Catching Up With The Lightning

Here is your latest Lightning news:

Bolts sign defenseman Barberio

Mark Barberio

The Bolts have signed defenseman Mark Barberio to a standard three-year entry level contract.

He was drafted in the sixth round, 152nd overall, of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

“W e always like adding good character people and quality players to the organization,” Head Amateur Scout Darryl Plandowski said. “Mark has a good skill level and he’s a winner, having played on championship teams. We look forward to adding him to the organization and working to develop Mark as a professional.”

Barberio, 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, had a solid junior career with the Moncton Wildcats and Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey league,

where he compiled 46 goals and 168 points with a plus-53 rating in 261 career games. Barberio playeed in the 2010QMJHL All-Star Game and was named to the 2006-07 QMJHL All-Rookie Team. He was selected to represent the QMJHL in the 2009 Canada-Russia Super Series and the 2007 Canada-Russia Challenge.

In 2009-10, Barberio had career highs in goals with 17, assists with 43, points with 60 and shorthanded goals with three in 65 games with the Wildcats.

Verbeek Added To Scouting Staff

Pat Verbeek

As expected, Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman hired former teammate Pat Verbeek as a member of his professional scouting staff. Verbeek, like Yzerman, comes from the Detroit Red Wings organization, where he spent the previous four seasons as a professional scout.

“Pat brings a wealth of hockey knowledge and experience as a player and a scout to our staff,” Yzerman said. “His ability to identify and evaluate talent will be a great resource as we move forward and we are pleased he elected to continue his career with the Lightning.”

Lightning To Play Cup Champions In Winnipeg
The Lightning will play an exhibition game at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on September 22 against the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks.

Capologist Ryan Martin Is Staying In Detroit
According to Freep.com, Red Wing capologist Ryan Martin has decided to stay put with Detroit and not bolt to the Lightning. The good friend of Lightning GM Steve Yzerman said, “I decided last night, and I talked to Steve last night and told him I decided to stay. It was a difficult decision but also a good decision. It was an outstanding professional opportunity for me, but at the end of the day, weighing all the professional and personal aspects and the family situation, we felt Detroit a better situation,” he said. “My wife has a career here that she really enjoys. It was just a little bit better fit here.”

Offers Extended To Ten Restricted Free Agents
Lightning GM Steve Yzerman extended qualifying offers to ten restricted free agents.

Receiving offers were RW Steve Downie, C Blair Jones, RW Martins Karsums, D Mike Lundin, D Vladimir Mihalik, RW Teddy Purcell, D Paul Ranger, LW Juraj Simek, C Paul Szczechura and C Nate Thompson.

If a player signs an offer sheet with another NHL team, the Lightning can match the offer or receive compensation in the form of draft picks.

RW Chris Lawrence, LW Radek Smolenak and RW Lauri Tukonen – did not receiver offers and will become unrestricted free agents on July 1.

2010 Restricted Free Agents
Blair Jones RW 23 years old, 6’2” 193 lbs.
Juraj Simek LW 22 years old, 6’2” 200 lbs.
Martins Karsums RW 24 years old, 5’10” 192 lbs.
Mike Lundin D 25 years old, 6’1” 195 lbs.
Nate Thompson C 25 years old, 6’0” 205 lbs.
Paul Ranger D 25 years old, 6’2” 215 lbs.
Paul Szczechura C 24 years old, 5’11” 175 lbs.
Steve Downie RW 23 years old, 5’10” 190 lbs.
Teddy Purcell RW 24 years old, 6’3” 195 lbs.
Vladimir Mihalik D 23 years old, 6’8” 240 lbs.

2010 Unrestricted Free Agents
Alex Tanguay LW 30 years old 6’1” 190 lbs.
Antero Niittymaki G 29 years old, 6’1” 215 lbs.
Brandon Bochenski LW 28 years old 6’1” 190 lbs.
David Hale D 28 years old, 6’2’ 215 lbs.
Kurtis Foster D 28 years old, 6’5” 230lbs.
Mark Parrish RW 33 years old, 5’11” 200 lbs.
Mitch Fritz LW 29 years old, 6’8” 258 lbs.
Ryan Craig C 28 years old, 6’2” 220 lbs.
Stephane Veilleux LW 28 years old, 6’0” 190 lbs.
Zenon Konopka C 29 years old, 6’0” 215 lbs.