Duke determined to be part of winning culture with Lightning

TAMPA -- Dylan Duke saw a lot more familiar faces when he arrived at his second Tampa Bay Lightning development camp last month. One in particular was very familiar to the 20-year-old forward prospect -- his younger brother, defenseman prospect Tyler Duke.

For the most part Dylan Duke, selected by the Lightning in the fourth round (No. 126) in the 2021 NHL Draft, was a good brother. He made sure Tyler was in the right place and gave him some helpful advice. But during the scrimmages, Dylan had to remind him who the oldest was.

"Oh yeah, I had to work him over a little bit," Dylan Duke said. "But it was pretty cool to have him there."

Dylan Duke had a strong sophomore season at the University of Michigan, with 32 points (18 goals, 14 assists) in 41 games for a team that reached the NCAA Frozen Four for the second straight year. He saw great improvements in his overall game from his freshman season (19 points; 10 goals, nine assists in 41 games) and credits a lot of that to his time at development camp and the work he put in to improve his skating.

"They have two unbelievable skating coaches, Barb Underhill and Tracy Tutton, taking us through drills at the camp," Duke said. "Working with them over the past two summers has really helped me a lot. I felt much more comfortable with my skating in this camp. And I know it's just going to continue to get better."

With Duke (5-foot-10, 175 pounds) working to continue to improve his skating, he will head back to college for his junior season with his eyes on the weight room.

I have to continue to get stronger and more explosive," Duke said. "Going back to college is an opportunity to work on my strength all year. Those things go with the skating and it's going to help every part of my game."

Duke also had a chance to observe Tampa Bay all-star forwards Nikita Kucherov's and Brayden Point's offseason workouts.

"That was cool to watch them go through their summer programs and see the level that they practice," Duke said. "These are two of the best players in the world working on their craft in July and showing us the type dedication it takes to play in the NHL."

If Duke weren't motivated enough with the hopes of helping Michigan win a national title, the development camp provided him with even more fire that he will take back to Ann Arbor.

"We've been to the Frozen Four the past two years and lost in the semifinals both years," Duke said. "All of our hunger and energy is focused on getting back to the Frozen Four. When we're training in the summer we're thinking about getting there and ultimately winning the National Championship."

With the Lightning continuing to keep their core together for another run at the Stanley Cup, there is also excitement about the future, which Duke said he hopes to be an integral part of.

"I just want to be the best player I can be in college this year and help Michigan win a championship," Duke said. "There's a lot of work I still have to do and I am going to work at that so when the time comes for me to go to professional hockey I can be at my best and help the Lightning win some Stanley Cups."