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.

Lightning Preseason Schedule Announced

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced they will play five preseason games in 2008, including two at the St. Pete Times Forum. Highlights of the schedule include two games each against the 2007-08 Eastern Conference Champion Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers, as well as a match-up against Eisbaren Berlin in Berlin, Germany before the Lightning open the season in Prague, Czech Republic. Prices and the on-sale date for preseason games will be announced at a later time.

The Lightning will open the preseason at Mellon Arena against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins on Saturday, September 20 (7:30 p.m.), then the teams will travel to the St. Pete Times Forum for a re-match Monday, September 22 (7:30 p.m.). Tampa Bay will then host the first of a home-and-home set with the Rangers on Tuesday, September 23 (7:30 p.m.), before heading to Madison Square Garden on Thursday, September 25 (7 p.m.) in their final pre-season game in North America.

From New York, the Lightning will travel to Europe where they will play their final pre-season game against Eisbaren Berlin on Sunday, September 28 (time TBA).

(Pictured: Prospect Justin Keller vs. the Red Wings last exhibition season.)