In a rare Sunday morning free agent signing, the Bolts inked left wing Chris Durno to a two-way contract. Durno is an AHL veteran.
The official press release is below:
LIGHTNING SIGN FREE AGENT LW CHRIS DURNO
TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed left wing Chris Durno to a two-way, one-year contract, Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman announced.
Durno, 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, played in 41 games with the Colorado Avalanche last season, recording four goals and eight points with a plus-3 rating. He set NHL career highs for games played, goals, assists, points and shots on goal. Durno also appeared in one Stanley Cup Playoff Game with the Avalanche. He has played in 43 career NHL games with Colorado during the previous two seasons.
The Scarborough, Ontario native has played in 293 career American Hockey League games with the Norfolk Admirals, Milwaukee Admirals, Portland Pirates, San Antonio Rampage and Lake Erie Monsters. He has amassed 89 goals and 175 points. He scored 20 goals or more on two occasions (2005-06, 2007-08). Durno played in 17 games with Lake Erie last season, notching 10 goals and 18 points.
Durno has also played in 147 career ECHL games with the Gwinnett Gladiators, registering 52 goals and 124 points. Before joining the professional ranks, Durno played his college career at Michigan Tech where he played in 130 games, recording 22 goals and 48 points.
An undrafted free agent, Durno was originally signed as a free agent by Chicago by the Chicago Blackhawks on September 25, 2006. He was then traded to Anaheim by the Blackhawks with Sebastien Caron and Matt Keith in exchange for Pierre Parenteau and Bruno St. Jacques on December 28, 2006. Durno was then sent to Nashville by Anaheim in exchange for Shane Endicott on January 26, 2007. He was then signed by Colorado on July 3, 2008.