Blues Sign T.J. Hensick to Two-Year Deal

The St. Louis Blues announced on Monday that they have signed center T.J. Hensick 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 13 games this past season with the Blues, Hensick had one goal and two assists for three points. He also appeared in 59 games with Peoria of the AHL, scoring 21 goals and 48 assists for 69 points. This is really just a depth signing for the Blues, as Hensick will likely spend a good chunk of next season in the minors once again. If he does play for St. Louis next season, he will bring plenty of speed and versatility to the team, but it will likely be in the event of an injury.

Penguins Sign Nick Johnson to One-Year Contract

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that they have signed right wing Nick Johnson to a one-year, two-way contract worth $550,000. He would have been a group six unrestricted free agent on July 1. In four games this past season with the Penguins, Johnson had one goal and two assists for three points. He missed the last 23 games of the regular season and all seven of Pittsburgh's playoff games with a concussion. He also appeared in 48 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL last season, scoring 20 goals and 19 assists for 39 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Penguins, as Johnson has good size, works hard on the ice, and has a little offensive upside. Any ice time he sees with the Penguins next season will likely be on the fourth line as a complimentary winger.

Sabres Sign Drew Stafford to Four-Year Extension

The Buffalo Sabres announced on Friday that they have signed right wing Drew Stafford to a four-year contract extension worth $16 million. The deal averages out to $4 million per season. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In 62 games this past season, Stafford had 31 goals and 21 assists for 52 points. He missed 20 games throughout the season because of injuries. In 317 career NHL games, all with the Sabres, he has 94 goals and 102 assists for 196 points. Not a bad signing for the Sabres, as Stafford is emerging as one of the top forwards on the team. He has good size, can play a physical game, and can score goals despite being a bit inconsistent in his offensive game from time to time. With his best years still ahead of him, look for Stafford's skills to increase over the next four years.

Capitals Acquire Taylor Stefishen from Predators

The Washington Capitals announced on Thursday that they have acquired left wing Taylor Stefishen from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a conditional seventh round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft. He will attend the Capitals' rookie camp this July. In 68 games this past season with Prince George of the WHL, he had 24 goals and 43 assists for 67 points and 72 penalty minutes. This is really just a depth move for the Capitals, as Stefishen will likely spend all of next season in the minors. The Predators were faced with a deadline to either sign Stefishen or lose his rights, so it appears he didn't fit into their long term plans and they traded him for a conditional draft pick instead of losing him for nothing.

Blues Sign Roman Polak to Five-Year Contract

The St. Louis Blues announced today that they have signed defenseman Roman Polak to a five-year contract extension worth $13.75 million. The annual cap hit of the deal will be $2.75 million. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In 55 games this past season, he had three goals and nine assists for 12 points. He missed 26 games throughout the season with wrist and foot injuries. In 227 career NHL games, all with St. Louis, he has eight goals and 41 assists for 49 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Blues, as Polak has decent size and has good shutdown skills for a defenseman. However, the length and price of the contract seems a bit high for Polak. The Blues probably would have been better off signing him to a shorter term contract for less money to see how he continues to develop before committing to him long-term.

NY Rangers Acquire Tim Erixon from Flames for Roman Horak

The New York Rangers announced today that they have acquired prospect defenseman Tim Erixon and a fifth round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft from the Calgary Flames in exchange for prospect left wing Roman Horak, the New York Rangers' own second round pick and the Washington Capitals' second round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. The Rangers had acquired the pick from the Carolina Hurricanes last summer in exchange for Bobby Sanguinetti. The Capitals previously sent the pick to Carolina for Joe Corvo. Immediately after the trade, the Rangers announced they had signed Erixon to a three-year entry level contract. The Flames had until 5 PM today to sign Erixon or he would have re-entered the Entry Draft. He refused to sign a standard entry-level contract because of concerns that he would end up playing in the minors next season given the number of veteran defenseman already on the Flames roster for next season. Horak signed a three-year entry level contract with the Rangers on May 6. In 48 games this past season with Skelleftea, Erixon had five goals and 19 assists for 24 points. Horak had 26 goals and 52 assists for 78 points in 64 games with Chilliwack of the WHL. Not a bad move for both teams, as both players will address needs for the two franchises. The Rangers get a high end defensive prospect in Erixon, while the Flames get a potential scoring forward in Horak. Erixon has good size, the potential to log lots of minutes, and has lots of defensive upside, so he should be a good fit for the Rangers. Horak, who played alongside Flames prospect Ryan Howse in Chilliwack, can score goals and set them up, so he should be a decent all-around forward for Calgary. Plus, the Flames made out well in the deal by getting two second round draft picks and a prospect forward for a prospect they were on the verge of losing for nothing. Look for both players to make a push at making their respective teams in training camp this September.

Canadiens Sign Hal Gill to One-Year Extension

The Montreal Canadiens announced today that they have signed defenseman Hal Gill to a one-year contract extension worth $2.25 million. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 75 games this past season, he had two goals and seven assists for nine points and 43 penalty minutes. In 994 career NHL games with the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Montreal Canadiens, he has 35 goals and 136 assists for 171 points and 911 penalty minutes. He won the Stanley Cup in 2009 as a member of the Penguins. This is a decent signing for the Canadiens, although the $2.25 million salary seems a bit high for Gill at this stage of his career. He has tremendous size and reach, plays with plenty of grit, is a good shot blocker, excels on the penalty kill, and is a leader on the ice despite being a bit of a slow skater. More than likely, he will continue to play alongside P.K. Subban on the blueline next season, which was an effective defensive duo for the team in 2010-11.

Blues Sign Patrik Berglund to Two-Year Extension

The St. Louis Blues announced today that they have signed center Patrik Berglund to a two-year contract extension worth $4.5 million. The deal averages out to $2.25 million per season. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In 81 games this past season, he had 22 goals and 30 assists for 52 points. In 228 career NHL games, all with St. Louis, he has 56 goals and 69 assists for 125 points. This is a good signing for the Blues, as Berglund is shaping up to be one the team's top forwards. He has excellent offensive instincts and is a great playmaker. I think it's a pretty good bet that Berglund will greatly improve his game over the next two seasons.

Panthers Sign Jack Skille to Two-Year Deal

The Florida Panthers announced today that they have signed right wing Jack Skille to a two-year contract extension. The deal will average $825,000 per season and will be a one-way contract. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. He was acquired by the Panthers from the Chicago Blackhawks on February 9 along with Hugh Jessiman and David Pacan in exchange for Michael Frolik and Alexander Salak. In 62 games last season with the Blackhawks and Panthers, Skille had eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points. He missed 12 games with an ankle injury. Not a bad depth signing for the Panthers, as Skille has some size and speed and has some offensive upside, but also suffers from consistency issues. If he can add a little more consistency to his game, Skille could be an impact player for the Panthers.

Atlanta Thrashers Set to Move to Winnipeg

The NHL is on its way back to the Manitoba capital. True North Sports and Entertainment announced today that they have completed a deal to purchase the Atlanta Thrashers and relocate the team to Winnipeg in time for the 2011-12 season. The sale of the franchise is still pending approval from the NHL Board of Governors, which should occur on June 20 in New York. The transfer of ownership will require 75 percent approval from the Board of Governors, while relocation will only need a majority result. True North Sports and Entertainment and the Thrashers' owner, Atlanta Spirit, had been working on a deal for several weeks. The franchise price will be $170 million with a $60 million relocation fee. That relocation fee will be dispersed to the other 29 NHL teams. The team will play out of the MTS Centre, which opened in 2004 and has a seating capacity of just over 15,000. A nickname has not been chosen for the team yet and True North is now launching a season ticket campaign, with ticket prices ranging from $39-$129 per game. According to TSN insider Bob McKenzie, the Winnipeg franchise will remain in the Southeast Division for the 2011-12 season, with realignment set to occur prior to the 2012-13 season. It has been 15 years since the Winnipeg Jets departed Canada and moved to Arizona to become the Phoenix Coyotes. This is the second time the city of Atlanta has lost an NHL franchise. The Flames played in Atlanta from 1972 to 1980 before relocating to Calgary. The Thrashers were an expansion team for the 1999-2000 season. This is great news for the city of Winnipeg and the province of Manitoba, as hockey fans in Winnipeg have been really vocal about getting the NHL to return to their city. It's nice to see Canada getting another hockey franchise and that the team is going to a city with a fan base that will appreciate them. The Thrashers were not a huge grab in Atlanta, so it will be good for the franchise to be in a city that will have a stronger fan base. A big congratulations goes out to the city of Winnipeg for acquiring an NHL franchise. You have certainly earned it.

Oilers Sign Ryan Jones to Two-Year Extension

The Edmonton Oilers announced today that they have signed left wing Ryan Jones to a two-year contract extension. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 81 games this past season with the Oilers, he had 18 goals and seven assists for 25 points. Not a bad signing for the Oilers, as Jones was a fairly steady forward for the team last season. He has some offensive ability, good size, plays with some grit, and works hard on the ice. He should continue to be a good fit for the team over the next two years.

Doug Weight Announces His Retirement

After 19 seasons in the NHL, NY Islanders center and captain Doug Weight has decided to retire. He will stay on with the team as an assistant coach and a special assistant to general manager Garth Snow. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 18 games this past season with the Islanders, he had two goals and seven assists for nine points. He missed the last 64 games of the regular season with back spasms. In 1238 career NHL games with the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, and New York Islanders, he has 278 goals and 755 assists for 1033 points. He won the Stanley Cup in 2006 as a member of the Hurricanes and an Olympic Silver Medal in 2002 as a member of Team USA. Weight was always a solid forward throughout his career who saw the ice very well. He was an excellent passer and a proven leader on and off the ice. I wish him all the best in retirement.

Fredrik Modin Announces His Retirement

According to thehockeynews.com and tsn.ca, Calgary Flames' left wing Fredrik Modin has decided to retire from hockey. He has missed much of the last four seasons due to various injuries. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 40 games this past season with the Atlanta Thrashers and Calgary Flames, he had seven goals and three assists for 10 points. In 898 career NHL games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings, Atlanta Thrashers, and Calgary Flames, he has 232 goals and 230 assists for 462 points. He won the Stanley Cup in 2004 as a member of the Lightning and an Olympic Gold Medal in 2006 as a member of Team Sweden. Modin was always an excellent two-way player throughout his career and a good complementary winger to other skilled forwards. It's a shame to see a rash of injuries bring his career to a close and I wish him all the best in retirement.

Blackhawks Sign Goaltender Alexander Salak to Two-Year Deal

According to the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Blackhawks have signed goaltender Alexander Salak to a two-year, one-way contract. The deal will pay him $600,000 per season. He would have been a restricted free agent this summer. Since the deal is one-way, Salak will more than likely be the heavy favorite to backup Corey Crawford in goal for the 2011-12 season. Salak was acquired by the Blackhawks on February 9 from the Florida Panthers along with Michael Frolik in exchange for Jack Skille, Hugh Jessiman, and David Pacan. In 32 games this past season with Farjestad of the Swedish Elite League, he posted an impressive 1.97 GAA, a .926 save percentage, and seven shutouts. Not a bad depth signing for the Blackhawks, as Salak has been decent in European leagues and has plenty of upside. He has good size and can play a very heavy workload. With his skill level and potential, it wouldn't surprise me if he ends up splitting the goaltending duties with Crawford by the second year of his contract.

NY Islanders Sign Kyle Okposo to Five-Year Extension

The New York Islanders announced on Wednesday that they have signed right wing Kyle Okposo to a five-year contract extension worth $14 million. The deal will pay him $1 million in 2011-12, $2 million in 2012-13, $3 million in 2013-14, $3.5 million in 2014-15, and $4.5 million in 2015-16. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In 38 games this past season, he had five goals and 15 assists for 20 points. He missed 44 games this past season with a shoulder injury. This is a great signing for the Islanders, as Okposo has become a critical part of the team's rebuild. He has good size, lots of scoring ability, a good work ethic, and plays with some toughness. He will definitely become one of the Islanders' top forwards throughout the course of the contract. Not to mention the salary the team will pay him is a bargain for a player of his caliber.

Red Wings Defenseman Brian Rafalski to Retire

According to tsn.ca, sources confirm that 37-year-old Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski is retiring from the NHL with one more year left on his current contract at $6 million. He officially announced his retirement on May 25, 2011. Since Rafalski was not yet 35 when he signed a five-year contract with the Red Wings in 2007, his salary for next season will not count against the team's salary cap. The news comes weeks after 41-year-old Nicklas Lidstrom announced that he will make his decision on retirement by July 1. In 63 games this past season with the Red Wings, Rafalski had four goals and 44 assists for 48 points. In 833 career NHL games with the New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings, he has 79 goals and 436 assists for 515 points. He won the Stanley Cup in 2000 and 2003 as a member of the Devils and in 2008 with the Red Wings. He also won Olympic Silver Medals in 2002 and 2010. This is a huge loss for the Red Wings on the blueline, as Rafalski has lots of offensive skill and has been an excellent power play quarterback for the team. Also, with the possibility of Nicklas Lidstrom retiring this off-season, the Red Wings could have two large holes to fill on defense prior to the start of the 2011-12 season. With the loss of Rafalski, the Red Wings will likely be aggressive in the off-season to acquire a top-pairing defenseman who has some skill on the power play. Also with Rafalski's retirement, I think there is a strong likelihood that Lidstrom will postpone retirement for one more year to help the Red Wings remain competitive on the blueline.

Coyotes Sign Petteri Nokelainen to One-Year Contract

The Phoenix Coyotes announced on Friday that they have signed center Petteri Nokelainen to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. It will be his second stint with the team. He had one goal and one assist in 17 games with the Coyotes during the 2009-10 season after being acquired in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks. He then had the final year of his contract bought out by Phoenix last summer. In 46 games this past season with Jokerit of the Finnish League, he had 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points. An interesting signing for the Coyotes since they bought out the final year of Nokelainen's contract last summer and here they are re-signing him nearly one year later. He will bring some skill to the penalty kill and on faceoffs, but don't expect to see much scoring out of him, provided he earns a roster spot next season.

Senators Re-Sign Forwards Zack Smith and Colin Greening

The Ottawa Senators announced today that they have re-signed center Zack Smith to a two-year contract extension and center Colin Greening to a three-year contract. Financial terms of both deals were not disclosed. Both players would have been eligible for restricted free agency this summer. In 55 games this past season with the Senators, Smith had four goals and five assists for nine points and 120 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 22 games with Binghamton of the AHL, scoring seven goals and five assists for 12 points and 32 penalty minutes. Greening appeared in 24 games with the Senators this past season, scoring six goals and seven assists for 13 points. He also appeared in 59 games with Binghamton, scoring 15 goals and 25 assists for 40 points. These aren't bad depth signings for the Senators, as Smith and Greening have more than likely secured roster spots with the team for next season with their fine play during the 2010-11 campaign. Smith brings lots of grit and toughness to the checking lines, as well as some two-way ability and some skill to the penalty kill. Greening brings lots of size, defensive ability, and versatility to the forward lines, as he can also play on the wing. He should bring plenty of offensive depth to the checking lines for the next three years.

Blackhawks Sign Corey Crawford to Three-Year Contract

The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that they have signed goaltender Corey Crawford to a three-year contract extension worth $8 million. The deal averages out to $2.67 million per season. He would have been eligible for restricted free agency on July 1. In 57 games this past season, he posted a 33-18-6 record, four shutouts, a 2.30 GAA, and a .917 save percentage. In the 2011 playoffs, he posted a 3-4 record, one shutout, a 2.21 GAA, and a .927 save percentage in seven games. This is a good signing for the Blackhawks, as Crawford had a real solid 2010-11 season that earned him the starter's role over Marty Turco. Crawford has good size and enough skill to now become the full-time starter in Chicago. Look for him to continue to improve on his skills over the next three years.

Capitals Sign Defenseman Zach Miskovic to One-Year Contract

The Washington Capitals announced today that they have signed defenseman Zach Miskovic to a one-year contract extension. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been eligible for restricted free agency this summer. In 58 games this past season with Hershey of the AHL, he had seven goals and nine assists for 16 points and 58 penalty minutes. This is really just a depth signing for the Capitals, as Miskovic will likely spend next season in the AHL once again, where he will provide plenty of defensive depth for Hershey.

Flames Sign Curtis Glencross to Four-Year Extension

The Calgary Flames announced today that they have signed left wing Curtis Glencross to a four-year contract extension worth $10.2 million. The deal will average out to $2.55 million per season and has a no-movement clause. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 79 games this past season, a career year for the 28-year-old forward, he had 24 goals and 19 assists for 43 points. In 291 career NHL games with the Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers, and Calgary Flames, he has 68 goals and 74 assists for 142 points. Not a bad move for the Flames, as Glencross has become a reliable checking-line forward for the team. He has decent two-way skill, can score goals, and plays a physical game. He should continue to be a good fit for the team on the checking lines.

NY Rangers Forward Derek Boogaard Passes Away

The New York Rangers announced on Friday evening that left wing Derek Boogaard has passed away. Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune first reported the news on Twitter Friday evening, stating that the 28-year-old forward was found dead in his apartment by his family. An autopsy is pending to determine the exact cause of death. In 22 games this past season with the Rangers, Boogaard had one goal and one assist for two points and 45 penalty minutes. He missed 51 games this past season, as well as all five of New York's playoff games, with a shoulder injury. Boogaard signed a four-year contract with the Rangers on July 1, 2010 worth $6.6 million. In 277 career NHL games with the Minnesota Wild and New York Rangers, he had three goals and 13 assists for 16 points and 589 penalty minutes. This is very tragic news this Friday evening, as it's always very sad to see an NHL player's life cut so short. My deepest sympathies go out to the family, friends, and teammates of Derek Boogaard.

NY Islanders Sign Michael Grabner to Five-Year Extension

The New York Islanders announced on Friday that they have signed left wing Michael Grabner to a five-year contract extension worth $15 million. The deal will pay him $1 million in 2011-12, $2 million in 2012-13, $3 million in 2013-14, $4 million in 2014-15, and $5 million in 2015-16. The 23-year-old left winger, who is a finalist for the Calder Trophy this year as rookie-of-the-year, would have been eligible for restricted free agency on July 1. Grabner was claimed off waivers by the Islanders from the Florida Panthers this past October. He was acquired by the Panthers last summer from the Vancouver Canucks along with Steve Bernier and a first round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft in exchange for Keith Ballard and Victor Oreskovich. In 76 games this past season with the Islanders, Grabner had 34 goals and 18 assists for 52 points. This is a decent signing for the Islanders, as Grabner had a very impressive rookie season for the rebuilding team. He's a fast skater, a great goal-scorer, and has lots of offensive potential. He should be an excellent scorer for the Islanders for years to come and will be an important piece on offense as they continue to rebuild their team.

Avalanche Sign Milan Hejduk to One-Year Contract

The Colorado Avalanche announced on Wednesday that they have signed right wing Milan Hejduk to a one-year contract extension worth $2.6 million. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 71 games this past season, he had 22 goals and 34 assists for 56 points. In 910 career NHL games, all with the Avalanche, he has 357 goals and 400 assists for 757 points. He won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2001 and the Rocket Richard Trophy in 2003 as the NHL's leading goal-scorer with 50 goals. He has also won an Olympic Gold Medal in 1998 and a Bronze Medal in 2006 as a member of the Czech Republic's hockey team. This is a good signing for the Avalanche, as Hejduk has always been a very reliable scorer and classy player for the team. He has a great shot, decent scoring ability, and lots of leadership skills. He will continue to be a great fit for the rebuilding Avalanche where he will more than likely mentor the younger players.

Coyotes Acquire Ethan Werek from NY Rangers for Oscar Lindberg

The Phoenix Coyotes announced today that they have acquired center Ethan Werek from the New York Rangers in exchange for center Oscar Lindberg. In 47 games this past season with Kingston of the OHL, Werek had 24 goals and 28 assists for 52 points, while Lindberg had five goals and nine assists for 14 points in 41 games with Skelleftea HC of the Swedish Elite League. This is really just a depth trade for both teams at this time. Werek will bring some goal-scoring skill and size at center for the Coyotes, while Lindberg will some offensive depth at center for the Rangers.