Lightning sign defenseman Sean Day to one-year deal

TAMPA — The Lightning announced the signing of defenseman Sean Day Sunday, leaving only forward and restricted free agent Ross Colton left to sign from the list of players who received qualifying offers Monday.

Colton was one of 17 NHL players who filed for salary arbitration Sunday, according to the player’ association. The deadline for club-elected salary arbitration notification is Monday at 5 p.m. Salary arbitration hearings will be held from Aug. 11-26. A player can sign a contract with his current team any time before an arbitrator’s ruling.

Day, 23, signed a one-year, two-way contract. In 29 games for the Lightning’s AHL affiliate in Syracuse this past season, Day led Crunch defensemen in points (15) and assists (12). He has yet to make his NHL debut.

The Lightning signed forwards Taylor Raddysh and Boris Katchouk on Saturday. Earlier in the week, they agreed to terms with defenseman Cal Foote and forwards Alex Barre-Boulet and Otto Somppi.

With the departures of defensemen David Savard (Montreal) and Luke Schenn (Vancouver), along with forward Tyler Johnson (Chicago) and the entire third line of Blake Coleman (Calgary), Yanni Gourde (Seattle expansion draft) and Barclay Goodrow (Rangers), general manager Julien BriseBois said the Lightning will have to rely on some of their younger players to step into larger roles this season.

“I’m comfortable that we have young players that are ready to assume a bigger role,” BriseBois said after the 2021 NHL amateur draft. “Cal Foote can play a bigger role, even thought he played a significant number of games this year. ... Mathieu Joseph can play a bigger role, Boris Katchouk, Alex Barre-Boulet, Taylor Raddysh are all knocking at the door.

“They’re ready to be presented with an opportunity to put their best foot forward and show that they belong in the show, as well.”

The Lightning are set to open the 2021-22 season against the Penguins on Oct. 12.

Contact Mari Faiello at mfaiello@tampabay.com. Follow @faiello_mari.

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