Former Chicago Blackhawks defenseman inks deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning organization

The 33-year-old blueliner comes in looking to re-establish himself following knee surgery over the summer.

Just six days ago, we reported that Tinordi sought an NHL comeback.

While it may not be in the NHL right now, he's in need of some conditioning before making the jump.

Tinordi skated in 30 games last season with the Calgary Wranglers, where he recorded one goal, four assists, and a plus-5 rating before his injury cut the campaign short.

His 2023-24 season with the Chicago Blackhawks featured nine assists in 52 games, showing he still has some jump in his stride.

This move locks Tinordi into the AHL for now, meaning he isn't eligible for an NHL call-up unless he lands a new two-way deal.

Crunch fans might welcome a big, experienced, defense-first body like Tinordi. At 6′6″ and 230 pounds, he brings size and experience-the kind of presence that can solidify a defensive pair and survive heavy minutes in the AHL grind.

His career totals include 205 NHL games, 30 points (4 goals and 26 assists), and over 234 penalty minutes across six teams.

It's always a bit of a grind when a player tries to revive an NHL-adjacent career. For Tinordi, this chance with Syracuse might be the reset he needs to show he can still compete. If he delivers strong, steady defensive minutes, the Crunch-and perhaps his former NHL club, the Tampa Bay Lightning-could take notice.

I'm curious to see whether Tinordi's size and experience translate to impact in Syracuse's defensive corps.