Canadiens Sign Travis Moen to Four-Year Extension

The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that they have signed left wing Travis Moen to a four-year contract extension worth $7.4 million.  The deal will average out to $1.85 million per season.  In 48 games last season, he had nine goals and seven assists for 16 points and 41 penalty minutes.  He missed the last 27 games of the season with an upper body injury.  Not a bad signing for the Canadiens, as Moen has good size, works hard on the ice, plays with plenty of grit and toughness, and is excellent on the penalty kill.  He will continue to be a good fit on the forward lines for the next four years.

Lightning Sign Keith Aulie to One-Year Contract

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced on Saturday that they have re-signed defenseman Keith Aulie to a one-year, two-way contract.  The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.  He was acquired by the Lightning on February 27 from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for forward Carter Ashton.  In 36 games last season with Toronto and Tampa Bay, he had three assists.  He also appeared in 26 games with Toronto and Norfolk of the AHL, scoring three assists.  This is a decent move for the Lightning, as Aulie will bring plenty of shutdown skill and physical play to the blueline.  More than likely, the short-term deal will be used to evaluate Aulie next season before the team considers offering him a longer contract.

Coyotes Re-Sign Andy Miele to One-Year Deal

The Phoenix Coyotes have announced that they have re-signed center Andy Miele to a one-year contract.  The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.  He was held pointless in seven games last season with the Coyotes.  He also appeared in 69 games with Portland of the AHL, scoring 16 goals and 38 assists for 54 points.  Not a bad depth signing for the Coyotes, as Miele has some offensive upside.  However, there's a good chance he will probably spilt next season between the Coyotes and the minors.

Kings Re-Sign Jarret Stoll and Colin Fraser

The Los Angeles Kings have locked-up two pieces of their Stanley Cup championship team by re-signing center Jarret Stoll to a three-year contract worth $9.75 million and center Colin Fraser to a two-year contract worth $1.65 million.  Stoll's deal will pay him $3.25 million per season, while Fraser will earn $825,000 per year.  Both players would have been unrestricted free agents on July 1.  In 78 games this past season, Stoll had six goals and 15 assists for 21 points.  He added two goals and three assists for five points in 20 playoff games.  Fraser appeared in 67 games, scoring two goals and six assists for eight points and 67 penalty minutes.  He added one goal and one assist in 18 playoff games.  These are excellent signings for the Kings, as both Stoll and Fraser are good role players on the team.  Stoll brings plenty of two-way ability and a great shot to the checking lines, as well as excellent skills on the faceoff.  Fraser plays with plenty of grit, toughness, and energy and has some defensive ability.  Look for both players to continue to play checking line roles with the Kings throughout the duration of their contracts.

Predators Re-Sign Brandon Yip and Chris Mueller

The Nashville Predators have announced that they have re-signed right wing Brandon Yip to a one-year contract worth $750,000 and center Chris Mueller to a one-year, two-way contract.  Mueller's deal will pay him $550,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level.  Both players would have been eligible for unrestricted free agency on July 1.  The Predators claimed Yip off waivers from the Colorado Avalanche this past January.  In 35 games this past season with Colorado and Nashville, Yip had three goals and four assists for seven points.  Mueller was held pointless in four games with the Predators.  He also appeared in 73 games with Milwaukee of the AHL, scoring 32 goals and 28 assists for 60 points.  Yip isn't a bad depth signing for the Predators, as he plays with lots of energy and has a little offensive ability.  Look for him to play a role on the checking lines next season in Nashville.  As for Mueller, he is just a depth signing for the club and will likely spend much of next season in the minors.

Ottawa Senators Sign Erik Karlsson to Seven-Year Deal

The Ottawa Senators have locked up an important piece of their team by re-signing defenseman Erik Karlsson to a seven-year contract extension worth $45.5 million.  The deal averages out to $6.5 million per season.  He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1 and could have been a prime target for an offer sheet.  In 81 games this past season, he had 19 goals and 59 assists for 78 points.  He won the Norris Trophy this past Wednesday as the NHL's Top Defenseman for the 2011-12 season.  This is an excellent signing for the Senators, as Karlsson has loads of defensive upside.  He has exceptional offensive skill and hockey sense on the blueline, is a great skater, has excellent puck-moving ability, lots of talent on the power play, and a good shot.  Look for Karlsson to become one of the elite and top defenseman in the NHL over the next few seasons, as well as a likely annual finalist for the Norris Trophy.

Wild Sign Josh Harding to Three-Year Deal

The Minnesota Wild have announced that they have re-signed goaltender Josh Harding to a three-year contract extension worth $5.7 million.  The deal will average out to $1.9 million per season.  He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1.  In 34 games this past season, he posted a 13-12-4 record, two shutouts, a 2.62 GAA, and a .917 save percentage.  Not a bad move for the Wild, as Harding has developed into a solid backup goalie for the club.  He has good size and some upside to take on a starting goaltender role.  More than likely, he will play backup to Niklas Backstrom once again next season, which will allow prospect Matt Hackett to develop his game a little more in the minors.

Red Wings Sign Darren Helm to Four-Year Contract

The Detroit Red Wings have announced that they have re-signed center Darren Helm to a four-year contract extension worth $8.5 million.  The deal will pay him $2.125 million per season.  He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1.  In 68 games this past season with the Red Wings, he had nine goals and 17 assists for 26 points.  This is a great move for the Red Wings, as Helm has developed into an excellent two-way forward.  He is an excellent skater and one of the fastest players in the league, works very hard on the ice, and is great on the penalty kill.  Look for Helm's two-way game to continue to flourish in Detroit over the next four years.

Oilers Sign Lennart Petrell to One-Year Extension

The Edmonton Oilers have announced that they have re-signed right wing Lennart Petrell to a one-year contract extension.  The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.  He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1.  In 60 games this past season with the Oilers, he had four goals and five assists for nine points.  He also appeared in nine games with Oklahoma City of the AHL, scoring two goals and two assists for four points.  Petrell has some defensive skill and lots of versatility, as he can play on both wings.  He doesn't have a lot of offensive upside, so look for him to play a bottom-six role in Edmonton next season.

Lightning Re-Sign Mike Angelidis to One-Year Deal

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced that they have re-signed left wing Mike Angelidis to a one-year, two-way contract.  The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.  He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1.  He had one goal in six games this past season with the Lightning.  He also appeared in 54 games with Norfolk of the AHL, scoring 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points.  This is really just a depth signing for the Lightning, as Angelidis will likely spend the majority of next season in the minors.  If he sees any time in the NHL, it will likely be as an injury replacement on Tampa Bay's fourth line.

Sharks to Sign Brad Stuart to Three-Year Deal

The San Jose Sharks announced on Monday that they have signed defenseman Brad Stuart to a three-year, $10.8 million contract.  The deal will average out to $3.6 million per season.  The 32-year-old defenseman was acquired by the Sharks on June 10 from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Andrew Murray and a conditional seventh round pick in the 2014 Entry Draft.  Detroit will now receive the pick since Stuart signed with the Sharks.  He would have been eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.  In 81 games last season with the Red Wings, Stuart had six goals and 15 assists for 21 points.  This will be a solid move by the club.  There was much speculation that Stuart wanted to play in California next season to be closer to his family, so San Jose has helped accommodate his wishes.  Stuart will bring lots of defensive and shutdown skill and veteran depth to the team's blueline over the next three seasons.

Blues Sign Barret Jackman to Three-Year Extension

The St. Louis Blues announced today that they have signed defenseman Barret Jackman to a three-year contract extension.  The financial terms have not been disclosed, but the deal is reportedly worth $9.5 million, which would average out to $3.16 million per season.  He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1.  In 81 games this past season, he had one goal and 12 assists for 13 points and 57 penalty minutes.  The Blues were wise to lock up Jackman before July 1, as he is a decent defensive defenseman who plays a physical game and has some shutdown skills.  He is also a solid leader on and off the ice, making him a valuable player to the St. Louis organization.

Blackhawks Re-Sign Smtih, Bollig, Hutton

The Chicago Blackhawks announced on Monday that they have re-signed center Ben Smith and left wing Ben Bollig to two-year contracts and goaltender Carter Hutton to a one-year contract.  The financial terms of all three deals were not disclosed.  All three players would have been eligible for restricted free agency on July 1.  In 13 games last season with the Blackhawks, Smith had two goals.  He also appeared in 38 games with Rockford of the AHL, scoring 15 goals and 16 assists for 31 points.  Bollig had 58 penalty minutes and was held pointless in 18 games with the Blackhawks.  He also played in 53 games with Rockford, scoring three goals and six assists for nine points and 163 penalty minutes.  Hutton posted a 22-13-4 record, three shutouts, a 2.40 GAA, and a .917 save percentage.  He also appeared in 14 games with Toledo of the ECHL, posting a 7-7-0 record, with a 3.15 GAA, and a .900 save percentage.  He has yet to appear in an NHL game.

These aren't bad depth moves for the Blackhawks.  Smith brings some two-way upside and versatility to the forward lines, while Bollig adds plenty of toughness and grit to the checking lines.  Hutton will likely spend almost all of next season in the minors, where he will bring plenty of goaltending skill to Rockford.

NY Islanders Sign Jesse Joensuu to One-Year Deal

The New York Islanders have announced that they have re-signed right wing Jesse Joensuu to a one-year contract.  The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.  In 50 games last season with HV-71 of the Swedish Elite League, he had 13 goals and 16 assists for 29 points.  He last appeared in an NHL game with the Islanders during the 2010-11 season, scoring six goals and three assists for nine points in 42 games.  While Joensuu has good size and some scoring ability, he could end up seeing some time in the minors next season if he can't make the team out of training camp.  If he lands a spot on the Islanders' roster for the 2012-13 season, it will likely be on the fourth line.

Kings Re-Sign Marc-Andre Cliche and Richard Clune

The Los Angeles Kings have announced that they have signed center Marc-Andre Cliche and left wing Richard Clune to two-year contract extensions.  The financial terms of both deals were not disclosed.  Both players would have been group six unrestricted free agents on July 1.  In 72 games last season with Manchester of the AHL, Cliche had 17 goals and 24 assists for 41 points.  He last appeared in the NHL with Los Angeles during the 2009-10 season.  Clune played in 56 games this past season with Manchester, scoring six goals and nine assists for 15 points and 253 penalty minutes.  He last appeared in the NHL with Los Angeles during the 2009-10 season.  These are really just depth signings for the Kings, as both Cliche and Clune will likely spend the majority, if not all, of next season in the minors.  If they see any NHL action during the 2012-13 season, it will likely be as injury replacements.

Lightning Re-Sign Adam Hall and J.T. Wyman

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced that they have re-signed right wings Adam Hall and J.T. Wyman to one-year contracts.  The financial terms of both deals were not disclosed.  Hall's contract is one-way, while Wyman's will be a two-way deal.  Both players would have been unrestricted free agents on July 1.  In 57 games last season, Hall had two goals and five assists for seven points.  Wyman had two goals and nine assists for 11 points in 40 games with the Lightning.  He also appeared in 29 games with Norfolk of the AHL, scoring six goals and six assists for 12 points.  These aren't bad depth signings for the Lightning, as both players will bring some skill to the checking lines.  Hall has some defensive ability, versatility, and skill on the penalty kill, while Wyman also has some defensive skill and a little speed.  Look for both players to play on the fourth line next season, although Wyman could possibly spend some time in the minors.

Lightning Acquire Anders Lindback from Predators

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced on Friday that they have acquired goaltender Anders Lindback, center Kyle Wilson, and a seventh round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft from the Nashville Predators in exchange for goaltender Sebastien Caron, two second round draft picks in 2012, and a third round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft.  In 16 games this past season with the Predators, Lindback posted a 5-8-0 record, with a 2.42 GAA and a .912 save percentage.  He also appeared in two games with Milwaukee of the AHL, posting a 1-1-0 record, a 3.50 GAA, and a .879 save percentage.  Wilson was held pointless in five games with Nashville.  He also played in 68 games with Milwaukee, scoring 22 goals and 32 assists for 54 points.  Caron appeared in three games last season with the Lightning, posting a 1-1-0 record, a 3.11 GAA, and a .877 save percentage.  He also played in 49 games with Iserlohn of the German League, posting a 25-23-0 record, five shutouts, a 2.57 GAA, and a .932 save percentage.

The Lightning were looking to solve their problematic goaltending situation and may have done that with the acquisition of Lindback.  He has great size and loads of potential and will likely land the starting role next season in Tampa Bay.  Wilson will likely only provide fourth line depth for the club and could also spend some of next season in the minors.  The Lightning gave up quite a few future assets to land Lindback, but he could be worth it down the road.  As for the Predators, Lindback wasn't likely to get much playing time backing up Pekka Rinne, so the team did well in landing a nice package of draft picks for the Swedish netminder.  Caron will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and Nashville could sign him for organizational depth, but that remains to be seen.

Canucks Re-Sign Aaron Volpatti to One-Year Deal

The Vancouver Canucks announced today that they have re-signed left wing Aaron Volpatti to a one-year, two-way contract worth $600,000.  He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1.  In 23 games this past season, he had one goal and 37 penalty minutes.  He missed 57 games with a shoulder injury.  Not a bad depth signing for the Canucks, as Volpatti plays with lots of grit and toughness and is a good physical presence on the team.  Look for him to play a fourth line role on the wing next season.

Blues Sign Chris Stewart to One-Year Extension

The St. Louis Blues announced on Thursday that they have signed right wing Chris Stewart to a one-year contract extension worth $3 million.  He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1.  In 79 games last season, he had 15 goals and 15 assists for 30 points and 109 penalty minutes.  While Stewart struggled a bit offensively last season, this is still a solid signing for the Blues.  He has lots of offensive upside, plenty of goal-scoring skill, and plays with lots of toughness and grit.  Look for Stewart to work on his offensive game this off-season and become more of an offensive threat for the Blues throughout the 2012-13 season.

Lightning Sign Riku Helenius to Two-Year Deal

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced today that they have re-signed goaltender Riku Helenius to a two-year contract.  The deal is reportedly a two-way contract for the first year and one-way agreement the second year that will pay him $650,000.  In 33 games last season with JYP of the Finnish Elite League, he posted a 17-9-5 record, seven shutouts, a 1.64 GAA, and a .936 save percentage.  This isn't a bad depth signing for the Lightning, as Helenius has the skills to be a solid goaltender at the NHL level.  More than likely, he will spend the majority of next season in the minors honing his skills, as he won't be an immediate fix to the Lightning's goaltending situation.

Jets Sign Jim Slater to Three-Year Extension

The Winnipeg Jets announced today that they have signed center Jim Slater to a three-year contract extension worth $4.8 million.  The deal will average out to $1.6 million per season.  He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1.  In 78 games last season, he had 13 goals and eight assists for 21 points.  This is an excellent move for the Jets, as Slater is an excellent checking line forward on the team.  He has lots of speed, is excellent on faceoffs and the penalty kill, plenty of defensive skill, some offensive ability, and plays with a little grit.  Look for Slater to be a solid forward for the Jets over the next three years and his $1.6 million is an excellent deal for a player of his caliber.

Stars Sign Francis Wathier to Two-Year Extension

The Dallas Stars announced on Wednesday that they have re-signed left wing Francis Wathier to a two-year, two-way contract.  The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.  He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1.  He was held pointless in only one game with the Stars this past season.  He also appeared in 75 games with Texas of the AHL, scoring 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points and 94 penalty minutes.  This is really just a depth signing for the Stars, as Wathier will likely spend most of the duration of the new deal in the minors, where he will bring plenty of offensive skill and physical play to the Texas lineup.

Bruins Re-Sign Chris Kelly and Greg Campbell

The Boston Bruins have announced that they have re-signed center Chris Kelly to a four-year contract worth $12 million and center Greg Campbell to a three-year contract worth $4.8 million.  Kelly's deal will average out to $3 million per season, while Campbell's contract will average out to $1.6 million per year.  Both players would have been unrestricted free agents on July 1.  In 82 games last season, Kelly had 20 goals and 19 assists for 39 points, while Campbell had eight goals and eight assists for 16 points and 80 penalty minutes in 78 games.  These are excellent signings for the Bruins, as both players will add plenty of offensive depth to the club.  Kelly plays hard on the ice and has some two-way ability, as well as some offensive skill.  Look for him to bring plenty of skill to the checking lines over the next four years.  Campbell plays with lots of energy and toughness, has sound defensive skills, and is excellent on the penalty kill.  Like Kelly, look for Campbell to bring plenty of skill to the checking lines over the next three seasons.

Sharks Acquire Brad Stuart from Red Wings

The San Jose Sharks have announced that they have acquired defenseman Brad Stuart from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for center Andrew Murray and a conditional seventh round pick in the 2014 Entry Draft.  The Sharks now have exclusive negotiating rights with Stuart until July 1, when he will be eligible for unrestricted free agency.  Detroit will receive San Jose's seventh round pick in 2014 if Stuart signs with the Sharks.  In 81 games last season with the Red Wings, Stuart had six goals and 15 assists for 21 points.  Murray appeared in 39 games with the Sharks, scoring one goal and three assists for four points.  In also played in 10 games with Worcester of the AHL, scoring two goals and one assist for three points.  If the Sharks can get Stuart signed in the off-season, this is a solid move by the club.  There was much speculation that he wanted to play in California next season to be closer to his family, so San Jose may have an excellent shot at re-signing Stuart, who has expressed interest in signing with the club.  He will bring lots of defensive and shutdown skill and veteran depth to the team's blueline if signed.  As for the Red Wings, they weren't going to retain Stuart, so they were wise to add some possible assets instead of losing him for nothing via free agency.  However, the Red Wings are unlikely to sign Murray, who will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and was more than likely was just a "throw-in" player for the deal.  If Detroit were to sign him in the off-season, he would likely spend most of next season in the minors.

Predators Sign Kevin Henderson to One-Year Contract

The Nashville Predators have announced that they have signed left wing Kevin Henderson to a one-year, two-way contract.  The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.  In 30 games last season with Milwaukee of the AHL, he had four goals and seven assists for 11 points.  He was also held pointless in two games with Cincinnati of the ECHL.  He has yet to appear in an NHL game.  This is really just a depth signing for the Predators, as Henderson will likely spend all of next season in the minors.

Ducks Sign Patrick Maroon to One-Year Deal

The Anaheim Ducks have announced that they have re-signed left wing Patrick Maroon to a one-year, two-way contract.  The deal will pay him $550,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level.  He would have been eligible for restricted free agency on July 1.  He was held pointless in two games with the Ducks last season.  He also appeared in 75 games with Syracuse of the AHL, scoring 32 goals and 42 assists for 74 points and 120 penalty minutes.  This is really just a depth signing for the Ducks, as Maroon will likely spend the majority of next season in the minors.  If he does see any NHL action during the 2012-13 season, he will bring plenty of size, strength, and offensive instincts to the checking lines, but only likely as an injury replacement.

Avalanche Re-Sign McLeod, Jones, Hunwick

The Colorado Avalanche have announced that they have re-signed right wing Cody McLeod to a three-year contract worth $3.5 million, right wing David Jones to a four-year contract worth $16 million, and defenseman Matt Hunwick to a two-year contract worth $3.2 million.  McLeod's deal will average out to $857,000 per season, while Jones' contract will pay him $4 million per season.  Hunwick's deal will average out to $1.6 million per year.  All three players would have been unrestricted free agents on July 1.  In 75 games last season, McLeod had six goals and five assists for 11 points and 164 penalty minutes, while Jones had 20 goals and 17 assists for 37 points in 72 games.  In 33 games last season, Hunwick had three goals and three assists for six points.  He was a healthy scratch for much of the 2011-12 season.

These aren't bad moves for the Avalanche, as all three players will add some depth to the team.  McLeod will continue to bring lots toughness and grit to the forward lines, while Jones brings plenty of offensive depth and goal scoring ability to the team.  However, $4 million per season for his skill level is a bit high and will likely set the bar in free agency for players of similar skill.  Hunwick has some puck-moving ability and will likely play as a sixth or seventh defenseman over the next two years.

Penguins Acquire Tomas Vokoun, Sign Him to Two-Year Deal

The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they have acquired goaltender Tomas Vokoun from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a seventh round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft.  Immediately after the trade, the Penguins announced that they had signed the 35-year-old netminder to a two-year contract worth $4 million.  The deal will average out to $2 million per season.  He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1.  In 48 games last season with the Capitals, he posted a 25-17-2 record, four shutouts, a 2.51 GAA, and a .917 save percentage.  Not a bad move for the Penguins, as Vokoun will add lots of stability in goal.  While Marc-Andre Fleury will still have the starter role, Vokoun will add a lot of skill and veteran depth to the team in the backup role and will easily be able to jump in to the starter role if Fleury should miss time with injury.  The signing insures that Brent Johnson will not be retained by Pittsburgh in the off-season.

Bruins Re-Sign Daniel Paille and Chris Bourque

The Boston Bruins have announced that they have re-signed left wing Daniel Paille to a three-year contract worth $3.9 million and left wing Chris Bourque to a two-year contract worth $1.1 million.  Paille's deal will pay him $1.3 million per season, while Bourque will earn $550,000 per season.  Both players would have been eligible for unrestricted free agency on July 1.  In 69 games last season, Paille had nine goals and six assists for 15 points.  Bourque, who was acquired from the Capitals for Zach Hamill on May 26, had 27 goals and 66 assists for 93 points in 73 games with Hershey of the AHL.  These aren't bad depth signings for the Bruins, as both players will add some skill to the checking lines.  Paille has good defensive instincts and some skill on the penalty kill.  Bourque plays with lots of energy, has some defensive skill, and a little offensive ability.  He has spent a lot of time in the minors the past few seasons and has little left to prove at the lower levels.  Look for him to compete for a roster spot at training camp in September.

Hurricanes Re-Sign Justin Krueger to One-Year Deal

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that they have re-signed defenseman Justin Krueger to a one-year, two-way contract.  The deal will pay him $600,000 at the NHL level and $90,000 at the AHL level.  If he spends the entire 2012-13 season in the minors, he will make $105,000.  He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1.  In 58 games last season with Charlotte of the AHL, he had two goals and 11 assists for 13 points.  He has yet to appear in an NHL game.  This is really just a depth signing for the Hurricanes, as Krueger will likely spend all of next season in the minors.