Breaking: Lightning sign veteran netminder to a two-year deal

It’s official, the Tampa Bay Lightning have signed goaltender Peter Budaj to a two-year contract. The news had been rumored for awhile, but today’s announcement makes it official. 

The 34 year-old Slovakian had a renaissance season in 2016-17 split between the Lightning and the Los Angeles Kings. In 53 games with the Kings filling in for an injured Jonathan Quick, Budaj posted 27 wins and a 2.12 GAA and .917 Sv%. He played only seven games for the Lightning after being acquired in the Ben Bishop trade, but evidently showed enough to earn a new contract from general manager Steve Yzerman.

It’s expected that Budaj will suit up in a back up role next season behind young starter Andrei Vasilevsky.