Just got word from the Lightning that the Ryan Malone deal has been finalized.

Here’s the press release from the team:

The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed left wing Ryan Malone to a seven-year contract, owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie announced.  Malone was acquired from Pittsburgh along with Gary Roberts Saturday in exchange for a conditional draft pick in 2009.

“Ryan’s signing is a great validation of the organization’s plans and desires as we move forward,” owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie said. “He fits our strategic plan of adding quality players with a warrior mentality. We look forward to a long and productive career for Ryan as a member of the Lightning organization and the Tampa Bay community.”

Malone, a 6-foot-4, 224-pound Pittsburgh native, played in 77 games with the Penguins last season and recorded 27 goals with 51 points.  He also appeared in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games and tied for eighth in league scoring with six goals and 16 points as he helped Pittsburgh to the Stanley Cup Finals. Malone set career highs for goals, assists, points, power-play goals (11) and game-winning goals (6) in 2007-08. He led the team in game-winning goals, ranked fourth in goals and third in power-play goals, while also ranking fourth among Penguin forwards in average ice time with 19:04.

The 27-year-old has played in 299 career NHL games, all with the Penguins, and amassed 87 goals, 169 points, 27 power-play goals, 11 shorthanded goals and 11 game-winning goals.  Malone scored at least 20 goals in three of four NHL seasons.

Originally drafted in the fourth round, 115th overall, by the Penguins in 1999, Malone played four seasons at St. Cloud State before turning pro in 2003. He finished his collegiate career ranked in the top five among St. Cloud State’s all-time leading scorers with 140 points in 142 career games.

Also, there appears to be a deadline for Rolston to make a decision of midnight or 1 a.m. (I assume central time). Tampa Bay has called out all the stops here, as Len Barrie, Oren Koules, Barry Melrose, Brian Lawton, Wes Walz, Gary Roberts and Vinny Lecavalier have all been in contact with Rolston today hoping to convince him to sign.