The Lightning have reassigned defenseman Matt Taormina and forward Dana Tyrell to Syracuse and signed defenseman J.P. Cote to a two year, two way contract. Cote will report to the Lightning right away. He will add some grit and size in front of the Bolts goalies. The reassignment of Taormina and Tyrell may signal the return of Victor Hedman and Tom Pyatt. (Photo/Susan Ferlita)
Here is the team’s release concerning Cote:
The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed defenseman Jean-Philippe Cote (COH-tay) to a two-year contract today, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced. Cote has been recalled to Tampa Bay and will wear No. 60.
Cote, 6-foot-2, 212 pounds, has played in 19 games with the Crunch this season, notching two goals and nine points with 35 penalty minutes. He leads all Crunch players with a plus-6 rating and is tied for second among team defensemen for goals. He has played in 535 career AHL games with Syracuse, the Norfolk Admirals, Wilkes- Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Hamilton Bulldogs, registering 20 goals and 107 points. He is a career plus-128 player during his AHL career.
A native of Quebec City, Quebec, and son of former NHL players Alain Cote, he has played in 44 career Calder Cup playoff games, recording two goals and 10 points. Cote won the Calder Cup with Norfolk in 2012. He had the second-highest plus/minus rating in the AHL playoffs last season with a plus-16.
Cote was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the ninth round, 265th overall, in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. He has played in eight career NHL games with the Montreal Canadiens during the 2005-06 season.
Follow me on Twitter @LightningShout and please “like” LightningShout on Facebook. You can email us at [email protected].
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
