Avalanche Sign Defenseman Foote to One-Year Extension

The Colorado Avalanche have announced that they have signed veteran defenseman Adam Foote to a one-year contract extension. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 67 games this past season with the Avalanche, he scored nine assists and 64 penalty minutes. In 1107 career games with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets, he has 66 goals and 234 assists for 300 points and 1501 penalty minutes. He won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 1996 and 2001. This is a great signing for the Avalanche, as Foote is a very physical, defensive defenseman with lots of leadership qualities. He spent lots of time last season mentoring the younger players on the team and will take on that role again next season.

NY Rangers Acquire Defenseman Niemi from NY Islanders

The NY Rangers have announced that they have acquired defenseman Jyri Niemi from the New York Islanders in exchange for a sixth round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. The Rangers then signed him to a three-year entry level contract after the trade. This is the first trade the Rangers and Islanders have made with each other in 37 years. In 50 games this past season with Saskatoon of the WHL, Niemi scored eight goals and 21 assists for 29 points. This is really just a depth move for the Rangers, as Niemi will be a long shot to make the team at training camp in the fall. However, he does possess some offensive skill on the blueline, so he's not a bad depth player for the organization right now.

Blues Sign Forward Cracknell to New Contract

The St. Louis Blues have announced that they have signed right wing Adam Cracknell to a new contract. The exact length and financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been eligible for free agency on July 1. Cracknell spent the entire 2009-10 season with Peoria of the AHL, scoring 17 goals and 21 assists for 38 points in 76 games. He has yet to play in an NHL game. This is nothing more than a depth signing for the Blues. Cracknell has some offensive potential, but give the team's offensive depth, he will likely spend all of next season in the AHL.

Senators Sign Forward Keller to One-Year Extension

The Ottawa Senators have announced that they have signed right wing Ryan Keller to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2010-11 season. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been a free agent on July 1. In six games last season with the Senators, his first in the NHL, he scored no points. This is nothing more than a depth move for the Senators. Keller will provide lots of offensive depth for the Senators' AHL affiliate in Binghamton next season and will likely only see time in the NHL if there is a slew of injuries.

Penguins Sign Defenseman Engelland to One-Year Extension

The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they have signed defenseman Deryk Engelland to a one-year contract extension. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In nine games with the Penguins last season, his first in the NHL, he scored two assists and 17 penalty minutes. This is nothing more than a depth move for the Penguins. Engelland is a very physical, defensive defenseman, but is prone to mistakes in the defensive zone. He likely won't play many games next season with the Penguins, and if he does, it will be if injuries mount on the blueline.

Red Wings Sign Ritola to Three-Year Extension

The Detroit Red Wings have announced that they have signed left wing Mattias Ritola to a three-year contract extension. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been eligible to become a restricted free agent on July 1. In five games this past season with the Red Wings, he scored no points. He also appeared in one playoff game as well, scoring no points. He has appeared in seven career NHL games with the Red Wings, scoring one assist. Not a bad move for the Red Wings, as Ritola is one of their top minor-league forwards and could potentially make the team next season. He has some scoring upside, is a decent playmaker, and plays well defensively, making him another potential crafty forward for the Red Wings.

Predators Sign Forward Wilson to One-Year Contract

The Nashville Predators announced on Monday that they have signed left wing Kelsey Wilson to a one-year contract worth $575,000. The Predators qualified his rights last summer, making him a restricted free agent, but he failed to come to terms on a contract with the team and played the 2009-10 season in Austria with Salzburg, helping that team capture the Austrian championship title. In 52 games with Salzburg, he scored 18 goals and 22 assists for 40 points and 231 penalty minutes. He has yet to play in an NHL games, but has played three seasons with the Predators' AHL affiliate in Milwaukee. This is really just a depth signing for the Predators. Wilson plays with lots of grit and toughness and can score from time to time. He'll likely have to fight for a roster spot at training camp, and if he makes the team, will likely play on the third or fourth line.

Sabres Sign Forward Grier to One-Year Extension

The Buffalo Sabres announced on Monday that they have signed right wing Mike Grier to a one-year contract extension. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would've been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 73 games this past season with the Sabres, Grier scored 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points. He added two goals in six games for the team in the off-season. In 987 career NHL games with the Edmonton Oilers, Washington Capitals, San Jose Sharks, and Buffalo Sabres, he has 157 goals and 210 assists for 367 points. This is a decent signing for the Sabres, as Grier is a consistent forward who plays very hard every game. He's also a great two-way forward with plenty of speed and grit and excels on the penalty kill. Grier's experience and dedication will be extremely valuable for the Sabres next season.

NY Islanders Sign Forward Gillies to One-Year Extension

The New York Islanders have announced that they have signed left wing Trevor Gillies to a one-year contract extension. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 14 games with the Islanders this past season, he had one assist and 75 penalty minutes. He signed as a free agent with the team on January 28. In 15 career NHL games with the Anaheim Ducks and New York Islanders, he has one assist and 96 penalty minutes. This is nothing more than a depth signing for the Islanders. Gillies is a very tough forward who will provide lots of toughness and grit to the team's line-up, although he has no offensive upside whatsoever. If he makes the team in the fall, it will likely be as a fourth line forward.

Capitals Sign Backstrom to 10-Year Contract Extension

The Washington Capitals locked up an important piece of their future on Monday by signing center Nicklas Backstrom to a 10-year contract worth $67 million. The deal averages out to $6.7 million per season. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1 and would have been a prime target for an offer sheet. In all 82 games last season with the Capitals, Backstrom scored 33 goals and 68 assists for 101 points. He added five goals and four assists for nine points in seven playoff games this season. In 246 career NHL games, all with the Capitals, he has 69 goals and 189 assists for 258 points. This is a great signing for the Capitals, as Backstrom has quickly become one of the team's top forwards over the past few seasons. He's a great passer, has great sense on the ice, excels on the power play, and can score goals. Plus, at $6.7 million per season, this is a great deal for one of the top centers in the league, as he is easily worth $8 million per season, in my opinion. Backstrom's best years are still ahead of him and his skill will help keep the Capitals a very competitive team for the foreseeable future.

Hurricanes Acquire Jared Staal from Coyotes

The Carolina Hurricanes announced on Thursday that they have acquired right wing Jared Staal from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for a fifth round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. The Hurricanes then signed Staal to a three-year entry level contract on Friday. He was originally a second round draft pick of the Coyotes in 2008. In 59 games this past season with Sudbury of the OHL, he scored 12 goals and 37 assists for 49 points. He also appeared in five games with San Antonio of the AHL, scoring one assist. This isn't a bad move for the Hurricanes, as they hardly gave up anything to get a prospect forward in return. Jared was once considered to be the best of the Staal brothers (Eric, Jordan, and Marc), but has had a couple of down seasons recently. Perhaps playing with Eric in Carolina will help him improve his game, and if he does, this could be a steal for the Hurricanes and a bad move for the Coyotes. If not, giving up a fifth round draft pick shouldn't be a huge loss to the Hurricanes.

Stars Sign Goaltender Lehtonen to Three-Year Extension

The Dallas Stars announced today that they have signed goaltender Kari Lehtonen to a three-year contract extension worth $10.65 million. The deal averages out to $3.55 million per season. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. The Stars acquired Lehtonen from the Atlanta Thrashers in February for prospect defenseman Ivan Vishnevskiy. In 12 games last season with the Stars, Lehtonen posted a 6-4-0 record, with a 2.81 GAA, and a .911 save percentage. He missed most of last season recovering from back surgery. In 216 career NHL games with the Thrashers and Stars, he has a 100-87-17 record, 14 shutouts, a 2.87 GAA, and a .912 save percentage. This is kind of a risky signing for the Stars, as Lehtonen has a bit of an injury history. If he can stay healthy, it will be a great signing for the team, as Lehtonen has plenty of skill and has the potential to become a top goalie in the NHL.

Predators Sign Wade Belak to One-Year Extension

The Nashville Predators announced on Thursday that they have signed forward Wade Belak to a one-year contract extension worth $575,000. He would have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 39 games this past season with the Predators, he had two assists and 58 penalty minutes. In 534 career NHL games with the Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, and Nashville Predators, he has eight goals and 25 assists for 33 points and 1,245 penalty minutes. Really nothing more than a depth signing, Belak brings lots of grit and toughness to the Predators' third and fourth lines. He can also play defense, so the team can move Belak from offense to defense depending on their needs.

Maple Leafs Sign Gustavsson to Two-Year Extension

The Toronto Maple Leafs locked up an important part of their future on Thursday by signing goaltender Jonas Gustavsson to a two-year contract extension worth $2.7 million. The deal averages out to $1.35 million per season. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In 42 games this past season with the Maple Leafs, his first in the NHL, Gustavsson posted a 16-15-9 record, a 2.87 GAA, and a .902 save percentage. He underwent two heart ablation procedures in the fall, missing eight games as a result, but earned the team's nomination this year for the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. He also missed five games last October with a groin injury. This is a great signing for the Maple Leafs, as Gustavsson showed plenty of promise in his first NHL season. Despite struggling a bit early in the 2009-10 season, he made a lot of progress as the season went on, securing the starter's role after the Winter Olympics ended. With the way he played near the end of this past season, look for Gustavsson to be even better next season. Plus, at $1.35 million per season, he's a very affordable goaltending option.

Penguins Sign Goaltender Johnson to Two-Year Extension

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that they have signed goaltender Brent Johnson to a two-year contract extension worth $1.2 million. The deal averages out to $600,000 per season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 23 games this past season with the Penguins, his first with the club, Johnson posted a 10-6-1 record, a 2.76 GAA, and a .906 save percentage. In 270 career NHL games with the St. Louis Blues, Phoenix Coyotes, Washington Capitals, and Pittsburgh Penguins, he has a 121-100-13 record, 13 shutouts, a 2.64 GAA, and a .903 save percentage. This is a good signing for the Penguins, as Johnson has always been a very steady backup goaltender at the NHL level. He has been a great addition to the Penguins and showed this past season that he can jump into the starter's role if Marc-Andre Fleury should struggle. Plus, he is a very affordable signing, which will allow the Penguins cap space to re-sign some of their impending free agents this summer.

Lightning Fire Head Coach Tocchet, GM Lawton

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced on Monday that they have fired head coach Rick Tocchet and general manager Brian Lawton after missing the playoffs for the third straight year. Tocchet took over as head coach of the Lightning in November 2008 after then coach Barry Melrose was fired. Lawton, whose contract was up at the end of June, was hired by the team in July 2008 and took over as general manager in October 2008. Despite the controversial hire of Tocchet as head coach, he has been largely credited with improving the play of phenom Steven Stamkos, who tied Sidney Crosby for the Rocket Richard Trophy this past season with 51 goals. The Lightning went 53-69-12 under Tocchet, who still had one more year remaining on a two-year deal. No replacements for Tocchet or Lawton have been named yet, but assistant general manager Tom Kurvers will assume responsibility for hockey operations until a new general manager is hired. I can't say I didn't see these moves coming, as new team owner Jeff Vinik needs to clean up the mess that previous owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie made of the the team. Lawton really messed up the team during the summer of 2008 when he signed a glut of free agent forwards and neglected the defense after trading away Dan Boyle, resulting in a last place finish in the league. More attention was paid to the defense last summer, but the additions of Mattias Ohlund, Matt Walker, and Kurtis Foster did not help the team much in the standings. Despite great seasons from forwards Steven Stamkos, Martin St. Louis, and Steve Downie, the Lightning's offense was disappointing at best, with Vincent Lecavalier and newcomer Alex Tanguay struggling to score at times. Tocchet was not a bad coach for the team and really brought out the best in Stamkos, but with team ownership looking for change, he was bound to get fired. Hopefully Vinik will be able to find a general manager who can turn the team around quickly and give the fans in Tampa Bay something to cheer for again.

Veteran Forward Keith Tkachuk Retires

After a 17-year NHL career, veteran left wing Keith Tkachuk has decided to retire. He played this past season with the St. Louis Blues, appearing in 67 games and scoring 13 goals and 19 assists for 32 points and 56 penalty minutes. In 1,201 career NHL games with the Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues, and Atlanta Thrashers, he has 538 goals and 527 assists for 1,065 points and 2,219 penalty minutes. Tkachuk won the silver medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City as a member of Team USA, appeared in five all-star games, but never won a Stanley Cup. He had back-to-back 50 goal seasons in 1996 and 1997. Tkachuk was always a tremendous player throughout his career. He was a terrific goal scorer, played with lots of toughness and grit, and was a proven leader on the ice. Tkachuk will be missed in the NHL and should be very proud of everything he accomplished throughout his career, and hopefully one day he will earn a spot in the Hall of Fame.

Stars Sign Forward Petersen to Two-Year Extension

The Dallas Stars have announced that they have signed center Toby Petersen to a two-year contract extension worth $1.55 million. The deal will pay him $750,000 next season and $800,000 for the 2011-12 season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 78 games this past season with the Stars, Petersen had nine goals and six assists for 15 points. In 298 career games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers, and Dallas Stars, he has 29 goals and 41 assists for 70 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Stars, as Petersen is a hard-working third or fourth-line forward. Look for him to continue playing the same role over the next two years.

Flyers Sign Free Agent Goaltender Caron

The Philadelphia Flyers have announced that they have signed free agent goaltender Sebastien Caron for the remainder of the 2009-10 season. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He had been playing in the Swiss Elite League this past season. Caron is the Flyers' seventh goalie this season, but will not be available for the playoffs because he was signed after the March 3 trade deadline. He last played in the NHL during the 2006-07 season as a spare goalie for the eventual Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks. In addition to playing with the Ducks, he has also played for the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins. This is really nothing more than a depth signing for the Flyers to help them get through the rest of the regular season. With Ray Emery, Michael Leighton, and Johan Backlund all sidelined with lengthy injuries, the Flyers were in desperate need of some veteran depth in goal. Brian Boucher will likely see the bulk of the starts for the rest of the season and playoffs, but Caron will provide adequate goaltending depth for the team until the playoffs begin.

Stars Sign Forward Wandell to Two-Year Extension

The Dallas Stars have announced that they have signed center Tom Wandell to a two-year contract extension. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In 50 games this season with the Stars, Wandell has five goals and 10 assists for 15 points. He is currently sidelined with a knee injury and will miss the remainder of the season. Not a bad depth signing for the Stars. Wandell has been a reliable fourth line center for the team, and with three game winning goals on the season, he has been an important part of the team offensively this past season. Look for him to possibly center the third line over the next couple of years.

Oilers Sign Free Agent Forward Linglet to One-Year Contract

The Edmonton Oilers announced on Wednesday that they have signed free agent left wing Charles Linglet to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed and the contract should be through the remainder of the 2009-10 season. In 75 games this season with the Springfield Falcons of the AHL, Linglet has 19 goals and 55 assists for 74 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. He was originally signed as a free agent by the St. Louis Blues in 2007. This is really just a depth signing for the Oilers. He likely won't have much of an impact on the Oilers' play at the NHL level. However, Linglet has been impressive offensively in the AHL this season, and the Oilers are likely hoping some of that will rub off when he plays his first NHL game on April 2.

Penguins Sign Defenseman Letang to Four-Year Extension

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that they have signed defenseman Kris Letang to a four-year contract extension worth $14 million. The deal averages out to $3.5 million per season. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In 67 games this season with the Penguins, he has three goals and 24 assists for 27 points. In 211 career NHL games, all with the Penguins, he has 21 goals and 58 assists for 79 points. He won the Stanley Cup with the team in 2009. This is a decent signing for the Penguins, as Letang has lots of offensive potential on the blueline. He's a great puck-moving defenseman who doesn't shy away from physical play and, despite having a bit of a down year offensively, should become one of the Penguins' top two defenseman in the future. However, his contract pushes the team's payroll to $44 million for next season, which doesn't leave them a lot of room to re-sign all of their impending free agents. This could lead to the departure of defenseman Sergei Gonchar, who could get offers of $6 million on the open market and is reportedly not willing to accept a hometown discount. Either way, the team has locked up an important piece of their future in Letang and he should continue to improve over the course of the next four seasons.

Coyotes Sign Forward Bissonnette to Two-Year Extension

The Phoenix Coyotes announced on Monday that they have signed left wing Paul Bissonnette to a two-year contract extension. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been a restricted free agent this summer. In 40 games this season with the Coyotes, he has three goals and two assists for five points and 112 penalty minutes. In 55 career NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Phoenix Coyotes, he has three goals and three assists for six points and 134 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth signing for the Coyotes, as Bissonnette is a hard-working player on the ice and plays with a lot of toughness. He should continue to fill the enforcer role in Phoenix quite nicely over the next two seasons.

Bruins Sign Defenseman Ference to Three-Year Extension

The Boston Bruins announced today that they have signed defenseman Andrew Ference to a three-year contract extension worth $6.75 million. The deal averages out to $2.25 million per season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 50 games so far this season with the Bruins, Ference has eight assists. He has missed 22 games this season because of a groin injury. In 569 career NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Calgary Flames, and Boston Bruins, he has 24 goals and 117 assists for 141 points. In my opinion, this isn't such a wise move on the Bruins' part. Ference has been a reliable defensive blueliner for the Bruins since being acquired in 2007, but they are paying him way too much money for his skill level. The team probably could have let him depart via free agency this summer and replaced him with a minor league defenseman of comparable skill and point production and a much cheaper contract, or, found a much better defenseman on the free agent market that they could have thrown that kind of money at. The Bruins now have $47 million committed to 13 players next season, and if the salary cap stays close to $56 million for next season, will have roughly $9 million to spend on re-signing impending free agents or bringing in new players via free agency. Signing Ference to the contract that they did does not leave the Bruins with much salary cap space to bring in more offensive depth, which saw a significant decrease this season compared to last season.

Canucks Sign Ryan Kesler to Six-Year Extension

The Vancouver Canucks announced today that they have signed center Ryan Kesler to a six-year contract extension worth $30 million. The deal will pay him $5 million per season. He would have been a restricted free agent this summer. In 71 games so far this season with the Canucks, Kesler has 21 goals and 45 assists for 66 points. In 391 career NHL games, all with the Canucks, he has 86 goals and 120 assists for 206 points. He won a silver medal playing for the United States at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. This is a great signing for the Canucks, as Kesler is quickly developing into a very skilled offensive forward. He's a great two-way player, has great skill on the power play, and is developing into a leader on the ice. Plus, $5 million per season is not too bad for a player of his caliber, especially if he continues to improve over the next few seasons.