Senators agree to terms with forward Mike Hoffman on a four-year contract

OTTAWA – Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion announced today the club has agreed to terms with forward Mike Hoffman on a four-year contract which will run through the end of the 2019-20 National Hockey League season. The average annual value of the contract is $5.1875 million ($3.8M, $5.65M, $5.65M, $5.65M).

Hoffman, 26, established new statistical career highs in goals (29), assists (30), points (59) and penalty minutes (18) in 2015-16 while appearing in 78 of the team’s 82 regular-season contests. He led the Senators with nine power-play goals while ranking third among team forwards with 13 power-play points. Additionally, Hoffman also established new personal bests by recording at least one point in seven consecutive contests from Nov. 21 to Dec. 5, a span which featured his scoring at least one goal in four consecutive games for the first time in his career.

A native of Kitchener, Ont., Hoffman’s 29 markers saw him lead the Senators in goals for a second consecutive campaign while his final goal of the season, in a 5-3 home loss to Pittsburgh on April 5, saw him move into sole possession of 25th place among all-time Senators goal scorers. He’s the only player in the top 25 with fewer than 229 games played for the club.

The Senators first fifth-round selection (130th overall) in the of the 2009 NHL Draft, Hoffman has recorded 113 points (59 goals, 54 assists) and 36 penalty minutes over 186 career NHL contests with Ottawa.

Red Wings, Mrazek agree to two-year, $8 million deal

Just prior to entering arbitration, Petr Mrazek and the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday reportedly agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract.

Mrazek is coming off his best season in Detroit. The 24-year-old posted a 27-17-6 record over 54 games (49 starts) with a 2.33 goals against average and .921 save percentage.

Elliotte Friedman first reported the news.

Mrazek has signed a two year deal. $3.85 and $4.15

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 27, 2016

Rangers agree to terms with Sergey Zborovskiy

New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Sergey Zborovskiy on an entry-level contract.

Zborovskiy, 19, skated in 64 games with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this past season, registering eight goals and 17 assists for 25 points, along with a plus-15 rating and 61 penalty minutes. He established WHL career-highs in several categories in 2015-16, including goals, assists, points, and power play goals (two), and he tied his WHL career-high in plus/minus rating. Zborovskiy ranked fourth on the Pats – and ranked second among team defensemen – in plus/minus rating, and he tied for second among team defensemen in goals this past season. In addition, he represented Team Russia at the 2015 CHL Canada Russia Series, registering one goal in two contests.

The 6-4, 200-pounder skated in 12 games with Regina during the 2016 Playoffs, registering five assists and a plus-six rating. Zborovskiy established WHL playoff career-highs in several categories during the 2016 Playoffs, including games played, assists, points (five), and plus/minus rating. He led the Pats in plus/minus rating and ranked third among team defensemen in assists and points in the playoffs.

Zborovskiy has skated in 135 career WHL games over two seasons (2014-15 and 2015-16), both with Regina, registering 11 goals and 33 assists for 44 points, along with a plus-30 rating and 131 penalty minutes. In his first season in North America in 2014-15, Zborovskiy recorded 19 points (three goals, 16 assists) and a plus-15 rating in 71 games with the Pats. He has also skated in 18 career WHL playoff games, registering six assists and a plus-11 rating in those contests.

The Moscow, Russia, native was selected by the Rangers in the third round, 79th overall, of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Rangers Press Release.

Rangers, Kreider agree to terms

NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers on Friday announced that they have resigned forward Chris Kreider to a new contract.

The CBC is reporting that the contract is worth $18.5 million over four years, but the Rangers did not disclose the terms of the deal.

Kreider, 25, had 43 points (21 goals, 22 assists) in 79 games last season. The 21 goals matched his NHL career high from the 2014-15 season. He also had two goals in five Stanley Cup Playoff games.

In four seasons with the Rangers, Kreider has 129 points (61 goals, 68 assists) and 224 penalty minutes in 248 regular-season games. He has 20 goals and 13 assists in 65 playoff games.

One-year, two-way contract for Bobby Farnham

MONTREAL – Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin announced on Friday that the team has agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract (2016-17) with free agent Bobby Farnham.

A native of North Andover, MA, Farnham started last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins before being claimed off waivers by the New Jersey Devils last October. The 5-foot-10, 188-pound right-winger registered eight goals and 10 points, amassed 97 penalty minutes, and dished out 93 hits in 53 games in the NHL in 2015-16.

A graduate of Brown University, Farnham began his career in the pros in 2011-12 in the Boston Bruins organization. Shuffling between the ECHL, AHL and the NHL ranks with the Bruins, Sharks and Penguins’ affiliates over the last few years, the 27-year-old forward has played 64 career NHL games, collecting eight goals, two assists and 121 penalty minutes.

Canadiens Press Release.

Rangers acquire Mike Zibanejad for Derick Brassard

New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that the team has acquired forward Mika Zibanejad and a second round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Derick Brassard and a seventh round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

Zibanejad, 23, skated in 81 games with Ottawa this past season, registering 21 goals and 30 assists for 51 points, along with 18 penalty minutes. He established career-highs in several categories in 2015-16, including games played, goals, assists, points, game-winning goals (seven), and faceoff win percentage (50.5; 659-for-1,306). Zibanejad has tallied a goal on 13 of his 28 career NHL shootout attempts (46.4%), and he has recorded five game-deciding goals in the shootout. Zibanejad’s five game-deciding goals in the shootout are the second-most a Senator has tallied since 2005-06, as he passed Daniel Alfredsson for sole possession of second place during this past season.

Zibanejad led the Senators in game-winning goals, faceoff wins, and faceoffs taken, ranked third in shorthanded goals (two), tied for third in games played, tied for fourth in assists, and ranked fifth in points and power play points (11) in 2015-16. He tied for fifth in the NHL in shootout goals (four; 4-for-9) and game-deciding goals (two) in the shootout this past season. Zibanejad ranked third among Ottawa forwards in shorthanded ice time per game in 2015-16 (1:25). He tallied 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 24 contests against Metropolitan Division opponents this past season. Zibanejad recorded 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) in the final 38 games of the season, and he ranked second on Ottawa in goals over the span.

The 6-2, 222-pounder has skated in 281 career NHL games over parts of five seasons (2011-12 – 2015-16), all with Ottawa, registering 64 goals and 87 assists for 151 points, along with 64 penalty minutes. Over Zibanejad’s first five seasons, 52 of his 87 career assists have been primary assists. Zibanejad tallied at least 20 goals and 40 points in each of the last two seasons. He was one of only three Senators who recorded 20 or more goals in both 2014-15 and 2015-16. In addition, Zibanejad’s goals, assists, and points totals have increased in every season during his career. Over the last two seasons, Zibanejad has tallied 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) against Metropolitan Division teams.

Zibanejad helped Ottawa reach the playoffs in two seasons during his tenure with the team (2012-13 and 2014-15). In 16 career NHL playoff games, Zibanejad has registered two goals and six assists for eight points. He tied for the team lead with four points (one goal, three assists) in six contests during the 2015 Playoffs.

Internationally, the Stockholm, Sweden, native has represented his country in several tournaments. Zibanejad registered five points (four goals, one assist) and posted a plus-three rating in six games while helping Sweden earn a gold medal at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship. In addition, he tallied the game-winning goal in overtime of the Gold Medal Game against Russia. Zibanejad also recorded eight points (four goals, four assists) and posted a plus-eight rating in six games while helping Sweden earn a silver medal at the 2011 IIHF U18 World Championship.

Zibanejad was selected by Ottawa in the first round, sixth overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Brassard skated in 254 games with the Rangers over parts of four seasons, registering 69 goals and 105 assists for 174 points.

Rangers Press Release.

Lightning re-sign forward Alex Killorn to seven-year contract

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed forward Alex Killorn to a seven-year contract worth an average of $4.45 million per season, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced today.

Killorn, 26, played in 81 games for the Lightning last season, collecting 14 goals and 40 points to go along with 44 penalty minutes. Killorn ranked tied for fourth for goals and points among Lightning skaters. Killorn also skated in 17 Stanley Cup Playoff games in 2016, where he recorded five goals and 13 points. He ranked tied for third on the team for goals, was fifth for points and led all skaters with 42 penalty minutes. Killorn also ranked fourth on Tampa Bay for time on ice among forwards with 18:19 per contest. He netted two goals in the Eastern Conference Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins and three in the opening round against the Detroit Red Wings.

The Halifax, Nova Scotia native has played in 272 career NHL games, all with the Lightning, amassing 53 goals and 138 points. He also has a career plus-24 rating. Killorn set career highs with 17 goals and 41 points in 2013-14. He made his NHL debut on February 10, 2013 against the New York Rangers, recording an assist in the game. Killorn has played in 47 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, recording 15 goals and 33 points. He ranked third on the Bolts for goals and points in helping Tampa Bay to the Stanley Cup Final during the 2015 playoffs.

Killorn was originally selected by the Lightning in the third round, 77th overall, at the 2007 NHL Draft.

Lightning Release.