2010 Lightning Unsigned Free Agents

PLAYER NAME Type Age POS
Mark Parrish UFA 33 Right Wing
Stephane Veilleux UFA 28 Left Wing
Paul Ranger RFA 25 Defense

2010 Lightning Free Agent Signings

PLAYER NAME Age P LENGTH CAP NO.
Martin St. Louis 35 R 4 years $5,625,000
Pavel Kubina 33 D 2 years $3,850,000
Steve Downie 23 R 2 years $1,850,000
Dan Ellis 30 G 2 years $1,500,000
Brett Clark 33 D 2 years $1,500,000

2010 Lightning NHL Entry Draft

RND PICK PLAYER NAME POS HT WT
1 6 Brett Connolly R 6.02 191
3 63 Brock Beukeboom D 6.01 200
3 66 Radko Gudas D 6.00 202
3 72 Adam Janosik D 6.00 179
4 96 Geoffrey Schemitsch D 6.02 185

Smolenak Speaks About Jump to Europe

Submitted by timothy on June 8, 2009 - 09:27

Lightning forward prospect Radek Smolenak discusses his decision to jump to the KHL next season instead of resigning with the Lightning organization in a story on the Czech hockey site hoke.cz

Loosely translated, Smolenak admitted his decision to accept an offer from the Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik of the KHL "...was not easy decision. If I felt the chance that I will be in the first team and spend the entire season in the NHL, I would definitely stay. But more than to stay on the farm, I prefer to give priority to Russia. I had offers from other leagues, but the Continental League attracted me a lot..."

Smolenak declined to comment on the Lightning's embarrassing finish to the 2008-09 indicating that he only played a few games with Tampa and that was a question better suited for the executives and owners. Smolenak did suggest, "The fact is that the change was really a lot, maybe it could even wait a little." He did, however, address the question that many followers of Bolt prospects are wondering -- will he consider returning to North America? To that question, Radek indicated that he will play a season in the KHL to satisfy his curiosity and give the league a try, but that he certainly would like to return overseas.