Cédric Paquette

Cédric Paquette (born August 13, 1993) is a Canadian professional ice-hockey currently playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). Paquette was selected by the Lightning in the fourth round, 101st overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career
As a youth, Paquette played in the 2006 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Chandler, Quebec.

Junior
Paquette played major junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with Montreal Juniors and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, scoring 58 goals and 73 assists for 131 points, with 193 penalty minutes, in 130 games played.

Professional
On May 3, 2013, the Tampa Bay Lightning signed Paquette to a three-year, entry-level professional contract, assigning him to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, to start the 2013–14 season. On April 11, 2014, after posting 20 goals and 22 assists, with 153 penalty minutes, in 70 games played with the Crunch, the Lighting recalled Paquette.

On November 4, 2014, during the 2014–15 season the Lightning recalled Paquette from Syracuse, his second recall of the season after having previously appeared in four games with the team. Two nights later, on November 6, Paquette scored his first two NHL goals in Tampa Bay's victory over the Calgary Flames, 5–2. On January 29, 2015, Paquette scored his first career NHL hat-trick in a 5–1 win over the visiting Detroit Red Wings. On April 27, he scored his first career Stanley Cup playoff goal in a 5–2 Lightning win over the Red Wings in the Eastern Conference Quarter-finals.

On June 24, 2016, the Lightning announced that it had re-signed Paquette to a two-year contract extension. Paquette appeared in 56 games with the team last season, registering six goals, eleven points, and 51 penalty minutes. His 51 penalty minutes were good for fourth on the team during the regular season. He was also one of five Lightning players to score a shorthanded goal last season. Paquette also played in 17 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the team, posting one assist and 24 penalty minutes. Paquette has played in 122 NHL games, all with the Lightning, over the past three seasons. During that span he has recorded 18 goals and 31 points to go along with 102 penalty minutes.

On November 30, 2017, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Paquette had been suspended for one game for boarding Boston Bruins' defenseman Torey Krug on November 29, 2017, at TD Garden.

On July 5, 2019, the Lighting signed Paquette to a two-year, $3.3 million contract extension.

Personal life
Paquette's cousin, Christopher Paquette, was also drafted by the Lightning in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. His cousin was taken in the fifth round with the 148th overall pick.