BellemareSEAsign

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Seattle Kraken on Friday.

The 38-year-old forward had 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 73 regular-season games for the Tampa Bay Lightning last season and two points (one goal, one assist) in six Stanley Cup Playoff games. He also won 52.3 percent of his face-offs (322 of 616).

"Pierre-Edouard is a hard-working, defensive-minded forward," Kraken general manager Ron Francis said. "He is effective in the face-off dot and brings valuable veteran experience. We're happy to welcome him to Seattle."

Signed by the Philadelphia Flyers as an undrafted free agent June 11, 2014, Bellemare has 131 points (60 goals, 71 assists) in 660 regular-season games for the Lightning, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights and Flyers and 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 85 playoff games.

The Kraken also signed defenseman Will Borgen to a two-year contract ($2.7 million average annual value) Friday. Defenseman Brian Dumoulin signed a two-year contract July 1, and forward Kailer Yamamoto signed a one-year contract July 2.

Seattle (46-28-9) lost to the Dallas Stars in seven games in the Western Conference Second Round last season. It improved by 19 wins and 40 points from its inaugural season of 2021-22, when it was 27-49-6 with 60 points and finished 30th in the League standings.