Ledyard signs with Lightning

TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 1 -- Veteran defenseman Grant Ledyard, who has played in 953 career NHL games, joined his ninth team Thursday when he was signed for the balance of the season by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The 16-year veteran most recently helped Canada win a silver medal in the 2000 Spengler Cup in Switzerland Dec. 26-31.

Ledyard will serve as a mentor for Tampa Bay's group of young defensemen led by Pavel Kubina, Paul Mara, Cory Sarich and Andrei Zyuzin.

Known as a defensive defenseman, Ledyard recorded a career-high 46 points for Dallas in 1993-94. He has 87 goals, 270 assists and 738 penalty minutes in his career.