2009 Restricted Free Agents

The following players along with Lauri Tukonen were tendered qualifying offers on June 29th and their rights retained by the Lightning.

2009 Free Agent Signings

PLAYER NAME POS Years Avg/Yr
Lukas Krajicek Defense 1 year $1500000
Mattias Ohlund Defense 7 years $3750000
Matt Walker Defense 4 years $1700000

2009 Tampa Bay Lightning Draft

1 2 Victor Hedman Defense 6.06 220 lbs.
1 29 Carter Ashton Right Wing 6.03 205 lbs.
2 52 Richard Panik Right Wing 6.02 203 lbs.
4 93 Alex Hutchings Left Wing 5.10 173 lbs.
5 148 Michael Zador Goaltender 6.02 172 lbs.
6 162 Jaroslav Janus Goaltender 5.11 192 lbs.
7 183 Kirill Gotovets Defense 5.11 175 lbs.

Bolts Ink Wyatt Smith

The St. Petersburg Times is reporting that the Lightning have inked minor league veteran center Wyatt Smith to a one year, two-way contract. Smith, a 9th round pick by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 1997 draft, has garnered a bit of a journeyman's reputation having spent the past 9 seasons playing with 5 different organizations after spending 4 years playing for the University of Minnesota.

Smith, 5.11 and 205, has played 128 NHL games the past three seasons with Colorado, Minnesota, and the New York Islanders in mostly a 4th line center role. Smith projects to anchor the top line in Norfolk, while providing depth down the middle for the Lighting.