Contract Status

Despite indications earlier in the week that the two sides were far apart on an agreement, the Norfolk Admirals announced today they have signed defenseman Dane Crowley to an ATO contract. Crowley was selected by the Lightning in the 6th round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and recently completed his final season of junior hockey with Everett of the WHL. Crowley had 10 goals and 29 points to go with 131 penalty minutes in 66 games with the Silvertips this season.

After signing forward Dana Tyrell (Prince George - WHL), center Jamie Bates (Quinnipac University), defenseman Sean Hurley (Brown University), and center Andrew Fournier (Plymouth - OHL), whl.ca is reporting the Norfolk Admirals have signed Brandon Wheat Kings defenseman Daryl Boyle to an Amateur Tryout Agreement.

A 21-year old Lethbridge, Alberta product, Boyle's Western Hockey League career came to an end Sunday night when the Wheat Kings fell 4-0 in game six of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series with Lightning prospect Mitch Fadden and the Hurricanes.

In a 4-year WHL career, Boyle, a 6-1, 202-pound rearguard, scored 31 goals and 131 points in 262 games for the Wheat Kings. In 47 playoff games, he had three goals and 17 points. During the club's first round series against Lethbridge, the club's 2007-08 Most Valuable Player led the Wheat Kings in scoring with a goal and six points.

In 61 games this season Boyle had 10 goals and 41 points, as well as a plus-16 rating and 74 penalty minutes. He had 49 points and a plus-19 rating in 72 games in 2006-2007.

One interesting fact to back-up the character-first philosophy: Boyle, Fournier, Bates, and Hurley all were captains of their respective clubs this past season. Tyrell, the only Lightning draftee of the bunch, was an alternate captain and is expected to be Prince George's leader next year.

The last couple of years I've from time to time dabbled in trying to predict the future in terms of contract movement inside the organization in this post I like to call In, Out, and Up. This year is probably the most difficult of all to get a read on because of several non-contract members of the minor league affiliate in Norfolk making such strong pushes for contracts and uncertainty at the forward position at the top level in Tampa. Still, here are my best guesses on who gets into the organization, who gets kicked out, and who makes it up to Tampa Bay.

Norfolk Admirals General Manager Claude Loiselle today announced that the Admirals have signed center Dana Tyrell (DAYN-uh tigh-REHL) and defenseman Sean Hurley to Amateur Tryout Contracts (ATO). Both are expected to be in the lineup tonight at Scope against the Lowell Devils, with Tyrell wearing number 49 and Hurley wearing number 4.

Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune is reporting on his blog that defenseman Dan Boyle has been re-signed to a 6 year, $40 million dollar deal.