Tampa, FL (Best E Casino) - The
Tampa Bay Lightning continued their laborious offseason Monday, signing forwards Vaclav Prospal and Gary Roberts.
The moves come a day after TSN of Canada reported that Tampa Bay signed Ryan Malone to a seven-year, $31.5 million contract. The television network reported Malone will earn between $7 million and $8 million in each of the first two years of the deal. The club also acquired the rights to Brian Rolston from the Minnesota Wild Sunday night, which allows the Lightning to speak exclusively to the veteran right wing until the free agency period begins on Tuesday.
Ownership hopes the deals will invigorate a franchise coming off a horrendous 2007-08 campaign in which Tampa Bay finished with the worst record in the Eastern Conference. The club also drafted Steven Stamkos first overall earlier this month.
Prospal agreed to a multi-year contract after the Lightning acquired his rights from the Philadelphia Flyers on June 18 in exchange for Nashville's seventh-round pick (previously acquired) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and Tampa Bay's fourth-round pick in 2009.
"We were very pleased to be able to announce last week that we had reached terms with Vinny Prospal to bring him back to Tampa," owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie said. "With Vinny's new contract signed and in hand we are now able to formalize the announcement today. We expect great things from Vinny in 2008-09 and beyond. He fits uniquely alongside Marty St. Louis and Vinny Lecavalier on our MVP line and the new ownership group is thrilled these three forwards will lead us into battle next season."
Tampa Bay dealt Prospal to the Flyers on February 25, one day before the NHL trade deadline. The 33-year-old recorded four goals and 14 points in 18 regular-season contests last year following the trade, adding three goals and 10 assists in 17 playoff games as the Flyers advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2004.
Prior to the deal, Prospal registered 29 goals and 57 points in 62 games for Tampa Bay.
This marks Prospal's third tour of duty with the Bolts. He was originally acquired from Florida in exchange for center Ryan Johnson and a sixth-round choice in the 2003 draft on July 10, 2001. He became a free agent on July 1, 2003 and was then reacquired from Anaheim on August 16, 2004 in exchange for a second-round pick in 2005.
Over 792 games with Philadelphia, Ottawa, Florida, Tampa Bay and Anaheim, the Czech native has 179 goals and 554 points.
Roberts signed a one-year contract two days after he was acquired along with Malone from Pittsburgh in exchange for a conditional draft pick in 2009.
"When meeting the media and our fans last week in Tampa we talked about not leaving Steven Stamkos alone," Koules and Barrie said. "We talked about being aggressive at the start of the free agency signing period. We think Gary's signing today represents a great first step for us. He brings the Lightning leadership, tenacity, grit and experience and he will be great for our young players, especially Steven. He will be tremendous for the locker room and his ability to play different roles at the forward position will be beneficial to the team next season."
A former Stanley Cup Champion with the Calgary Flames in 1989, Roberts was limited to only 38 games last season because of a broken leg and high ankle sprain. He scored three goals and 15 points with 40 penalty minutes.
For his career, Roberts, 42, has tallied 434 goals and 903 points in 1,194 games with the Flames, Hurricanes, Maple Leafs, Panthers and Penguins.
Tampa Bay also acquired defenseman Janne Niskala from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick in 2009 on Monday.
