Busy day for defensemen re-upping with their respective clubs.
Not long after the Pens gave Olli Maatta a six-year, $24.4 million extension, Tampa Bay announced it had signed veteran Braydon Coburn to a three-year pact worth $11.1 million, per TSN.
The former eighth overall pick was set to become an unrestricted free agent in July. Coburn’s currently in the last of a four-year, $18 million deal with a $4.5M average annual cap hit -- so he takes a bit of a haircut with this extension, which carries a $3.7M AAV.
The 30-year-old is in his second season with the Bolts, having been acquired from Philadelphia at last year’s deadline. Coburn’s scored nine points through 60 games -- hardly elite offensive production -- but does sit third on the club in hits (90) and blocked shots (69).
At 6-foot-5, 226 pounds, Coburn is an imposing presence on the Lightning defense, though he’s not an especially nasty or physical guy. He’s often paired with a young, raw d-man in Andrej Sustr, and has provided a stabilizing presence at times.
Finally, it’s worth noting that with this extension, Coburn will become the fourth highest-paid Bolts blueliner in terms of cap hit, behind Matt Carle ($5.5M), Anton Stralman ($4.5M) and Victor Hedman ($4M).
Coburn deal also includes full NTC starting now and through first 2 years of the deal; and then limited NTC in the third year
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 26, 2016