Lightning ink Paquette to 2-year contract

The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed restricted free-agent forward Cedric Paquette to a two-year deal with an average annual value of $1.65 million, the team announced Friday.

Paquette is an Energizer Bunny of sorts for the Bolts. He finished sixth in the NHL with 269 hits last season and managed to chip in offensively with a career-high 13 goals. He also had his best season in the faceoff circle, winning 52.6 percent of his draws at even strength.

The Lightning now have $5.57 million remaining in projected cap space with three RFAs - including 41-goal scorer Brayden Point - left to sign. Placing Ryan Callahan on long-term injured reserve, which the team intends to do, would create an additional $5.8 million in cap space.