TAMPA, Fla. (AP)All-Star center Steven Stamkos(notes) signed a five-year, $37.5million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, two months afterhelping the team make a surprising run to Phil Esposito Jersey Black the Eastern Conference finals.                                                                                                                                                            Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman announced the deal, saying that eventhough the deal took several Tim Thomas Official Jersey months to come together that there never Bruins Tim Thomas Authentic Jersey was adoubt that Stamkosa restricted free agentwould remain with the team.I never even thought of looking anywhere else, the 21-year-old Stamkossaid, Ray Bourque Jersey Yellow adding that contract negotiations were a learning experience.It was interesting. I think it went along a little longer than I wouldhave Cam Neely Official Jersey expected, or maybe the team or a lot of people expected, he added. Butat the end of the day, it was something that I never really lost any sleepover.Yzerman called Stamkos extremely competitive, and said he Bruins Tyler Seguin Authentic Jersey envisions himdeveloping into an even better player.Hes played three years in the league and his best years are ahead ofhim, Yzerman said. Hes a very committed player, very serious about what Authentic Bobby Orr Jersey hedoes.The Markham, Ontario, native played in all 164 games during the previous twoseasons for the Lightning, leading the NHL with 96 goals. He has also recorded186 points and 41 power-play goals while averaging more than 20 minutes of icetime per game during that span.Stamkos, the Bruins Cam Neely Authentic Jersey No. 1 overall pick in the Authentic Milan Lucic Jersey 2008 draft, had 45 goals17 Tyler Seguin Jersey Green on thepower playand 91 points last season.We considered various lengths of contract, Yzerman said. We feel likefive years Bruins Phil Esposito Premier Jersey is a long time, Tyler Seguin Jersey Black and a lot Premier Bobby Orr Jersey of things David Krejci Jersey Yellow can change over the course of afive-year period. It just seemed like a comfortable number.

 BUFFALO, Bruins Ray Bourque Premier Jersey N.Y. (AP)Veteran goaltender Patrick Lalime(notes) retired on Wednesdayafter playing for five teams across 12 seasons.Lalime, 37, who played in 444 games and finished with a 200-174-48 record,will become an analyst on Ottawa Bobby Orr Jersey Black Senators television broadcasts. He played fiveseasons in Ottawa, and last played with Buffalo Bruins Phil Esposito Authentic Jersey in Bruins Marc Savard Premier Jersey seven games last season.                                                                                                                                                            He has a career 2.58 Bruins Tyler Seguin Premier Jersey goals-against average and a .905 save percentage. Healso played for Chicago, St. Louis and Pittsburgh.In 2002-03, the Quebec native won 39 games and Phil Esposito Jersey White led Ottawa to the EasternConference finals, where the Senators Tim Thomas Jersey Green lost to New Jersey in seven games.

  BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP)The Buffalo Sabres avoided going to arbitration byre-signing defenseman Andrej Sekera(notes) to a four-year, $11-million contract Patrice Bergeron Official Jersey onTuesday.Terms of the deal were Patrice Bergeron Jersey Green provided to The Associated Press by two peoplefamiliar with contract, who Authentic Nathan Horton Jersey spoke to The Associated Press on the condition ofanonymity because the Premier Terry O'Reilly Jersey Sabres have not disclosed its Premier Nathan Horton Jersey length and value. Thecontract is front-loaded, with Bruins Patrice Bergeron Authentic Jersey Sekera set to Tim Thomas Jersey Black make $4.25 million this season,$3.25 million in 2012-13 and $1.75 million in each of the David Krejci Jersey Black final two years,according to one of the people.General manager Darcy Regier said Sekeras contract averaged out to what heexpected the player would receive had the two sides gone to arbitration. Inexchange for avoiding arbitration, the Sabres have the advantage of spreadingout Authentic Terry O'Reilly Jersey the cost over a longer term.