Max Crozier

August 2024 – In his second season with the Syracuse Crunch, Crozier has continued to improve. His continued development has not gone unnoticed, earning him a look with the Lightning, including a few playoff games. While Crozier was only seeing third pairing deployment with no special teams in his stint with the Lightning. It is nonetheless a good sign that the club is comfortable calling up the defensemen. Likely to start this year with the Crunch, he will be one of the first defensive call-ups whose hard work has earned him the increasing trust of the Lightning organization. He does not rack up a lot of hits or blocks; his value as a defenseman for fantasy comes from his playmaking and ability to generate SOG. With a good performance for the Crunch this year, Crozier may get some time with the Lightning. He is unlikely to get any favorable offensive deployment. He’s only viable in very deep leagues; the averages he’s put up in the NHL so far seem like the ranges we can expect of him in the future, too. Markus Roach

May 2023 – After wrapping up his NCAA career with Providence College, Crozier earned himself an entry level contract with the Lightning. He got his first taste of professional hockey with the Syracuse Crunch following the conclusion of his Senior season and appeared to hold his own just fine against the pro competition. He will likely spend the next season or two in the AHL with Syracuse but could earn a look with Tampa Bay if he continues to progress his game as he has. Wade Messier

June 2020 – Crozier’s freshman season at Providence College was by all accounts a success, as the young defenseman transitioned well to the pace of college hockey and was able to fill a top-four role on Providence’s blue line. In 33 games for the Friars, Crozier recorded four goals and 16 points, which placed him second on his team for defensemen in both categories. Crozier remains a strong two-way defenseman with a healthy dose of bite to his game and still owns upside as a potential NHL defenseman. Brandon Holmes

June 2019 – The Lightning selected second-year eligible defenseman Max Crozier in the fourth round of the 2019 Draft at 120th overall. Crozier spent his overage season with the Sioux Falls Stampede in 2018-2019, where he posted 10 goals and 43 points in 60 games played with a gaudy penalty minute total of 132 minutes. Crozier’s greatest asset is his skating ability; he’s quick and smooth on his edges which allows him to transition the puck and control gaps on attackers with ease. Not the biggest player at just 6’1”, 194 lbs, but loves to play with a physical bite to his game and is not afraid to lay the body on attackers to separate players from the puck and deny zone entries. Lacks the puck skills, at this time, to become a powerplay contributor at the pro level, but can pick up points with his ability to transition the puck and owns the upside to become a number four or five defensemen. Brandon Holmes