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.

Matt Smaby
   
Matt Lashoff
   
Blair Jones
   
Martins Karsums
   
Mike Lundin
   

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.

Confirmed: Helbling Gone

Submitted by chad on August 9, 2006 - 09:12

According to Tampa Bay General Manager Jay Feaster, the Lightning released Timo Helbling.

"While it is tough to find good young defensemen," Feaster stated, "our Tampa Bay coaching staff, in particular, Craig Ramsay, felt that Timo simply wasn't picking-up and demonstrating a willingness to play our system."

Feaster also mentioned Springfield coaches were frustrated with what was perceived to be a failure on Helbling's part to learn from his mistakes.

Also, the additions of Andy Delmore and Doug Janik caused Helbling to re-examine his role with the club and the restricted free agent who played in nine games with Tampa last season was seeking a one-way contract from the team. The club was not going to give him a one-way contract and combined with the above-stated issues, the team and Helbling mutually agreed to his release.

This leaves the Lightning with 48 contracts against the 50-man limit.

***8/10 Update: Helbling has signed with the Hershey Bears of the AHL. The Bears also signed defenseman Don Grover, who participated in the Lightning's prospect camp last month as a tryout player. He had been invited to Springfield's camp as a tryout player.