Jay Feaster continued to raid European hockey teams Thursday to help address the Tampa Bay Lightning's goaltending situation.

The NHL general manager signed free agent Johan Holmqvist, who played seven games for Sweden at last month's world championship and was named the tournament's top goalie.

Lightning

"We feel as an organization we have done our homework on Johan," Feaster said in a statement. "He is a player who has won championships at multiple levels of competition, and we are confident he is ready to challenge for a spot in Tampa."

Holmqvist, who signed a one-year deal with the Lightning, spent the 2005-06 campaign with Brynas in the Swedish Elite League.

But the 28-year-old has NHL experience, having appeared in four games with the New York Rangers.

He was also a member of the 2003 American Hockey League champion Houston Aeros, winning playoff MVP honours after shutting out the Hamilton Bulldogs on the road in Game 7 of the final.

Earlier this week, Tampa Bay agreed to terms with netminder Fredrik Norrena, who led Finland to world bronze in Latvia and led the tourney in goals-against average (1.11), save percentage (.951) and shutouts (3).

John Grahame and Sean Burke struggled at times in the Lightning net this season.

Grahame, in particular, was the target of criticism from coach John Tortorella during a first-round playoff lost to Ottawa.

"I thought Johnny Grahame would be able to do the job," Tortorella said at the end of the series. "I think honestly at times he did, and other times he didn't. And that's not good enough in the National Hockey League right now.

"That's just an honest assessment and I think a very fair assessment."

With files from the Canadian Press