Lightning sign former first-round pick Helenius

Jun 14, 2012 - 5:32 PM Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed goaltender Riku Helenius to a two-year contract.

Financial terms of the deal for the 24-year-old native of Finland were not disclosed, but the first year of the contract will be a two-way deal and the second year will be a one-way pact.

The Lightning selected Helenius with the 15th overall pick of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and he made his NHL debut for the club in 2009. He appeared in just one game, stopping both shots he faced in a relief effort against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Helenius compiled a 1.64 goals against average and a .936 save percentage in 33 games for JYP of Finland's SM-liiga last season. He spent much of the 2008-09 campaign in North America, playing in the ECHL and AHL, posting a record of 9-15-0-1 with a 2.72 GAA in 25 games for Norfolk of the AHL.