Defenseman Dan Girardi signs with the Tampa Bay Lightning today. His new contract earns him $6 million over a two year term. Girardi spent the first 11 years of his career with the New York Rangers.
Dan Girardi to TB.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2017
Girardi was scheduled to get $4M from NYR pre-buyout. NYR will pay him $1.1M buyout this season. Add expected $ from TB and he's likely $4M+
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2017
Dan Girardi Signs with Tampa Bay Lightning
Girardi was bought out of his six-year, $33 million deal ($5.5 million AAV) on June 14th. The buyout will last six years. It carries a cap hit of $2.6 million this season, $3.6 million the two years after from ’18-20, and $1.1 million in the remaining three years from ’20-23 on the Rangers. At 33, Girardi has logged 788 games with 122 more in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He brings the intangible factor of experience to his new squad looking for a fresh start. He’s known to be durable, as he’s suited up for 80-plus games in a season seven times in his career.
The undrafted defender was never an offensive specimen in New York, scoring more than ten goals just once in his career. He has scored over 25 points just three times as well. Girardi managed to hang around and don an “A” for the last six seasons. He quickly fell out of favor just two years into his deal.
Girardi, since signing his contract, has been the fifth-worst possession defenseman in the NHL minimum 1500 minutes played posting a 44.13% Corsi-for percentage, including a 63.30 Corsi-against per 60 to rank second-worst. The little offensive production he brought to the lineup has decreased for five consecutive seasons excluding the 2013 lockout year from 31 points in 2010-11 to just 15 this past season.
The Welland, Ontario native, besides his previously mentioned contract, had signed a four-year deal worth $3.3 million per season in 2010. Before that, his first standard contract signed in 2008 paid him $1.6 million per year for two years.
Girardi will bring a great deal of experience, leadership, and intangible qualities to his new team. In terms of on-ice ability, unless he’s in the best possible system, he brings little to offer on either side of the puck and will likely slot in as a placeholder for other prospects the Lightning are grooming.
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