Aug 6, 2007, 21:05 GMT
Tampa, FL - Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Craig was awarded a one-year, $850,000 deal through arbitration on Monday.
The only Lightning player to file for arbitration this offseason, Craig had been seeking a one-year contract worth $1.2 million. The Lightning had asked the arbitrator to award him $650,000 for one year. The 25-year-old center has scored 29 goals and tallied 26 assists in 120 career NHL games.
'We appreciate the fact that the arbitrator weighed all the evidence presented and awarded what we believe is a very reasonable contract for this player,' said Lightning general manager Jay Feaster. 'We had consistently discussed a negotiated arrangement with Ryan that always had us starting at the $750,000 mark and we believe the award in this case is consistent with our thinking. The good news is that Ryan will now be under contract for the 2007-08 season and the amount of the award will not force our hand in terms of having to move the player.'
Tampa Bay has now secured all its restricted free agents for the 2007-08 season.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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