Lightning Sign Keith Aulie to One-Year Contract

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced on Saturday that they have re-signed defenseman Keith Aulie to a one-year, two-way contract.  The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.  He was acquired by the Lightning on February 27 from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for forward Carter Ashton.  In 36 games last season with Toronto and Tampa Bay, he had three assists.  He also appeared in 26 games with Toronto and Norfolk of the AHL, scoring three assists.  This is a decent move for the Lightning, as Aulie will bring plenty of shutdown skill and physical play to the blueline.  More than likely, the short-term deal will be used to evaluate Aulie next season before the team considers offering him a longer contract.

Lightning Re-Sign Mike Angelidis to One-Year Deal

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced that they have re-signed left wing Mike Angelidis to a one-year, two-way contract.  The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.  He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1.  He had one goal in six games this past season with the Lightning.  He also appeared in 54 games with Norfolk of the AHL, scoring 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points.  This is really just a depth signing for the Lightning, as Angelidis will likely spend the majority of next season in the minors.  If he sees any time in the NHL, it will likely be as an injury replacement on Tampa Bay's fourth line.

Lightning Re-Sign Adam Hall and J.T. Wyman

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced that they have re-signed right wings Adam Hall and J.T. Wyman to one-year contracts.  The financial terms of both deals were not disclosed.  Hall's contract is one-way, while Wyman's will be a two-way deal.  Both players would have been unrestricted free agents on July 1.  In 57 games last season, Hall had two goals and five assists for seven points.  Wyman had two goals and nine assists for 11 points in 40 games with the Lightning.  He also appeared in 29 games with Norfolk of the AHL, scoring six goals and six assists for 12 points.  These aren't bad depth signings for the Lightning, as both players will bring some skill to the checking lines.  Hall has some defensive ability, versatility, and skill on the penalty kill, while Wyman also has some defensive skill and a little speed.  Look for both players to play on the fourth line next season, although Wyman could possibly spend some time in the minors.

Lightning Acquire Anders Lindback from Predators

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced on Friday that they have acquired goaltender Anders Lindback, center Kyle Wilson, and a seventh round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft from the Nashville Predators in exchange for goaltender Sebastien Caron, two second round draft picks in 2012, and a third round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft.  In 16 games this past season with the Predators, Lindback posted a 5-8-0 record, with a 2.42 GAA and a .912 save percentage.  He also appeared in two games with Milwaukee of the AHL, posting a 1-1-0 record, a 3.50 GAA, and a .879 save percentage.  Wilson was held pointless in five games with Nashville.  He also played in 68 games with Milwaukee, scoring 22 goals and 32 assists for 54 points.  Caron appeared in three games last season with the Lightning, posting a 1-1-0 record, a 3.11 GAA, and a .877 save percentage.  He also played in 49 games with Iserlohn of the German League, posting a 25-23-0 record, five shutouts, a 2.57 GAA, and a .932 save percentage.

The Lightning were looking to solve their problematic goaltending situation and may have done that with the acquisition of Lindback.  He has great size and loads of potential and will likely land the starting role next season in Tampa Bay.  Wilson will likely only provide fourth line depth for the club and could also spend some of next season in the minors.  The Lightning gave up quite a few future assets to land Lindback, but he could be worth it down the road.  As for the Predators, Lindback wasn't likely to get much playing time backing up Pekka Rinne, so the team did well in landing a nice package of draft picks for the Swedish netminder.  Caron will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and Nashville could sign him for organizational depth, but that remains to be seen.

Lightning Sign Riku Helenius to Two-Year Deal

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced today that they have re-signed goaltender Riku Helenius to a two-year contract.  The deal is reportedly a two-way contract for the first year and one-way agreement the second year that will pay him $650,000.  In 33 games last season with JYP of the Finnish Elite League, he posted a 17-9-5 record, seven shutouts, a 1.64 GAA, and a .936 save percentage.  This isn't a bad depth signing for the Lightning, as Helenius has the skills to be a solid goaltender at the NHL level.  More than likely, he will spend the majority of next season in the minors honing his skills, as he won't be an immediate fix to the Lightning's goaltending situation.

Lightning Sign Sebastien Caron to One-Year Contract

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced that they have signed goaltender Sebastien Caron to a one-year contract for the remainder of the 2011-12 season. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He will be ineligible to play in the post-season if the Lightning make the playoffs since he was signed after the February 27 Trade Deadline. In 49 games this season with Iserlohn of the German League, he posted a 25-23-0 record, five shutouts, a 2.57 GAA, and a .932 save percentage. He last played in the NHL during the 2006-07 season with the Anaheim Ducks. This is really just a depth signing for the Lightning, as Caron is likely going to fill in as the backup for the injured Mathieu Garon.

Lightning Acquire Brian Lee from Senators for Matt Gilroy

The Tampa Bay Lightning remained busy on Trade Deadline Day by acquiring defenseman Brian Lee from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for defenseman Matt Gilroy. Lee will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer, while Gilroy will qualify for unrestricted free agency. In 35 games so far this season, Lee has one goal and seven assists for eight points, while Gilroy has two goals and 15 assists for 17 points in 53 games. Not a bad pick-up for the Lightning, as Lee will bring a good mix of size, offensive upside, and excellent skating to the team. Tampa Bay is clearly looking to improve their blueline for next season and they did that on Trade Deadline Day. As for the Senators, Gilroy should help them in their playoff push with his smooth skating and mobility.

Lightning Acquire Keith Aulie from Maple Leafs for Carter Ashton

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced that they have acquired defenseman Keith Aulie from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for right wing Carter Ashton. Aulie is eligible for restricted free agency this summer, while Ashton still has two more years left on his entry-level deal. In 17 games this season with the Maple Leafs, Aulie had two assists. He also appeared in 23 games with Toronto of the AHL, scoring one assist. In 56 games with Norfolk of the AHL, Ashton has 19 goals and 16 assists for 35 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. This is clearly a trade for the future for both Toronto and Tampa Bay. Aulie will bring plenty of shutdown skills and physical play to the Lightning blueline. He should be an excellent addition to the team as they look to rebuild their defense. Ashton has great size, lots of offensive potential, and is versatile enough to play on both wings. He should be a decent top-six forward for the Maple Leafs down the road.

Lightning Acquire Mike Commodore from Red Wings

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced that they have acquired defenseman Mike Commodore from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a conditional seventh round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft. He will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer. In 17 games so far this season, he has two assists. For the Red Wings, Commodore wasn't used very much throughout the season and were likely looking to dump a little bit of salary. It's quite possible this move could be the precursor to Detroit making another trade by the 3 PM deadline. As for Tampa Bay, Commodore will fill in a defensive role for the team for the remainder of the season and likely won't figure into their future plans. Bottom line, the Lightning are helping the Red Wings shed some salary.

Lightning Claim Tim Wallace Off Waivers from NY Islanders

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced that they have claimed right wing Tim Wallace off waivers from the New York Islanders. In 31 games this season with the Islanders, he had one assist. He also appeared in 24 games with Bridgeport of the AHL, scoring nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points. This is really just a depth move for the Lightning, as Wallace could likely spend a good chunk of the rest of the season in the minors. However, with the Lightning trading off assets as the February 27 Trade Deadline approaches, he could see some time in the NHL if more players are traded.

Lightning Acquire Brandon Segal from Blackhawks

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced on Tuesday that they have acquired right wing Brandon Segal from the Chicago Blackhawks for future considerations. Those future considerations were later revealed to be AHL center Matt Fornataro. In 53 games this season with Rockford of the AHL, Segal has 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points and 63 penalty minutes. He last appeared in the NHL during the 2010-11 season with the Dallas Stars. Fornataro, who is currently on an AHL contract, has five goals and 20 assists for 25 points in 46 games with Norfolk of the AHL. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. After trading Steve Downie to the Colorado Avalanche earlier in the day, the Lightning were lacking some grit on the wing and they have added that in Segal. If he doesn't see any time with the Lightning, he will be a solid addition to their AHL affiliate in Norfolk. As for the Blackhawks, Fornataro will remain in Rockford for the remainder of the season.

Avalanche Acquire Downie, Red Wings Quincey in Three-Team Trade

The Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Detroit Red Wings participated in a three-team swap on Tuesday, which saw right wing Steve Downie head to the Avalanche and defenseman Kyle Quincey join the Red Wings. The Avalanche acquired Downie from the Lightning in exchange for Quincey and the Lightning then flipped Quincey to the Red Wings for minor league defenseman Sebastien Piche and Detroit's first round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. All three players will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer. In 56 games so far this season, Downie has 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points and 123 penalty minutes, while Quincey has five goals and 18 assists for 23 points and 60 penalty minutes in 54 games. In 22 games with Grand Rapids of the AHL, Piche has three assists. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. The Avalanche needed a lot more grit up front and Downie will bring that to the team. He also brings some offensive ability to the team and is one of the top agitators in the league, so Western Conference teams will have to deal with his grating style of play for the rest of the season and likely beyond. With the emergence of Tyson Barrie and Stefan Elliott, Quincey became expendable on the blueline. For the Red Wings, they get a player who is familiar with the team's system in Quincey. He will bring some offensive ability and plenty of grit to the blueline as a third pairing defenseman. The Red Wings also look to the future a little bit in this deal, as Quincey could be a potential replacement for Brad Stuart, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Lightning are clearly selling off assets and stockpiling draft picks at this point to retool their team. They get a marginal defensive prospect in Piche, who may or may not figure in to their long term plans. The first round draft pick is the key of this deal for the Lightning, even though it is all but certain to be one of the last ones in that round.

Flyers Acquire Pavel Kubina from Lightning

The Philadelphia Flyers have announced that they have acquired defenseman Pavel Kubina from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for left wing Jonathon Kalinski, a conditional second round pick in either 2012 or 2013, and Philadelphia's fourth round pick in 2013. The Flyers originally acquired the second round pick from the Florida Panthers in the Kris Versteeg trade this past off-season. Kubina, who is eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer, has three goals and eight assists for 11 points and 59 penalty minutes in 52 games with the Lightning. Kalinski has appeared in 40 games with Adirondack of the AHL, scoring nine goals and three assists for 12 points. He last appeared in the NHL during the 2009-10 season with Philadelphia. After acquiring Nicklas Grossman from the Dallas Stars just two days prior, it was believed the Flyers would look to add more depth to their blueline and they did just that in landing Kubina. While his offensive game is on the decline, he will add plenty of veteran depth and toughness to the lineup. He is also capable of logging lots of minutes and has a good shot, so he should be a solid addition for the Flyers. As for the Lightning, it has been a disappointing 2011-12 campaign for them, so they are in the process of moving out impending free agents for assets. Kalinski could see some time on the team's checking lines throughout the remainder of the season, but it remains to be seen if he will fit into their future plans, as he's eligible for group six unrestricted free agency this summer. The biggest part of this deal for the Lightning are the draft picks, which they will use to restock their team with young talent.

Sharks Acquire Dominic Moore from Lightning

The San Jose Sharks have announced that they have acquired center Dominic Moore and a seventh round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a second round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. The second round pick was obtained by the Sharks from the Minnesota Wild in the multi-player deal that involved Devin Setoguchi and Brent Burns this past off-season. Moore, who will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer, has four goals and 16 assists for 20 points in 58 games so far this season. Not a bad pick-up for the Sharks, as Moore will provide some stability at center on the checking lines. He's excellent on faceoffs, has plenty of skill on the penalty kill, and plays with some grit. He should be a solid addition for the team as they inch closer to the playoffs.

Lightning Sign Tom Pyatt to Two-Year Extension

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced on Monday that they have signed center Tom Pyatt to a two-year contract extension worth $1.2 million. The deal will pay him $600,000 per season. He would have been eligible for restricted free agency this summer. In 35 games so far this season, he has three goals and two assists for five points. This is an okay depth signing for the Lightning, as Pyatt will bring some speed and versatility to the lineup. However, he is not a big point producing forward at the NHL level, so he will likely continue to play a fourth line role for the team over the next two seasons.

Flames Acquire Blair Jones from Lightning for Brendan Mikkelson

The Calgary Flames announced today that they have acquired center Blair Jones from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for defenseman Brendan Mikkelson. In 22 games this season with the Lightning, Jones has two goals and two assists for four points. He also appeared in five games with Norfolk of the AHL, scoring two goals and two assists for four points. In 33 games this season with Abbotsford of the AHL, Mikkelson has three goals and 12 assists for 15 points. He has not appeared in an NHL game so far this season. This is really just a depth move for both teams. Jones will give the Flames some depth on their checking lines, while Mikkelson gives the Lightning organization some depth on defense. More than likely, he will play on the third defensive pairing if he sees any NHL action this season.

Lightning Sign Pierre-Cedric Labrie to Two-Year Deal

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced that they have signed left wing Pierre-Cedric Labrie to a two-year, two-way contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He was assigned to Tampa Bay's AHL affiliate in Norfolk after the signing. In 28 games so far this season with Norfolk, he has six goals and 12 assists for 18 points and 63 penalty minutes. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. This is really just a depth signing for the Lightning, as Labrie will likely spend the majority of the next two seasons in the minors.

Lightning Acquire Oberg, Kostka from Panthers for Wright, Vernace

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced that they have acquired defensemen Evan Oberg and Michael Kostka from the Florida Panthers in exchange for center James Wright and defenseman Michael Vernace. In 12 games with San Antonio of the AHL, Oberg has two assists, while Kostka has two goals and four assists for six points in 18 games with San Antonio. In 22 games with Norfolk of the AHL, Wright has one goal and four assists for five points, while Vernace has two goals and 10 assists for 12 points in 22 games with Norfolk. This is really just a depth move for both teams, as all four players will likely spend the majority of the season in the minors.

Lightning Sign Victor Hedman to Five-Year Extension

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced today that they have signed defenseman Victor Hedman to a five-year contract extension worth $20 million. The deal will average out to $4 million per season. He would have been eligible for restricted free agency at the end of this season. In 20 games so far this season, he has two goals and a minus-5 rating. This is a great signing for the Lightning, as Hedman has the potential to become an elite defenseman at the NHL level. He is a great skater, is developing some excellent shutdown skills, and has lots of offensive potential. While he hasn't put up a lot of points thus far in his NHL career, defensemen do take a little more time to develop than forwards, and within a few years, Hedman will likely be starting to play up to his potential and will be a bargain at $4 million.

Lightning Re-Sign Dana Tyrell to Two-Year Deal

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced on Monday that they have re-signed center Dana Tyrell to a two-year, one-way contract. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been eligible for restricted free agency in the off-season. In three games with the Lightning so far this season, he has one assist. He has also appeared in 18 games with Norfolk of the AHL, scoring four goals and five assists for nine points. Not a bad depth move for the Lightning, as Tyrell brings plenty of energy to the lineup. He also has lots of speed and is good on the penalty kill. Look for him to continue to play a bottom-six forward role on the team for the duration of the contract.