The Tampa Bay Lightning re-signed restricted free-agent forward Anthony Cirelli to a three-year, $14.4mn contract Thursday.
The move comes one day after the defending Stanley Cup champions announced that star forward Nikita Kucherov will miss the upcoming regular season with a hip injury that requires surgery.
According to The Athletic, Cirelli will earn $2.4mn ($1.5mn signing bonus plus $900,000 salary) this season, $4.8mn ($1.5mn signing bonus plus $3.3mn salary) in 2021-22, and $7.2mn (all salary) in the third year in 2022-23.
Cirelli, 23, tallied a career-high 44 points (16 goals, 28 assists) in 68 games during the 2019-20 regular season and added nine points (three goals, six assists) in 25 postseason contests.
The Ontario native tied for the team lead in plus/minus (plus-28) and led the Lightning in faceoffs (914) and faceoff wins (434).
A third-round pick by the Lightning in the 2015 draft, Cirelli has registered 94 points (40 goals, 54 assists) in 168 games since making his NHL debut on March 1, 2018.
Tampa Bay opens the season and raises its championship banner when it hosts the Chicago Blackhawks on January 13.

Ducks re-sign Miller to one-year deal
Veteran goaltender Ryan Miller signed a one-year contract to return to the Anaheim Ducks.
The team didn’t announce financial terms.
Miller, 40, played in 23 games (19 starts) with the Ducks last season, posting a 9-6-4 record with a 3.10 goals-against average and a.907 save percentage.
When the NHL resumed following the mid-March suspension because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Ducks didn’t qualify to return to play. That gave Miller time to ponder retirement.
“Tried out retirement for 9 months (thanks Covid),” the Michigan native tweeted Wednesday night. “Decided I wasn’t feeling it. Happy to be back! #LetsGoDucks”
Miller is the all-time leader among goalies born in the United States in wins (387) and is second in shutouts (44) and games played (780). He has a career record of 387-281-86 and a.915 save percentage in 17 seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim.
He was in goal for the United States at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, leading Team USA to a silver medal. He was named the tournament MVP. He also won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goalie after the 2009-10 season.
The Ducks are scheduled to start training camp on December 31 and begin the season January 14 at Vegas.