Lightning Re-Sign Karl Stewart

[Thrillhouse]

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed left wing Karl Stewart to a one-year, two-way contract, Executive Vice President & General Manager Jay Feaster announced.

Stewart, acquired in a trade with Chicago on February 27, skated in seven games with the Lightning in 2006-07, recording two shots and two penalty minutes. A 5-foot-11, 180-pound native of Aurora, Ontario, Stewart, 24, appeared in 47 NHL games with Tampa Bay, Chicago and Pittsburgh last season, recording two goals, three assists and 47 penalty minutes.

“This will be a very important Training Camp for Karl Stewart,” Feaster said. “This will be his first Camp under John Tortorella and this is where opportunities and jobs are won or lost. He needs to come into Camp in great shape and with a very positive attitude and do the little things that are essential within our system. If he does that he will give himself a chance to stick with the big Club. If not, he provides us with outstanding depth in Norfolk and we know he is knocking on the door of being an NHL regular."

Originally signed as a free agent by Atlanta in 2001, Stewart appeared in 13 games with the Thrashers in 2003-04 and 2005-06 before being traded to Anaheim prior to this season. Pittsburgh then claimed him off waivers from the Ducks on September 27, and Chicago claimed him off waivers from Pittsburgh on October 26.

After three full Ontario Hockey League seasons with the Plymouth Whalers, Stewart joined the Chicago Wolves of the AHL and skated in 220 games with the Wolves in three seasons, recording 48 goals, 106 points and 596 penalty minutes. While in Plymouth, Stewart skated in 201 games from 2000-2003, recording 64 goals, 151 points and 311 penalty minutes. In 42 career OHL Playoff games, he tallied 10 goals, 26 points and 66 penalty minutes.

[Lead]

Tampa Bay will be team to watch next season. Roy, Tarnasky, Gratton, O'Brien and few more guys who loves to play rough style and are not afraid to drop the mitts.
And now they add Stewert. He isnt fighter, but can be a pretty good pest at times.

[danski]

i know Stewart only from when he was on the Wolves and they played the Phantoms in the finals. After only 4 games I hated him, so this must mean he ius effective. Actually I was at the Flyers Blackhawks game last year and he was running everyone on the ice. So yeah, good pick up for the Bolts...I don't know about his fighting skiills but he's good at getting under the skin at least.

[OriginalSix]

I love this guy, he hits everyone he sees.

[Lead]

Originally Posted by OriginalSix

I love this guy, he hits everyone he sees.

Thats true.
He actually did pretty well in Chicago (at least in games, that I watched). Dont know why Hawks decided to get rid of him.