Tampa Bay Signs Richard Petiot

[I_am_Belak_2]

The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed free agent defenseman Richard Petiot (PEH-tee-awt, RIH-chuhrd) to a one-year, two-way contract today, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced.

Petiot, 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, appeared in 66 games with the Oklahoma City Barons last season, recording 15 assists. He was tied for the team lead with a plus-14 rating and tied for fifth among defensemen for assists. Petiot is a veteran of 308 AHL games with Manchester, Toronto, Norfolk, Rockford and Oklahoma City, registering 18 goals and 89 points. He has also skated in 19 career Calder Cup Playoff games, including six with the Barons last season, recording one goal.

A native of Daysland, Alberta, Petiot has played in 15 career NHL games with the Lightning, Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers. He has recorded three career assists with a plus-4 rating. Petiot set career highs with Tampa Bay during the 2008-09 season, notching three assists, 21 penalty minutes and a plus-5 rating in 11 games.

Prior to joining the professional ranks, Petiot played four seasons at Colorado College, recording 11 goals and 33 points in 141 games. He was drafted by the Kings in the fourth round, 116th overall, of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.