Lightning sign defensive anchor Victor Hedman for eight years, $63 million

The Lightning have locked up defenseman Victor Hedman with an eight-year contract extension worth $7.875 million per year.

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The Lightning have locked up defenseman Victor Hedman with an eight-year contract extension worth $7.875 million per year, the team announced Friday. 

Hedman, 25, has played his entire seven-year career with the Lightning. He was the second pick in the 2009 draft and jumped straight to the NHL. Hedman has led Lightning defensemen in goals and average ice time in each of the last three seasons. 

The Lightning have now locked up two of their key players this week, after signing Steven Stamkos to an eight-year contract worth $8.5 million per year on Wednesday.

• 2016 NHL free agent and signings tracker since June 1, 2016

“We are very pleased to announce the signing of Victor Hedman to an eight-year contract extension. Victor has matured into one of the top defensemen 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 in a statement. “I'm very appreciative of both Victor and Peter Wallen's efforts to reach an agreement with us at this time.”