Islanders F Jones agrees to one-year, two-way deal

The New York Islanders and forward Connor Jones on Thursday agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract.

Jones, 26, made his NHL debut with the Islanders in 2016-17, appearing in four of the final five games of the season. He also played 58 games with the Islanders' American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, recording 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) and 89 penalty minutes.

A native of Trail, British Columbia, Jones has collected 42 points (15 goals, 27 assists) in 155 career AHL games with the Sound Tigers and Oklahoma City Barons. He also scored 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 27 games with the Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL during his first professional season in 2014-15.

Jones spent four seasons at Quinnipiac University, recording 129 points (49 goals, 80 assists) and 151 penalty minutes in 153 games with the Bobcats. He served as an alternate captain during his junior and senior seasons.

Canadiens part ways with D Markov

The Montreal Canadiens will not re-sign 16-year veteran defenseman Andrei Markov, the team announced Thursday.

Markov's 119 goals are third-best among Canadiens defensemen. The 38-year-old Russian also recorded 453 assists in 990 career NHL games, with his point total (572) tied with Guy Lapointe for second among franchise defensemen.

"On behalf of the entire organization, I would like to thank Andrei for his great contributions during his 16 seasons as a proud member of the Montreal Canadiens," Canadiens president Geoff Molson said.

"Arguably one of the best defensemen in franchise history, Andrei was a model of dedication to the great game of hockey. A respected figure around the league and among his teammates, Andrei demonstrated leadership both on and off the ice. Andrei's commitment to our franchise was second to none, proven by his overcoming three serious and potentially career-ending injuries. I would like to wish Andrei the best of luck in the next step of his career, and happiness with his family."

Markov collected six goals and 30 assists in 62 games last season, which concluded his three-year, $17.25 million contract. The two-time All-Star is reportedly seeking a two-year, $12 million deal.

The Canadiens signed Karl Alzner to a five-year contract on July 1 and also inked fellow defenseman Mark Streit to a one-year deal on Tuesday.

Red Wings ink Tatar to 4-year pact

Detroit Red Wings forward Tomas Tatar signed a four-year contract on Friday, the team announced.

Financial terms were not disclosed by the club, however multiple outlets reported that the deal was for $21.2 million.

The contract comes after the two sides were unable to work out an agreement and had to go to arbitration.

Tatar recorded a team-best 25 goals to go along with 21 assists while playing in all 82 games last season. The campaign was the final one in Tatar's three-year, $2.7 million deal.

The 26-year-old Slovak has collected 99 goals, 95 assists and 112 penalty minutes in 345 career contests since being selected in the second round of the 2009 NHL draft.

Senators F Dzingel agrees to two-year contract

The Ottawa Senators and forward Ryan Dzingel agreed to a two-year contract on Friday with an average annual value of $1.8 million.

Dzingel, who was a restricted free agent, avoided a salary arbitration hearing in Toronto on Friday morning. He will be paid $1.5 million this season and $2.1 million in 2018-19.

Dzingel, 25, recorded 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists) in 81 games with the Senators in 2016-17, his first full NHL season. He also had two goals and one assist in 15 games during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

"First of all, we're really happy," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion told the team's website. "Ryan has shown through the course of his first full season with us that he was an important member of our team. Getting this done on a two-year contract brings security. He probably feels that he gave up money if he produces at the same level on the second year and we probably got a bargain on the first year.

"If we went to arbitration, we were afraid the ruling would be closer to their number than our number. Now we get a happy player that will produce for us for the next two years and someone who has shown with his speed, talent and hopefully he can convert on a few more breakaways that we'll have a pretty special player."

A seventh-round pick in the 2011 NHL draft, Dzingel owns 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists) in 111 NHL games, all with the Senators.

Predators promote McCarthy to associate head coach

The Nashville Predators promoted Kevin McCarthy to associate head coach on Peter Laviolette's staff.

In addition, the Predators announced Friday the team hired Dan Muse as an assistant coach.

McCarthy joined the Predators prior to the 2014-15 season and alongside Laviolette helped Nashville make its first run to the Stanley Cup Final in franchise history in 2017 before losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins last month.

In addition his time with the Predators, McCarthy has served as an assistant coach under Laviolette with Philadelphia and Carolina, winning a Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006 and reaching the Stanley Cup Final with the Flyers in 2010.

"I'm extremely grateful and thankful for the opportunity to serve as associate head coach," McCarthy said in a statement. "I'm looking forward to working with the team and our coaching staff as we continue to pursue the ultimate goal of the Stanley Cup."

The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native spent a total of 16 seasons in the Hartford Whalers/Carolina organization from 1992-2009.

"Kevin is one of the most experienced coaches in the National Hockey League, and given his wealth of knowledge and insight, is was only fitting to elevate him to the title of associate head coach," Laviolette said. "I have the utmost confidence in Kevin's ability to positively contribute to any and all situations, and am fortunate to work with him on a day-to-day basis."

Muse, 35, joins the Predators organization just two months after winning the Clark Cup as head coach of the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League, a position he held for the past two seasons. Prior to his arrival in Chicago, Muse served as an assistant coach at Yale from 2009 to 2013 before being promoted to the title of associate head coach at the university from 2013 to 2015.

Muse saw plenty of success at Yale, including winning an NCAA national championship with the Bulldogs in 2013.

"Dan is an up-and-coming coach that has proven to be a winner at multiple levels," Predators general manager David Poile said. "He has a successful track record working with young players and we welcome his fresh perspective in the 2017-18 season and beyond."

Muse also served as video coordinator for the United States National Junior Team in 2013 and 2014, winning a Gold Medal at the 2013 World Junior Championship. He has also been behind the bench as an assistant coach at Sacred Heart University, Williams College and Milton Academy.

"Dan comes to us as a successful young coach that brings great energy and passion to the game," Laviolette said. "He has worked his way up through the coaching ranks, first winning an NCAA title at Yale in 2013, and then taking a Chicago team that had missed the playoffs eight straight seasons and turned them into the Clark Cup champions in just two seasons. We are excited to welcome him to the organization and look forward to his contributions to the coaching staff."

Muse called Nashville the "hottest hockey city out there."

"To get an opportunity to work in an organization like this, I couldn't be more excited," Muse said. "To see the success that the Predators have had, to see the excitement level in Nashville right now -- I think this is the hottest hockey city out there. I'm truly blessed to join this coaching staff and help the Predators work toward achieving their ultimate goal."

Blackhawks F Wingels to miss 6-to-8 weeks with fractured foot

Chicago Blackhawks forward Tommy Wingels sustained a left foot fracture during his offseason training and the recovery will take six to eight weeks, the team announced Friday.

Wingels, 29, signed a one-year contract with the Blackhawks as free agency opened on July 1.

"Tommy Wingels sustained a left foot fracture during his offseason training. We anticipate a full recovery in six to eight weeks and in time for training camp. We do not anticipate any long-term issues," the Blackhawks' head team physician, Dr. Michael Terry, said in a statement.

Wingels recorded 12 points (seven goals, five assists) in 73 games split between the San Jose Sharks and Ottawa Senators during the 2016-17 season. He also skated in nine playoff games with the Senators, who acquired him in a trade from San Jose in January.

Wingels, a native of Wilmette, Ill., set career highs with 16 goals, 22 assists and 38 points during the 2013-14 campaign with San Jose. He was drafted by the Sharks in the sixth round in 2008.

Rangers Agree to Terms with Free Agent Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev

New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that the team has agreed to terms with free agent goaltender Alexandar Georgiev.

Georgiev, 21, appeared in 27 games with TPS Turku of Liiga in Finland this past season, posting a 13-8-4 record, along with a 1.70 GAA, a .923 SV%, and two shutouts. He established Liiga career-bests in appearances, wins, GAA, and SV%, and tied his career-high in shutouts in 2016-17. Georgiev led Liiga in GAA, tied for fifth in the league in SV%, and tied for ninth in the league in wins during the past season. He allowed two goals or fewer in 22 of his 27 appearances in 2016-17. In addition, Georgiev appeared in one playoff game and in two games as part of the Champions Hockey League (CHL) with TPS Turku during the past season. Georgiev participated in the Rangers' annual prospect development camp this past June.

The 6-1, 180-pounder appeared in 51 career games in Liiga over parts of three seasons (2014-15 - 2016-17), all with TPS, posting an 18-19-6 record, along with a 1.93 GAA, a .912 SV%, and five shutouts. Georgiev posted a 2.28 GAA or better in each of his three seasons in Liiga. Georgiev helped TPS' junior team win its league championship in 2014-15, as he registered a 2.25 GAA and a .920 SV% in 25 regular season appearances, as well as a 2.60 GAA and a .909 SV% in 12 playoff appearances.

The Moscow, Russia, native has also represented his country in several tournaments. Georgiev helped Russia earn a silver medal at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship, as he posted a 3-1 record, along with a 2.52 GAA in five appearances during the tournament.

Islanders Promote Cronin to Associate Coach

The New York Islanders announced today that Greg Cronin has been promoted to Associate Coach.

"Greg's hockey knowledge and experiences of over 30 years in the coaching profession are an asset to our coaching staff," Head Coach Doug Weight said. "He's run our penalty-kill the past several seasons and each year, it's been one of the best in the league. He has a tireless work ethic on the bench during games, at practice and in meetings. His desire to get the best out of every player, to help achieve our goal of winning is impressive and I'm thrilled to continue to work with him."  

Cronin was hired as an Assistant Coach on June 16, 2014, and has worked under that title for the past three seasons with the Islanders. This is currently his second stint with the Islanders, initially serving as an Assistant Coach with the organization from 1998-2003 and as Head Coach of the team's American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers from 2003-2005. In two seasons with the Sound Tigers, Cronin led the team to a 78-61-12 record.

Prior to re-joining the Islanders in 2014, the Arlington, MA native spent three seasons behind the bench as an Assistant Coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

BUCHBERGER NAMED ASSISTANT COACH

Cronin served as Head Coach at Northeastern University from 2005-2011. He rebuilt the program, improving from three wins in his first season, to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2009, the school's first in 15 years. That season he won the Bob Kullen Coach of the Year Award as best coach in Hockey East. From 2008-2011, Cronin compiled the greatest win total in a four-year span in NU history.

He also coached in college hockey at the University of Maine (five seasons), with the final year serving as Interim Head Coach and Colorado College (three seasons). Cronin got his start in coaching as an assistant at Colby College in 1987-88.

HO-SANG HANGING WITH GOMEZ

On the international stage, Cronin served as an Assistant Coach for Team USA at the World Hockey Championships in 1997, 2011 and 2012. In 2012, he helped guide the U.S. to a first-place finish in the preliminary round. He also was the founder, Director of Development for the United States National Development Program Under-18 Team and Head Coach of the Under 18 team. He also served as an Assistant Coach for Team USA's World Junior team in 1997 and 1998, winning silver in '97.  

Cronin played four seasons at Colby College in Maine from 1982-86. He earned a Master's Degree in Business at the University of Maine in 1990 while serving as a graduate assistant for the men's ice hockey team

Brian Campbell retires, will join Blackhawks front office

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell announced today his retirement following 17 seasons in the National Hockey League. Campbell will join the Chicago Blackhawks business operations department, assisting with various marketing, community relations and youth hockey initiatives.

"We are excited that Brian will continue to be a part of the organization," said Blackhawks President & CEO John McDonough. "After a brilliant career on the ice, Brian will remain an important part of our franchise."

Campbell, 38, finished his NHL career with 504 career points (87G, 417A) in 1,082 games. He played 295 games in four seasons with the Blackhawks (2008-2011 and 2016-17), tallying 24 goals and 110 assists. He was a member of the Blackhawks 2010 Stanley Cup Champion team and collected the primary assist onPatrick Kane's series-clinching goal. On January 22, 2017, he recorded his 500th career point and on April 5, 2016, appeared in his 1,000th career NHL game. The defenseman appeared in four NHL All Star Games: 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2012.

"I'm excited to transition into the next step in both my professional career and life," said Campbell. "I'm grateful to the countless number of teammates, coaches, team staff and fans that I have crossed paths with throughout my playing career in Chicago, Buffalo, Florida and San Jose. The Blackhawks organization has allowed me to take on this challenge and I'm thankful for this new opportunity."

A native of Strathroy, Ontario, Campbell played in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in nine seasons, appearing in a total of 107 games, scoring nine goals and adding 35 assists. The defenseman had a streak of 423 consecutive games played that began in March 23, 2011 and ended on December 29, 2016.

Originally selected in the sixth round (156th overall) of the 1997 NHL Draft by Buffalo, Campbell began his NHL career with the Sabres where he played eight seasons (1999-2004, 2005-2008) and scored 176 points (32G, 144A) in 391 games. Campbell played five seasons with Florida (2011-2016) where he scored 175 points (28G, 147A) in 376 games and won the 2012 Lady Bing Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike). He was the first defenseman to win the Lady Bing Trophy since Red Kelly in 1954. He also played 20 games during the 2007-08 season with the San Jose Sharks.

Campbell and his wife, Lauren, and their two daughters, Harper and Everley, will continue to reside in the western suburbs.

Analyzing five potential trade destinations for Matt Duchene

Rory Boylen / Sportsnet

What are you expecting to get from Matt Duchene if you trade for him?

A Calder Trophy finalist in his rookie season, Duchene’s production has been all over the map in his eight-season career. Peaking as nearly a point-per-game player in 2012-13 and 2013-14 (43 points in 47 games and 70 in 71 respectively), his totals have tumbled since. For two years Duchene dipped into the 55-point range, totals that equate to his rookie production — notably he reached 30 goals in one of those seasons. This past season’s 41 points was the worst mark of his career over a full schedule. So although the Avalanche probably should be looking to move him for some young assets or at least help on defence while Duchene is still two years away from unrestricted free agency, his value may be at the lowest point of his career.

The Avalanche had the worst season of any NHL team since the 2004-05 lockout, so the pressure is on to win any Duchene trade. The reported asking price is high, which hasn’t squared with how interested teams view Duchene fitting into their lineup.

“People look at him as a complementary No. 2 as opposed to a No. 1 cornerstone,” Elliotte Friedman said on Prime Time Sports Thursday evening.

Although Duchene hasn’t been traded yet, it’s still possible a contender will come knocking and meet Colorado’s asking price to add that secondary piece. And in a better situation, who says Duchene can’t approach his career-high totals once more?

Throwing his trade value further into question is Duchene’s contract, which doesn’t come with an unreasonable cap hit at $6 million, but the issue is term. The 26-year-old would head to any acquiring team just two years away from unrestricted free agency so he’s not a very controllable asset.

Who are the teams Duchene could still end up on? We take a crack and breaking down five of them:

New York Islanders

The Islanders may not exactly fall into the category of “contender” but they are a team that needs to have more of an interest in improving in the short-term. John Tavares is entering the final season of his contract before he’ll become UFA eligible, and he’ll want to see the team making strides towards becoming a legit contender before re-upping for the long haul. The Isles have made three playoff appearances and have won one series in his eight years with the team.

GM Garth Snow has already brought in Jordan Eberle, presumably to play on Tavares’ wing, and picking up first- and second-round picks in the Travis Hamonic trade gives him a few more futures to potentially improve the team now. In this sense, Duchene could be a nice fit as that complementary piece on the Islanders as the No. 2 centre behind Tavares.

“I can understand why the Islanders want to bring him behind Tavares,” Friedman said. “That to me is a perfect fit for Matt Duchene.”

What could the Islanders offer: Remember, they already offered Hamonic and a first-rounder and were turned down.

Mathew Barzal is the easiest name to connect in a potential trade since he’s the Islanders’ best prospect. That, however, could be too rich for Snow’s blood considering the prolific junior scorer could crack the NHL roster this season. A more palatable trade option from Snow’s side might be Brock Nelson, who filled the No. 2 centre role this past season, scoring 20 goals and 45 points. Neither of these players fills Colorado’s biggest need for a defenceman, though.

The last time the Islanders drafted a blueliner in the first round was Ryan Pulock 15th overall in 2013. Pulock will be 23 when next season starts and although he hasn’t stuck in the NHL yet, he was eighth in AHL scoring at his position with 46 points in just 55 games. Still, Pulock isn’t a home run pick up, so the first-rounders or more may have to come into play.

Los Angeles Kings

With a new GM in Rob Blake and a new coach (promoted from an assistant) in John Stevens, the Kings are trying to figure why their dominant possession team has been in the bottom half of the league in goals two of the past three seasons.

While Duchene only had 18 goals this past season, his 11.3 shooting percentage would have been behind only Jeff Carter and Tanner Pearson, the Kings’ two highest goal scorers. On a team that has the puck more often than the Avs, Duchene could theoretically shoot the puck more and in turn, put more goals on the stat sheet.

The Kings would also do well to add more speed to the lineup and at least turn a little away from their heavy hockey style. Put Duchene with Tyler Toffoli, another player coming off a down season, and both players could work off each other to raise their totals.

And of course, Los Angeles is another destination where Duchene slides in as a No. 2.

“I don’t know if they’re interested, but for example a team like L.A. that already has a Kopitar, that to me is a fit,” Friedman said.

What could the Kings offer: As far as defencemen go, Los Angeles doesn’t have a home run pickup for the Avs either. Derek Forbort was the last defenceman they took in Round 1 and that was all the way back in 2010. Forbort, 25, is just now coming off his first full season.

As far as ‘D’ prospects go, Kale Clague, a 2016 second-rounder, may be the best and certainly the most long-term play. Paul LaDue, 24, also got 22 games of NHL action in his first year out of NCAA hockey, but that’s a low-end return for Duchene and would require some other significant parts.

The 11th overall pick from this year’s draft, Gabe Vilardi, might have to be on the table for the Avs, and considering skating is the biggest knock on him and the Kings need to focus a bit more on speed right now, it’s not inconceivable. The biggest issue in any Kings deal is who the defenceman (men?) going to Colorado is.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets surprised everyone with their 108-point season and they are now in a frame of mind where adding to win now is a priority. Soon enough, Cam Atkinson and Zack Werenski will be looking for big raises.

They were in the Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes before he decided to stay in Russia, and swapped 200-foot player Brandon Saad for the offensive upside of Artemi Panarin, so Duchene is a reasonable target to expect them to want to chase as well.

The difference here is Duchene wouldn’t be such a clear No. 2 in Columbus, where he’d be a more key player.

“That kid (Alexander) Wennberg, I think at least you have a chance for both of them to be No. 1 guys,” Friedman noted.

Between Atkinson, Panarin, Josh Anderson, Nick Foligno, Boone Jenner and a fast-charging 22-year-old Oliver Bjorkstrand, there is a good amount of scoring punch on Columbus’ wings — if they can add another top-six centre it would lock in a pretty quick lineup with lots of potential to keep the flow from 2016-17.

What could the Blue Jackets offer: Here’s a case of a team that could give the Avalanche back an NHL defenceman in Ryan Murray. Remember, as poor as Colorado was last season, the roster isn’t a wasteland with talents like Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Tyson Barrie. They probably have at least some motivation to try and and get better now.

Murray, 23, was the second overall pick from 2012 and might be a nice complement to the smaller, more offensively inclined Barrie on the back end. Murray is on the last year of his contract, but is a controllable asset for a while yet with four NHL seasons under his belt.

Based on the asking price buzz, the Avs wouldn’t likely do a one-for-one here, so Columbus would have to be open for more. Maybe Colorado would be after one of those aforementioned wingers, with Bjorkstrand the youngest of them all and someone who could be a top-six winger as soon as next season.

Carolina Hurricanes

With a fully-stocked cupboard of defencemen, the most-connected team to Duchene is probably the Carolina Hurricanes, who themselves have a need for scoring up front they’ve tried to address with depth pickups Marcus Kruger and Justin Williams this summer. They still don’t have that game-breaker though.

While the Canes figure to have the defencemen to offer up to the Avs, he would be a No. 1 pivot in Carolina, which may not be the ideal place for him right now. Victor Rask had another pretty good 45-point season, but is not a lead guy — if the Hurricanes pick up Duchene, they’d be hoping for him to get up to at least 60 again. Acquiring Duchene would either move Jordan Staal to the third line, Rask to the wing, or perhaps Rask is involved the other way.

So on the one hand, the Canes could use Duchene to be their No. 1, but on the other, if there’s any chance he won’t produce as one, what should they give up for him? Duchene may not be as natural a fit for Carolina as their potential return is for the Avalanche, but he’s still a talent worth exploring for Carolina.

What could the Hurricanes offer: Jaccob Slavin is certainly out of the question and you would suspect Noah Hanifin, the fifth overall pick from 2015, and Justin Faulk, a huge and exciting part of the blue line, are as well.

That leaves someone like 22-year-old Brett Pesce, coming off his sophomore season averaging 21:12 of ice time a game and scoring 20 points. Other than that, 19-year-old Jake Bean, who Carolina drafted 13th overall in 2016, would be of interest to the Avalanche. Bean posted more than a point-per-game in the WHL this past season in 43 games. The Canes also have 2014 seventh overall pick Haydn Fleury coming off his first pro season in the AHL.

There’s a lot to choose from here for the Avs, but the bigger question is how Duchene fits into Carolina’s roster and what he’ll bing for the price being asked. The fact he’s two years away from being a UFA could also freak out a team that’s already paying Staal $6 million per for the long term, has a number of notable RFAs coming up after next season, and also has Jeff Skinner hitting UFA status after 2018-19.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Never count out the champs.

“I think Pittsburgh is on the fringe of this and I think the Penguins have to do some other things in order to even have a chance and I’m not really sure if they can get there,” Friedman said. “But I think that Pittsburgh would be the kind of team, just like Kessel thrived there, I think a guy like Duchene would, too.”

Acquiring Duchene would give the Penguins plenty of options to either roll with him in a No. 3 spot and give a surge of speed and offensive upside to that line, or move him to the wing. There is little doubt that if you put him with Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin, an uptick in production is all but certain.

The question here is cap space (the Penguins still have to re-sign Conor Sheary and Brian Dumoulin) and just who the Penguins could give back Colorado on defence, an area of need for the Penguins, too.

What could the Penguins offer: The sticking point is on the blue line so we’ll start there. Olli Maatta has been fairly inconsistent in his career and has struggled with injuries, but at 22 years old, he may be a piece Colorado is interested in. As well, 23-year-old Derrick Pouliot, the eighth overall pick in 2012 may be of interest, but the fact he hasn’t yet stuck on a roster or earned any post-season playing time on a team that was desperate to fill blue line spots is troubling.

Up front, the likes of Jake Guentzel and Sheary may be desired by Colorado, but they’re still relatively cheap, controllable assets for a Penguins team that will constantly need to watch the cap. The Penguins have no obvious talents in the pipeline to give the Avs in a home run return, so as Friedman noted, they may have to do something else before they have what it takes to pry Duchene from Colorado.

Sharks sign F Balcers

The San Jose Sharks signed forward Rudolfs Balcers to an entry-level contract on Thursday.

Balcers collected 77 points (40 goals, 37 assists) in 66 games with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League. The 20-year-old Latvian ranked first in goals, third in assists, second in points and tied for first in rating (plus-26) among all WHL rookies.

"Rudolfs is a natural goal-scorer who has proven that he can find the back of the net when his team needs it most," Sharks assistant general manager Joe Will said. "His first season in North America showed he could keep up with a more physical game, while still being one of the more dynamic snipers in the league. We're excited to see him continue his development with our organization."

Balcers, who is listed at 5-foot-11 and 165 pounds, was selected by San Jose in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL draft.

Report: Hurricanes close to being sold; team to stay in Raleigh

The Carolina Hurricanes are on the brink of being sold, but they will not be relocating.

Chuck Greenberg, a former managing partner and CEO of baseball's Texas Rangers, is "close" to a deal to purchase the Hurricanes for $500 million, Bloomberg reported Thursday.

WRAL-TV in Raleigh, N.C., subsequently reported the Hurricanes signed a letter of intent to sell the team to Greenberg, with a stipulation that he keep the team in Raleigh.

Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos has been considering options to sell the team for some time. Recently some reports indicated that Karmanos, who had moved the team from Hartford in 1997, might be willing to sell the Hurricanes to someone who would move the team.

However, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman suggested several times that the team would not be moved.

Greenberg resigned his positions with the Rangers in 2011 as a result of differences with partner Nolan Ryan. Greenberg contemplated purchasing the Dallas Stars, but they were sold to Tom Gaglardi.

Oilers D Ference announces his retirement

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Andrew Ference officially announced his retirement after 16 seasons in the NHL on Thursday.

Ference spent the last four seasons with the Oilers and served as the team's captain from 2013-15. The 38-year-old Alberta native recorded six goals, 26 assists and 108 penalty minutes in 147 career games with Edmonton.

Ference played just six games in 2015-16 before undergoing season-ending hip surgery, and he did not play any games for the Oilers this past season..

"As I graduate from my time of playing in the NHL, I realize I have the problem of being unable to properly thank the hundreds of people who have helped me achieve my goal of playing in the best league in the world," the 5-foot-11, 184-pound Ference said. "No one gets here on their own, especially average-sized guys with average skills. If you think you deserve a thank you from me, you probably do. ... Thanks!

"My girls, Ava and Stella, and my wife, Krista, however do deserve a proper thanks and my infinite gratitude. They tended my broken bones and bruised ego more times than I can count and gave me unending love and support even when I missed a Christmas concert for a road trip."

Ference accumulated 225 points (43 goals, 182 assists) and 753 penalty minutes in 907 career contests with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Calgary Flames, Boston Bruins and Oilers. He was selected by Pittsburgh in the eighth round of the 1997 NHL draft.

"Lastly, thank you to Pittsburgh, Calgary ... Boston and Edmonton," Ference said. "Your love of our sport provided me with an incredible stage to play on and your cities will always feel like home to me. Hockey fans really are amazing!"

Rangers Agree to Terms With Forward Lias Andersson

New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that the team has agreed to terms with forward Lias Andersson on a three-year, entry-level contract.

Andersson, 18, skated in 42 games with HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) this past season, registering nine goals and 10 assists for 19 points, along with a plus-21 rating and 18 penalty minutes. He established SHL career-highs in several categories in 2016-17, including games played, goals, assists, points, and plus/minus rating. Andersson ranked eighth in the SHL - and led all junior players (younger than 20 years old) in the league - in plus/minus rating this past season. He also ranked second among all junior players in the SHL in goals and assists, and tied for second among all junior players in the SHL in points in 2016-17.

Andersson registered five points (four goals, one assist) and 18 penalty minutes in 16 playoff games while helping HV71 win the Le Mat Trophy as Swedish Hockey League Champions this past season. He tied for fifth on HV71 in goals in the playoffs, and he also ranked second among all junior players in the SHL in playoff goals this past season. Andersson played seven games in the Champions Hockey League with HV71 in 2016-17, recording one assist and two penalty minutes. He has skated in 64 career SHL games over parts of two seasons (2015-16 and 2016-17), registering 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists), along with a plus-14 rating and 24 penalty minutes.

The 6-0, 200-pounder skated in 37 games with HV71's junior team in SuperElit during the 2015-16 season, recording 24 goals and 35 assists for 59 points, along with a plus-17 rating and 91 penalty minutes. Andersson led all players in SuperElit in overall assists and points during the season. He made his SHL debut during the 2015-16 season, skating in 22 regular season games and four playoff contests with HV71.

Internationally, the Smogen, Sweden, native has represented his country at several tournaments. Most recently, Andersson registered three goals and posted a plus-two rating in seven games while representing Sweden at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. He helped Sweden earn a silver medal at the 2016 IIHF World U18 Championship, as he recorded nine points (five goals, four assists) in seven contests and was selected as one of the Top Three Players on his team in the tournament. In addition, Andersson helped Sweden earn a silver medal at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.

Andersson was selected by the Rangers in the first round, seventh overall, of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Rangers D Klein retires from NHL after 12 seasons

New York Rangers defenseman Kevin Klein announced his retirement from the NHL on Friday after parts of 12 seasons in the league.

Klein, 32, played in 627 career NHL games with the Rangers and Nashville Predators, recording 154 points (38 goals, 116 assists) and 185 penalty minutes. He made his NHL debut as a member of the Predators on Dec. 3, 2005, against the Philadelphia Flyers -- 10 days shy of his 21st birthday. He made his first career NHL goal/point on Jan. 26, 2007, against the Chicago Blackhawks.

"I would like to thank both the Nashville Predators and New York Rangers organizations for giving me the opportunity to fulfill my dream of playing in the NHL," Klein said in a statement. "Thank you to the fans of both cities for their appreciation. I couldn't have been happier to play in front of you. I will miss all the friends I've made along the way, from the staff to the guys I've played with.

"I'd like to thank my parents for everything they have done for me and for their constant love and support. Most importantly, my wife Jodi and our boys, Joseph and Oliver, who have sacrificed the most over the years. I am looking forward to many great years with my extended family."

The 6-foot-1, 206-pound Klein was acquired by the Rangers in a trade from Nashville on Jan. 22, 2014. He skated in 224 career regular-season games with the Rangers over parts of four seasons (2013-14 to 2016-17), totaling 72 points (22 goals, 50 assists) and 75 penalty minutes.

Klein helped his team advance to the playoffs in seven of his nine full seasons in the NHL, including each of his four seasons with the Rangers. He played in 73 career NHL playoff games, registering four goals, 15 assists and 27 penalty minutes. Klein established playoff career-highs in games played (25) during the 2014 playoffs while helping the Rangers advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

The Kitchener, Ontario, native played parts of nine seasons with Nashville (2005-06 to 2013-14), recording 82 points (16 goals, 66 assists) in 403 games.

Klein was originally selected by Nashville in the second round (37th overall) of the 2003 NHL draft.

Panthers sign Pysyk to three-year deal

Florida Panthers defenseman Mark Pysyk agreed to terms on a three-year contract, the team announced Thursday.

Financial terms were not disclosed by the club for Pysyk, who recorded career highs in goals (four), assists (13) and points (17) while playing in all 82 games last season with Florida.

"Mark is a young, intelligent defenseman who has become an important part of our future," general manager Dale Tallon said. "He was one of our most consistent players last season and was a solid presence on our penalty kill. We look forward to Mark being a steadying force on our blue line for years to come."

Pysyk collected nine goals and 34 assists in 207 career contests with the Panthers and Buffalo Sabres, who selected him with the 23rd overall pick of the 2010 draft.

The 25-year-old Alberta native also received a bronze medal with Team Canada at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Capitals G Grubauer inks one-year contract

The Washington Capitals re-signed restricted free agent goaltender Philipp Grubauer to a one-year, $1.5 million contract, the team announced Thursday.

Grubauer posted a 13-6-2 mark with three shutouts, a 2.04 goals-against average and .926 save percentage in 24 games last season with the Capitals.

The 25-year-old German joined workhorse Braden Holtby in capturing the William M. Jennings Trophy, an award given to the goalkeeper(s) having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it.

Grubauer owns a 28-21-8 record with three shutouts, a 2.25 GAA and .923 save percentage in 66 career games since being acquired by Washington with a fourth-round pick of the 2010 draft.

Kings F Shore signs one-year deal

Los Angeles Kings forward Nick Shore signed a one-year contract extension worth $925,000, the team announced Thursday.

Shore recorded career highs in goals (six), assists (11), points (17) and games played (70) this past season.

The 24-year-old once again will be a restricted free agent after this contract expires at the end of the 2017-18 season.

Shore has collected 10 goals, 24 assists and 62 penalty minutes in 172 career contests since being selected by Los Angeles in the third round of the 2011 draft.

Canadiens G Lindgren agrees to two-way contract

Goaltender Charlie Lindgren agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract with the Montreal Canadiens, the team announced Thursday.

Lindgren posted a 24-18-6 mark with a 2.56 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in 48 games last season with St. John's of the American Hockey League. The 23-year-old began the 2016-17 campaign with the Canadiens as a backup to Al Montoya while former Hart and Vezina Trophy winner Carey Price nursed an injury.

Lindgren won both of his starts last season against the Florida Panthers and Detroit Red Wings, recording a 1.48 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage. He also emerged victorious in his NHL debut in April 2016.

Oilers sign McDavid to 8-year, $100M extension

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid signed an eight-year, $100 million contract extension on Wednesday, the team announced.

The deal, which will begin in 2018-19, will carry an annual cap hit of $12.5 million. That total bests the top annual salary of $10.5 million held by Chicago Blackhawks stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, as well as Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price.

McDavid's deal is the fourth richest in league history in terms of dollars, trailing only Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin ($124 million), Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber ($110 million) and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby ($104.4 million). Eight years is the maximum term allowed under the current collective bargaining agreement.

"I'm so excited to wear the Oilers jersey for the next nine years," McDavid said Wednesday. "I'm in it for the long haul. I want to win here."

McDavid concluded a career year in 2016-17 by capturing the Art Ross Trophy as the league's leading scorer, the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP and the Ted Lindsay Award as the league's most outstanding player in the regular season as judged by the members of the NHL Players Association.

The 20-year-old center led the league in assists (70) and points (100) during the regular season. His 27 power-play points, six game-winning goals and 21:07 average ice time were tops on his team.

McDavid added five goals and four assists in 13 playoff games as upstart Edmonton advanced to the second round before getting ousted in seven games by the Pacific Division champion Anaheim Ducks.

McDavid has collected 46 goals, 102 assists and 44 penalty minutes in 127 career contests since being selected by Edmonton with the first overall pick of the 2015 NHL draft.

The Ontario native has represented his native Canada in four international competitions, with a nine-point performance (one goal, eight assists) in 10 games coming during his team's gold medal-winning effort at the 2016 World Hockey Championship. He also represented Canada at the 2015 World Junior Hockey Championship, the 2014 World Junior Hockey Championship and the 2013 U18 World Hockey Championship.

Marleau signed with the Leafs, so here are some cool stats

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced yesterday the signing of F Patrick Marleau to a 3-year contract. The annual average value of the contract is $6.25 million.

Here is some interesting info/stats based on the signing:

• Leafs forward Auston Matthews was 3 days from being born when new teammate Patrick Marleau played in his first NHL preseason game.

• Marleau is 1 of 7 active NHLers to have played a game at Maple Leaf Gardens.

• Matthews was just 14 days old when Patrick Marleau made his NHL debut on October 1, 1997.

Dallas Stars sign forward Alexander Radulov to a five-year contract

Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that the club has signed forward Alexander Radulov to a five-year, $31.25-million contract. 

Radulov, 30, posted 54 points (18-36=54) in 76 regular-season games played with Montreal in 2016-17. He led the team in assists, was second in points and third in goals on the year. He went on to lead the Canadiens with seven points (2-5=7) in six playoff contests. 

In four NHL seasons with Nashville and Montreal, Radulov has combined for 156 points (65-91=156) in 230 regular-season games. He has appeared in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in all four of his NHL seasons, combining for 21 points (8-13=21) in 24 games played. He has been an even or plus player in every regular season and postseason of his career, totaling a +39 mark in the regular season and a +3 in the postseason.

He returned to the NHL last year after spending most of the previous eight seasons playing in the KHL. During that time, he posted 492 points (169-323=492) in 391 KHL regular-season games played. He appeared in the league's championship twice, winning it in 2010-11 with Salavat Yulayev Ufa and falling in seven games with CSKA Moscow in 2015-16. He led the KHL in points in 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2014-15, and finished second in 2012-13 and 2015-16.

"Alexander is a dynamic playmaker with top-end speed and skill," said Nill. "To add a forward of this stature to our lineup makes our top-six as deep and talented as any group in this League."

Radulov has represented Russia in several international events. He has appeared in two Winter Olympics (2010, 2014), five World Championships (2007. 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013), two U-20 World Junior Championships (2005, 2006) and one U-18 World Junior Championship (2004). He has won gold at two of the World Championships (2008, 2009) and the U-18 World Junior Championship.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound native of Nizhny Tagil, Russia was originally selected by Nashville in the first round (15th overall) of the 2004 NHL Draft.

Carey Price signs eight-year extension with Canadiens

Carey Price signed an eight-year contract extension with the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday. Financial terms were not released, but TSN reported that it has an average annual value of $10.5 million.

The 29-year-old goaltender could have become an unrestricted free agent after this season. Sunday was the second day he was eligible to sign an extension.

Price, who turns 30 on Aug. 16, has one season at $6.5 million remaining on a six-year contract he signed July 2, 2012. He becomes the highest-paid goaltender in the NHL, surpassing Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers, whose contract has an average annual value of $8.5 million, according to CapFriendly.com.

Price was tied for sixth in the NHL with a .923 save percentage last season. He was tied for fifth with a 2.23 goals-against average and 37 wins, and finished third in voting for the Vezina Trophy behind Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals and Sergei Bobrovsky of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Price won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player and the Vezina in 2015. Since the start of the 2014-15 season, Price is first in the NHL in save percentage (.929) and GAA (2.09) in 140 games.

He also helped Canada win the gold medal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and World Cup of Hockey 2016.

Price is 270-175-55 in 509 NHL games, all with Montreal. His 270 wins are third in Canadiens history, 19 behind Patrick Roy (289) and 44 behind Jacques Plante (314). Price is in fourth with 39 shutouts.

Panthers part ways with future Hall of Famer Jagr

The Florida Panthers announced Saturday night that they are parting ways with long-time veteran Jaromir Jagr.

The future Hall of Famer turned 45 in February and is no longer the scoring threat he was in his prime. Jagr ranks third in NHL history with 765 goals and second with 1,914 points.

"I can't say enough. It was an honor to be touched by a legend," said Panthers general manager Dale Tallon, who made the decision to move on from Jagr. "I was torn. It was a tough couple weeks, or months -- whatever it was. Can't thank him enough. What he did for our kids, for myself and everyone in this organization, you can't measure it."

Jagr, a 10-time All-Star, scored 16 goals and 46 points this past season. He played two-plus seasons with the Panthers.

Jagr recently said on Twitter that he hopes to play next season.

But Tallon felt Jagr remaining with Florida wasn't a good option.

"I think it's time now for our guys to take over," Tallon said. "Our core young guys need to take over this team."

Jagr has five 100-point seasons in his career -- four coming during his 11-season tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

NHL free agency roundup: Shattenkirk signs with hometown Rangers

Kevin Shattenkirk has decided to go home.

On Saturday, the 28-year-old New Rochelle, N.Y., native and prized defenseman signed a four-year deal reportedly worth $26.6 million -- an average of $6.65 million per season -- with his hometown New York Rangers.

"New York was a place I wanted to play," Shattenkirk told TSN. "If I passed that up, I couldn't live with that. I think the opportunity to win a Stanley Cup as a hometown kid, that's the reason I came here."

Shattenkirk, an NHL All-Star in 2015, totaled 13 goals and 43 assists (56 points) over 80 games between the St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals last season.

F Sharp rejoins Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks agreed to terms with forward Patrick Sharp on a one-year contract that runs through the 2017-18 season.

Sharp's deal is worth up to a reported $1 million ($800,000 in base salary and $200,000 in games-played bonuses) to rejoin the Blackhawks after two seasons with the Dallas Stars.

Sharp, 35, returns to Chicago, where he spent 10 seasons with the Blackhawks through 2015, winning three Stanley Cups (2010, 2013 and 2015) and totaling 511 points (239 goals, 272 assists) in 679 games.

Sharks lock up D Vlasic, G Jones long term

The Jose Sharks signed defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic to an eight-year contract extension and goaltender Martin Jones to a six-year extension.

Vlasic's deal is worth a reported $56 million over the eight years, while Jones' deal is worth $5.75 million per year.

Vlasic, 30, ranked second among Sharks' defensemen in points (28), goals (six), assists (22), shots on goal (144) and game-winning goals (two) last season. Jones posted a 35-23-6 record, including two shutouts, in 65 games last season with a .912 save percentage and 2.40 goals-against average.

Ducks sign G Miller, give D Fowler an extension

Ryan Miller has agreed to sign a two-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks. Terms of the goaltender's contract were not released by the team, but TSN reports Miller's deal is worth $4 million.

The Ducks also signed defenseman Cam Fowler to an eight-year contract extension through the 2025-26 season. Fowler will receive $52 million over the life of the deal, the Orange County Register reported.

Last season with the Canucks, Miller posted a subpar 18-29-6 record with a 2.80 GAA and a .914 save percentage over 54 games.

Fowler, 25, was a first-time All-Star with the Ducks last season after totaling a career-high 11 goals and 28 assists (39 points) in 80 games.

F Williams returning to Hurricanes with 2-year deal

Justin Williams is headed back to Carolina after the Hurricanes signed the veteran right wing and three-time Stanley Cup champion to a two-year contract worth $9 million.

"We said that we needed goal scoring and veteran leadership, and Justin will bring us both," Hurricanes executive vice president and general manager Ron Francis said.

Williams, 35, spent five seasons with the Hurricanes from 2003-04 to 2008-09, totaling 81 goals and 120 assists over 265 games. The Cobourg, Ontario, native had 24 goals and 24 assists (48 points) in 80 games with the Washington Capitals last season.

D Schultz signs with Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins signed restricted free agent defenseman Justin Schultz to a three-year, $16.5 million contract, the team announced.

The contract has an average annual value of $5.5 million and runs through the 2019-20 season.

Schultz recorded career highs in goals (12), assists (39), points (51), plus-minus (plus-27) and power-play points (20) in 78 games last season with the Penguins. The 26-year-old is coming off a one-year, $1.4 million deal.

Jets bolster roster with signings of D Kulikov, G Mason

The Winnipeg Jets bolstered their roster by signing defenseman Dmitry Kulikov and goaltender Steve Mason to contracts. Kulikov inked a three-year, $12.99 million deal, according to TSN's Darren Dreger. Mason signed a two-year, $8.2 million contract.

Kulikov recorded two goals and three assists last season with the Buffalo Sabres while being limited to just 47 games due to an upper-body injury.

Mason, who is coming off a three-year, $12.3 million deal, posted a 26-21-8 record with three shutouts and a 2.66 goals-against average in 58 games last season with the Philadelphia Flyers.

F Bonino jumps ship to join Predators

Nick Bonino is joining the team that he helped defeat in the Stanley Cup Final.

The forward signed a four-year, $16.4 million contract with the Nashville Predators.

The 29-year-old Connecticut native recorded 18 goals, 19 assists in 80 games last season with Pittsburgh and seven points (four goals, three assists) in 21 playoff contests to help the Penguins repeat as Stanley Cup champions.

Lightning sign Kunitz to one-year pact

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed free agent forward Chris Kunitz to a one-year, $2 million contract.

A four-time Stanley Cup champion, Kunitz collected nine goals and 20 assists in 71 games last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 37-year-old Saskatchewan native came through in the clutch when he scored in double overtime in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final against the Ottawa Senators.

Kunitz has recorded 250 goals, 330 assists and a plus-183 rating in 884 career contests with the Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers and Penguins.

Flyers ink former All-Star G Elliott to two-year deal

The Philadelphia Flyers signed goaltender Brian Elliott to a two-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed by the Flyers, but TSN reported the deal is worth $5.5 million.

"When a guy like (Flyers general manager and former NHL goalie) Ron Hextall calls you and says he's liked you for a long time and wants to get you on this team, that's pretty special," Elliott said. "I wanted to take advantage of that opportunity."

Elliott posted a 26-18-3 mark with two shutouts, a 2.55 goals-against average and .910 save percentage in 49 games last season with the Calgary Flames.

Stars sign C Hanzal to $14.5-million deal

The Dallas Stars signed center Martin Hanzal to a three-year, $14.25-million contract.

Hanzal, 30, split the 2016-17 season between the Arizona Coyotes and Minnesota Wild, combining for 39 points (20 goals, 19 assists) in 71 regular-season games. In five Stanley Cup playoff games with Minnesota, he scored one goal and finished with a 57.3 percent faceoff percentage.

Hanzal, a veteran of 10 NHL seasons with Arizona and Minnesota, owns 326 points (121 goals, 205 assists) in 628 career regular-season games.

Devils sign C Boyle

The New Jersey Devils signed center Brian Boyle to a two-year contract. The deal is worth a reported $5.1 million.

Boyle, 32, played for the Tampa Bay Lighting last season before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs before the trade deadline.

After being acquired by the Maple Leafs, Boyle tallied only three assists in 21 regular-season games and two assists in six playoff games. He had 13 goals and nine assists in 54 games with the Lightning last season.

Canadiens sign D Alzner to 5-year deal

Karl Alzner signed a five-year, $23.125 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens.

Alzner, a 6-foot-3, 219-pound stay-at-home defenseman, is expected to take the place of Alexei Emelin, who was acquired by the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft.

Alzner recorded 13 points (three goals, 10 assists), a plus-23 rating and a team-best 162 blocked shots while playing in all 82 games last season with the Washington Capitals.

Coyotes ink F Cousins to two-year deal

Nick Cousins signed a two-year contract with the Arizona Coyotes, the team announced.

Financial terms were not disclosed by the Coyotes, but Sportsnet reported the deal was worth $2 million.

Arizona acquired Cousins, a forward, from the Philadelphia Flyers on June 17. Cousins collected six goals, 10 assists and 31 penalty minutes in 60 games last season with the Flyers.

Panthers re-sign D Petrovic

The Florida Panthers agreed to terms with defenseman Alex Petrovic on a one-year, one-way contract.

The deal is worth a reported $1.8 million for Petrovic, who was a restricted free agent.

Petrovic, 25, recorded 14 points (one goals, 13 assists) in 49 games with Florida during the 2016-17 season. He ranked tied for first among team defensemen with 106 hits and averaged 2.2 hits per game.

Lightning sign Kunitz to one-year pact

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed free agent forward Chris Kunitz to a one-year, $2 million contract, the team announced Saturday.

A four-time Stanley Cup champion, Kunitz collected nine goals and 20 assists in 71 games last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 37-year-old Saskatchewan native came through in the clutch when he scored in double overtime in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final against the Ottawa Senators.

Kunitz has recorded 250 goals, 330 assists and a plus-183 rating in 884 career contests with the Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers and Penguins.

He also brings a wealth of experience to Tampa Bay with 161 career playoff games under his belt, notching 27 goals and 65 assists.

Kunitz has enjoyed success on the international stage, winning a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Also on Saturday, Tampa Bay signed free agent defenseman Jamie McBain to a one-year, two-way contract. McBain did not record a point in three games last season with the Arizona Coyotes, but posted 43 (eight goals, 35 assists) during his time with Tucson of the American Hockey League.

Jets bolster roster with signings of D Kulikov, G Mason

The Winnipeg Jets bolstered their roster Saturday by signing defenseman Dmitry Kulikov and goaltender Steve Mason to contracts.

Kulikov inked a three-year, $12.99 million deal, according to TSN's Darren Dreger. Mason signed a two-year, $8.2 million contract.

The Jets also added depth by signing forward Michael Sgarbossa to a one-year, $650,000 deal and agreeing to terms with defenseman Cameron Schilling on a one-year, two-way contract with an average annual value of $650,000.

Kulikov recorded two goals and three assists last season with the Buffalo Sabres while being limited to just 47 games due to an upper-body injury. The 26-year-old Russian has collected 30 goals and 83 points in 507 career contests with the Florida Panthers and Sabres.

Mason, who is coming off a three-year, $12.3 million deal, posted a 26-21-8 record with three shutouts and a 2.66 goals-against average in 58 games last season with the Philadelphia Flyers. The 29-year-old began his NHL career with a flourish, finishing as a finalist for the Vezina Trophy in his rookie season with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Sgarbossa collected two goals and five assists in 29 games last season with the Panthers. The 24-year-old has recorded 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 48 career contests.

Schilling, 28, notched 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists) and 49 penalty minutes in 72 games last season with Rockford and Ontario of the American Hockey League.

Flyers ink former All-Star G Elliott to two-year deal

The Philadelphia Flyers signed goaltender Brian Elliott to a two-year contract, the team announced Saturday.

Financial terms were not disclosed by the Flyers, but TSN reported the deal is worth $5.5 million.

"When a guy like (Flyers general manager and former NHL goalie) Ron Hextall calls you and says he's liked you for a long time and wants to get you on this team, that's pretty special," Elliott said. "I wanted to take advantage of that opportunity."

Elliott posted a 26-18-3 mark with two shutouts, a 2.55 goals-against average and .910 save percentage in 49 games last season with the Calgary Flames. The 32-year-old finished the regular season with a flourish, recording a 23-9-2 mark over the final 36 games to propel the Flames into the playoffs.

Elliott's postseason wasn't as stellar, however, as he surrendered soft goals in the second, third and fourth games of Calgary's first-round series versus the Anaheim Ducks. He was pulled in Game 4, with Anaheim going on to complete a sweep.

Elliott replaces fellow goaltender Steve Mason, who agreed to terms on a two-year, $8.2 million contract with the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday. Elliott is expected to split time with Michal Neuvirth in the City of Brotherly Love.

Elliott owns a 191-117-35 mark with 36 shutouts in 372 career games with the Ottawa Senators, Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues and Flames. A two-time All-Star, Elliott was selected by Ottawa in the ninth round of the 2003 NHL draft.

Coyotes ink F Cousins to two-year deal

Arizona Coyotes forward Nick Cousins signed a two-year contract, the team announced Saturday.

Financial terms were not disclosed by the Coyotes, but Sportsnet reported the deal was worth $2 million.

Arizona acquired Cousins from the Philadelphia Flyers on June 17.

Cousins collected six goals, 10 assists and 31 penalty minutes in 60 games last season with the Flyers. The 23-year-old Ontario native has recorded 12 goals, 16 assists and 37 penalty minutes in 107 career contests since being selected by Philadelphia in the third round of the 2011 NHL draft.

Canadiens sign D Alzner to 5-year deal

Defenseman Karl Alzner signed a five-year, $23.125 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

Alzner, a 6-foot-3, 219-pound stay-at-home defenseman, is expected to take the place of Alexei Emelin, who was acquired by the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft.

Alzner recorded 13 points (three goals, 10 assists), a plus-23 rating and a team-best 162 blocked shots while playing in all 82 games last season with the Washington Capitals. The 28-year-old British Columbia native, who has been an ironman during his career, hasn't missed a regular-season game since the 2009-10 season.

Alzner, however, sustained a broken hand in the first-round playoff series versus the Toronto Maple Leafs. He missed six games before returning in the second round against the eventual champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

Alzner collected 19 goals and 98 assists in 591 career contests since being selected by Washington with the fifth overall pick of the 2007 draft.

Bonino jumps ship to join Predators in free agency

Nick Bonino is joining the team that he helped defeat in the Stanley Cup Final.

The forward signed a four-year, $16.4 million contract with the Nashville Predators on Saturday.

The 29-year-old Connecticut native recorded 18 goals, 19 assists in 80 games last season with Pittsburgh and seven points (four goals, three assists) in 21 playoff contests to help the Penguins repeat as Stanley Cup champions.

Bonino missed the last four games of the Stanley Cup final because of a broken tibia, which was sustained after he was on the receiving end of a slapshot from Predators defenseman P.K. Subban. Bonino is expected to be ready for the start of the 2017-18 season.

Bonino has collected 75 goals and 112 assists in 407 career games with the Penguins, Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks since being selected by the San Jose Sharks in the sixth round of the 2007 NHL draft.

Ducks to sign G Miller, ink D Fowler to extension

Ryan Miller has agreed to sign a two-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks, the team announced Saturday.

Terms of the goaltender's contract were not released by the team, but TSN reports Miller's deal is worth $4 million.

The Ducks also signed defenseman Cam Fowler to an eight-year contract extension through the 2025-26 season. Fowler will receive $52 million over the life of the deal, the Orange County Register reported.

Miller, 36, won the Vezina Trophy as a member of the Buffalo Sabres in 2010 and ranks 19th all-time in NHL history with 358 victories.

The 14-year veteran is 358-262-73 with a 2.61 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage in 709 career games.

Miller entered the league as a fifth-round draft pick of the Sabres in 1999 and spent his first 10 1/2 seasons with Buffalo. He was traded to the St. Louis Blues during the 2013-14 season and signed with the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent the following season.

Last season with the Canucks, Miller posted a subpar 18-29-6 record with a 2.80 GAA and a .914 save percentage over 54 games.

Fowler, 25, was a first-time All-Star with the Ducks last season after totaling a career-high 11 goals and 28 assists (39 points) in 80 games. He spent his first seven NHL seasons with Anaheim, totaling 45 goals and 172 assists (217 points) in 494 games.

"Cam Fowler is the type of player we want here long term," Ducks executive vice president and general manager Bob Murray said. "He has the obvious skill set, but also tremendous character and a drive to succeed. As good as he is, he's not yet in his prime years, so we know the best is yet to come."

Anaheim went 46-23-13 (105 points) to win the Pacific Division and finish third in the Western Conference last season. The Ducks advanced to the Western Conference finals before being eliminated by the Nashville Predators in six games.

F Sharp rejoins Blackhawks in free agent deal

The Chicago Blackhawks agreed to terms with forward Patrick Sharp on a one-year contract that runs through the 2017-18 season, the team announced as free agency opened Saturday.

Sharp's deal is worth up to a reported $1 million ($800,000 in base salary and $200,000 in games-played bonuses) to rejoin the Blackhawks after two seasons with the Dallas Stars.

Sharp, 35, returns to Chicago where he spent 10 seasons with the Blackhawks from 2005 to 2015, winning three Stanley Cups (2010, 2013 and 2015) and totaling 511 points (239 goals, 272 assists) in 679 games.

Sharp joins Duncan Keith, Patrick Kane, Brent Seabrook and Jonathan Toews as three-time Stanley Cup champions on Chicago's current roster. His 239 goals are 13th on the Blackhawks' all-time scoring list while his point total ranks 16th.

Sharp reached the 20-goal plateau seven times with Chicago while pacing the club in goals during four of those seasons. He finished the 2010-11 and 2013-14 seasons with 34 goals which ranked eighth and ninth in the NHL, respectively. Sharp posted 80 points (42 goals, 38 assists) in 117 Stanley Cup playoff games with the Blackhawks and ranks sixth in team history in postseason goals and eighth in points.

The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native spent the last two seasons in Dallas, where he recorded 73 points (28 goals, 45 assists) in 124 games with the Stars.

Overall, Sharp owns 599 points (277 goals, 322 assists) during his 14-year NHL career, appearing in 869 games with the Philadelphia Flyers, Blackhawks and Stars. He was drafted by Philadelphia in the third round of the 2001 draft.

On the international stage, Sharp won a gold medal with Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and also represented his country in the 2008 and 2012 IIHF World Championships.

The Blackhawks also agreed to terms with forward Tommy Wingels on a one-year contract.

Wingels, 29, recorded 12 points (seven goals, five assits) in 73 games split between the San Jose Sharks and Ottawa Senators during the 2016-17 season. He also skated in nine playoff games with the Senators.

Wingels, a native of Wilmette, Ill., set career highs with 16 goals, 22 assists and 38 points during the 2013-14 campaign with San Jose. He was drafted by the Sharks in the sixth round in 2008.

In addition, the Blackhawks signed goaltender Jean-Francois Berube and defenseman Jordan Oesterle to two-year contracts and inked forward Lance Bouma to a one-year deal Saturday.

D Shattenkirk signs with Rangers

Kevin Shattenkirk has decided to go home.

On Saturday, the 28-year-old New Rochelle, N.Y., native and prized defenseman signed a four-year deal reportedly worth $26.6 million -- an average of $6.65 million per season -- with his hometown New York Rangers.

"New York was a place I wanted to play," Shattenkirk told TSN. "If I passed that up, I couldn't live with that. I think the opportunity to win a Stanley Cup as a hometown kid, that's the reason I came here."

Shattenkirk, an NHL All-Star in 2015, totaled 13 goals and 43 assists (56 points) over 80 games between the St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals last season.

The No. 14 overall draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2007 spent parts of seven seasons with the Blues from 2010-11 to last season, when he was shipped to Washington.

Over 490 career games, Shattenkirk has 68 goals and 230 assists (298 points).

The Rangers also signed goalie Ondrej Pavelec as a backup to Henrik Lundqvist.

Pavelec, 29, spent his first 10 NHL seasons with the Atlanta/Winnipeg franchise. Last season, Pavelec posted a 4-4 record with a .888 save percentage and a 3.55 goals-against average in eight games with the Jets.

Stars sign C Hanzal to $14.5-million deal

The Dallas Stars signed center Martin Hanzal to a three-year, $14.25-million contract, the team announced on Saturday at the outset of free agency.

In addition, the Stars re-signed defenseman Patrik Nemeth to a one-year, $945,000 contract and signed forward Tyler Pitlick to a three-year, $3-million contract.

Hanzal, 30, split the 2016-17 season between the Arizona Coyotes and Minnesota Wild, combining for 39 points (20 goals, 19 assists) in 71 regular-season games. In five Stanley Cup playoff games with Minnesota, he scored one goal and finished with a 57.3 percent faceoff percentage.

Hanzal, a veteran of 10 NHL seasons with Arizona and Minnesota, owns 326 points (121 goals, 205 assists) in 628 career regular-season games. He has advanced to the postseason four times during his career, recording 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 28 playoff games.

"Martin is a very detailed player who competes at high level," Stars general manager Jim Nill said in a statement. "He is one of the league's best centermen in the faceoff circle and his complete set of abilities will improve us in several facets of the game."

The 6-foot-6, 226-pound Hanzal, a native of Pisek, Czech Republic, was selected by Arizona in the first round (17th overall) of the 2005 NHL draft.

Nemeth, 25, posted three assists in a career-high 40 regular-season games for Dallas during the 2016-17 season.

Nemeth appeared in 108 career regular-season games over four seasons, all with Dallas, recording 14 assists. He also played in five Stanley Cup playoff games with Dallas, posting one shot, 17 hits and 10 blocked shots.

Pitlick, 25, posted 11 points (eight goals, three assists) in 31 games for the Edmonton Oilers last season.

In parts of three NHL seasons, all with Edmonton, Pitlick recorded 14 points (11 goals, three assists) in 58 regular-season games.

The Stars also signed forward Brian Flynn to a one-year, two-way contract.

Flynn, 28, appeared in 51 games for the Montreal Canadiens in 2016-17, recording 10 points (six goals, four assists). He also appeared in one postseason game, recording two shots on goal.

Flynn, a five-year NHL veteran, has combined to play in 275 career regular-season games with the Buffalo Sabres and Canadiens, totaling 61 points (27 goals, 34 assists).

Devils sign free agent C Boyle

The New Jersey Devils signed center Brian Boyle to a two-year contract as free agency opened Saturday.

The deal is worth a reported $5.1 million.

Boyle, 32, played for the Tampa Bay Lighting last season before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs before the trade deadline.

Boyle, 32, went to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals -- with the New York Rangers in 2013-14 and the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2014-15.

After being acquired by the Maple Leafs, Boyle tallied only three assists in 21 regular-season games and two assists in six playoff games. He had 13 goals and nine assists in 54 games with the Lightning last season.

The 6-foot-6, 244-pound Boyle has 169 points (93 goals, 76 assists) in 624 career NHL games.

Sharks lock up D Vlasic, G Jones long term

The Jose Sharks signed defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic to an eight-year contract extension and goaltender Martin Jones to a six-year extension, the team announced Saturday as free agency opened.

Vlasic's deal is worth a reported $56 million over the eight years, while Jones' deal is worth $5.75 million per year.

"We're thrilled we could get this extension done early and ensure one of the league's top defensemen will remain in San Jose for the long term," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said in a statement of Vlasic.

"Marc-Edouard has been an integral part of this team, both on and off the ice, and we are excited to have him in San Jose for at least the next eight years."

Vlasic, 30, finished second on the Sharks in 2016-17 in average time on ice per game (21:14), and ranked second among team defensemen in points (28), goals (six), assists (22), shots on goal (144) and game-winning goals (two).

His 146 blocked shots ranked second on the team, as did his 2:04 of shorthanded time on ice per game.

Having played his entire career in San Jose, Vlasic owns 254 points (53 goals, 201 assists) in 812 regular-season games. In addition, he has 29 points (three goals, 26 assists) in 114 playoff games.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound native of Montreal was selected by San Jose in the second round (35th overall) of the 2005 NHL draft.

Jones posted a 35-23-6 record, including two shutouts, in 65 games last season with a .912 save percentage and 2.40 goals-against average. His wins ranked seven and his .958 shorthanded save percentage ranked 14th among NHL goaltenders.

"We're very happy we could get this extension done with Martin and feel that he is just beginning to hit his peak in terms of growth and prime playing seasons," Wilson said.

"He has proven that he is more than capable of excelling in high-pressure situations and big games, and we feel he has become one of the top goaltenders in the League. He is a calming influence in net for our team and we're excited to have him in net for us for the foreseeable future."

The goaltender was selected to his first NHL All-Star Game during the 2016-17 season.

Since joining the Sharks, Jones leads the NHL in games started (130) and is tied for second in wins (72) among all league goalies. In addition, his 2.33 goals-against average ranks 13th in the NHL. He finished tied for seventh in voting for the NHL's Vezina Trophy, awarded to the league's top goaltender.

Jones helped backstop San Jose to its first Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2016, setting single playoff franchise records for games played (24) and wins (14). He won the Stanley Cup during the 2013-14 season as a member of the Los Angeles Kings.

The 6-4, 190-pound native of North Vancouver, British Columbia, was signed by Los Angeles as a free agent on Oct. 2, 2008. He was acquired by San Jose from Boston on June 30, 2015.

Panthers re-sign D Petrovic

The Florida Panthers agreed to terms with defenseman Alex Petrovic on a one-year, one-way contract Saturday.

The deal is worth a reported $1.8 million for Petrovic, who was a restricted free agent.

Petrovic, 25, recorded 14 points (one goals, 13 assists) in 49 games with Florida during the 2016-17 season. He ranked tied for first among team defensemen with 106 hits and averaged 2.2 hits per game.

"Alex is an important part of our young core and has taken great strides in his development over the past two seasons," Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said in a statement. "He plays the type of hockey that will help us win games and we are pleased to have agreed to terms on a deal with him."

Over 161 regular-season NHL games, all with Florida (2012-17), Petrovic owns 35 points (three goals, 32 assists). He also has a goal and three assists in six playoff games.

The 6-foot-4, 206-pound native of Edmonton, Alberta, was originally selected by Florida in the second round (36th overall) of the 2010 NHL draft.