 goals and 34 assists for 48 points in 101 career regular-season games.

Internationally, James represented the U.S. at the 2022 World Junior Championships, recording one assist in five games.

The Lightning are 1-3-2 with four points through their first six games of the 2025-26 NHL regular season. They have lost three straight, including a 3-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets last Saturday.

After they face the Blackhawks on Thursday, Tampa will host a pair of Pacific Division opponents in the Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.