Hurricanes Sign Jussi Jokinen to Two-Year Contract Extension

The Carolina Hurricanes announced on Monday that they have signed right wing Jussi Jokinen to a two-year contract extension worth $3.4 million. The deal averages out to $1.7 million per season. The Hurricanes acquired Jokinen back in February from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Wade Brookbank and Josef Melichar. In 71 games last season with the Lightning and Hurricanes, Jokinen scored seven goals and 20 assists for 27 points. In 306 career games, he has 54 goals and 118 assists for 172 points with the Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Carolina Hurricanes. This is a good signing for the Hurricanes, as Jokinen has decent two-way skills, a great shot, and plenty of offensive depth. His skills on the power play make him and effective special teams player. Jokinen struggled to find his offensive touch last season with the abysmal Lightning, but played very well for the Hurricanes in the playoffs. Look for him to play at the same skill level next season that he did in this past season's playoffs.

Penguins Re-Sign Veterans Craig Adams & Bill Guerin

The Pittsburgh Penguins locked two important parts of their 2009 Stanley Cup winning team by resigning right wing Craig Adams to a two-year contract worth $1.1 million and right wing Bill Guerin to a one-year contract worth $2 million. Adams' contract averages out to $550,000 per season. The Penguins acquired both players at the 2009 trade deadline. Adams was claimed off waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks, while Guerin was acquired from the New York Islanders in exchange for a conditional draft pick in 2009. In 45 games last season with the Blackhawks and Penguins, Adams scored two goals and five assists for seven points. In 78 games last season with the Islanders and Penguins, Guerin scored 21 goals and 27 assists for 48 points and 81 penalty minutes. These are both excellent signings for the Penguins, as Adams and Guerin played well for the team at the end of last season and into the playoffs, especially in the Stanley Cup Finals. Adams provides the Penguins with lots of physical, two-way play, while Guerin brings lots of veteran leadership, offensive talent, and toughness. These two signings will definitely help Pittsburgh stay near the top of the standings next season. Look for Adams to play more of the two-way hockey he did against the Red Wings in the Finals and look for Guerin to be playing alongside Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin on the Penguins' scoring lines.

Coyotes Acquire Defenseman Heshka from Canucks

The Phoenix Coyotes added another player to their roster on the second day of the 2009 draft by acquiring defenseman Shaun Heshka from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Phoenix's 7th round pick in the 2009 draft. The Canucks used the pick to select left wing Steven Anthony. In 77 games last season with Manitoba of the AHL, Heshka scored three goals and 23 assists for 26 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. Like the Sami Lepisto trade, this is a depth move for the Coyotes. However, Heshka has the potential to become a top-six defenseman with an offensive edge, so this could be a decent move for Phoenix down the road if he lives up to his potential.

Coyotes Acquire Defenseman Lepisto from Capitals

The Phoenix Coyotes remained busy on the second day of the 2009 Entry Draft by acquiring defenseman Sami Lepisto from the Washington Capitals in exchange for Phoenix's 5th round in the 2010 Entry Draft. In seven games last season with the Capitals, Lepisto scored four assists, three of which were on the power play. In two season with the Capitals, he has appeared in 14 games, scoring five assists. This is a decent depth move for the Coyotes, as they will likely look for affordable free agents and trade options this summer as they look for a new buyer. Lepisto has the potential to become a top-six, offensive-minded defenseman, so this could be a real good move for the Coyotes if he can live up to his potential.

Flames Acquire Prust from Coyotes for Vandermeer

The Calgary Flames re-acquired center Brandon Prust from the Phoenix Coyotes during day two of the 2009 Draft in exchange for defenseman Jim Vandermeer. Prust was dealt to the Coyotes in March with Matthew Lombardi in exchange for Olli Jokinen. In 36 games last season with the Flames and Coyotes, Prust scored one goal and two assists for three points and 108 penalty minutes. In 45 games last season with the Flames, Vandermeer scored one goal and six assists for seven points and 108 penalty minutes. He missed a total of 37 games last season after suffering two separate ankle injuries. This is a decent move for the Flames in two ways. First, Prust is a very physical forward who will provide lots of toughness to Clgary's checking lines. Second, it helps the Flames cut some salary, as Vandermeer makes $2.3 million per season on his current contract. Cutting his salary helps free up some cap space for the Flames to sign Jay Bouwmeester. Vandermeer gives the Coyotes plenty of toughness, grit, and defensive depth on their blueline, not to mention veteran experience.

Rangers Acquire Forward Boyle from Kings

The New Rangers acquired center Brian Boyle from the Los Angeles Kings during the second day of the 2009 Draft in exchange for the Rangers' 3rd round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. Boyle's name had popped up in trade rumors in recent weeks as the Kings deemed him expendable given their depth on offense. In 28 games last season with the Kings, Boyle scored four goals and one assist for five points and 42 penalty minutes. In 36 career games, all with the Kings, he has eight goals and two assists for 10 points and 46 penalty minutes. This is a decent move for Boyle as it will give him a chance to further his NHL career instead of sitting in the minors with the Kings. This is also a decent trade for the Rangers, as it gives them a big, physical forward with the potential to become a top-six forward. Boyle could very likely make the Rangers next season as a third or fourth line forward.

Wild Acquire Center Brodziak from Oilers

On the second day of the 2009 Entry Draft, the Minnesota Wild acquired center Kyle Brodziak from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Minnesota's 4th and 5th round picks in the 2009 draft. The Wild also acquired Edmonton's 6th round pick in the 2009 draft, which they used to select goaltender Darcy Kuemper. The Oilers used the 4th round pick to select defenseman Kyle Bigos and the 5th round pick to take goaltender Olivier Roy. In 79 games last season with the Oilers, Brodziak scored 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points. This is a decent trade for the Wild, as Brodziak is a decent two-way player with the skills to become a top-six forward. This was also a much-needed trade for the Wild, as they are a bit thin on quality centers. Also, Brodziak was deemed expendable by the Oilers given their depth of offensive prospects, as well as the desire to give highly-touted center Gilbert Brule a chance to make the team next season. Brodziak will likely start next season on the Wild's third line as a checking forward.

NY Rangers Acquire Goalie Johnson from Penguins

In a minor trade on the second day of the 2009 Entry Draft, the New York Rangers acquired minor league goaltender Chad Johnson from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for the Rangers' 5th round pick in the 2009 draft. The Penguins used the pick to select forward Andy Bathgate, grandson of former NHL legend Andy Bathgate. Johnson hasn't seen any NHL action yet and played last season with the University of Alaska of the CCHA. In 35 games, he posted a 14-16 record with six shutouts, a GAA of 1.66, and a .940 save percentage. He was also named CCHA player of the year for 2008-09 and was named to the CCHA first all-star team. Seems to be a decent trade for the Rangers, as Johnson appears to have the potential to become a number one goalie in the NHL some day. With Henrik Lundqvist locked up long term by the Rangers, Johnson could possibly be his back-up if he continues to perform well at the college and minor league level.

Flames Acquire Bouwmeester from Panthers

The Calgary Flames made a huge splash on the second day of the 2009 Entry Draft by acquiring defenseman Jay Bouwmeester from the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenseman Jordan Leopold and Calgary's 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft. The Panthers used the pick to select right wing Josh Birkholz. The trade comes after months of speculation over whether the Panthers would trade Bouwmeester's rights before he became an unrestricted free agent an July 1. The Flames were one of several teams interested in acquiring negotiating rights to the 25-year-old defenseman. Philadelphia, Edmonton, and Toronto were other teams believed interested in acquiring him. The Panthers had hoped to re-sign Bouwmeester before free agency began on July 1, but as time went on, it became less apparent he would be back with the team. Contract negotiations with the team and Bouwmeester had become strained the past few years as the team failed to improve in the standings. In all 82 games last season with the Panthers, Bouwmeester scored 15 goals and 27 assists for 42 points. Leopold split last season with the Colorado Avalanche and Calgary Flames, appearing in 83 games, scoring seven goals and 17 assists for 24 points. The Flames are expected to make a multi-year offer to Bouwmeester before he becomes a free agent on July 1. If the Flames sign him, it gives them a very talented offensive defenseman with good skills on the power play. He would also give the Flames a second top-two defenseman to play alongside Dion Phaneuf. However, the acquisition of Bouwmeester has led to some baseless speculation that the Flames are going to trade Phaneuf to Ottawa for Dany Heatley, which I DO NOT see happening. No word if the Panthers intend on signing Leopold, but if they do, it gives them an offensive defenseman to replace Bouwmeester, but not of the same caliber. Leopold would also give the Panthers some veteran experience to their blueline. However, if Florida does sign him, they would be wise to make it a short-term contract, as Leopold has become extremely susceptible to injury the past few years.

Flyers Acquire Defenseman Pronger from Ducks

The Philadelphia Flyers made a huge splash during the first round of the 2009 Entry Draft by acquiring defenseman Chris Pronger and left wing Ryan Dingle from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for right wing Joffrey Lupul, defenseman Luca Sbisa, Philadelphia's 1st round picks in 2009 and 2010, and a conditional 3rd round pick in 2010 or 2011. The Ducks later traded Philadelphia's 1st round pick to Columbus in exchange for the 26th overall pick in the draft, which they used to take center Kyle Palmieri. The trade came after Scott Niedermayer announced his intentions of returning for another NHL season. In all 82 games last season with the Ducks, Pronger scored 11 goals and 37 assists for 48 points and 88 penalty minutes. Dingle did not play in any NHL games last season and has yet to see any NHL action. In 79 games last season with the Flyers, Lupul scored 25 goals and 25 assists for 50 points. Sbisa, in his first NHL season, appeared in 39 games with the Flyers, scoring seven assists.

I have to admit, the Flyers gave up quite a bit to acquire Pronger, but they really needed a top-two defenseman like Pronger. The Ducks made out well in this trade in the two first round picks, as well as some young talent in Lupul and Sbisa for their rebuilding team. Pronger should be a good fit on the Flyers' blueline, giving them lots of grit, toughness, leadership, and some offense, especially on the power play. However, Pronger's salary pushes the Flyers very close to the cap ceiling, leaving them little room to bring in depth via the free agent market. Although, GM Paul Holmgren has been very crafty the last few years in keeping his highly paid team under the salary cap. He's allowed to spend over the cap by I believe 10% during the off-season, but must have his payroll at $56.8 million by the start of the season. Not to worry Flyers fans, as Holmgren surely has a solid plan in place to stay below the cap.

Dingle is merely a depth player who could evolve into the third line forward. For now, he will likely remain in the minors, unless the Flyers become ravaged with injuries next season.

Lupul begins his second stint with the Ducks, who originally traded him to acquire Chris Pronger from Edmonton in 2006. Lupul's production has been up and down the past few seasons as he's jumped from team to team, but coming back to an organization he's familiar with may help his production increase. He has the potential to become a top-six forward and he is well on his way to becoming just that. Look for Lupul to better himself next season playing alongside the likes of Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, and Teemu Selanne.

The Flyers gave up on Sbisa awful quick after drafting him late in the 1st round in 2008. He has plenty of offensive potential as a defenseman and will likely become a top-four defenseman. Sbisa should become a good fit on Anaheim's blueline.

Fedorov Signs Two-Year Contract to Play in KHL

Sergei Fedorov's NHL career has come to an end. The 39-year-old center has signed a two-year contract to play with Metallurg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). It was rumored several weeks ago that Fedorov was considering signing with the KHL club, but made re-signing with the Washington Capitals his top priority. Terms of the deal were not announced, but it was believed to be larger than the rumored $2 million the Capitals were offering him. The deal will also unite Fedorov with his younger brother, Fedor. In 1248 career NHL games, he scored 483 goals and 696 assists for 1179 points with the Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Washington Capitals. Fedorov won three Stanley Cups during his career, all with the Red Wings (1997, 1998, 2002). He was a two-time Selke Trophy winner (1993-94 & 1995-96) as the top defensive forward in the league, as well as the Hart Trophy (1993-94) as league MVP and the Lester B. Pearson Award (1993-94) as player-of-the-year voted by the NHLPA. Fedorov was an extremely talented player throughout his career and will likely end up in the Hall of Fame one day. He was a very flashy player with lots of speed, goal-scoring skill, and exceptional two-way play. Fedorov is still much-adored by Red Wings fans throughout the world despite sitting out much of the 1997-98 season in a contract dispute with the team over money. His holdout tarnished his image with a lot of Detroit hockey fans who all of sudden saw him as a very selfish and greedy player, but eventually was forgiven after leading the team to two more Stanley Cups before signing with Anaheim in 2003. Despite those bitter contract negotiations that soured many Detroit sports fans, Fedorov should be proud of everything he accomplished during his NHL career.

Avalanche Sign Forward McLeod to Three-Year Contract

The Colorado Avalanche have announced that they have re-signed left wing Cody McLeod to a three-year contract worth $3.1 million. The deal averages out to $1.03 million per season. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In 79 games last season with the Avalanche, McLeod scored 15 goals and five assists for 20 points and 162 penalty minutes. This is a good signing for the Avalanche, as McLeod is a very tough forward who plays with a lot of energy. If his stats from last season are any indication, he could end up developing into a Darren McCarty-like player in that he will become an enforcer capable of scoring close to 20 goals per season. Plus, if his offensive skills improve each year, McLeod will be a bargain at $1.03 million per season.

Thrashers Re-Sign Forward Kaip

The Atlanta Thrashers have announced that they have re-signed center Rylan Kaip to a contract extension. Length and terms of the deal were not disclosed. He has not seen any NHL action yet in his hockey career, but he did play his first season in the AHL in 2008-09 with the Chicago Wolves, scoring one goal and two assists for three points and 17 penalty minutes. Kaip is one of the Thrashers top offensive prospects, who plays with a lot of toughness. He doesn't do a lot of scoring, but he makes up for that with his physical play. If he makes the Thrashers next season, look for him to be playing on the third or fourth line.

Capitals Re-Sign Defensemen Collins & Sloan

According to Tarik El-Bashir of the Washington Post, the Washington Capitals have re-signed defensemen Sean Collins and Tyler Sloan. Collins got a two-year extension and Sloan was re-signed for one year. Terms of both contracts were not disclosed. In 15 games last season, Collins scored one goal and one assist for two points, while Sloan scored one goal and four assists for five points in 26 games. Collins and Sloan played well for the Capitals last season when their defense became ravaged with injuries. Both players helped keep the team competitive until the injured players returned and played great roles as depth defensemen. It's no surprise that they were re-signed given their strong performances. Look for them to play the same roles again next season for the Capitals.

Blues Sign Veteran Forward Tkachuk to One-Year Contract

The St. Louis Blues announced on Friday that they have re-signed left wing Keith Tkachuk to a one-year contract extension. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 79 games last season with the Blues, Tkachuk scored 25 goals and 24 assists for 49 points and 61 penalty minutes. In 1134 career games, he has 525 goals and 508 assists for 1033 points with the Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues, and Atlanta Thrashers. This is a great signing for the Blues, as Tkachuk gives the young team a proven scorer with lots of toughness, great skills on the power play, and veteran experience. Even if the Blues hadn't signed Tkachuk before July 1, it would have been a safe bet that the team would have re-signed him. He's an integral part of the organization for years, and at 37 years-old, he likely doesn't want to pick up his family and move somewhere else.

Coyotes Sign Forward Prucha to Two-Year Contract

The Phoenix Coyotes remained busy on Friday afternoon by re-signing left wing Petr Prucha to a two-year contract extension worth $2.2 million. The deal averages out to $1.1 million per season. The Coyotes acquired Prucha at the 2009 trade deadline along with Dmitri Kalinin and Nigel Dawes from the New York Rangers in exchange for Derek Morris. In 47 games last season with the Rangers and Coyotes, Prucha scored two goals and eight assists for 10 points. In 256 career games, he has scored 65 goals and 58 assists for 123 points with the Rangers and Coyotes. This is hardly a signing for Coyotes fans to get excited about, as Prucha's offensive production has been in constant decline since his rookie season when he scored 30 goals and 17 assists in 68 games. This is, however, a very affordable signing for the cash strapped Coyotes who will likely keep their payroll low for next season. If Prucha can regain his offensive numbers from four seasons ago, this will be a great signing for the rebuilding Coyotes, although I wouldn't bet my money on him improving next season.

Panthers Acquire Reinprecht from Coyotes, Sign Him to Three-Year Deal

The Florida Panthers and Phoenix Coyotes completed the first trade of the off-season on Friday with the Panthers acquiring center Steven Reinprecht from the Coyotes in exchange for right wing Stefan Meyer. After the trade, the Panthers signed Reinprecht to a three-year contract worth $6.15 million. The deal averages out to $2.050 million per season. He would have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 73 games last season with the Coyotes, Reinprecht scored 14 goals and 27 assists for 41 points. In 552 career games, he has 120 goals and 214 assists for 334 points with the Los Angeles Kings, Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, and Phoenix Coyotes. He won a Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2001. Meyer appeared in four NHL games in 2007-08, going pointless. This is a decent move for the Panthers, as Reinprecht is a talented center with decent skills on the power play. His veteran experience will be invaluable on the relatively young Panthers' team next season. In juniors, it appeared Meyer had the skills to become a top-six forward, but his production dropped a bit when he reached the AHL level, essentially making him a third-line forward. He still has the potential to crack the NHL, but at 24 years of age, he's running out of time to make it to the NHL full-time. However, with the Coyotes filing for bankruptcy, they need all the affordable depth they can get and this could be Meyer's opportunity to make it to the NHL. If he's impressive at training camp, he could very likely make the team.

2009 NHL Award Nominees and Winners

I thought I'd post a list of the NHL players who will be up for awards during tonight's ceremony in Las Vegas for those who are interested. The ceremony starts at 7:30 PM ET on Versus, and CBC will start airing the awards at 8:30 PM ET. The winners for each award will be in bold and italics.

CALDER TROPHY - Top Rookie
Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets
Bobby Ryan, Anaheim Ducks
Kris Versteeg, Chicago Blackhawks

NORRIS TROPHY - Top Defenseman
Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins
Mike Green, Washington Capitals
Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings

LADY BYNG TROPHY - Most Gentlemanly Player
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Zach Parise, New Jersey Devils
Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning

VEZINA TROPHY - Top Goaltender
Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota Wild
Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets
Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins

SELKE TROPHY - Top Defensive Forward
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks
Mike Richards, Philadelphia Flyers

HART TROPHY - League MVP
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

MASTERTON TROPHY - Perseverance, Sportsmanship, & Dedication to Hockey
Chris Chelios, Detroit Red Wings
Steve Sullivan, Nashville Predators
Richard Zednik, Florida Panthers

JACK ADAMS AWARD - Coach-of-the-Year
Claude Julien, Boston Bruins
Todd McLellan, San Jose Sharks
Andy Murray, St. Louis Blues

MARK MESSIER LEADERSHIP AWARD - Top Captain
Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames

KING CLANCY TROPHY - Humanitarian Contribution to Hockey
Ethan Moreau, Edmonton Oilers

NHL FOUNDATION PLAYER AWARD - Commitment & Service to Charities in their Communities
Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings
Alexei Kovalev, Montreal Canadiens
Rick Nash, Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM
LW - Alex Ovechkin (WSH)
RW - Jarome Iginla (CGY)
C - Evgeni MalKin (PIT)
D - Zdeno Chara (BOS)
D - Mike Green (WSH)
G - Tim Thomas (BOS)

NHL SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM
LW - Zach Parise (NJ)
RW - Marian Hossa (DET)
C - Pavel Datsyuk (DET)
D - Nicklas Lidstrom (DET)
D - Dan Boyle (SJ)
G - Steve Mason (CLM)

NHL ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
LW - Kris Versteeg (CHI)
RW - Bobby Ryan (ANH)
C - Patrik Berglund (STL)
D - Luke Schenn (TOR)
D - Drew Doughty (LA)
G - Steve Mason (CLM)

Flyers Sign Golatender Emery to One-Year Contract

Not sure how I missed posting this, but the Philadelphia Flyers announced that they have agreed on a one-year contract with goaltender Ray Emery. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the deal is believed to be worth somewhere between $1.5-$2.5 million. The contract cannot be officially signed until July 1 because he is still a free agent. Emery made headlines and gained lots of unwanted attention during the 2007-08 season while playing with the Ottawa Senators for constantly clashing with coaches and teammates. Ottawa's struggles late in that season were largely blamed on Emery's antics. The Senators bought out his contract last summer and he signed a one-year deal with Atlant Mytischy of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with the hopes of turning his game around to make an NHL comeback. During his last season in the NHL in 2007-08, Emery struggled, posting a 12-13-4 record in 31 games with a GAA of 3.13 and a .890 save percentage. He was very impressive in his one season in the KHL, posting a 22-8-0 record in 36 games with a 2.12 GAA and a .926 save percentage. With the Philadelphia Flyers very close to the salary cap ceiling, this is an affordable signing in goal for them, though it will cost them the services of Martin Biron, who will likely seek a larger contract than Emery. This will be Emery's chance to prove that he has become a more mature player after playing in Russia for one year like he claimed in his press conference. He has the skills to become a top-notch, starting goaltender. However, if his temper gets the better of him this season, this will definitely be his final season in the NHL. He won't get a third chance to redeem himself.

Penguins Sign Defenseman Goligoski to Three-Year Extension

Just days after winning the Stanley Cup, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Wednesday that they have signed defenseman Alex Goligoski to a three-year contract extension worth $5.5 million. The deal averages out to $1.83 million per season, making this an affordable signing for the Penguins. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1 and could have been a target of an offer sheet. In 45 games this past season, Goligoski scored six goals and 14 assists for 20 points. He also appeared in 26 games with the Penguins AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barrie/Scranton, scoring two goals and 16 assists for 18 points. In 48 career games, all with the Penguins, he has six goals and 16 assists for 22 points. This is a great signing for the Penguins, as Goligoski is a tremendous skater and lots of offensive skill on the blueline. With his improving defensive skills, he will likely secure a full-time role on the Penguins' defense next season, giving three very skillful offensive defensemen in Sergei Gonchar, Kris Letang, and Goligoski. Look for Goligoski's skills to improve greatly over the next three years and likely earn a spot as one of Pittsburgh's top defensemen.

Capitals Sign Laing to One-Year Contract Extension

The Washington Capitals announced on Wednesday that they have signed left wing Quintin Laing to a one-year contract extension. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Laing was called up by the Capitals from their AHL affiliate in Hershey late in the 2008-09 season because of mounting injuries, but only played in one game, lacerating his spleen in that game and missing the rest of the NHL season. He was able to return to the AHL playoffs and help Hershey win the league championship. In 43 career NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals, Laing has one goal and six assists for seven points. This is merely a depth signing for the Capitals. Laing has been a decent third line center for the Hershey Bears the past few seasons and was likely a big reason for the Capitals re-signing him. If he sees any NHL action next season, it likely will be on the fourth line.

Veteran Defenseman Derian Hatcher Retires

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Derian Hatcher announced his retirement from the NHL on Tuesday and was named player development coach of the Flyers. Hatcher missed all of the 2008-09 season with a knee injury he suffered last September. In 1045 NHL games, he scored 80 goals and 251 assists for 331 points and 1581 penalty minutes with the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, and Philadelphia Flyers. He won a Stanley Cup with Dallas in 1999. Throughout his NHL career, Hatcher was a very tough and physical defenseman who was also a great hitter. He could shutdown the opposition with his size and strength and was a good depth defenseman. Hatcher would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and likely would have been facing retirement anyway as he had slowed down a lot in recent years and could not keep up with some of the younger players. However, it's a shame to see him end his NHL career with an injury that forced him to sit out what would have been his final season.

Predators Sign Forward Grant to One-Year Contract

The Nashville Predators have announced that they have re-signed left wing Triston Grant to a one-year, two-way contract. Terms of the deal were not released. He was acquired by the Predators last summer from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenseman Janne Niskala. Grant saw no NHL action last season, but appeared in 55 games with the Predators AHL affiliate in Milwaukee, scoring three goals and eight assists for 11 points and 153 penalty minutes. He last saw NHL action during the 2006-07 season with the Flyers, appearing in eight games with one assist and 10 penalty minutes. This is merely just a depth signing for the Predators. Grant is a very physical forward who will give Milwaukee lots of toughness. If he sees any NHL action next season, it will likely be on the fourth line and only if injuries begin to mount for the Predators.

Ducks Re-Sign Right Wing Brown to Two-Year Contract

The Anaheim Ducks have announced that they have re-signed right wing Mike Brown to a two-year contract extension. Terms of the deal were not released. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. The Ducks acquired Brown from the Vancouver Canucks in February in exchange for defenseman Nathan McIver. In 48 games last season with the Canucks and Ducks, Brown scored two goals and two assists for four points and 145 penalty minutes. In 67 career NHL games, he has three goals and two assists for five points and 200 penalty minutes. This is a good signing for the Ducks, as Brown is a very physical forward who can wear down the opposition. Coupled with George Parros, the two forwards should provide the Ducks with a decent shutdown line next season.

Thrashers Sign Reasoner to Contract Extension

The Atlanta Thrashers announced on Monday that they have re-signed center Marty Reasoner to a two-year contract extension worth $2.3 million. The deal averages out to $1.15 million per season. He would have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 79 games last season with the Thrashers, Reasoner scored 14 goals, a career high, and 16 assists for 30 points. In 544 career games, he has 78 goals and 128 assists for 206 points with the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins, and Thrashers. This is a great, affordable signing for the Thrashers, as Reasoner is an excellent two-way center who is great on the penalty kill. He has also developed a bit of a leadership role in the team's locker room, which will be invaluable to the Thrashers young players next season. It wouldn't surprise me if Reasoner becomes of the Thrashers' leaders on the ice next season.

Flames Re-Sign Backup Goalie McElhinney

The Calgary Flames have announced that they have re-signed backup goaltender Curtis McElhinney to a contract extension. Length and terms of the deal were not released. In 14 games last season with the Flames, he posted a poor 1-6-1 record with a 3.59 GAA and a .889 save percentage. I'm not sure this is such a wise move by the Flames. McElhinney had a horrendous season in 2008-09, leading some to speculate that the team might sign a more experienced backup during the off-season. He likely won't see many starts next season with Kiprusoff as the starter, but could be called upon later in the season if the Finnish netminder becomes worn out like he has the past few seasons going into the playoffs. McElhinney had respectable stats at the college and AHL level, and if he could play that way at the NHL level, he could become an excellent goalie. However, with a career 1-8-1 record in 19 games, the Flames probably should have invested their money in a more proven backup. If the team wants to have some success in the playoffs next season, they should definitely consider signing an experienced backup this summer or trade for one at the 2010 trade deadline. That way if Kiprusoff should struggle, the team won't be dead in the water.

Rangers Re-Sign Prospect Goaltender Zaba

The New York Rangers announced on Thursday that they have re-signed prospect goaltender Matt Zaba. Length and terms of the deal were not disclosed. Zaba has not seen any NHL action so far in his career, but had a very successful first season in the AHL in 2008-09. He appeared in 41 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack, posting a 25-10-0 record with two shutouts, a GAA of 2.33 and a .920 save percentage. This is a decent move by the Rangers, who have a secured a talented young goalie for their AHL team next season. After successful seasons in college and junior hockey, don't be surprised if Zaba has a few more successful season in the AHL. If he does, he will likely become the Rangers next backup to Henrik Lundqvist after Stephen Valiquette, who has rumored to have been re-signed by the Rangers last month. Still, Zaba is at least a few seasons away from seeing any NHL action.

Thrashers Sign Defenseman Salmela to Contract Extension

The Atlanta Thrashers announced on Thursday that they have re-signed defenseman Anssi Salmela to a multi-year contract extension. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Thrashers acquired the Finnish defenseman from the New Jersey Devils just prior to the trade deadline in exchange for Niclas Havelid and Myles Stoesz. In 26 games last season with the Devils and Thrashers, also his first in the NHL, Salmela scored one goal and five assists for six points. This is a decent signing for the Thrashers, as Salmela has the potential to become a top-four defenseman and a power play specialist as well. He'll be in the fold for at least two seasons, which will give the Thrashers enough time to evaluate his play and decide if he will fit into their future plans. If he can develop into an offensive, top-four defenseman, it will give the Thrashers another skillful blueliner to go along with core players Ron Hainsey, Zach Bogosian, and Tobias Enstrom.

Stars Sign Goalies Krahn, Climie to One-Year Deals

The Dallas Stars announced on Tuesday that they have re-signed goaltenders Brent Krahn and Matt Climie to one-year, two-way contracts. Financial terms of their deals were not disclosed. Krahn, who was signed as a free agent by the Stars in September, played in his first ever NHL game last season, allowing three goals in only 20 minutes of play. He played 13 games with the Chicago Wolves of AHL, posting a 6-6-0 record with two shutouts, a GAA of 2.11 and a .917 save percentage. He also played six games with Las Vegas of the ECHL, posting 1-4-1 record with a GAA of 4.04 and a .874 save percentage. Prior to signing with the Stars, Krahn had been in the Calgary Flames minor league system for eight years and being drafted by them in 2000. Climie, in his first NHL season, appeared in three games for the Stars, posting a 2-1-0 record with a GAA of 2.92 and a .894 save percentage. He also played in 42 games for Idaho of the ECHL, posting an impressive 27-12-1 record with four shutouts, a GAA of 2.30 and a .915 save percentage. These signings are likely just for depth for the Stars minor league team next season. However, the team is still undecided on whether they will re-sign backup goaltender Tobias Stephan, who struggled during the season, when he becomes a free agent on July 1. If the Stars cannot obtain a quality backup goalie through free agency or trades this summer, Climie could very well become their new backup, as he played decent in his three games last season.

Bruins Sign Center Krejci to Three-Year Extension

The Boston Bruins announced on Tuesday that they have signed center David Krejci to a three-year contract extension worth $11.25 million. The deal will pay him $3.5 in 2009-10, $3.75 in 2010-11, and $4 million in 2011-12. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1 and would have been a prime target for an offer sheet. Last season with the Bruins, Krejci played in all 82 games, scoring 22 goals and 51 assists for 73 points, career highs in all three categories. In three NHL seasons, all with the Bruins, he has played in 144 games, scoring 28 goals and 72 assists for 100 points. This is a great signing for the Bruins, as Krecji has lots of offensive potential. He has excellent passing skills and is great on the power play, making him a very talented player for the Bruins. This is also a very affordable signing for the Bruins, as it was believed he could have gotten at least $5 million per season. With Krejci under contract, the Bruins will focus their efforts on re-signing Phil Kessel. However, the Bruins may be forced to trade Kessel, as they are close to the salary cap and he could cost around $5 million per season to re-sign. If Kessel were to accept a contract similar to Krejci's, it would be easier on their cap space to retain him, but may still have to shed a little bit of salary to accommodate his salary.

Devils Sign Forward Letourneau-Leblond to a Three-Year Extension

The New Jersey Devils announced on Monday that they have signed left wing Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond to a three-year contract extension worth $1.575 million. The deal averages out to $525,000 per season. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In eight games last season with the Devils, his first in the NHL, he scored one assist and accumulated 22 penalty minutes. This is an affordable signing for the Devils, though Letourneau-Leblond wouldn't have been an expensive signing anyway. Letourneau-Leblond (say that three times fast!!) is a very tough and physical player who will likely become the Devils next enforcer. If the Devils do not re-sign Michael Rupp, who is an unrestricted free agent this summer, Letourneau-Leblond could step into the enforcer role as early as next season.

Flames Re-Sign Prospect Left Wing Kyle Greentree

The Calgary Flames have announced that they have re-signed prospect left wing Kyle Greentree. Length and terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Flames acquired Greentree last June from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenseman Tim Ramholt. In two games last season for the Flames, Greentree was held pointless. He also appeared in two games for the Flyers in 2007-08, also scoring no points. This is a good signing by the Flames, as Greentree has lots of offensive potential, however, it will be difficult to judge the effectiveness of the signing until the length of the contract is released. He has lots of scoring potential and is also a very physical forward, making him one of the Flames top prospects and one of their most coveted. He could very well earn a roster spot on the Flames next season, likely on their fourth line, but that will depend on a couple of factors. Greentree making the Flames next season will be contingent on whether or not they re-sign Mike Cammalleri and on how well Greentree performs in training camp in the fall.

Canucks Sign Center Rypien to a Two-Year Extension

The Vancouver Canucks have locked up another potential free agent by signing center Rick Rypien to a two-year contract extension worth $1.1 million. The deal averages out to $550,000 per season. Last season with the Canucks, Rypien appeared in only 12 games this season after suffering a sports hernia early in the 2008-09 campaign. He scored three goals and 19 penalty minutes in those 12 games. In four NHL seasons, all with the Canucks, he has appeared in 41 games, scoring five goals and two assists for seven points and 69 penalty minutes. This is a decent signing for the Canucks, as Rypien has emerged as one of their toughest players over the past few seasons. The very physical forward was on pace to have a very productive season offensively until getting sidelined with a sports hernia. At $550,000 per season, Rypien is a very affordable signing for the Canucks, who will be pressed with cap space this summer if they hope to re-sign Henrik & Daniel Sedin and Mattias Ohlund, who will be unrestricted free agents on July 1. The only downside to re-signing Rypien, who would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1, is his injury history. He has missed considerable time over the past few seasons due to various injuries. If the trend continues, Rypien could miss considerable time again next season. However, if he can stay healthy and start the 2009-10 season as well as the 2008-09 season, Rypien could emerge as a potential 20-goal scorer for the team.

Blues Sign Center McClement to Three-Year Deal

The St. Louis Blues have announced that they have signed center Jay McClement to a three-year contract extension worth $4.3 million. The deal averages out to $1.43 million per season. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. Last season with the Blues, McClement appeared in all 82 regular season games, scoring 12 goals, a career high, and 14 assists for 26 points. In four NHL seasons, all with the Blues, he has appeared in 311 games, scoring 35 goals and 76 assists for 111 points. This is a good signing for the Blues, as McClement has been a reliable center for them the past four years. He has decent skills on the penalty kill, making him an effective two-way center. He has the potential to develop into a 20-goal scorer and very well could over the next few seasons as his goal totals have increased each year. McClement will be a good role player for the Blues for the next three years, and at $1.43 million per season, is a very affordable signing.