Penguins Sign Defenseman Andrew Hutchinson

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that they have signed defenseman Andrew Hutchinson to a one-year, two-way contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 78 games last season with Texas of the AHL, he had nine goals and 29 assists for 38 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Penguins, although Hutchinson is likely to spend most of next season in the minors. He has decent offensive skill and is good at moving the puck, so he should make a nice addition to the Penguins' AHL affiliate.

Panthers Sign Paetsch, Re-Sign Garrison

The Florida Panthers added some defensive depth to their roster to day by signing defenseman Nathan Paetsch to a one-year contract. The team also announced that they have re-signed defenseman Jason Garrison to a two-year contract. Financial terms of both deals were not disclosed. These are not bad depth signings for the Panthers, as both players will bring defensive depth to the club. Paetsch is a versatile player, as he can also play on the wing, and is a decent skater, while Garrison brings offensive and puckmoving skill to the blueline.

Capitals Re-Sign Schultz, Add Fahey, Greentree

The Washington Capitals announced today that they have avoided arbitration with defenseman Jeff Schultz and signed him to a four-year contract worth $11 million. The deal averages out to $2.75 million per season. The team also announced that they have signed defenseman Brian Fahey to a one-year contract and left wing Kyle Greentree to a two-year contract. Financial terms of both of their deals were not disclosed. Schultz isn't a bad signing for the Capitals, as he brings plenty of defensive depth and great size to the blueline. Greentree and Fahey are really nothing more than depth signings, as they will likely spend most of next season in the minors.

Red Wings Sign Eaves to One-Year Contract

The Detroit Red Wings announced today that they have signed right wing Patrick Eaves to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 65 games last season with Detroit, he had 12 goals and 10 assists for 22 points. Not a bad signing for the Red Wings, as Eaves is a good skater, has a little offensive upside, and is versatile enough to play both wings. He should continue to be a good fit to Detroit's checking lines next season.

Thrashers Re-Sign Forward Boulton

The Atlanta Thrashers announced today that they have re-signed left wing Eric Boulton to a one-year contract worth $650,000. In 62 games last season with Atlanta, he had two goals and six assists for eight points and 113 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth signing for the Thrashers, as Boulton plays with lots of grit and toughness and is a good enforcer for the team. However, he doesn't have much offensive upside, so don't expect to see him contribute a lot to the score sheet.

Sabres Sign Rob Niedermayer, Re-Sign Patrick Lalime

The Buffalo Sabres added some offensive depth today by signing center Rob Niedermayer to a one-year contract worth $1.15 million. The team also announced the re-signing of Patrick Lalime to a one-year contract. Financial terms of his deal were not disclosed. The Niedermayer signing is not a bad one for the Sabres, as he brings plenty of veteran depth and two-way skill to the team and is good on the penalty kill. The Lalime signing is an interesting one, as he hasn't been that impressive in the previous two seasons with Buffalo, but does bring some veteran depth in goal. However, there's still plenty of goaltending talent left on the free agent market and the Sabres probably could have brought in a better backup than Lalime.

Senators Sign Forward Corey Locke

The Ottawa Senators announced today that they have signed center Corey Locke to 2 year, two-way contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He appeared in three games last season with the New York Rangers, scoring no points. This is really just a depth signing for the Senators, as Locke will likely spend most of the next two seasons in the minors. At the minor league level, he brings plenty of scoring depth and is a good stickhandler, so he should be an excellent fit for Ottawa's AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators

Report: Nabokov Signs Deal to Play in Russia

According to multiple reports, goaltender Evgeni Nabokov has signed a four-year contract to play with St. Petersburg of the KHL. He became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but is still on the market as teams have gone for less expensive options in goal. In 71 games last season with the San Jose Sharks, Nabokov posted a 44-16-10 record, three shutouts, a 2.43 GAA, and a .922 save percentage. He has played his whole NHL career in San Jose. I'm actually kind of surprised by these reports, as Nabokov seemed to be on a lot of teams' radars. More than likely, his asking price was too much for many NHL teams, who have opted to go for more affordable goaltending talent this summer. The KHL just got themselves a very talented goalie.

***UPDATE***
The deal is reported now to be a six-year contract worth $24 million.

Flames Sign Free Agent Forward Stone

The Calgary Flames announced tonight that they have signed center Ryan Stone to a one-year contract worth $500,000. If he is sent to the AHL, he will make $105,000. In 27 games last season with the Edmonton Oilers, he had six assists and 48 penalty minutes. He missed more than half the 2009-10 season after having arthroscopic knee surgery on October 22, 2009. Really just a depth signing for the Flames, Stone should bring some toughness to the wing if he plays on the team next season.

Predators Sign Sergei Kostitsyn to One-Year Contract

The Nashville Predators announced today that they have signed newly acquired right wing Sergei Kostitsyn to a one-year contract worth $550,000. He was acquired by the Predators on June 29 from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for goalie Dan Ellis and forward Dustin Boyd. In 47 games last season with the Canadiens, Kostitsyn had seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points. He also appeared in 16 games with Hamilton of the AHL, scoring four goals and nine assists for 13 points. He also added two goals and three assists in four games with Belarus at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. This is a very affordable signing for the Predators, and I'm very impressed that they were able to sign Kostitsyn for so little and that he didn't hold out for more money or threaten to go to the KHL. He is a very shifty winger who has some offensive upside, but has questionable work ethics and a poor attitude. Depending on how he plays next season and if he clashes at all with the Predators' management will be big factors if Kostitsyn gets a longer contract or a raise next summer.

Wild Re-Sign Forward DiSalvatore, Defenseman Fraser

The Minnesota Wild announced today that they have re-signed right wing Jon Disalvatore to a two-year contract and defenseman Jamie Fraser to a one-year deal. The financial terms of both contracts were not disclosed. These are really just depth signings for the Wild, as both players will likely spend all of next season in the minors, where they will provide plenty of depth at their respected positions for Houston of the AHL.

Capitals Sign Forward Boyd Gordon to One-Year Deal

The Washington Capitals have announced that they have re-signed center Boyd Gordon to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 36 games last season with the Capitals, he had four goals and six assists for 10 points. He missed much of the 2009-10 season with a back injury. Not a bad signing for the Capitals, as Gordon is a good defensive forward. He's also good on faceoffs and is versatile, as he can play both center and on the wing. He doesn't have a lot of offensive ability and isn't a very consistent scorer, so he will likely continue to play on the Capitals' third or fourth lines next season.

Red Wings Re-Sign Forward Miller to One-Year Deal

The Detroit Red Wings announced today that they have re-signed left wing Drew Miller to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He was claimed off waivers by the Red Wings from the Tampa Bay Lightning last November. In 80 games with the Red Wings and Lightning last season, he had 10 goals and nine assists for 19 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Red Wings, as Miller was a fairly steady forward for the team last season. He's not a bad defensive forward and works very hard on the ice, so he should continue to perform well for the Red Wings next season.

Lightning Re-Sign Purcell, Lundin

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced today that they have re-signed left wing Teddy Purcell and defenseman Mike Lundin to one-year contracts. The financial terms of both deals were not disclosed. Purcell, who was acquired on March 3 from Los Angeles for Jeff Halpern and a third round draft pick in 2010, had six goals and nine assists for 15 points in 60 games last season. In 49 games with the Lightning last season, Lundin had three goals and 10 assists for 13 points. He also appeared in 27 games with Norfolk of the AHL, scoring two goals and 14 assists for 16 points. These aren't bad signings for the Lightning, as both players bring plenty of depth to their respected positions. Purcell gives the team some offensive ability and is versatile, as he can play on both wings, while Lundin has good puckmoving skills and is a mobile blueliner.

Blues Re-Sign Cam Janssen

The St. Louis Blues announced today that they have re-signed tough guy right wing Cam Janssen to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Yesterday, he had opted to go to salary arbitration later this summer, but signed the new deal before his arbitration date was set. He had no points and 190 penalty minutes in 43 games last season with the Blues. Not a bad signing for St. Louis, as Janssen brings lots of toughness and grit to their lineup. However, don't expect to see him contribute very much to the score sheet on a game-to-game basis, as he doesn't have any offensive upside.

Hurricanes Sign Goaltender Peters to Two-Year Contract

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that they have re-signed goaltender Justin Peters to a two-year, two-way contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In nine games last season with the Hurricanes, he posted a 6-3-0 record, with a 2.83 GAA, and a .905 save percentage. He also appeared in 47 games with Albany of the AHL, posting a 26-18-2 record, one shutout, a 2.54 GAA, and a .917 save percentage. Not a bad depth signing for Carolina, as Peters has decent size for a goaltender and works hard on the ice. He will likely be the backup to Cam Ward next season, so he should provide some stability in net for the Hurricanes.

Blues Sign Jaroslav Halak to Four-Year Deal

The St. Louis Blues announced today that they have signed newly acquired goaltender Jaroslav Halak to a four-year contract worth $15 million. The deal will pay him $2.75 million in 2010-11, $3.5 million in 2011-12, $4.25 million in 2012-13, and $4.5 million in 2013-14. The Blues acquired Halak from the Montreal Canadiens on June 17 in exchange for prospect forwards Lars Eller and Ian Schultz. In 45 games last season with the Canadiens, he posted a 26-13-5 record, five shutouts, a 2.40 GAA, and a .924 save percentage. This is a great signing for the Blues, as Halak is a very solid goaltender who has good focus. Halak's fine play in the regular season and playoffs has made him a great starting goaltender, so he should be an excellent fit for the team.

Former NHL Forward Bob Probert Passes Away

One of the toughest and most feared fighters in the history of the NHL has passed away. Former left wing Bob Probert died on Monday after he collapsed from chest pains while on a boat with family in Lake St. Clair just outside of Windsor, Ontario. Emergency workers attempted to revive Probert on the shoreline, but to no avail. A former third round pick of the Detroit Red Wings in 1983, Probert appeared in 935 career NHL games over 17 seasons with the Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. He scored 163 goals and 221 assists for 384 points and 3300 penalty minutes. He ranks fifth all-time in NHL history in career penalty minutes behind Dave "Tiger" Williams (3966), Dale Hunter (3565), Tie Domi (3515), and Marty McSorley (3381). Throughout his NHL career, Probert's fights against the likes of Tie Domi, Marty McSorley, John Kordic, Gary Nylund, Al Secord, Wendel Clark, Dave Semenko, and Bob McGill, among others, became the stuff of legends and he gained a huge fan base with his rugged, physical style of play and offensive skill, scoring 29 goals and 62 points in only his third NHL season. He gained some notoriety in 1989 when he was suspended by the NHL for attempting to smuggle cocaine across the U.S.-Canadian border, which resulted in him missing nearly all of the 1989-90 season. He would struggle with cocaine and alcohol addiction throughout his career and into retirement. In July 1994, he was involved in a motorcycle accident and suffered some minor injuries, but police determined his blood alcohol content at the time was three times the legal limit and he also had traces of cocaine in his system. Probert was released by the Red Wings organization that summer and signed as a free agent with their divisional rivals, the Chicago Blackhawks, where he played from 1995-96 to 2001-02. He missed the lockout shortened 1994-95 season after being suspended for violating the NHL's substance abuse policy. Despite all of his troubles outside of hockey, Probert was a well-liked player who was respected by many and will be missed by the hockey community as a whole. I was fortunate enough to grow up watching Probert play hockey and loved his rugged style of play. I always loved to watch a good scrap of his, especially his bouts with Tie Domi, and have been a fan of his for years. It's sad to see him leave this world so soon, but my memories of him will last a lifetime.

Bruins Sign Goaltender Schaefer to One-Year Contract

The Boston Bruins announced today that they have signed goaltender Nolan Schaefer to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 22 games last season with CSKA Moscow of the KHL, he posted a 6-10-1 record, one shutout, a 2.66 GAA, and a .895 save percentage. This is really just a depth signing for the Bruins, as they are already set in goal for next season with Tuukka Rask and Tim Thomas. Schaefer will likely spend most, if not all, of next season in the minors.

Lightning Sign Defenseman Clark to Two-Year Deal

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced today that they have signed defenseman Brett Clark to a two-year contract worth a reported $6 million. The deal averages out to $3 million per season. In 64 games last season with the Avalanche, he had three goals and 17 assists for 20 points. In 517 career NHL games with the Montreal Canadiens, Atlanta Thrashers, and Colorado Avalanche, he has 34 goals and 105 assists for 139 points. Not a bad signing for the Lightning, as Clark will bring plenty of veteran depth to the team's defense. He's not a bad puckmoving defenseman and will be a good mentor for the young blueliners in Tampa Bay.

Blues Re-Sign Defenseman Colaiacovo

The St. Louis Blues have announced that they have re-signed defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo to a two-year contract worth $4.25 million. The deal averages out to $2.125 million per season. In 67 games last season with the Blues, he had seven goals and 25 assists for 32 points. Not a bad signing for the Blues, as Colaiacovo has been a fairly steady defenseman for the team since being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008. He has good puckmoving skills, plenty of offensive skill, and is an excellent special teams player. His main downfall is his injury history, so if he can stay healthy over the next two seasons, he should be a decent player on the blueline.

Canucks Sign Forward Bolduc to One-Year Contract

The Vancouver Canucks have announced that they have signed center Alexandre Bolduc to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He had no points in 15 games last season with the Canucks. He also appeared in 13 games with Manitoba of the AHL, scoring two goals and one assist for three points. He missed considerable time last season with a shoulder injury. Not a bad depth signing for the Canucks, as Bolduc has some decent two-way skill and plays with some toughness. If he makes the team next season, look for him to be playing on the checking lines.

Oilers Sign First Round Pick Taylor Hall

The Edmonton Oilers announced today that they have signed left wing and 2010 frist round pick Taylor Hall to a three-year entry-level contract. The deal includes the maximum base salary of $900,000 per season on an entry-level contract, and he could end up making $3 million per season depending on how many performance bonuses he reaches. In 57 games last season with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL, he had 40 goals and 66 assists for 106 points. This is a great signing for the Oilers, as Hall is a very talented youngster who will be an excellent fit to the team for years to come. He has lots of goal-scoring skill and plenty of speed up the wing, making him a superb player in the Oilers rebuilding plans.

Report: Kovalchuk to Sign Seven-Year Deal with Devils

According to the New York Post, the New Jersey Devils are on the verge of signing left wing Ilya Kovalchuk to a seven-year contract worth $60 million. The deal will average out to $8.57 million per season. The Los Angeles Kings dropped out of the running for Kovalchuk on Sunday, while the New York Islanders are reportedly interested in his services and are prepared to offer him a long-term, lucrative deal. This will be an interesting signing for the Devils if the deal goes through, as Kovalchuk did not appear to fit in very well with the team last season. It sounds like this deal could be finalized today, so we'll see what happens.

Maple Leafs Re-Sign Mitchell, Add Zigomanis

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they have re-signed center John Mitchell to a one-year contract and signed center Mike Zigomanis to a one-year contract. Financial terms of both deals were not disclosed. In 60 games last season with the Maple Leafs, Mitchell had six goals and 17 assists for 23 points. Zigomanis appeared in 27 games with Djurgarden of the Swedish League, scoring four goals and seven assists for 11 points. He also played in seven games with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, scoring 13 assists. These aren't bad depth signings for the Maple Leafs, as Mitchell and Zigomanis will give the team some depth at center. Mitchell plays with a little toughness and has some two-way skill, while Zigomanis brings some playmaking skill to the team.