TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) - After letting one Czech defenseman leave via free agency, the Tampa Bay Lightning recruited another.

Following the departure of Pavel Kubina to Toronto earlier in the day, the Lightning on Saturday signed blue-liner Filip Kuba to a three-year, $9 million contract.

An eighth-round pick of Florida in 1995, Kuba was traded to Calgary in March 2000 but never played for the Flames. The 29-year-old was selected by Minnesota in the expansion draft that June and spent the last five seasons with the Wild, making his lone All-Star appearance in 2004.

Last campaign, Kuba recorded six goals, 19 assists and 44 penalty minutes in 65 games with Minnesota while leading the team with an average ice time of 21 minutes, 46 seconds.

"Filip Kuba is a solid, steady, top-four, All-Star defenseman who has adapted well to the new NHL," Tampa Bay general manager Jay Feaster said. "We believe that playing within our system will enable him to post even bigger offensive numbers and we are confident our forwards will enjoy playing with someone who is able to get them the puck quickly and help with our transition game.

"While we were disappointed to lose Pavel Kubina today, we are excited to fill that hole with such a high-caliber player."

Kuba - who helped the Czech Republic to the bronze medal at the Winter Olympics in Torino this past February - led all Minnesota defensemen in scoring during the 2003 playoffs, notching eight points in 18 games as the Wild advanced to the Western Conference finals.

In 375 career games with the Panthers and Wild, Kuba has collected 34 goals, 105 assists and 163 penalty minutes.