TAMPA (CP) - First Vincent Lecavalier. Now Martin St. Louis.
The Tampa Bay Lightning locked up their second marquee player, signing St. Louis to $31.5-million US, six year-deal.
''I'm just happy that the Lightning have found a way to keep me long-term,'' St. Louis said Wednesday. ''Tampa was always my first choice, I've had so many good things happen to me in Tampa.''
St. Louis, 30, won the Hart Trophy in 2003-04 after recording 38 goals and 56 assists in 82 games. He had nine goals and 15 assists in 23 playoff games last year, helping Tampa Bay win its first Stanley Cup.
''I've said it many times in the past and I continue to maintain that Martin St. Louis is the heart and soul of our hockey team,'' Lightning GM Jay Feaster said in a statement. ''Dating all the way back to the summer of 2004, there was never a moment when we were not firmly committed as an organization to getting Marty signed long-term.''
On Aug. 16, Lecavalier signed for $27.5 million over four years. The size of that deal cut into the Lightning's salary-cap room, but the team still found a way to sign the pocket-sized sniper St. Louis.
''It's a tough new business with a cap and everything and I think we're a team that's been hurt the most by it,'' St. Louis said. While Tampa does have its two offensive stars locked up long-term, the Lightning did lose goalie Nikolai Khabibulin to Chicago.
''The fact that (St. Louis) was willing to take less and give up the chance to explore unrestricted free agency demonstrates his commitment to our team, his teammates, our franchise and our incredible fans,'' said Feaster.
Another big challenge for Feaster will come after this season. Brad Richards will become a restricted free agent after earning $3.4 million this season. He can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2007.
St. Louis, a five-foot-nine, 185-pound native of Laval, Que., has 109 goals and 150 assists in 364 career regular-season games.
''I don't mind if I'm in Tampa for the rest of my career and I retire here - I really have no problem with that,'' St. Louis said. ''It came down to trying to get a fair deal and I think both sides are really happy.''