Lightning Re-Sign Mitch Fritz

[MattBurger]

The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed left wing Mitch Fritz to a two-way contract, Executive Vice President and General Manager Jay Feaster announced today.

"We are very pleased to have Mitch under contract for another season. As we have told him in the past, if he is able to continue to improve his skating and demonstrate the ability to contribute consistently on an every shift basis, he will become an NHL regular,” Feaster said. “He is, pound for pound, one of the strongest players in professional hockey and he creates room for his teammates every time he steps on the ice. We need that type of physical presence in Tampa and we look forward to seeing Mitch in camp and determining whether he has continued to elevate his overall game to the NHL level."

Fritz, 6-foot-8, 258-pounds, played in 69 games with the Lightning’s top affiliate, the Springfield Falcons, in 2005-06. He scored six goals and added five assists while leading the team in penalty minutes with 212. He was also named winner of Yanick Durpé Award as the American Hockey League's Man of the Year for his contributions to his local community and charitable organizations.

A native of Osoyoos, British Columbia, Fritz has played in 160 career games in the AHL with Springfield, Worcester, Milwaukee, St. John, Hamilton and Lowell. He has scored 10 career goals and recorded 18 points with 525 penalty minutes. He has also appeared in 184 East Coast Hockey League games and scored 13 goals with 36 points.

Fritz, 25, signed with the Lightning as a free agent on August 5, 2005.

[Humpzilla]

F'n excellent news!

I just hope Big Snake or Bootland play in the Redwings preseason games, just so that I can watch Fritz drop the gloves with someone.

Does anyone know which heavyweight fighters Dallas has in their system?

[Blouin]

Good move to resign him. Probably starting in the AHL

[Podollan]

Originally Posted by Humpzilla

F'n excellent news!

I just hope Big Snake or Bootland play in the Redwings preseason games, just so that I can watch Fritz drop the gloves with someone.

Does anyone know which heavyweight fighters Dallas has in their system?

BJ Crombeen and maybe barch .

[oldtimegoodtime]

Wow, this is great news!

[MattBurger]

ESPN.com got the terms of the deal wrong. It's a Two-way contract, not a two-year deal. Here's the official press release from Tampabaylightning.com...

LIGHTNING RE-SIGN LW MITCH FRITZ
7/14/2006
The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed left wing Mitch Fritz to a two-way contract, Executive Vice President and General Manager Jay Feaster announced today.

"We are very pleased to have Mitch under contract for another season. As we have told him in the past, if he is able to continue to improve his skating and demonstrate the ability to contribute consistently on an every shift basis, he will become an NHL regular,” Feaster said. “He is, pound for pound, one of the strongest players in professional hockey and he creates room for his teammates every time he steps on the ice. We need that type of physical presence in Tampa and we look forward to seeing Mitch in camp and determining whether he has continued to elevate his overall game to the NHL level."

Fritz, 6-foot-8, 258-pounds, played in 69 games with the Lightning’s top affiliate, the Springfield Falcons, in 2005-06. He scored six goals and added five assists while leading the team in penalty minutes with 212. He was also named winner of Yanick Durpé Award as the American Hockey League's Man of the Year for his contributions to his local community and charitable organizations.

A native of Osoyoos, British Columbia, Fritz has played in 160 career games in the AHL with Springfield, Worcester, Milwaukee, St. John, Hamilton and Lowell. He has scored 10 career goals and recorded 18 points with 525 penalty minutes. He has also appeared in 184 East Coast Hockey League games and scored 13 goals with 36 points.

Fritz, 25, signed with the Lightning as a free agent on August 5, 2005.

http://tampabaylightning.com/tbl/prd...413&category=2

[Humpzilla]

It figures that ESPN would **** something like this up...

Honestly, I actually think that Fitz's chances are fairly good for him to see at least 2-3 NHL games this season, especially after the dominating year he had in the AHL this season. All us fight fans can hope for is an injury plauged Bolts season, along with a diminished amount of wins.

[BGDDYKWL]

Any realistic chance of this guy getting significant time with the big club?

[Humpzilla]

Originally Posted by BGDDYKWL

Any realistic chance of this guy getting significant time with the big club?

To me, it all depends on the season-long health of Dimitri Afanasenkov and Eugeni Artukhin (who has yet to be signed).

If either of the two face any injury problems at any point this year, look for Fritz to be taking shifts and throwing down for the Bolts next season.

Then again, i wouldn't be surprised if Fritz gets dressed just because Artukhin brings on more trouble than what Vincent Lecavalier can do anything about...

[BGDDYKWL]

It just sucks that it's such a soft division. That can't help his chances.

[Humpzilla]

Originally Posted by BGDDYKWL

It just sucks that it's such a soft division. That can't help his chances.

Well his chances weren't good at all last year. But after Mitch dominating the American Hockey League like he did, him winning the AHL "Man of the year" award, and after the Bolts being pushed around and knocked out in the playoffs by the Senators like the girls that they are -- I think Fritz's chances of being dressed are much greater for this upcoming NHL season.

[BGDDYKWL]

That's true. You'd think the top guy from the AHL would at least have a shot.

[Humpzilla]

Originally Posted by BGDDYKWL

That's true. You'd think the top guy from the AHL would at least have a shot.

Yeah, you'd truly think so. But, with the exception of the Redwings, the Tampa Bay Lightning have to be the biggest lovers of the speed and finesse style in the National Hockey League. Now, Of course, when they get knocked out of the playoffs in the first round again next year, well then maybe they'll begin to think with the hockey sense that they and everyone used before the lockout.

[spiderarms]

I suspect that Mitch Fritz is not the only Enforcer to sign a two-way contract. I suspect that the contracts signed by MCG, ORR, Boogey and others are two-ways as well. No one has confirmed or denied this to date. What this means is that teams are not commiting to have a more physical game this year over last year.

[dp]

Originally Posted by BGDDYKWL

Any realistic chance of this guy getting significant time with the big club?

"As we have told him in the past, if he is able to continue to improve his skating and demonstrate the ability to contribute consistently on an every shift basis, he will become an NHL regular,” Feaster said.



Pretty simple, if he improves his skating and his game, "he will become an NHL regular.”