Keith Aulie Photo by Linda Hamilton

Bolts’ GM Steve Yzerman is checking things off his to do list well before free agency opens tomorrow. Goalie? Check. Depth forwards? Check. Defensemen? Check. Just days after issuing qualifying offers to 4 of their young restricted free agents, three of them have been signed.

Brian Lee inked a two year, one way contract yesterday. Lee was acquired in the February 26th trade that sent Matt Gilroy to the Ottawa Senators. The 6’3″ defenseman ended up playing 20 games in Tampa, recording eight assists and seventeen shots on net.

The blueline was bolstered even further with the signing of Keith Aulie today. Aulie is an imposing figure on the defensive squad at 6’6″. The young d-man was brought to Tampa on the trade that sent Carter Ashton to the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 19 games, Aulie had one assist and 17 penalty minutes.

Most of those coming from this:

Free agency begins tomorrow, so more moves are bound to be made.  Oh, and happy early Canada Day to our friends north of the border.