Lightning reach deals with two restricted free agents

The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed restricted free agent forwards Blair Jones and Lauri Tukonen to one-year contracts, the team announced on Thursday.

Jones, a fourth-round pick in 2005, completed his third year as a pro this season. He has appeared in 24 games with the Lightning during that time with a goal and three points. In 195 games in the American Hockey League, the 6-foot-2 center from Central Butte, Saskatchewan, has 39 goals and 117 points with Springfield and Norfolk. Jones had a career-high 20 goals, 34 assists and 54 points this past season.

Tukonen, a former first round pick of the Los Angeles Kings as the 11th overall selection, was acquired from the Dallas Stars in November for defenseman Andrew Hutchinson. A 6-foot-2, 200-pound native of Hyvinkaa, Finland, Tukonen has spent the past two seasons playing in the Finnish Elite League with Lukko Aauma and Ilves Tampere appearing in 35 games while scoring eight goals and 21 points. In three seasons with the Kings' organization, Tukonen appeared in five games with Los Angeles while playing in 185 games with their AHL affiliate scoring 35 goals and adding 36 assists.

With Thursday's signings, Tampa Bay has six remaining restricted free agents unsigned, including goaltender Karri Ramo and forward Radek Smolenak, who have both signed to play in Russia this coming season.

Lightning general manager Brian Lawton said he has spoken to the agents for the team's other remaining restricted free agents - defensemen Matt Lashoff, Matt Smaby and Mike Lundin along with forward Martins Karsums.

The most pressing negotiation is with Smaby, who filed for arbitration and has a hearing date scheduled for July 28 in Toronto. Lawton said Thursday he intends to meet with Smaby's agent, Ben Hankinson who also represents Lundin, in Minnesota next week.

COACH SEARCH: Lawton said the team interviewed one candidate for the open assistant coaching position earlier this week, believed to be former Dallas associate coach Rick Wilson, who worked under Ken Hitchcock and Dave Tippet with the Stars. Wilson, who won a Stanley Cup alongside Hitchcock in 1999, had been with the Stars organization since 1992-93 before being let go when Tippet was fired by Dallas earlier this year.

Lawton said there are three other candidates on the team's list, but only one who is scheduled to have an interview at this point.

The assistant position became open when Mike Sullivan opted not to return after he joined Rick Tocchet's staff in November 2008. Sullivan is expected to be named as an assistant coach with the New York Rangers on Friday, according to New York Newsday. Sullivan will rejoin former Lightning head coach John Tortorella, who was named Rangers' head coach in March.