Lightning re-sign enforcer Scott Sabourin to 1-year deal

The Lightning have re-signed top enforcer Scott Sabourin - who became a key figure when instilling a physical edge to this season's team - to a one-year, two-way contract Saturday. Financial terms weren't released.

Sabourin, who turns 34 in July, played in 26 games - his most at the NHL level since his rookie season in 2019-20 with Ottawa - and recorded a career-high 89 penalty minutes.

After Sabourin was signed to a one-year, two-way deal last July, the team was looking to get tougher following two straight playoff losses to Florida. He became a big part of the Lightning's evolution into a squad that refused to be pushed around and eventually earned a bully reputation late in the regular season and in the playoffs.

Sabourin was among six players recalled from Syracuse to play in the Lightning's final 2025-26 preseason game against the Panthers. He went after Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad on his first shift. Sabourin was the first of 16 players ejected that night and received a five-game suspension. But he also earned an NHL enforcer role as the season went on.

Sabourin recorded five fighting majors as the Lightning led the NHL with 44 and played in two games of Tampa Bay's seven-game, first-round playoff series against Montreal. He had one goal and four assists with a plus-1 ratio playing in a fourth-line role, averaging 7:57 of ice time a game.

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This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 4:33 PM.