Lightning Re-Sign Defenseman Cory Sarich

[Thrillhouse]

The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed defenseman Cory Sarich to a one-year, $1.9 million contract, Executive Vice President and General Manager Jay Feaster announced. The deal allows the Lightning and Sarich to avoid a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for July 31.

“Once again, Cory Sarich has demonstrated what an outstanding 'team player' he is by electing to settle at a number that worked for the team rather than attempting to hit the home run in arbitration,” Feaster said. “Our own attorneys advised us that Cory's award could easily exceed $2 million and in what has been a very overheated arbitration marketplace we had grave concerns about turning the process over to a third party. Cory and his agent understood our cap situation and worked with us to get something done that would help us. I have always said that Cory Sarich stands for what this organization is all about - character, dedication, commitment, team-first loyalty, and a commitment to doing the right things for the right reasons. Cory has once again shown not only his value and importance to our team but also his overall commitment to his teammates, our organization and our fans.

“In a perfect world we would have negotiated a long-term deal with Cory. However, given our salary cap position it was not possible, at this time, to buy-out any of Cory's unrestricted free agency. However, we have already discussed with his agent our desire to begin discussions after January 1st, when the CBA permits such negotiations to commence, on trying to secure Cory's long-term future with the Lightning. Avoiding arbitration helps ensure that both sides are in the right frame of mind at that time.”

Sarich, 27, a 6-foot-3, 204-pound native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan played in all 82 games for the third consecutive season in 2005-06, recording a goal, 14 assists and 79 penalty minutes. In 2003-04 he was one of three defensemen to appear in all 23 Stanley Cup Playoff games for the Lightning. Having completed five full seasons with the Lightning, Sarich was acquired in a 2000 trade with the Buffalo Sabres. Since joining the Lightning, he has appeared in 408 regular season games, recording 10 goals, 60 assists and 484 penalty minutes.

Sarich played parts of two seasons in Buffalo before joining the Lightning in 1999-00. The physical, stay-at-home defenseman known for his heavy shot spent the 1998-99 season with the Rochester Americans, where he helped lead the team to the Calder Cup Finals. Sarich was selected to the AHL All-Rookie Team and played in the AHL All-Star Game that season.

Prior to turning pro, Sarich played four seasons in the Western Hockey League with Saskatoon and Seattle, and was named to the WHL West Second All-Star Team following the 1997-98 season. He also skated for Canada in the 1997 and 1998 World Junior Championships, capturing the Gold Medal in 1997.

[Orr=God]

1.9 mil, this guy blows, wat r the lightning thinking

[Jensen]

Originally Posted by Orr=God

1.9 mil, this guy blows, wat r the lightning thinking

They're thinking Sarich is a solid defensive defenseman who has good leadership qualities, drops the gloves when needed, and chips in a few points offensively.

[JKidd]

Jay Bouwmeester gets a bit over $2 million in arbitration and now Sarich gets almost $2 million a year from a regular team offer? Is arbitration that stupid? Or are the Bolts over paying for Sarich?

[Orr=God]

Originally Posted by Jensen

They're thinking Sarich is a solid defensive defenseman who has good leadership qualities, drops the gloves when needed, and chips in a few points offensively.

a solid defensive defensemen who dropped the gloves once and scored 1 goal does not deserve 2 million a year whihch is only a little below wat jay bouwmeester a much better player was awarded. the lightning r gonna pay this guy 2 milllion to clear the puck out of their zone. he has zero speed and is not very physical and has no sort of puckhandling ability.

[Jensen]

Originally Posted by Orr=God

a solid defensive defensemen who dropped the gloves once and scored 1 goal does not deserve 2 million a year whihch is only a little below wat jay bouwmeester a much better player was awarded. the lightning r gonna pay this guy 2 milllion to clear the puck out of their zone. he has zero speed and is not very physical and has no sort of puckhandling ability.

Well he wouldn't be in the NHL if he plays the way you just described him there. Bouwmeester was cheated in arbitration, you don't know what Sarich would have received in arbitration. I have to admit he was overpaid some, but he does a lot of little things that people don't recognize or care about.

[DaleHunter32]

Originally Posted by Jensen

They're thinking Sarich is a solid defensive defenseman who has good leadership qualities, drops the gloves when needed, and chips in a few points offensively.

yeah he drop'd them against Sourey a couple a years ago and got tooned up!

Awful signing at the price, im sure if they would have kept Sydor they could have signed him for around the same price. They shiped or straight up lost 2 out of 3 of their top d-men then throw this kind of money ar Sarich, what a joke

Boyle
Kuba
Sarich
Ranger
Pratt

Exluding Boyle and maybe Kuba it's like a who's who of the bad AHL team. This team reminds me sooo much of the Florida Marlins of baseball... maybe its the water down there in FLA

Denis will probably see just as much rubber in TB as he did in Columbus,

[BENNETTWOLF]

Since the Lightning have eschewed filling the enforcer role since Andre Roy was replaced by the infamous "Dinger", Sarich has really kinda taken that role. Except against Souray, he's impressed me as a lightheavy.

Can't say i've noticed that he could play (and as a caps fan, i should know). This could be a good or bad thing. .......................maybe he's............steady?.........................no t worth 2 mil as a #4 blueliner.

Hope to see Brashear get the better of him this year. Still owe Tampa for beating us in our last playoff appearence.

[full force five]

Did I just read excluding Kuba?

He (Kuba) is a butter soft Euro who is big and about as physical as Sasha Cohen.

[Isles4life]

Originally Posted by full force five

Did I just read excluding Kuba?

He (Kuba) is a butter soft Euro who is big and about as physical as Sasha Cohen.

I wouldn't mind Sasha Cohen getting physical with me, personally, but that is a good point.

Sarich is not a bad player in limited ice time, but with the new look Tampa defense, he's top four, and he does not impress me in that role.

[GO HABS]

IMO he's a 4th or 5th d-man, so I think he's overpaid.