The Tampa Bay Lightning re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Nikita Nesterov today. The one-year, $725,000 deal only brings one of the two Nikita’s that were awaiting contract from Tampa Bay back to the squad. Nesterov took a small pay cut from his $792,500 salary last season. The previous deal was a two-way contract, but his new deal is a one-way pact.
#TBLightning has re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Nikita Nesterov to 1 year deal ($725,000). Still working on RFA Nikita Kucherov
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithNHL) September 26, 2016
Tampa Bay Lightning re-sign Nikita Nesterov
Nesterov, 23, set career highs during the 2015-16 season in games played (57), goals (6), and assists (9). Nesterov’s Corsi-for percentage last season was 49.7 despite starting over 65 percentage of his shifts in the offensive zone. The 5’11, 191-pound left-hander also appeared in 10 games with the AHL‘s Syracuse Crunch.
Most recently Nesterov skated with Team Russia in the World Cup of Hockey. He appeared in only one game for the Russian side and recorded on a single shot on goal.
The bottom pairing for the Lightning will be a crowded place in Tampa Bay’s training camp. A fifth-round pick of the Lightning in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Nesterov will face competition for a regular roster spot. Slater Koekkoek is another promising young blueliner and the Lightning also invited James Wisniewski to camp on a PTO. With Andrej Sustr likely locking down the number five defenseman slot, whichever of Nesterov, Koekkoek, and Wisniewski wins the last spot should be in the lineup when Tampa Bay opens the season.
https://twitter.com/generalfanager/status/780505901379837953
Kucherov Still Unsigned
The signing leaves the Lightning with around $5.8 million in cap space and still have RFA forward Nikita Kucherov to get under contract. Tampa Bay submitted a qualifying offer to the skilled forward, but he remains unsigned. While the signing of Nesterov is welcome news for the defensive depth of the Lightning, the signing of Kucherov is turning critical. Kucherov posted a team-leading 66 points in the 77 games for the Lightning and has quickly established himself as a star in the NHL. While the signing of Nesterov is welcome news for the defensive depth of the Lightning, the signing of Kucherov is turning critical.
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