TAMPA BAY, Fla. - Free agent defenceman Matt Carle signed a six-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday.
Carle is coming off a season where he had four goals and 34 assists while averaging 23:01 minutes per game with the Philadelphia Flyers. He led Philly in blocked shots with 164.
It's a return to Tampa Bay for Carle, who was traded to the Lightning by San Jose exactly four years ago to the day.
The six-foot, 205-pound Alaska native only played 12 games with the Bolts before being traded to Philadelphia early in the 2008-09 season.
Carle has 32 goals, 202 points and a plus-55 rating in 471 career NHL games.
He has played in 84 career playoff games, recording five goals and 35 points.
The 27-year-old was drafted 47th overall by San Jose in the 2003 draft.
© The Canadian Press, 2013