J.T. Brown went straight from his superb sophomore season with the University of Minnesota-Duluth to the Tampa Bay Lightning last season. After inking a two-year deal with the club he had an assist in five games to end the 2011-12 campaign.
Brown might have been able to make the team out of training camp this season, but the lockout cost him that opportunity and he went to AHL Syracuse as a result. Now it looks like he won’t be on the Lightning’s opening day roster even if the season is saved.
Syracuse coach Jon Cooper predicted that Brown had suffered a long-term injury after absorbing a hit from Norfolk’s Mat Clark during Friday’s contest, according to the Syracuse Post-Standard.
Now the team is reporting that he has a broken collarbone and needs surgery. Syracuse and the Lightning don’t have a timetable for his recovery at this time.
Brown has six goals and 17 points in 26 games this season.