‘It just clicked’: D’Astous, James band together through NHL emergence for Lightning | Tampa Bay Lightning
They don’t have to travel far off the ice to see one another, either. D’Astous and James live two doors down from one another in Tampa, and both players enjoy having a familiar face nearby.
“It’s kind of funny. We were in Syracuse before we got called up and were like, it would be nice if we could get called up and play in Tampa together, and then a couple days later we both got called up and got a chance,” D’Astous said. “So, yeah, I think we’re both helping each other. We’re both in the same situation, first season in the NHL, so it’s nice to have someone to lean on and to help me, and I’m helping him, too.
“It’s been huge for both of us, I think.”
They had never met before Lightning training camp this fall, with James spending the last several years playing collegiate hockey while D’Astous was playing in Europe.
It didn’t take long, though, for their friendship to form.
“We got to meet at camp, and I don’t know,” D’Astous said. “Just a good connection and it clicked, and we’ve been good friends since that.”
And after getting his first NHL goal last month, the Lightning defender knows that James’s first tally is just around the corner. James has hit the goalpost already and helped create numerous offensive chances and goals for the Lightning.
“He’s such a good skater, and he creates so much space for him and his line,” D’Astous said of James. “I think the last couple of games they’ve had great chances, and I’m sure it’s gonna come. They’ve been doing really good, so I think it’s just a question of time.”
Whenever James’s first NHL goal arrives, he might be the second-happiest person in the building behind his newfound friend.
“You could tell he was really happy for me, and I’m gonna be the same when his first goal comes,” D’Astous said. “It feels good to have someone that is that happy for you…I’m gonna have the same reaction that he did, but I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be a big moment for him, too.”
