Nikita Nesterov signs 1-year deal with Lightning

Restricted free agent defenseman Nikita Nesterov signed a one-year, $725,000 contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday.
Nesterov, 23, played in the World Cup of Hockey 2016 for Team Russia, which lost 5-3 to Team Canada in the semifinal at Air Canada Centre on Saturday. He had a shot on goal in one game in the tournament.

Nesterov had three goals and six assists in 57 games for the Lightning last season. He also had an assist in nine Stanley Cup Playoff games, helping Tampa Bay advance to the Eastern Conference Final, when it lost in seven games to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
A fifth-round pick (No. 148) by the Lightning at the 2011 NHL Draft, Nesterov (6-foot, 199 pounds) has 16 points in 84 career regular-season games over the past two seasons with Tampa Bay.