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Ohlund A Bolt
by Paul on 07/01/09 at 12:14 PM ET
Comments (10)
via Kevin Allen’s Twittter,
Tampa Bay signed Mattias Ohlund
added 12:19pm, via Tampa Bay Lightning official Twitter,
USA Today’s Kevin Allen is reporting the Lightning have signed defenseman Mattias Ohlund. No confirmation from the team.
added 12:22pm, Bob McKenzie of TSN confimed deal. 7yr deal $3.75M cap hit.
added 12:24pm, TSN link.
added 12:56pm, from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,
Last year, the Tampa Bay Lightning were the stars of the opening day of the free-agent season – and ended up signing so many new players that they had ultimately had 18 forwards on one-way contracts by the time training camp opened.
This year, the Lightning were also first off the mark, signing ex-Canucks’ defenceman Mattias Ohlund to a new contract. The move was done strictly to help fellow Swede Victor Hedman, their 18-year-old first-round draft choice, adapt more easily to the NHL.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Mattias+Ohlund,
Comments
I wouldn’t call him an “idiot”. It’s certainly a gamble of a move. He’s probably betting they’ll sign another d-man, plus have Hedman in tow for next season.
And given how BAD that division will once again be (steady diet of FLA, ATL, etc) it’s not unreasonable they could turn thign around possibly.
Posted by Primis on 07/01/09 at 11:19 AM ET
It only took Brian Lawton one year to realize he had no defense...I’m impressed. Dan Boyle is not walking thru that door...however
Posted by kevin from boston on 07/01/09 at 11:20 AM ET
Should be a decent mentor for Hedman...7 years is a bit long though.
Posted by NHLJeff from Boston, MA on 07/01/09 at 11:26 AM ET
it’s not unreasonable they could turn thign around possibly.
Posted by Primis on 07/01/09 at 12:19 PM ET
Are we forgetting about the “turnaround” they did last year?
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 07/01/09 at 11:28 AM ET
7 years is due to the loophole in the cap where teams tack on years, ie., Detroit.
Posted by Scurvy____BBLLLAARRRGGGHH from Chicago on 07/01/09 at 11:28 AM ET
Overly long, but addresses the absolute biggest need for the team and can help Hedman.
I think it’s a good signing. I expect that this is a front-loaded contract and that, realistically speaking given his drop off in productivity over the last few seasons, it’s probably a 4 year deal with the expectation that he doesn’t stay in the league through year 5, 6. I have been known to be wrong before, though. 
Posted by shanetx on 07/01/09 at 11:29 AM ET
Are we forgetting about the “turnaround” they did last year?
Posted by Animal Drew
No, but they might have drawn a lesson from that.
On the surface of it all, it’s a good signing.
Posted by Moq from Denmark on 07/01/09 at 11:39 AM ET
Darren Dreger reporting Ohlund will get 22.5 of the 24.5 in the next 5 years.
Posted by Scurvy____BBLLLAARRRGGGHH from Chicago on 07/01/09 at 11:41 AM ET
Smart move getting someone to tutor Hedman, though. He’s a very good defenseman and will help him a great deal.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/01/09 at 11:58 AM ET
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Idiot.
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 07/01/09 at 11:16 AM ET