Contract for Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mattias Ohlund finally revealed

It's been like pulling teeth trying to find out what the Tampa Bay Lightning gave Mattias Ohlund as a free agent, but the numbers have finally dribbled out. The total is $25.25 million over seven years and breaks down like this:

$4 million next season and 2010-11; $5.5 million in 2011-12; $5 million in 2012-13; $3.75 million in 2013-14; $2 million in 2014-15; and $1 million in 2015-16. That works out to a cap hit of $3.607 per season.

So, now that we know the contracts for all players under one-way deals, let's see how the Lightning's payroll breaks down. Remember, this is for players with one-way contracts only. All salaries are in millions.

Player                               Salary     Cap

Vinny Lecavalier                  10          7.727

Ryan Malone                        6           4.5

Mattias Ohlund                     4           3.607

Marty St. Louis                     4           5.25

Andrej Meszaros                   3.25       4

Jeff Halpern                           2           2

Mike Smith                             2           2.2

Lukas Krajicek                      1.475     1.475

Matt Walker                          1.275      1.7

Vinny Prospal                        1.17        1.17*

Paul Ranger                           1.1           .933

Todd Fedoruk                         1.05        1.058

Evgeny Artyukhin                    1              .950

Marc Denis                              1             1*

Victor Hedman                          .900       3.75**

Steven Stamkos                       .875        3.50**

Ryan Craig                                .800         .787

Stephane Veilleux                     .750         .750

David Hale                                .725         .725

Kurtis Foster                             .600         .600

Adam Hall                                  .600         .600

Antero Niittymaki                       .600         .600

Brandon Bochenski                    .550         .525

Matt Smaby                                .500         .525

Zenon Konopka                          .500        .487

Totals                                      46.72     50.394

Note: League salary cap is $56.8 million.

* buyout

** includes possible performance bonuses. 

Lightning re-sign Stewart

The re-signed left wing Karl Stewart to a one-year, two-way contract, general manager Jay Feaster announced in a news release. Stewart, acquired in a trade with Chicago in February, skated in seven games with the Lightning, recording two shots and two penalty minutes. A 5-foot-11, 180-pound native of Aurora, Ontario, Stewart, 24, appeared in 47 NHL games with Tampa Bay, Chicago and Pittsburgh last season, recording two goals, three assists and 47 penalty minutes.

Payroll going down

Not right away but next season if the team doesn't make significant inroads in the playoffs. Team president Ron Campbell said ownership has approved a payroll of $40-million. That is $2-million less than this season's current cap number of $42-million. It is $4-million less than the current league-wide cap. How much less it will be than next season's cap will be determined after the league calculates this season's revenues and sets a new bar.

Campbell said the $40-million number allows the team to keep its star players but also run the business more responsibly. Campbell estimates without a playoff run this season, Palace Sports & Entertainment, the Lightning's parent company, will lose $9-million on its entire Tampa operation.

Even so, there are no plans, Campbell said, to cut salary this season, and the team is looking for ways to improve as it strives to get to the playoffs. The equation changes, of course, if the teammakes a deep playoff run. Then, Campell said, things can be reassessed.

Campbell said the team is not for sale but it cannot sustain such losses. Campbell said the only year the company turned a profit in the city was the 2004 Cup season when it made $3.8-million.

Hey, at least it won't be a fire sale at the trade deadline.