TAMPA (CP) - Dave Andreychuk is putting off retirement for a while.
The veteran of 22 NHL seasons re-signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, agreeing on a two-year deal.
Andreychuk, who will turn 42 on Sept. 29, won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 2004, after 1,597 regular-season games and 162 playoff contests. There was speculation he would retire on top, especially after the lockout wiped out last season.
But Lightning general manager Jay Feaster - who signed Martin St. Louis to a six-year deal on Wednesday - wanted to keep Andreychuk around.
''Dave Andreychuk walked into our locker-room four seasons ago and helped us find our way,'' Feaster said in a release. ''He helped our young players grow and develop and mature more quickly and he helped establish an expectation level in terms of expecting to win each and every night through hard work and commitment. ...
''Having his veteran presence back in our locker-room and his perennial 20-goal contribution on the ice are huge factors in helping us attempt to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.''
Andreychuk joined the Lightning in 2001-02, taking over as captain the next year.
The six-foot-four, 220-pound winger was a big part of Tampa's Stanley Cup run, scoring 21 goals with 18 assists in 82 games during the regular season and adding a goal and 13 assists in 23 contests during the playoffs.
The Hamilton native is second all-time among left-winger with 634 goals, 686 assists and 1,320 points and is seventh in games played.
Andreychuk has also played for Buffalo, Toronto, New Jersey, Boston and Colorado during his career, posting a pair of 50-goal seasons for the Maple Leafs in 1992-93 and 1993-94.