Carle returns to the Lightning exactly four years to the day he was aqcquired by the Bolts

Tampa - The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed free agent defenseman Matt Carle to a  reported six-year 33-million dollar contract today, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced. 

Carle was also acquired by the Lightning in a trade with San Jose exactly four years ago today.

Carle, 6-foot, 205 pounds, has played in 471 career NHL games with San Jose, Tampa Bay and the Philadelphia Flyers. 

He has amassed 32 goals, 202 points and 17 power-play goals with a plus-55 rating.  Carle has played in 80 games or more in each of the previous three seasons, including all 82 the previous two. 

He has played in 84 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, recording five goals and 35 points.  Carle has played in 45 playoff games during the previous three seasons, all with the Flyers.

Carle was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team during the 2006-07 season while with San Jose after a season in which he registered 11 goals and 42 points.

A native of Anchorage, Alaska, Carle played in every game for Philadelphia in 2011-12, recording four goals and 38 points with a plus-4 rating.

Carle led all Flyers in average ice time with 23:01 per game and blocked shots with 164. 

He led all Philadelphia defensemen in shots on goal with 132 and ranked second for points and power play goals. Carle also played in 11 playoff games, recording two goals and six points, ranking second on the team in average ice time with 25:19. 

Carle played college hockey at the University of Denver in the WCHA from 2003-04 to 2005-06. 

During his college career he recorded 29 goals and 122 points in 112 games for the Pioneers.

Following the 2005-06 season Carle given the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the top U.S. Collegiate Player, was named to the WCHA First All-Star Team, to the NCAA West First All-Star Team and the WCHA Player of the Year.

He was named to the WCHA First All-Star Team and the NCAA West First All-Star Team for the previous season.

The 27-year-old was drafted by San Jose in the 2 ^nd round, 47 ^th overall, of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. 

On July 4, 2008, Carle was acquired by the Lightning with D Ty Wishart, a first-round pick in 2009 and a fourth-round selection in 2010 in exchange for Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich. 

Tampa Bay then sent him to Philadelphia, along with San Jose’s third-round pick in 2009, to the Flyers in exchange for Steve Eminger, Steve Downie and Tampa Bay’s fourth-round pick in 2009 on November 7, 2008.

Here's Carle's stats provided by the Tampa Bay Lightning:

Matt Carle’s Career Statistics