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Report- Bolts Sign Malone and Roberts
by Paul on 06/29/08 at 01:45 PM ET
Comments (6)
via Sportsnet,
A day after trading for their rights, The Tampa Bay Lightning are close to signing Ryan Malone to a long-term year deal that will exceed $30 million and Gary Roberts to a one-year year deal that has the potential to reach $2 million, Sportsnet has learned.
An announcement could come as early as Monday.
Update 3:57pm ET (alanah): From Eric Duhatschek at the Globe & Mail,
...and one source, who doesn’t represent either players, but was monitoring the situation, predicted deals would get done for both players before noon on July 1, when they would otherwise hit the open market.
And Erik Erlendsson of The Tampa Tribune is also monitoring the situation on his blog.
Update 4:30pm ET: From Damian Cristodero at Lightning Strikes,
If things keep going at the current pace, the Lightning could announce contracts for both Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts by later today. If that happens, give the Lightning credit for turning a tide that, for a while, seemed to be going against it.
Update 6:39pm ET: Again, from Damian Cristodero,
Mike Liut, the agent for left wing Ryan Malone, said his client has not signed a contract but a deal with the Lightning “is going to get done. ... I think we’ll finish it today.” That doesn’t mean it will be announced today, of course.
Update 9:29pm ET: The deal is signed, says TSN. Their headline currently reads, “MALONE INKS SEVEN YEAR DEAL WITH LIGHTNING”
Ryan Malone has agreed to a seven year, $31.5 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Malone, who would have drawn considerable interest from around the NHL as an unrestricted free agent, will earn between $7 and $8 million in each of the first two years of the deal.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Gary+Roberts, Ryan+Malone,
Comments
TSN says its a 7 yr deal for Malone.
Posted by PuckHound61 from Speckville USA on 06/29/08 at 02:21 PM ET
talk about been overpaid. malone has one good year and he gets four million. that lockout really taught the league a lession…
Posted by FlyersFan on 06/29/08 at 03:43 PM ET
And that one good year Malone has had was with an offensive minded Pittsburgh team. Tampa is in for a big surprise.
Posted by Gary from USA on 06/29/08 at 04:58 PM ET
Malone definitely has talented on his own. This season was the first season he had work-ethic too. If he can maintain that, he’ll be a great addition for Tampa. Overpaid probably, but he does all the little things that will makes StLouis and Vinny’s jobs easier. (Or whoever he plays with)
Posted by penguinsfan on 06/29/08 at 05:44 PM ET
So does Rolston or Sundin have a close relative the Wings can hire as a scout in the next 48 hours? 
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/29/08 at 05:50 PM ET
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Just to clarify, the headline at Sportsnet states Lightning Sign Malona and Roberts. The body of the story states close to signing… so take your pick.
Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 06/29/08 at 01:09 PM ET