Lightning Sign Brandon Bochenski

[ScottRasner]

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed unrestricted free agent Brandon Bochenski to a two-year contract today, owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie announced.

“Brandon is a proven player at the AHL level with more than 100 games of experience in the NHL,” vice president of hockey operations Brian Lawton said. “Adding him for the next two years continues to address our need to build organizational depth.”

Bochenski, 6-foot-1, 187 pounds, played in 40 games with Boston, Anaheim and Nashvile last season. He totaled three goals and 13 points in those games. He began the season with Boston and played in 20 games, recording six assists. He was traded to Anaheim on January 2 in exchange for Shane Hnidy and a sixth-round pick. Bochenski played in 12 games with the Ducks and scored two goals with a total of four points. He was sent to Nashville on February 26 in exchange for future considerations. He netted one goal and recorded three points in eight games with the Predators. He also played in three playoff games with Nashville.

A native of Blaine, Minnesota, Bochenski has played in 121 career NHL games with Nashville, Anaheim, Boston, Chicago and Ottawa. He has amassed 24 goals, 54 points, six power-play goals and two game-winning goals. In 2006-07 he established career highs for games played (41), goals (13), assists (11), points (24), power-play goals (3) and game-winning goals (2) with Boston and Chicago. Bochenski also represented the United States in the 2007 IIHF World Championships, recording two goals and five points in seven games.

Bochenski has played in 145 career American Hockey League games, including two last season with the Providence Bruins. He has averaged more than a point per game during his AHL career, scoring 90 goals and recording 183 points. He has also appeared in nine Calder Cup Playoff games, netting two goals and registering three points.

The 26-year-old played three seasons at the University of North Dakota from 2001-2004. He skated in 120 games with the Fighting Sioux, recording 79 goals and 154 points. In 2003-04 he was named a top 10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the nation’s top college player after ranking second in the nation with 60 points. He led North Dakota in scoring in each of his final two seasons in 2002-03 and 2003-04. Bochenski was also named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team in 2001-02.

Bochenski was drafted by Ottawa in the seventh round, 223rd overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

[NJDevils17]

How many forwards does Tampa Bay need?!

[chilly666]

i bet he ends up in norfolk

[caps05]

The link doesn't work anymore.

[FightingIsGood]

Try this one: http://nhlpa.com/WebStats/PlayerBiography.asp?ID=24860

And the Bolts' quest to sign every FA forward in the NHL continues.

[ScottRasner]

Originally Posted by caps05

The link doesn't work anymore.

Sorry Caps, Edited with the new one.

Originally Posted by FightingIsGood

Try this one: http://nhlpa.com/WebStats/PlayerBiography.asp?ID=24860

And the Bolts' quest to sign every FA forward in the NHL continues.

Thanks buddy for the link.

[Grittzkey]

*scratches head*

he couldn't hack it anywhere he has played so far.. why would you want him.

[Sukoshi84]

he'll spend about 90% of his time in Norfolk

[silverback]

Originally Posted by Grittzkey

*scratches head*

he couldn't hack it anywhere he has played so far.. why would you want him.

I wouldn't say that 54 points in 121 NHL games qualifies as not being able to hack it. Plus, this is likely a move for Norfolk and in the AHL he has put up pretty ridiculous numbers.

[Killah_punk]

Someone should start a forum on which forward will Tampa sign next. This is getting crazy, I wonder what's the record for most signings in one offseason by a team (non expansion team) in the NHL.

[antonio106]

He was my leading goal scorer on the Sens in NHL '06 [or was it '05?], and so I was always anxious to see the call up.

Hope he can hack it on that top tier club, under the microscope in florida...

[Grittzkey]

Originally Posted by silverback

I wouldn't say that 54 points in 121 NHL games qualifies as not being able to hack it. Plus, this is likely a move for Norfolk and in the AHL he has put up pretty ridiculous numbers.

Ok, He doesn't overly excell in any aspect of the game, which is the reason he's been tossed around from Ottawa,Chicago,Boston,Anaheim,Nashville and Tampa. all that since the 05-06 Season.. Numbers can be deceiving and i think thats what the previous teams figured out.

[Isles4life]

Another one? What's going on down there?