Matt Taormina signed a one-year, two-way contract today with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The former Devils defenseman was a Group 6 unrestricted free agent. Group 6 includes players whose contracts have expired, are age 25 or older, have completed three or more professional seasons, and (i) in the case of a player other than a goaltender, have played less than 80 NHL games (regular-season and playoff), or (ii) in the case of a goaltender, have played less than 28 NHL games (regular-season and playoff).

The 26-year-old Taormina played 30 games with the Devils last season and scored seven points (one goal, six assists). Undrafted, he was signed as a free agent by the Devils on Feb. 25, 2010.



Taormina, 5-9, 190 pounds, played in 47 career NHL games with the Devils over two seasons, recording four goals and 12 points with a plus-4 rating. He made his NHL debut on Oct. 8 vs. Dallas and scored his first point Oct. 13 at Buffalo.

A native of Warren, Michigan, Taormina played in 199 career AHL games with the Binghamton Senators, Lowell Devils and Albany River Rats. He had 18 goals and 71 points, including a career-high 16 goals and 66 points in 2009-10. That season he led all Lowell defensemen, and was third on the team, with 10 goals and 50 points. Those totals were the most by a rookie in franchise history. Taormina also set a franchise record with 32 power-play points with eight goals and 24 assists.

Taormina played in 141 games at Providence College, where he did not miss a game. During his college career he recorded 20 goals and 65 points. He was named to the 2007-08 Hockey East Second All-Star Team and received an honorable mention in 2008-09.