Victor Hedman signs 8-year extension with Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed defenceman Victor Hedman to an eight-year contract extension worth $63 million US.

The deal averages $7.875 million per season.

The 25-year-old collected 10 goals and 47 points in 78 games last season, posting a career-high plus-21 rating and 46 penalty minutes. He led all Lightning defencemen in goals, assists, points and plus/minus.

The move came just after NHL free agency opened and two years after Tampa Bay re-signed Steven Stamkos to an eight-year, $68-million deal.

"Victor has matured into one of the top defencemen in the NHL and coming off the recent re-signing of our captain, Steven Stamkos, we've secured another extremely important member of our team," general manager Steve Yzerman said.

The 6-foot-6, 223-pound Hedman also appeared in 17 Stanley Cup playoff games in 2016, posting four goals and 14 points.

Hedman was originally drafted by the Lightning in the first round, second overall, in the 2009 draft.