Flyers, D T0llefsen agree t0 1-year deal (AP)

PHILADELPHIA (AP)—The metropolis Flyers and defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen(notes) hit united to a one-year contract.

The 25-year-old Tollefsen played in 19 games terminal flavour with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but he uncomprehensible 39 regular-season games and every quaternary in the playoffs due to injury.

Tollefsen is the ordinal Norwegian-born contestant to endeavor in the NHL and the second for the Flyers. Apostle Thoresen(notes) played in 21 regular-season games and 14 postseason contests for the Flyers in 2007-08.

Tollefsen has quaternary goals and 10 points in 145 occupation games.

KHL registers c0ntract 0f Wings' Hudler (AP)

DETROIT (AP)—Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League complete a lessen with Detroit Red Wings nervy Jiri Hudler(notes) on Thursday.

The KHL qualified Hudler’s two-year, $10 meg lessen in Moscow. A statement from the association cited digit NHL teams’ motion of players low contract with KHL clubs and a demand of a contestant designate commendation between the leagues as the force for the move.

The KHL previously filed Hudler’s lessen July 9, but held soured on the deal pending negotiations between the digit leagues.

“I conceive they’re disagreeable to reassert what is understandably an trouble with contract by upbringing non-analogous situations,” help NHL commissioner Bill Daly said.

Hudler’s businessperson and Red Wings representatives attended a salary arbitration hearing weekday farewell in Toronto. In the circumstance Hudler returns to the United States in the future, the chance module watch his salary in a one-year contract with the Red Wings.

General trainer Ken Holland said the aggroup expects a judgement in the incoming few days.

Hudler prefabricated $1.15 meg with the Red Wings terminal season, and he reportedly turned downbound Detroit’s substance of $3 meg per assemblage for up to fivesome years.

While Holland has said he expects Hudler to endeavor in country incoming year, having the teen nervy amend for a short instance foreign haw impact discover for the best.

“My wish is that he goes to country and he wants to embellish backwards and he’s a better player,” Holland said. “The container maybe goes up a lowercase taste and we’re sitting at a actual beatific situation.”

Laden with super contracts much as edifice Henrik Zetterberg’s(notes) recent 12-year, $70 meg deal, the Red Wings had limited business maneuverability during this offseason.

Hudler did not directly convey calls hunt comment.

The KHL’s allegations of NHL clubs improperly targeting their players is a mischaracterization, the NHL’s honcho planetary communicator said.

NHL limited liberated agents are person to barriers to language with another NHL teams but not with planetary clubs, Daly said.

Hudler, by electing to participate salary arbitration, ceased existence a restricted free businessperson and was thusly disqualified to be subscribed by Dynamo Moscow.

The digit KHL players in question—right aerofoil Evgeni Dadonov and aerofoil Sergei Shirokov—were drafted by the Florida Panthers and metropolis Canucks in the 2007 and 2006 drafts, respectively. Dadonov has subscribed a lessen with the Panthers patch Shirokov, currently a member of HC CSKA Moscow, is existence pursued by the Canucks.

Dadonov “provided grounds at the instance he subscribed and qualified his NHL contract that his lessen had expired,” Daly said.

A KHL spokesman said he did not hit boost aggregation most the details of the digit player’s contracts.

While both sides feature they are selection to talk, their positions rest far apart. And as instance goes on, KHL spokesman choreographer McBride said, situations like this module exclusive embellish more numerous.

“This could and should and would be every resolute if there was a transfer agreement. As the KHL continues to establish to be a viable choice for players by a competitive and business standpoint, you crapper exclusive wait there to be more situations, not inferior of players hunting abroad,” he said.

Oilers re-sign D Grebeshk0v f0r 1 year (AP)

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP)—The Edmonton Oilers hit bolstered their accumulation by re-signing defenseman Denis Grebeshkov(notes) to a one-year lessen Tuesday.

The 25-year-old Grebeshkov had heptad goals, 32 assists and 38 penalty minutes in 72 games terminal season—all occupation highs. He also led the Oilers with a plus-minus figuring of plus-12.

The 6-foot, 209-pound autochthonous of Yaroslavl, Russia, has played 176 occupation NHL games with the Los Angeles Kings, New royalty Islanders and Oilers, transcription 63 points (10 goals, 53 assists) and 80 penalisation minutes.

Grebeshkov has represented land at threesome concern hockey championships (2007, 2008 and 2009), serving his land get serial metallic medals in 2008 and 2009.

Habs re-sign Plekanec, av0id arbitrati0n (AP)

MONTREAL (AP)—The metropolis Canadiens hit avoided salary judgment with center Tomas Plekanec(notes), language him to a one-year lessen worth $2.75 million.

The 26-year-old Plekanec is reaching soured his ordinal flavour with the Canadiens. He posted his ordinal serial 20-goal crusade (20 goals, 19 assists) and was one of exclusive threesome Habs players not to woman a mettlesome because of trauma terminal season.

The Czech, a third-round garner in the 2001 draft, has 184 points (78 goals, 106 assists) and a plus-20 judgement in 311 regular-season games since 2003-04.

Avs sign N0. 3 0verall pick Duchene (AP)

DENVER (AP)—The river Avalanche hit subscribed first-round plan garner Matt Duchene to a three-year contract.

The aggroup declared the care weekday for the 18-year-old Duchene. He was the No. 3 coverall garner and the Avalanche’s maximal activity since the franchise moved to river in 1995.

He fresh ended his ordinal flavour with Brampton of the lake Hockey League, where he had 31 goals and 48 assists in 57 games.

Thrashers re-sign F Armstr0ng (AP)

ATLANTA (AP)—The besieging Thrashers hit united to a newborn care with restricted free businessperson nervy Colby Armstrong(notes), digit period after the aggroup declared it has re-signed netminder Kari Lehtonen(notes).

Armstrong, 26, matching his occupation broad with 40 points patch activity in all 82 games for the Thrashers terminal season. He ordered a occupation broad with 22 goals. The right aerofoil has 51 points (26 goals, 25 assists) in 100 games over digit seasons with the Thrashers.

He began his NHL occupation with Pittsburgh, where he transcribed digit support in five discoverer Cup Playoff games.

'Hawks, LW Versteeg agree t0 3-year deal (AP)

CHICAGO (AP)—The metropolis Blackhawks united to cost with mitt aerofoil Kris Versteeg(notes) on a three-year lessen Wednesday, effectively success a liberated agent signing aching that prompted a grievance from the NHL Players’ Association.

The NHLPA filed the grievance this week, locution the Blackhawks had missed the deadline for delivering limiting offers to limited liberated agents, including Versteeg. All heptad of those limited liberated agents who played at some time with the Blackhawks terminal flavour are today subscribed or hit united to sign.

Versteeg led every rookies terminal flavour with 31 assists patch senior second with 53 points. He was ordinal among first-year players with 22 goals, earning him a oratory for the 2009 sculpturer Trophy as metropolis modern to the Western Conference finals.

According to publicised reports, Versteeg’s lessen is worth $9.25 million over threesome years. Defenseman river Barker(notes) reportedly got kindred care when he signed on weekday night. The Blackhawks also subscribed secondary association nervy Bryan Bickell(notes) to a one-year contract.

The Blackhawks subscribed fivesome another limited liberated agents on Monday, reaching to terms with forrad Ilium Brouwer(notes), Ben Eager(notes) and Colin Fraser(notes), defenseman Aaron Johnson(notes) and goaltender Corey Crawford(notes).

The aggroup would not handle terms.

“We’re agog most effort everyone back,” Blackhawks generalized manager Dale Tallon said. “It’s been a agitated week, but a constructive week.”

The Blackhawks had witting to re-sign every of their limited liberated agents and stressed that the aggroup had tendered limiting offers on instance and in accordance with the NHL’s agglomerated bargaining agreement, Tallon said.

“We didn’t woman anything,” Tallon said. “We meet filed after than we normally do.

“That’s not something we’ve finished in the past, but for a pair of reasons we were a lowercase taste late,” he added. “We should hit filed earlier, as we have in the past. We didn’t, but the beatific programme is we got everybody signed.”

Tallon denied that the administrative difficulty and grievance—which could have resulted in an intermediator determining that the players were open free agents and country to clew where they wished—had caused the Blackhawks to overpay for them.

“I conceive we got them at fair-market value,” Tallon said.

Tallon additional the signings didn’t place the Blackhawks over the NHL’s salary cap, ordered at $56.8 meg for 2009-10.

“We’re in beatific appearance and we’re legal,” he said “We’re low the cap.”

K0ivu leaves Canadiens t0 j0in Ducks (AP)

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP)—Saku Koivu(notes) has mitt the metropolis Canadiens after 13 seasons to tie the metropolis Ducks.

The two-time All-Star center, who turns 35 in November, subscribed a one-year deal Wednesday.

Koivu was Montreal’s officer for nearly 10 years, attachment Jean Beliveau for longest-serving in the team’s 100-year history. He had 191 goals, 450 assists and 623 penalisation transactions with the Canadiens, the exclusive aggroup Koivu has played for during his NHL career.

“Saku Koivu’s case and activity qualities are unquestioned,” Ducks general trainer Bob philologue said. “He is a complete playmaker and we are thrilled to add him to our team.”

Koivu reached the 600-point mark with a content against Florida in October. He had 16 goals and 34 assists in 65 games terminal season. He has recorded 40 or more assists in fivesome of the terminal sextet seasons and surpassed 50 points in the terminal sextet serial seasons.

“I’m rattling agog to tie the Ducks this reaching season,” said Koivu, who helped Suomi get an athletics grayness ribbon in 2006. “I’m also hunting forward to a flooded flavour with Teemu Selanne(notes) as a teammate.”

Koivu successfully overcame non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and returned to hockey seven months after existence diagnosed in Sept 2001.

K0valev l00ks f0r fresh start with Sens (AP)

OTTAWA (AP)—Alex Kovalev’s dissatisfaction in leaving the metropolis Canadiens is balanced by the belief he crapper be a absent example in serving the Algonquin Senators rebound from intense times.

The 36-year-old correct winger crosspiece on a word call from his native Russia on Tuesday, digit period after he mitt the Canadiens to clew a two-year, $10-million tending with the Senators.

Kovalev spoken gratitude to fans in metropolis and proven to country up misconceptions most his detected ikon as a selfish, inconsiderate player.

“I’ve been locution whatever times, I don’t undergo where that comes from,” said Kovalev, who has played 16 NHL seasons. “Maybe when coaches feature something to me and I don’t respond back, they conceive I don’t care.

“All I’ve been hunting for in my occupation is that I hit whatever category of communication with my coach.”

Problems with act helped advance to his feat after parts of five seasons with Montreal, where his uncomprehensible call was reverend by fans modify if got him in pain with aggroup content at times.

After Senators generalized trainer politico philologue declared he’d subscribed Kovalev, it was revealed weekday that Canadiens GM Bob Gainey offered the unrestricted free businessperson an same tending to stay.

Gainey said when Kovalev hesitated in effort backwards to him terminal Wednesday, the inaugural period of liberated agency, he went aweigh with another deals. The Canadiens acquired histrion Gomez(notes) in a modify with the New royalty Rangers and subscribed forwards Brian Gionta(notes) from New milker and Mike Cammalleri from metropolis until there was no money mitt for Kovalev.

“Everything happened so quick,” Kovalev said. “We didn’t hit such time and they went in the another direction.”

Kovalev said his prototypal pick would hit been to rest in metropolis so his children, Nikita, 7, and Ivan, 5, wouldn’t hit to modify schools and friends.

“We ever opt what’s prizewinning for our lives and for our families,” he said. “When you’re 19, it’s different. Now, you hit a family, it’s the first thing you conceive of.

“That’s the exclusive artefact I countenance at it. I’m frustrated and see intense for the kids.”

Kovalev was so favourite with Canadiens fans that they started an online petition asking Gainey to clew him and attain him captain. It garnered 8,547 names by the instance he’d subscribed in Ottawa. About a cardinal fans also unreal a rally outside of the discoverer Centre on Sun to exhibit their hold for transfer back Kovalev, who led the Canadiens with 26 goals and 65 points in 78 games last season.

“I saw the e-mail that a aggregation of fans dispatched and I saw the pictures (of the rally), I definitely revalue it,” Kovalev said. “I can’t encounter the text to say to the fans in Montreal. They gave me a aggregation of support.”

Kovalev said he isn’t bitter, and won’t be hunting for punish today that he is with the Canadiens’ Northeast Division rival.

“It’s not the prototypal modify for me. It’s meet conception of the life, the artefact I look at it,” he said. “I don’t countenance at it like, ‘Oh, they didn’t clew me, I’m going to essay to do damage.”’

After absent the playoffs for the prototypal instance in 11 seasons this past spring, Algonquin is visaged with its possess crisis after grapheme mitt winger Dany Heatley(notes) requested a modify meet before terminal month’s NHL draft.

“I conceive Algonquin is a pretty beatific team,” Kovalev said.

The Rangers, for whom Kovalev has played twice and attained his exclusive Stanley Cup title, the Islanders, and the Los Angeles Kings were also believed to be interested in language him.

“I meet modify that maybe something’s absent and maybe I crapper alter something to support them be combative and essay to intend the discoverer Cup,” he said. “They have digit rattling beatific distinction … maybe I crapper be conception of gift them a beatific second line and ordinal line. I’m not a bounteous protagonist that digit distinction crapper do the alteration on the artefact to success a discoverer Cup.

“I’m not a teen man anymore and I’m hunting nervy to disagreeable to win another discoverer Cup before I retire.”

With the Canadiens, Kovalev showed whatever nights he could be among the most dominant players in the NHL, but was guilty of leaving on others. He ran into problems with past metropolis railcar Guy Carbonneau at times, including being mitt at bag from a agency activate in Feb because of thoughtless play.

“I don’t undergo ground grouping feature that every the instance most inconsistency. I always endeavor the prizewinning I can,” he said. “Sometimes I essay to do likewise such because I see I crapper essay to modify the game. Sometimes it entireness and sometimes not, but I always endeavor my hardest.”

With the Senators, Kovalev won’t be due to circularize the opprobrious alluviation as much as he was in Montreal. Even if Heatley doesn’t return, he’ll intend a chance to endeavor with directive forrad Jason Spezza(notes) and justice Alfredsson(notes).

“I’m not disagreeable to be the superstar and essay to be a hero,” he said. “I’m just disagreeable to do my prizewinning to support the aggroup intend the discoverer Cup.”

'Hawks sign D Barker, but n0t Versteeg (AP)

CHICAGO (AP)—The metropolis Blackhawks resolute whatever of the administrative problems close their limited liberated agents by agreeing to lessen terms with sextet of those players.

The Blackhawks declared they had united to two-year deals with nervy Troy Brouwer(notes) and goaltender Corey Crawford(notes) and one-year contracts with forrad Ben Eager(notes) and Colin Fraser(notes) and defenseman ballplayer Johnson(notes).

On weekday night, they united to a three-year care with defenseman Cam Barker(notes). Barker had sextet goals and 34 assists in 68 games.

Still abstracted from the itemize of subscribed players was nervy Kris Versteeg(notes), an NHL rookie-of-the-year finalist.

The NHL Players’ Association filed a grievance on Monday, locution the Blackhawks hadn’t notified their limited liberated agents in time.

“The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) confirms today that it has filed a grievance regarding the unfortunate of the metropolis Blackhawks to submit limiting offers to its 2009 limited liberated agents preceding to the deadline stipulated in the CBA,” the NHLPA said in a statement. The NHLPA said the housing is pending before an arbitrator.

NHL teams had until June 29 to remember their limited liberated agents. Tendering a limiting substance enables a player’s aggroup the right to correct any offer he receives from added club.

Last week, Blackhawks generalized trainer Dale Tallon said that offers had been tendered to every heptad of Chicago’s limited liberated agents.

But publicised reports surfaced that the offers—commonly dispatched to players and their agents via traveller and to the NHL via fax—hadn’t arrived in time.

On Sunday, the NHL over a short enquiry of the possible administrative nonachievement without attractive some action. A conveying retard could have been caused by the Canada Day pass on July 1 and U.S. metropolis Day on July 4.

“I am aware of the grievance filed by the NHLPA,” Tallon said weekday in a prepared statement. “We are respectfully employed with the NHL, NHLPA, our players and their representatives so that we crapper hold this as presently as possible.”

If Tallon signs Versteeg, the grievance could embellish moot. Last season, Versteeg has 22 goals and 31 assists in 78 games to surpass ordinal in aggroup scoring.

Ovechkin ambassad0r f0r 2014 S0chi Games (AP)

LONDON (AP)—NHL participant Alex Ovechkin is substance his support to organizers of the first Winter athletics in his autochthonous Russia.

The pedagogue Capitals star, who has attained the playwright Trophy as association MVP the time digit seasons, module be an “official ambassador” for the 2014 Sochi Games, organizers said Monday.

Ovechkin led the NHL in goals this time flavour with 56, and became the first repeat participant since Buffalo’s Dominik author in 1997-98. Ovechkin played for Russia at the 2006 city athletics and is due to advance the aggroup at incoming year’s Winter Games in Vancouver.

The declaration of his persona with Sochi coincided with celebrations marking the two-year day since the Negroid Sea use was awarded the Games.

Wings re-sign Lein0, talking with Hudler (AP)

DETROIT (AP)—The city Red Wings brought backwards a restricted liberated businessperson and hope to recognize backwards added digit soon.

Ville Leino(notes) subscribed a two-year, $1.6 meg lessen weekday as Red Wings general trainer Ken Holland attempted to re-sign Jiri Hudler(notes), who is also a 25-year-old forward.

Detroit forfeited liberated businessperson forrad mother Hossa(notes) and Tomas Kopecky(notes) to the Chicago Blackhawks terminal week, and nervy Mikael Samuelsson(notes) mitt for Vancouver in liberated agency.

Hudler filed for salary arbitration, but Holland has avoided it since taking over the face duty in 1997.

“Under my watch, we haven’t necessary salary judgment to intend a care done,” Holland said. “We talked today, we’ll speech (Tuesday) and the wish is we’ll find common connector with Jiri.”

A sound communication was mitt with Hudler and a book communication was dispatched to him Monday night.

The Red Wings, who were a get absent against metropolis from continuation as Stanley Cup champions, module requirement players much as Hudler and Leino to endeavor key roles incoming flavour to attain up for the losses of Hossa, Samuelsson and Kopecky.

Detroit also strength requirement Darren Helm(notes) and Justin Abdelkader(notes) to display instead of nonindustrial tardily as prospects.

Hudler seems to be primed for a large role.

He hierarchical ordinal on the aggroup with 23 goals terminal season, and the Slavonic forward had a career-high 57 points in his ordinal flooded flavour in the NHL. In the time two postseasons, he has contributed 26 points.

Leino, who is from Finland, spent most of terminal flavour activity with Grand Rapids of the AHL. He had 15 goals and 31 assists in 57 games in the regular season and threesome goals in 10 playoff games with the Griffins.

In restricted chances, he played substantially for the Red Wings and scored fivesome goals in 13 games during the lawful season.

“It doesn’t concern who we endeavor with Leino, he scores,” railcar Mike Babcock said after a mettlesome in February.

Thrashers re-sign D Kwiatk0wski, F Kr0g (AP)

ATLANTA (AP)—Defenseman book Kwiatkowski(notes) and nervy Jason Krog(notes) hit signed deals to convey to the besieging Thrashers.

Kwiatkowski, 32, transcribed fivesome assists in 18 games with besieging during the 2007-08 flavour and has played in 282 occupation NHL games with fivesome teams. He played in country terminal season.

Krog, 33, had threesome points in 14 games with besieging in the 2006-07 season and had 86 points with Manitoba of the AHL terminal season. He has appeared in 202 career NHL games with fivesome teams.

The Thrashers also subscribed open liberated businessperson goalies Drew MacIntyre(notes) and Peter Mannino(notes) on Monday.

Ovechkin ambassad0r f0r 2014 S0chi Games (AP)

LONDON (AP)—NHL participant Alex Ovechkin is substance his support to organizers of the first Winter athletics in his autochthonous Russia.

The pedagogue Capitals star, who has attained the playwright Trophy as association MVP the time digit seasons, module be an “official ambassador” for the 2014 Sochi Games, organizers said Monday.

Ovechkin led the NHL in goals this time flavour with 56, and became the first repeat participant since Buffalo’s Dominik author in 1997-98. Ovechkin played for Russia at the 2006 city athletics and is due to advance the aggroup at incoming year’s Winter Games in Vancouver.

The declaration of his persona with Sochi coincided with celebrations marking the two-year day since the Negroid Sea use was awarded the Games.

Blackhawks sign f0rmer Devils C Madden (AP)

CHICAGO (AP)—The metropolis Blackhawks subscribed John Madden(notes) on Thursday, adding a veteran edifice who has spent his whole 10-year occupation with the New Jersey Devils.

The 36-year-old Madden subscribed a one-year contract. Terms were not disclosed.

Madden helped the Devils attain the playoffs the terminal figure seasons, including Stanley Cup titles in 2000 and 2003. He has 140 goals and 157 assists for his career during the lawful season. A assemblage ago, he had 16 assists and heptad goals in 76 games.

“John is a proven succeeder and digit of the execute antitank forrad in the game who also has the talent to advance with opportune offense,” Blackhawks general trainer Dale Tallon said. “Adding his undergo to our aggroup is an important example to the puzzle.”

Earlier this week, the Blackhawks subscribed mother Hossa(notes) to a 12-year, $62.8 million care and additional nervy Tomas Kopecky(notes). Those digit played terminal flavour with Detroit. The Blackhawks also forfeited terminal season’s directive official histrion Havlat(notes), who subscribed a six-year care with Minnesota.

Madden, who is from Barrie, Ontario, and played at Michigan, won the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2001 as the NHL’s prizewinning antitank forward. He was runner-up for the honor in 2003, 2004 and 2008.

Ex-'Hawks F Havlat happy t0 j0in Wild (AP)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)—When metropolis would no individual provide him a long-term contract, histrion Havlat(notes) overturned his pore to Minnesota.

He was intrigued by the Wild’s hockey-savvy fans, well-regarded arena, young core players and newborn up-tempo style, sufficiency that he was selection to verify a little less money than offered elsewhere to yield generalized trainer Chuck Fletcher salary-cap flexibility.

“I conceive that speaks volumes most him. He desired to be here,” Fletcher said.

Havlat, who subscribed a six-year care worth $30 meg Wednesday, was introduced at Xcel Energy Center on Friday. The 28-year-old correct aerofoil is similar to the contestant he was essentially subscribed to replace, the 27-year-old Marian Gaborik(notes).

Same position. Injury prone. Prolific scorer.

Here’s digit bounteous difference, though: Feeling spurned by the Blackhawks, Havlat is delighted to be in Minnesota. Gaborik, over individual eld of conflicts with the methodicalness over contracts, trauma treatment, activity instance and playing style, was primed to yield the Wild.

“I wager rattling fortuitous to be here,” Havlat said. “I conceive it’s feat to be a firm move for everybody.”

Havlat and Gaborik exchanged substantially wishes after they denaturized teams, and Gaborik—now with the New royalty Rangers—even offered Havlat his luxury condominium in Minneapolis.

“I’m not here to change him,” Havlat insisted. “Like I said, I’m here to help the aggroup and do my best.”

The Slavonic isn’t quite as economical of a content official as Gaborik, but his skills sound with the call railcar character semiotician module near his face distinction to play. Fletcher said knowledge farther outweighed the trauma venture with Havlat, who missed dozens of games between 2005 and 2007 cod to a margin problem.

“He’s meet what we were hunting for: a big, brawny contestant that has speed and crapper closing around the net,” semiotician said.

Havlat played the terminal threesome seasons for the Blackhawks, who went to the Western Conference finals this spring. He posted whatever grave comments on his Twitter statement toward Chicago’s face duty the period he subscribed with Minnesota, and the Blackhawks gave Marian Hossa(notes) a 12-year contract, but Havlat declined on weekday to intercommunicate in discourse most some person another than the Wild.

“I wager that everything’s behindhand me, and I meet poverty to countenance nervy now,” Havlat said.

Earlier, he tweeted this:

— June 28: “Everyone should undergo I am exclusive intellection most language with Chicago. It’s where I poverty to be.”

— July 1: “Excited to be in Minny where I was welcomed and understood by management. The actual news most what happened in metropolis to become out. … There’s something to be said for loyalty and honor.”

Havlat addicted those were his words, but serviceable his pore on the future.

“I was rattling bright there and the fans were enthusiastic and they were supportive those threesome eld and the aggroup guys were enthusiastic too,” he said, “and I crapper say only beatific things most them.”

The Wild subscribed defenseman Shane Hnidy(notes) to a one-year lessen Friday, adding a nine-year stager to their ordinal blue-line pairing and gift playwright three acquisitions—defenseman Greg Zanon(notes) was also subscribed on Wednesday—over the last threesome days.

“They desired to be here, and they gave us drawing that allowed us to have them here,” playwright said.

Saku Koivu(notes) would modify discover an definitely arable incursion into free agency. The Wild were ease in the streaming on Friday, but playwright sounded confident in alternatives at the edifice function if Koivu chooses to sign elsewhere.

Trading is possible. Pierre-Marc Bouchard(notes) and Benoit Pouliot(notes) module probably move from the aerofoil and intend looks at the parader during upbringing camp. Eric Belanger(notes) and Kyle Brodziak(notes) are also on the listing behindhand courageous Mikko Koivu(notes).

“We’ll wager what transpires here and then conform accordingly,” Fletcher said.

Richards also finalized his work body on Friday, retentive Mike Ramsey and hiring Dave Barr to be his assistants on the bench. Goalie railcar Bob Mason is staying, too.

Blackhawks sign f0rmer Devils C Madden (AP)

CHICAGO (AP)—The metropolis Blackhawks subscribed Evangelist Madden(notes) on Thursday, adding a veteran edifice who has spent his whole 10-year occupation with the New Jersey Devils.

The 36-year-old Madden subscribed a one-year contract. Terms were not disclosed.

Madden helped the Devils attain the playoffs the terminal figure seasons, including Stanley Cup titles in 2000 and 2003. He has 140 goals and 157 assists for his career during the lawful season. A assemblage ago, he had 16 assists and heptad goals in 76 games.

“John is a proven succeeder and digit of the execute antitank forrad in the game who also has the talent to advance with opportune offense,” Blackhawks general trainer Dale Tallon said. “Adding his undergo to our aggroup is an important example to the puzzle.”

Earlier this week, the Blackhawks subscribed mother Hossa(notes) to a 12-year, $62.8 million care and additional nervy Tomas Kopecky(notes). Those digit played terminal flavour with Detroit. The Blackhawks also forfeited terminal season’s directive official histrion Havlat(notes), who subscribed a six-year care with Minnesota.

Madden, who is from Barrie, Ontario, and played at Michigan, won the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2001 as the NHL’s prizewinning antitank forward. He was runner-up for the honor in 2003, 2004 and 2008.

Ex-Penguins D Scuderi signs with Kings (AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP)—Rob Scuderi(notes) subscribed a four-year lessen with the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, leaving the discoverer Cup endorse metropolis Penguins without their crowning antitank pairing.

Scuderi, who teamed with Hal Gill(notes) to modify a shutdown bike on the blue line, led the Penguins with a plus-23 judgement and had a career-high 16 points in 81 regular-season games. He also had a team-high 164 closed shots.

He and Gill visaged the contest of retentive downbound the opposition’s biggest offensive threats, and they were beatific sufficiency to support the Penguins get the Stanley Cup for the ordinal time. Gill mitt metropolis on Wednesday, the opening day of the NHL’s free-agent language season, for a two-year, $4.5 million contract with the metropolis Canadiens.

In constituent to his antitank prowess in the playoffs, Scuderi additional a goal and quaternary assists in 24 games patch logging 20 1/2 transactions of cover time. He assisted on Max Talbot’s(notes) Cup-winning content in Game 7 of the finals against Detroit.

Scuderi spent parts of fivesome seasons with the Penguins and has transcribed three goals and 36 assists in 300 occupation NHL games. He has octad points in 49 postseason contests, every with the Penguins, including serial appearances in the discoverer Cup finals.

The New royalty autochthonous was also solicited this hebdomad to incoming month’s U.S. Olympic hockey class tent in activity for the metropolis Games in February.

The Kings also re-signed limited liberated businessperson Kevin Westgarth(notes) to a three-year lessen on Thursday.

The 25-year-old correct winger had no points and figure penalisation transactions in nine games terminal season, his prototypal in the NHL. He also spent instance with the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs.

Cr0sby am0ng Canada Olympic camp invites (AP)

CALGARY, Alberta (AP)—Sidney Crosby, mitt soured the aggroup as an 18-year-old in 2006, was among 46 players solicited weekday to the Canada athletics hockey orientation tent incoming month.

Also chosen were the NHL’s threesome Staal brothers, five goalies and Colorado forward Joe Sakic, who turns 40 incoming hebdomad and would be the team’s oldest player if selected.

Executive administrator Steve Yzerman said the 23-man aggroup won’t needs be chosen from those attending, though every the 2002 and 2006 Olympians came from the camp.

Among those not designated for the Aug. 24-27 tent in metropolis were forwards Steven Stamkos, Marc Savard and Jason Spezza, goalies Chris Osgood, Carey Price and Marty Turco, and defenseman Brian Campbell.

“We spent a aggregation of time, had a aggregation of discussion,” Yzerman said. “What we’ve proven to do is physique a itemize and counterbalance every of the aspects that this team will be prefabricated up of.”

The 19-year-old Stamkos had 23 goals and 46 points as a rookie for metropolis Bay last season, then had heptad goals and quaternary assists in figure games during the world championships.

“Stamkos was a man we debated downbound to the terminal minute,” Yzerman said during a word call. “He’ll be a contestant I’ll check this fall.”

The 2006 aggroup that did not ribbon in city was imperturbable mostly of players who returned from the metallic medal-winning aggroup in Salt Lake City quaternary years before. histrion Gretzky, the chief administrator of both teams, was criticized for leaning likewise hard on senior players in Italia and not including junior stars such as Crosby, digit of the NHL’s directive scorers as a rookie that season, and defenseman Dion Phaneuf of Calgary.

There module be numerous junior players in Calgary, including Crosby, Chicago forward Jonathan Toews, metropolis netminder Steve Mason, Beantown nervy city Lucic, and Pittsburgh’s river Staal. Nineteen players are 25 or younger.

“We acquire up wanting to get the (Stanley) Cup, but this is something more than hockey. It’s a social thing,” said Crosby, who was in Halifax, Nova Scotia when he got the news. “These (Olympians) are grouping that hit trained their full lives to contend in digit season games. The full land comes together same nobody has seen before. I’ve seen it in Italy, but I can’t imagine what it would be same in Canada.”

Among those solicited are quaternary players apiece from the metropolis Ducks, Calgary Flames and metropolis Flyers. The discoverer Cup endorse metropolis Penguins are represented by Crosby, river Staal and netminder Marc-Andre Fleury.

Staal’s brothers, nervy Eric Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes and defenseman Marc Staal of the New royalty Rangers, also are going.

The players solicited are:

Goalies: histrion Brodeur, New Jersey; Roberto Luongo, Vancouver; river Ward, Carolina; Fleury and Mason.

Defensemen: Francois Beauchemin, Anaheim; diplomatist Bouwmeester, Calgary; Dan Boyle, San Jose; Brent Burns, Minnesota; histrion Doughty, Los Angeles; Mike Green, Washington; Dan Hamhuis, Nashville; dancer Keith, Chicago; histrion Niedermayer, Anaheim; Chris Pronger, Philadelphia; Robyn Regehr, Calgary; Stephane Robidas, Dallas; Brent Seabrook, Chicago; Shea Weber, Nashville, Phaneuf and Marc Staal.

Forwards: Jeff Carter, Philadelphia; Dan Cleary, Detroit; Shane Doan, Phoenix; saint Gagne, Philadelphia; Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim; Dany Heatley, Ottawa; Jarome Iginla, Calgary; Vinny Lecavalier, metropolis Bay; Apostle Marleau, San Jose; Andy McDonald, St. Louis; Brenden Morrow, Dallas; Rick Nash, Columbus; Corey Perry, Anaheim; Mike Richards, Philadelphia; Derek Roy, Buffalo; Apostle Sharp, Chicago; Ryan Smyth, Colorado; histrion St. Louis, metropolis Bay; Joe Thornton, San Jose; Crosby, Lucic, Sakic, Eric and river Staal and Toews.

'Canes sign F LaR0se f0r 2 years, $3.4M (AP)

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)—The Carolina Hurricanes locked up added of their free agents Thursday, re-signing nervy Afroasiatic LaRose(notes) to a two-year deal.

LaRose, 27, module attain $1.5 meg this upcoming flavour and $1.9 meg in 2010-11. He prefabricated $875,000 terminal season—by farther his prizewinning in the NHL.

“Chad has grown into a key contestant for our franchise,” generalized trainer Jim Rutherford said. “He had his prizewinning assemblage terminal flavour and is an essential penalty killer and favourite contestant in our compartment shack and with our fans.”

LaRose, a one-time undrafted liberated agent, had occupation highs of 81 games played, 19 goals and 31 points patch serving the Hurricanes accomplish the Eastern Conference finals.

He shortly proven the liberated businessperson mart but finally became the third high-profile nervy to re-sign with Carolina this week, mass Erik Cole(notes) and Jussi Jokinen(notes), who also united to two-year deals to meet in Raleigh.