Lightning quick: Tampa Bay signs Malone, Prospal, Roberts
Hockey Betting Lines
06/30/2008 -
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Lightning made a big splash in the
free agent market on Monday, signing forwards Ryan Malone, Vinny Prospal and
Gary Roberts.
Malone's deal is for seventh years and worth an estimated $31.5 million. He
was acquired from Pittsburgh along with Roberts Saturday in exchange for a
conditional draft pick in 2009.
"Ryan's signing is a great validation of the organization's plans and
desires as we move forward," Lightning owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie said.
"He fits our strategic plan of adding quality players with a warrior
mentality. We look forward to a long and productive career for Ryan as a
member of the Lightning organization and the Tampa Bay community."
On Sunday, the Lightning also acquired the rights to Brian Rolston from the
Minnesota Wild.
Ownership hopes the deals will invigorate a franchise coming off a horrendous
2007-08 campaign in which Tampa Bay finished with the worst record in the
Eastern Conference. The club also drafted Steven Stamkos first overall earlier
this month.
Malone, a 27-year-old Pittsburgh native, recorded 27 goals and 51 points in 77
games for the Penguins last season. He also tallied six goals and 16 points in
20 playoff games in a career-year for the left winger. In 299 career games,
Malone has 87 goals and 169 points, all with the Penguins.
Prospal agreed to a multi-year contract after the Lightning acquired his
rights from the Philadelphia Flyers on June 18 in exchange for Nashville's
seventh-round pick (previously acquired) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and Tampa
Bay's fourth-round pick in 2009.
"We were very pleased to be able to announce last week that we had reached
terms with Vinny Prospal to bring him back to Tampa," Koules and Barrie
said. "With Vinny's new contract signed and in hand we are now able to
formalize the announcement today. We expect great things from Vinny in
2008-09 and beyond. He fits uniquely alongside Marty St. Louis and Vinny
Lecavalier on our MVP line and the new ownership group is thrilled these three
forwards will lead us into battle next season."
Tampa Bay dealt Prospal to the Flyers on February 25, one day before the NHL
trade deadline. The 33-year-old recorded four goals and 14 points in 18
regular-season contests last year following the trade, adding three goals
and 10 assists in 17 playoff games as the Flyers advanced to the Eastern
Conference finals for the first time since 2004.
Prior to the deal, Prospal registered 29 goals and 57 points in 62 games for
Tampa Bay.
This marks Prospal's third tour of duty with the Bolts. He was originally
acquired from Florida in exchange for center Ryan Johnson and a sixth-round
choice in the 2003 draft on July 10, 2001. He became a free agent on July 1,
2003 and was then reacquired from Anaheim on August 16, 2004 in exchange for a
second-round pick in 2005.
Over 792 games with Philadelphia, Ottawa, Florida, Tampa Bay and Anaheim, the
Czech native has 179 goals and 554 points.
Roberts signed a one-year contract.
"When meeting the media and our fans last week in Tampa we talked about not
leaving Steven Stamkos alone," Koules and Barrie said. "We talked about being
aggressive at the start of the free agency signing period. We think Gary's
signing today represents a great first step for us. He brings the Lightning
leadership, tenacity, grit and experience and he will be great for our young
players, especially Steven. He will be tremendous for the locker room and his
ability to play different roles at the forward position will be beneficial to
the team next season."
A former Stanley Cup Champion with the Calgary Flames in 1989, Roberts was
limited to only 38 games last season because of a broken leg and high ankle
sprain. He scored three goals and 15 points with 40 penalty minutes.
For his career, Roberts, 42, has tallied 434 goals and 903 points in 1,194
games with the Flames, Hurricanes, Maple Leafs, Panthers and Penguins.
Tampa Bay also acquired defenseman Janne Niskala from the Philadelphia Flyers
in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick in 2009 on Monday.
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Huskers' Lucky hospitalized for undisclosed reason
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska running back Marlon Lucky was hospitalized Monday for undisclosed reasons after Lincoln police responded to a call at his residence.
The Nebraska athletic department said in a release Monday that Lucky was admitted Sunday night.
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A nursing supervisor at the hospital said all questions about Lucky were being referred to the athletic department. The athletic department said there would be no further comment from the department or Lucky's family.
A Lincoln Police spokesman said officers responded to a call at Lucky's residence 11:30 p.m. Sunday. The spokesman said he didn't know Lucky's condition at the time he was taken to the hospital.
Lucky, from North Hollywood, Calif., started six games last season as a sophomore and was the team's second-leading rusher, with 728 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught 32 passes for 383 yards. He averaged 19.1 yards on eight kickoff returns.
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