The Tampa Bay Lightning and Alex Killorn have agreed to terms on a seven-year contract worth $31.15 million according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The deal comes with a $4.45 million cap hit, and is just one of many made by the Lightning this off-season to keep their core intact at reasonable, team-friendly rates.
https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/754709332084817920
Along with Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, and Andrei Vasilevskiy, Killorn will return to the Lightning in an attempt to claim the franchise’s first Stanley Cup since 2004. In 81 games last season, the 26-year-old Killorn scored 14 goals and 40 points as well as 13 points in 17 playoff games.
The Lightning will still have to work on signing restricted free agents Nikita Kucherov, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Nikita Nesterov. Given how successful Steve Yzerman has been so far this off-season at locking up his team for good rates, it shouldn’t be too long before those deals are reached. Tampa Bay is having one of the most successful off-seasons of all the 30 NHL franchises, and locking up Killorn is a testament to Yzerman’s patience, and ability to value certain traits that other teams might not.
Killorn is not a 20-goal or 50-point scorer in the NHL at this point in his career. In fact, he may never reach those totals, but his all-around play, grit, and commitment to his teammates and management were enough to merit him this long-term extension.
