FORMER 18-GOAL SCORER SIGNS 1-YEAR DEAL
The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed free agent defenseman Andy Delmore to a one-year contract, Executive Vice President and General Manager Jay Feaster announced.

Delmore, a 6-foot, 201-pound native of LaSalle, Ontario has played 283 career NHL games with Philadelphia, Nashville, Buffalo and Columbus, recording 43 goals, 58 assists and 101 points. The 29-year-old also skated in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Flyers, tallying six goals and eight points. In 2005-06, he led American Hockey League defenseman in scoring with 17 goals and 72 points in 66 games with Syracuse. His 72 points tied him for 18th overall in league scoring.
                
“Andy Delmore has played almost 300 games in the NHL and he has demonstrated the ability to quarterback the power play and score goals,” Feaster said. “He is an offensive-minded defenseman who likes to join the rush and isn't afraid to pinch from the point. In short, we believe that his style fits perfectly with our system, and the fact that Craig Ramsay knows him and has coached him in the past is another plus. We are excited about the offensive potential Andy brings to our team.”

SWEDISH SCORING STAR AGREES TO 1-YEAR DEAL
The 2004 Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning have signed free agent center Andreas Karlsson to a one-year contract, Executive Vice President and General Manager Jay Feaster announced.

Karlsson, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound native of Ludvika, Sweden, had a dominant offensive season for HV 71 of the Swedish Elite League in 2005-06. In 50 games, Karlsson, 30, led the league in points (55) and short-handed goals (6), was tied for the lead in goals (26), was second in game-winning goals (9), tied for second in plus/minus (+18), was fourth in assists (29) and was 16th in face-off percentage (53.56). He also helped Sweden capture the Gold Medal at the 2006 World Championships with five goals and nine points in nine games to tie for fifth in tournament scoring.

“We believe Andreas will add offense to our third line while also being very responsible defensively,” Feaster said. “He is a solid face-off man and he is a very good skater. Our chief scout, Jake Goertzen, and both of our goaltending coaches watched Andreas play at the World Championships this year and, as a staff, immediately phoned assistant general manager Claude Loiselle and recommended that we sign him. Our European pro scout, Mikael Andersson, scouted Andreas extensively during the regular season in Europe and felt he would improve our hockey club. Based on such unanimity among our scouts it was an easy decision to offer Andreas a contract and we look forward to welcoming him to camp.”