RuthlessBurgher
06-30-2008, 12:44 PM
Sorry to see Bugsy go...he's a Pittsburgh kid through and through, but with so many other guys to try to fit in under the cap, he simply wasn't worth what he was asking for. I'm glad we were able to get a 3rd round pick for him next year (didn't think that would happen when he put the kibosh on the trade that Columbus was trying to work out for him prior to this year's draft). He gets to go from playing with guys like Sid, Geno, and Staal to guys like Vinnie LeCavalier, Marty St. Louis, and Stevie Stamkos...plus he'll personally experience Melrose's legendary mullet from behind the bench.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3466760
Bolts agree to 7-year, $31.5M deal with Malone, acquire rights to Rolston
ESPN.com news services
Tampa Bay has won the Ryan Malone lottery.
The Lightning and the unrestricted free agent agreed to a seven-year,
$31.5 million contract Sunday, ESPN.com has confirmed.
Tampa Bay dealt a third-round draft pick in 2009 for the short-term negotiating rights to Malone and Pittsburgh Penguins teammate Gary Roberts on Saturday. That allowed the Lightning to talk exclusively to Malone until the NHL free agency signing period begins Tuesday.
The Penguins didn't feel they could afford to re-sign Malone, who had 27 goals and 24 assists last season. The Pittsburgh native was believed to be seeking about $5 million per season.
Malone has 87 goals and 82 assists in 299 career games, all with the Penguins.
In another move, Tampa Bay acquired the rights to forward Brian Rolston from the Minnesota Wild for a conditional draft pick.
The Wild will get a selection in either the 2009 or 2010 draft, with Wild spokesman Aaron Sickman saying Sunday night it will depend on whether Tampa Bay re-signs Rolston.
Wild general manager Doug Risebrough said recently that if a deal wasn't reached by Tuesday, it would likely signal the end of Rolston's days in Minnesota.
Minnesota had been hoping to retain the 35-year-old Rolston for a few more years after getting 96 goals and 106 assists from him over the last three seasons.
Rolston had been one of Minnesota's most consistent and reliable players, missing only five games over his first three seasons with the Wild.
Rolston, who hit the 30-goal mark three consecutive seasons for the Wild, sent text messages to Twin Cities newspapers earlier Sunday saying he was "going to the first of July." He did not elaborate, and it wasn't immediately clear Sunday night whether he still planned to become a free agent Tuesday or if would try to reach a deal with Tampa Bay.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3466760
Bolts agree to 7-year, $31.5M deal with Malone, acquire rights to Rolston
ESPN.com news services
Tampa Bay has won the Ryan Malone lottery.
The Lightning and the unrestricted free agent agreed to a seven-year,
$31.5 million contract Sunday, ESPN.com has confirmed.
Tampa Bay dealt a third-round draft pick in 2009 for the short-term negotiating rights to Malone and Pittsburgh Penguins teammate Gary Roberts on Saturday. That allowed the Lightning to talk exclusively to Malone until the NHL free agency signing period begins Tuesday.
The Penguins didn't feel they could afford to re-sign Malone, who had 27 goals and 24 assists last season. The Pittsburgh native was believed to be seeking about $5 million per season.
Malone has 87 goals and 82 assists in 299 career games, all with the Penguins.
In another move, Tampa Bay acquired the rights to forward Brian Rolston from the Minnesota Wild for a conditional draft pick.
The Wild will get a selection in either the 2009 or 2010 draft, with Wild spokesman Aaron Sickman saying Sunday night it will depend on whether Tampa Bay re-signs Rolston.
Wild general manager Doug Risebrough said recently that if a deal wasn't reached by Tuesday, it would likely signal the end of Rolston's days in Minnesota.
Minnesota had been hoping to retain the 35-year-old Rolston for a few more years after getting 96 goals and 106 assists from him over the last three seasons.
Rolston had been one of Minnesota's most consistent and reliable players, missing only five games over his first three seasons with the Wild.
Rolston, who hit the 30-goal mark three consecutive seasons for the Wild, sent text messages to Twin Cities newspapers earlier Sunday saying he was "going to the first of July." He did not elaborate, and it wasn't immediately clear Sunday night whether he still planned to become a free agent Tuesday or if would try to reach a deal with Tampa Bay.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.