Lightning signs goalie Smith to 2-year extension

The Lightning announced it has signed goaltender Mike Smith to a two-year contract extension that begins in 2009-10 and pays $2-million and $2.4-million. Smith, next season, will finish off a two-year contract and earn $950,000.

Here's more from the team's announcement:

“It goes without saying that Mike has a bright future in the Lightning organization,” vice president of hockey operations Brian Lawton said.  “It is important in our plan to have locked up Mike, along with Ollie, to solidify our goaltending situation this season and beyond.”

Smith, 6-foot-3, 211 pounds, appeared in 13 games with the Lightning last season and posted a 2.79 goals-against average, an .893 save percentage and one shutout. Prior to being acquired by Tampa Bay he posted a 12-9-0 record with a .906 save percentage and a 2.46 save percentage with Dallas.  He was named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week for the week of November 19-25 after posting a 3-0-0 record with a .963 save percentage and a 1.00 goals-against average.

The native of Kingston, Ontario was named to the 2006-07 NHL All-Rookie Team after posting a 12-5-2 record with a .912 save percentage and a 2.23 goals-against average.  He was the first goaltender in Dallas history to record a shutout in his first NHL game on October 21 at Phoenix.  He was twice named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week (2/12, 11/26).

The 26-year-old has played in 57 career NHL games with Dallas and Tampa Bay with a 27-24-0 record.  He has a career .905 save percentage, a 2.45 goals-against average and six shutouts.

Smith was acquired by the Lightning from Dallas with Jeff Halpern, Jussi Jokinen, and a fourth-round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Brad Richards and Johan Holmqvist on February 26, 2008.  He was drafted by Dallas in the fifth-round, 161st overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

Comments

[Nate Dogg]

GP, Please...I wouldn't use my claws on fellow Bolt bloggers. I was just talking about myself...sadly, all my work is done...*breaks out into tears*

What?

[GP]

Haha. I love how this guy thinks I'm interested in you! Good stuff.

I'm really not gay. But this is funny!

[GP]

Roommate? I just wrote I was at work. You're not very good at this. argh?? lol yes, you definitely have my number ... you got me .. please stop ... you win .... ha ha.

If you want my logon you can have it. I bet you I could write under a different logon and everyone would still know who I am.

Why are you not in bed? Do I need to go downtown and find your mom? I'm sure she would be seriously mad at you if your immaturity stopped her from performing a 5 dollar gummer.

[GP (The Real one)]

Thanks for sticking up for me so much Leo. It sure means a lot to me that you care about me. This guy is a loser and you're a very nice person. But he is just a jerk. Let's ignore him.

[GP]

I never wrote any of that stuff! I am so upset right now! I am extremely frustrated! argh!!!!! my roomate and i can not figure out why this person is doing this to me! I'm not crying people cause I'm stronger than that. But it's close. So please stop. :(

[GP]

Nate Dogg,

We're not cool for writing on here at 1am? Damn. I was trying so hard. lol

Actually, this is how I pass the time at work.

Thanks Leo.

[léo]

Hey child,
We all know who's who.
You're just embarrassing yourself.
So take my name and post some stupidities under it if it makes you feel better. Just like all real men do, right?
I know GP.
And you child, are no GP. Not even on the best day of your life.
So do your thing like the child that you are and begone.
Little boy.
Little child.
Cuz that's all you're good for.

[Nate Dogg]

Wow...writing under someone else's name...now THAT is reaaaly cool! And I thought I was cool for writing on here at 1 am....

[Twinebulge]

The funny thing is...see...if you're right in the middle of pouring out a glass and suddenly stop, that glass is not all the way empty; it's half empty. If you're filling the glass and stop halfway through, that glass is half full.

Happy to have cleared that up.

[GP (The One and Only)]

Like I said, I guess your daddy milkshake left you a few IQ points short. Grow a set and get your own login. Stop hijacking mine.

[Nate Dogg]

Merci pour tout, Leo

[GP (The Real one)]

I'm sorry for all my posts people. I just have some mental issues. I have a multy personality disorder so I'm very sorry people. I like to talk hockey only and I don't mess around like this, but it's just due to my disorder. I just like to pick fights with Jake (one of my other personalities). Sorry.

[léo]

That's right, GP.
Yer nuthin' if you don't follow through. I like to think I follow through. And I REFUSE to hide after going kabunk. That's not what the CH stands for.
GP could've lain in the shadows, worried he might say something I would tear into with St-Flannelle abandon, but he stood up for his team, vehemently I might add, and the final result PROVED his team was better than mine when it counted most. GP PAID for his Bash Leo ticket and he's fully entitled to use it. A full friggin' year's worth!
All the rest of yehs ain't. Not until you PROVE me wrong.
Rick,
What kind of "coheirent" sense do you want me to make?
Pete,
Whaaa? 17, whaaa? I don't get it.
Boltsfan,
You TOTALLY agree with me but I'm negative? Well, what are you? I don't get that either. Was it a compliment? I dunno!
Mikey,
I'm not grouchy at all. It's just that if I say something "that's not completely rosey", I'm grouchy and "bashing" your team. When y'all say it, it's, hey, good insight. No,no,no,Mikey. I'm always me: a little goofy, occasionally smarmy, always attuned.
So lemme turn it around, Leo-haters,
All yehs who like me?
Y'all are ACES in my book!
ACES!
And I'm telling everyone in Mtl how great all yehs are and how privileged I am to be allowed to share this blog with such fine, upstanding, hockey-lovin' folks.
Je vous aime!
Peace.

[GP (The Real one)]

Hey Loser,

You are making me laugh. You're like a piece of crap computer virus or a fly on sh*t. You must be like 13 years old. Just to inform you since your daddy or daddies probably left you before you were born ... those are called pubic haris. Your voice will change soon and you'll even start to think girls are no longer icky. I'm surprised you were able to post that fast since I thought you only had dial up in trailer parks.

This will be my last post so go f yourself and please stop touching your sister. It's not healthy.

[GP]

wait, yes i did write that, my bad.

[GP]

OMG, i totally did NOT write that just now.

[GP]

I actually don't know alot about hockey. I have had too many drinks tonight. So sorry i'm playing the dr. jenkal and mr. hyde game tonight.

[GP]

Yeah, bc I wrote that. Exactly why no one will listen to you. Talk hockey or leave.

[GP]

I'm a dousche bag

[GP]

That's right because Lightning fans can only talk Lightning and hockey. I believe Leo is a fan of V4. Not enough? Sign your name next time so I know who the moral authority of this blog is.

PD is a bozo pesimist too...talk positively and even some realist thoughts are perfectly fine...so have no problem with that, but constant negativity is not what anyone cares about...

leo can't even make coherent sense....sounds like a troll to me....doesn't even belong on the Lightning board if he's not a Lightning fan....period.

[GP]

For everyone who wants to trash Leo:

Take him on. If you think he is wrong then prove him wrong. Leo can be annoying at times but he has a lot of hockey knowledge. He can also be humbled.

Leo knows I have his number! He is afraid! I have seen some of the others hand it to him as well on here .... ajax & some others. I'd much rather blog with people who have hockey knowledge rather than just "Tampa" knowledge.

Let's see what some of you new guys have ... take him on. For the guy who asked what team is Leo's team .... umm ... you must be new. I'll give you a hint .... this team wants V4 more than any other team and the Flyers made their summer plans arrive much earlier than they expected.

[Don in St. Pete]

Ajax, Good point about the speed. Jokinen definitely has the speed, as do Marty, Vinny, Vrbata and Stamkos. That is one of the reasons I was hoping they would resign Darche, even if it was to a 2 way contract as he was our best forechecker and our best defensive forward in the second half last year, and he was fast. Artyukhin is fast for a big guy and that will help. I think Recchi still moved pretty good for a senior. I do worry about those guys together on the checking line though.

[Boltflasher]

Pessimism, from the Latin pessimus (worst), is the decision to evaluate, perceive and view life in a generally negative light. Value judgments may vary dramatically between individuals, even when judgments of fact are undisputed. The most common example of this phenomenon is the "Is the glass half empty or half full?" situation. The degree in which situations like these are evaluated as something good or something bad can be described in terms of one's optimism or pessimism respectively....neither is necessarily realistic...

[Boltflasher]

PD, a realist will recognize the good, the bad, and the mediocre. All we hear from you is the bad, the doom and gloom, the what ifs on the dark side, e.g., "if Vinny gets hurt....", what if he doesn't?

[ajax]

Maybe it is a fad, the rollercoaster of hockey, but without a doubt the teams that are succeeding "right now" are the teams that can skate with the wind. Kubina was clutch and grab and TG we had him when it was legal (same with Capt. Dave) I hope they give Jokinen more time, he has a prerequisite of NHL hockey 2008, speed. Many of the bubble playes don't and if they are going to keep Roberts and Recchi for PPlay etc we better not just have forwards 7-12 being brutes. Now, I do think they need to have at least one monster in front of the net for the penalty kill. But not one making 5 million who is a liability 5/5. Smaby ain't the answer either. Put Kuba on some high dose, rip your head off steroids.

[Don in St. Pete]

It was brought on Jon Jordan's blog than in speaking with one of the Lightning owners or Brian Lawton, that they decided against trying to sign Jason Smith as they felt he'd lost a step. Kubina has the same type of speed as Jason Smith, slow and slower. Apparently they want a faster, more mobile guy.

[LightningRod]

I saw Kubina play in person, the night he got hurt in 07 of last year in an exhibition game. Boy was I shocked. He looked soooo sloooowww it was sad; and after someone blew around him and scored a goal he pulled one of his typical boneheaded moves. He cross-checked another player across the face; and started a fight and then he promptly pulled a Kenny Lindsmen. That is you let others do the fighting after you start them. The Rat was one of the best at it; and much smarter than Kubina to. I can't remember if they threw him out of the game or not; but the other team scored on the major power play that he caused. At one time Kubina was an ok top 4 defenseman; but today he is basically a backup at best. When you add in the penalties he gets from the stupid stuff, like crosschecking a player in the face, he's basically useless. No, I take that back, he's a detriment.

[ajax]

Kubina is not worth 5 million even if it were monopoly money. Sometimes I think the word "value" is lost in all the signings. So much joy over just signing some name players versus the classic "30 year old European rookies" of the past. To let Boyle go and sign Kubina would be kwazy for sure. Maybe Hollywood is Steinbrenner and Cuban rolled into one. Let's hope. I have seen more than a few comments about Marty the past week. Marty will be making (only) a total of 2.5 million more than Prospal over the next three years. That is the definition of value. Any type of trade that suggests Marty be part of the deal for Kubina or Kaberle is insanity. We need D but not at any (huge) expense. At Marty's bargain basement price you better get an awful lot in return. Value.

[PD]

Thats the price of a top 2 D who can play at both ends and handle the powerplay. Boyle did two of those things not three.

[Mike13]

Why get rid of Boyle at 6.67 and then bring in Kubina for 5. Doesn't make sense...

[Mike13]

Those Leo posts don't seem like Leo to me. Maybe he's just grouchy today.

[Slapnuts]

You are right Rick we aren't making the decisions for the teams...Still ain't gonna happen. If it does drinks are on me.

[BoltsFan91]

Ok truthfully I'm getting tired of Leo talking trash about the Lightning and the fans in the area, but, he makes a very good point, there are certain positions in a hockey club that you have to be pretty much perfect to play or be apart of an organization. Goalie is one of those positions and to be a good goalie need to have speed and agility, but you also need CONSISTENCY and without a goalie that is truly consistent(like Smith) you have to have a defence to back it up. I'm not saying that Smitty sucks but he has yet to prove to me that he is consistent. Just like with Khabibulin. The Bulin Wall wasn't and still isn't consistent, but when he was slacking he always had a good top 2 defense standing in front of him. Right now we truly don't. Our first pair as of right now will most likely be Carle and Ranger. Carle, what I have seen of him, seems like a pretty good defender. But Ranger on the other hand isn't quite yet cut out to be a number 1 defenseman. Back in '04 we had a good top two defensemen team with, Kubina and Sarich. And Boyle stepped up alot during that season. I am a HUGE Lightning fan, but before I get my hopes up, we really need a good defenseman to line up with Carle. So Leo, I have to say that you are totally right about all of what you said right there.

Black and Blue 4 Life

[Rick]

We'll see slapnuts. You could be right. Just remember, you and I aren't making the decisions for the teams...

[kincaid]

Another Joe Smith best since at Habby.Guess his dreadfull 3-11 Bolts record knocks you sox off.

[Slapnuts]

Good luck trying to get Seabrook from the Hawks ain't gonna happen...Especially with the garbage the Lightning are trying to get rid of. And yes Seebs is a #2 in Chicago.

[PD]

Heh Rick what did Leo say that was negative? If you can't take a whiff of reality without lashing out then the bubble Rays are for you.

This blog belongs to the realists too.
You know, the Yin and the Yang.

I've said the same thing as Leo..this isn't necessarily a better team YET, after losing Boyle and Richards..how could it be? Its a different team but Volume ain't quality.

Roberts and Recchi.. please

No top 2 dman..please Only 1 dman with 3 years experience.

An unproven goalie and a declining one..please

Get a grip people, Leo was just the voice of the obvious. Doesn't mean he is giving up any more than I am.
Just more to be done.

Steve, Kubina is easily better than anyD man we have. I doubt that you have seen him play much for awhile. At 5 mill he is priced just about right.

I agree Steve. Kubina is probably not a top 2 d-man and is definitily overpaid. But he sure is an upgrade over what we have now. Sooner or later something's gotta give....before all the quality defensemen are gone via trade to other teams... I like the idea of Seabrook - cheaper, younger, more upside, less injury prone.

But no question these sites start rumors just for the sake of starting rumors...

[Pete]

I agree Rick.
Leo, you blabber not making alot of sense. Go to your teams board !
And how young ? 17 ? geezz..
Carle & Ranger will be ok. not great but will learn.

[Steve R]

Leo's ok in my book, he seems to be a fan of the game. Would be better if he would dump the Habs and root for the other team in red, white and blue (hint: not Columbus or the Rangers).

[ajax]

It will never happen, but Teddy Nolan would rock Tampa. The guy is a heck of a hockey coach.

[Don in St. Pete]

Here's the link for the blog I saw the Kubina rumour on.

http://my.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=5766&user_id=1963

[Rick]

Leo, why are you even on this site if you're not a Lightning fan with your mostly negative attitudes? We really don't care what you have to say if you're not a Lightning fan. Much of your posts don't even make coheirent sense as far as meaning in complete sentences. I suggest you go to a board of your own team, whoever that may be...

[Bobby]

Don & Rick -

I've just been buzzing about on several different blogs, message boards, newspaper websites, etc. I saw the Jokinen rumor two or three different places, but didn't make note of exactly where.

Mind you I realize blogs and message boards aren't always the best places to find accurate info, but I digress... let me see if I can re-trace my steps and I'll get back to you.

[Steve]

Kubina is not a top 2 defenseman and is way overpaid, even in today's market. Please keep him away from Tampa. Eklund on Hockey Buzz is entertaining, but is rarely right on his trade rumors, so I'm not expecting to get Seabrook, though it would be nice. We obviously will make a move for a defenseman at some point, so I'm sure Eklund will keep throwing us out there hoping it sticks.

[léo]

Yeah Rod, I read it.
And when I reach your venerable age, I hope to have half of your elegance.
But that's a long time from now. Me, it's about what've you done for me lately, or in this case, for YOU lately.
I don't care what Kouliwood does. I'm not interested in the "path" that management has had to carve out for itslef. I have no interest what potentiality certain players "can" bring to the team. All I care about is the bottom line. What's gonna be on the ice. And is the outlook of the present going to affect the outlook for the future and how much, if so, you're willing to sacrifice it for The Prize, which is the Only and Ultimate reason to play the game.
For whatever reason, that passionate ideal has become a Business. Well then, Business it is. Cuz no one wants The Prize any less.
So here it is, brass tacks, no mercy,
You need TWO solid, experienced D-men, not one.
Cuz despite all the changes this year? This team CLOSELY resembles the team you had last year. Great job, Kouliwood, ok. But how great? How great, Rod? You got no D. And as much as I, personally, like Smith, he is still suspect, or let us say unproven. And welcome to the NHL, Stammy, eh?
The Duckies can look behind them and say, "we'll be ok".
Can you say the same? Cuz I, personally doubt it. And I don't care if I hurt anybody's feelings doing it. It's what I think; might be wrong; whadoo I know?; but there it is anyway.
Tell you one thing, once OK starts to drag, he'll be gone and someone else who can do the job will be in. And once THAT guy starts to drag, HE'LL be gone and so on and so forth. Do the job or begone witya.
Lookit Feaster. In 5 years, 4 series participations and a Cup. That's pretty dang good. But he dragged and now he's gone and that's it.
You lay it all out there, Rod? Well, I blast it out there. I'm an explosion of icendiary propositions, baby! MUCH more fun!
But hey, I'm young.
Sir.
P.

[Andrzej]

Smart Red Wings signed excellent goalie, Ty Conklin, for $700,000.