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By JOANNE KORTH
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 1, 2001
The Lightning signed restricted free agent Andrei Zyuzin to a two-year contract, general manager Rick Dudley announced Tuesday.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound defenseman will make $850,000 this season.
Zyuzin, 23, was acquired two years ago in a trade with San Jose, which made him the No. 2 overall pick in the 1996 draft. He had 4 goals, 16 assists and 76 penalty minutes in 64 games last season.
"We saw signs toward the end of last year that he was starting to be the player we all know he's capable of being," Dudley said. "He's just a huge talent. Any time a defenseman can bring the puck up the ice with that kind of speed it puts great pressure on your opponent."
The Lightning has six restricted free agents yet to sign: forwards Kaspars Astashenko and Vincent Lecavalier, and defensemen Mike Jones, Mikko Kuparinen, Marek Posmyk and Cory Sarich.
HURRICANES: Center Rod Brind'Amour has agreed to another season with Carolina at his current salary of $4.25-million.
FLYERS: Defenseman Andy Delmore was traded to the Predators for a third-round pick in the 2002 entry draft.
CANUCKS: Restricted free-agent forwards Denis Pederson and Josh Holden re-signed to one-year contracts.
SABRES: Defenseman Rhett Warrener, in the running to be team captain, signed a one-year deal.
STARS: Right wing Jamie Langenbrunner signed a one-year contract for a reported $1.4-million.
PENGUINS: Goaltender Jean-Sebastien Aubin and right wing Aleksey Morozov, a pair of restricted free agents, agreed to contracts. Terms were not disclosed.
DUCKS: Center Matt Cullen and goaltender Gregg Naumenko were re-signed to one-year deals.
-- Informatioin from the Associated Press was used in this report.