Dana Tyrell will be a Tampa Bay Lightning for 2 more years.

The former Airdrie Xtreme forward avoided Restricted Free Agency this off-season by signing a contract that will extend his services to the club through the 2013/2014 NHL season.

Tyrell was a surprise cut from the Lightning's roster after playing in 78 games for the Bolts last season, picking up 6 goals, and 9 assists. With the Norfolk Admirals this season, Tyrell had 4 goals, and 5 assists for 9 points in 18 games in the American Hockey League, and has since been called up to the big team.

At the time of the demotion, the Lightning were still trying to figure out their roster. They had 3 players on the bubble, and a spot was needed for rookie Brett Connolly. Of the three players, which included Blair Jones and Mattias Ritola, Tyrell was the only one who could be sent down to the AHL without having to go through waivers. Strictly a numbers move.

Ritola has since returned to Europe to continue his professional hockey career, and Jones was a healthy scratch for a number of games before clearing waivers, and being sent down to Norfolk.

The Lightning took notice to Tyrell's dedication to working on his game during his stint with the farm team. Lightning head coach Guy Boucher went as far as calling his young power forward "a beast" in an interview with the St Petersburg Times.

The new deal, which will kick in next season for the 22 year old, is a one-way deal and will pay Tyrell $600k per season.