Lightning Sign Defenseman Ohlund to Seven-Year Contract

The Tampa Bay Lightning bolstered their blueline during the first hour of free agency on Wednesday by signing long-time Vancouver Canucks defenseman Mattias Ohlund to a seven-year contract worth $26.25 million. The deal averages out to $3.75 million per season. As the 2008-09 season progressed, it became less and less likely that Ohlund would re-sign with the Canucks in the off-season and instead focused their efforts on re-signing the Sedin twins. In all 82 games last season, Ohlund scored six goals and 19 assists for 25 points and 105 penalty minutes. In 770 career games, all with the Canucks, he has 93 goals and 232 assists for 325 points and 756 penalty minutes. This is a very good signing for the Lightning as Ohlund is a very physical defenseman with plenty of offensive skill and leadership qualities. He could end up playing alongside Andrej Meszaros, giving the Lightning a pretty decent top defensive pairing. Plus, Ohlund will also be a great mentor for Victor Hedman, whom the Lightning drafted second overall in the 2009 Entry Draft.