Lightning re-sign forward Cedric Paquette to two-year contract

Tampa Bay Lightning centre Cedric Paquette (13). (Chris O'Meara/AP)

The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed forward Cedric Paquette to a two-year contract, the team announced Friday.

The deal has an average annual value of $1.65 million.

Paquette, 25, recorded 13 goals and 17 points in 80 games for the Lightning last season. The Gaspe, Que., native won 52.6 per cent of faceoffs and posted 61 blocked shots for the Bolts.

Since his NHL debut in 2013, no other Lightning player has more hits than Paquette with 791. He led Tampa Bay in hits last season, posting 269. The forward has 40 goals, 67 points and 303 penalty minutes in 316 NHL games.

Paquette was selected in the fourth round of the 2012 NHL Draft by Tampa Bay, 101st overall.

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