Five-year reward for Palat

Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman completed his offseason to-do list by signing "model player" Ondrej Palat to a $26.5 million, five-year deal.

The Lightning and Palat avoided arbitration and settled on the contract on Friday, with the Czech left winger counting $5.3 million against the salary cap through 2021-22.

The 26-year-old Palat had 17 goals and 35 assists in 75 games last season. He has 74 goals and 144 assists in 307 NHL games and is considered one of the better defensive wingers in hockey.

"His value is probably greater than if you just look at the goals and assists," Yzerman said.

"He's really a complete player. He plays in all situations for us, and he's very effective in all situations. Whether we're on the power play, killing a penalty, 5-on-5, we're up a goal, down a goal, late in the game if it's tied - he's going to be in all those situations, and he plays really hard."

Associated Press