Predators Sign Teemu Laakso to One-Year Contract

The Nashville Predators announced today that they have signed defenseman Teemu Laakso to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay him $675,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In one game this past season with the Predators, Laakso had no points. He also appeared in 74 games with Milwaukee of the AHL, scoring eight goals and 22 assists for 30 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Predators, as Laakso has good size and some offensive upside. More than likely he will spend most of next season in the minors, but could earn a role as a six or seventh defenseman if he impresses at training camp in September.

Lightning Sign Mike Angelidis to One-Year Contract

According to tsn.ca, the Tampa Bay Lightning have signed left wing Mike Angelidis to a one-year, two-way contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been a Group Six unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 80 games this past season with Norfolk of the AHL, he had 20 goals and 18 assists for 38 points and 169 penalty minutes. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. This is really just a depth signing for the Lightning, as Angelidis will likely spend most, if not all, of next season in the minors.

Capitals Sign Patrick McNeill to Two-Year Contract

The Washington Capitals announced today that they have signed defenseman Patrick McNeill to a two-year, two-way contract worth $1.05 million. The deal will pay him $525,000 each season at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In 51 games this past season with Hershey of the AHL, he had seven goals and 20 assists for 27 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. This is really just a depth signing for the Capitals, as McNeill will likely spend much of next season in the minors, but it's not a bad depth signing. He does have a little offensive skill, so he will be a good asset for Hershey and could provide some defensive depth for the Capitals if he is recalled from the minors in the event of an injury.

Blues Sign Vladimir Sobotka to Three-Year Deal

The St. Louis Blues announced today that they have signed center Vladimir Sobotka to a three-year contract extension worth $3.9 million. The deal will pay him $1.2 million in 2011-12, $1.3 million in 2012-13, and $1.4 million in 2013-14. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In 65 games this past season, he had seven goals and 22 assists for 29 points and 69 penalty minutes. He missed four games with a shoulder injury and 13 games with a fractured foot. Not a bad signing for the Blues, as Sobotka plays with lots of energy and toughness and has a little offensive upside. He should be a good fit on the checking lines for the next three years.

Maple Leafs Sign Carl Gunnarsson to Two-Year Extension

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that they have signed defenseman Carl Gunnarsson to a two-year contract extension worth $2.65 million. The deal averages out to $1.325 million per season. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In 68 games this past season, he had four goals and 16 assists for 20 points. This is a decent signing for the Maple Leafs, as Gunnarsson is one of the team's more promising young defensemen. He's a decent puck-mover who has some offensive upside, so he will likely fill a top-four defensive role for the team over the next couple of seasons.

Lightning Sign Michael Vernace to One-Year Deal

The Tampa bay Lightning announced on Monday that they have signed defenseman Michael Vernace to a one-year, two-way contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been a Group Six unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 10 games this past season with the Lightning, he had one assist. He also appeared in 68 games with Norfolk of the AHL, scoring seven goals and 21 assists for 28 points. This is really just a depth signing for the Lightning, as Vernace will likely spend much of next season in the minors. If he does see any time with Tampa Bay, it will be in the event of an injury to one of their regular defensemen.

Penguins Sign Ryan Craig to One-Year Contract

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Monday that they have signed left wing Ryan Craig to a one-year, two-way contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In six games this past season with the Penguins, he had no points. He also appeared in 71 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL, scoring 19 goals and 29 assists for 48 points and 84 penalty minutes. This is really just a depth signing for the Penguins, as Craig will likely spend much of next season in the minors. He does possess some offensive skill, but injuries have effected his game. He also plays with some toughness, so he could play a role on the team's fourth line next season in the event of an injury.

Blues Sign Chris Porter to One-Year Contract

The St. Louis Blues announced today that they have signed center Chris Porter to a one-year, two-way contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 45 games this past season with the Blues, he had three goals and four assists for seven points. He also appeared in 36 games with Peoria of the AHL, scoring nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points. This is really just a depth signing for the Blues, as Porter is likely to spend a good chunk of next season in the minors. If he does play any games with St. Louis, he will bring plenty of offensive depth to the fourth line.

Blue Jackets Sign Clitsome to Two-Year Deal

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced today that they have signed defenseman Grant Clitsome to a two-year contract extension. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been eligible for Group Six unrestricted free agency on July 1. In 31 games this past season with Columbus, he had four goals and 15 assists for 19 points. He missed eight games with a knee injury. He also appeared in 32 games with Springfield of the AHL, scoring five goals and 10 assists for 15 points. This is a decent signing for the Blue Jackets, as Clitsome has been a reliable defenseman for the club over the past two seasons. He has some offensive skill and plays well in the defensive zone, so he should continue to be a reliable defenseman for the team over the next two years.

Canadiens Sign Mathieu Darche to One-Year Contract

The Montreal Canadiens announced today that they have signed left wing Mathieu Darche to a one-year contract worth $700,000. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 59 games this past season, he had 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points. He missed 15 games with a groin injury. In 189 career NHL games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Montreal Canadiens, he has 25 goals and 35 assists for 60 points. This is a good depth signing for the Canadiens, as Darche is a very hard-working forward on the ice who plays with lots of heart. He will continue to bring plenty of veteran, offensive depth to the team's fourth line next season.

Stars Re-Sign Forwards Travis Morin and Colton Sceviour

The Dallas Stars announced on Thursday that they have signed center Travis Morin to a two-year, two-way contract worth $1.05 million and right wing Colton Sceviour to a one-year, two-way contract. Morin's contract will pay him $525,000 per season at the NHL level and $125,000 at the AHL level, while the financial terms of Sceviour's deal were not disclosed. Both players would have been free agents this summer. In three games this past season with Dallas, Morin had no points. He also appeared in 64 games with Texas of the AHL, scoring 21 goals and 24 assists for 45 points. Sceviour played in one game with the Stars, scoring no points. He also appeared in 77 games with Texas, scoring 16 goals and 25 assists for 41 points. These are really just depth signings for the Stars, as both players will likely spend the majority of next season in the minors.

Penguins Sign Craig Adams to Two-Year Extension

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Thursday that they have signed center Craig Adams to a two-year contract worth $1.35 million. The deal will pay him $525,000 each season, with a $200,000 signing bonus next season, and $100,000 in 2012-13. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 80 games this past season, he had four goals and 11 assists for 15 points and 76 penalty minutes. In 669 career NHL games with the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, and Pittsburgh Penguins, he has 41 goals and 74 assists for 115 points and 531 penalty minutes. Not a bad move for the Penguins, as Adams has really good defensive skills as a forward. He's excellent on the penalty kill, is a great shot blocker, and plays with lots of grit. He will continue to be an excellent fit on the team's checking lines and penalty kill over the next two seasons.

Canadiens Sign Andrei Kostitsyn to One-Year Contract

The Montreal Canadiens announced on Thursday that they have signed right wing Andrei Kostitsyn to a one-year contract extension worth $3.25 million. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In 81 games this past season, he had 20 goals and 25 assists for 45 points. In 326 career NHL games, all with Montreal, he has 87 goals and 99 assists for 186 points. Not a bad signing for the Canadiens, as Kostitsyn provides plenty of offensive depth for the club. He has a good shot and can score goals, but can be very inconsistent in his scoring. The 2011-12 season will be an important one for Kostitsyn, as his offensive play will likely determine whether or not the Canadiens re-sign him next summer when he will be eligible for unrestricted free agency. If he can improve on his play from last season, the team may look to keep him for a few more seasons.

Blues Sign Nikita Nikitin to One-Year Deal

The St. Louis Blues announced on Thursday that they have signed defenseman Nikita Nikitin to a one-year contract worth $600,000. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In 41 games this past season, his first in the NHL, he had one goal and eight assists for nine points. He also appeared in 22 games with Peoria of the AHL, scoring three goals and 11 assists for 14 points. Not a bad move for the Blues, as Nikitin has lots of defensive upside. He's a good puckmover back on the blueline, so he should be a decent fit on defense next season for the Blues.

Maple Leafs Sign James Reimer to Three-Year Deal

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Thursday that they have signed goaltender James Reimer to a three-year contract extension worth $5.4 million. The deal averages out to $1.8 million per season. He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. In 37 games this past season, Reimer posted a 20-10-5 record, three shutouts, a 2.60 GAA, and a .921 save percentage. He also appeared in 15 games with Toronto of the AHL, posting a 9-5-1 record, three shutouts, a 2.59 GAA, and a .920 save percentage. This is a good signing for the Maple Leafs, as Reimer was very impressive in goal after being recalled from the minors this past January. He has good size and has the skills to play either a starting or backup role. More than likely, he will start next season splitting the goaltending duties with Jonas Gustavsson and could be elevated to the starter's role if he can outplay the Swedish netminder or if he misses time because of an injury.

Flames Sign Brett Carson to Two-Year Extension

The Calgary Flames announced on Thursday that they have signed defenseman Brett Carson to a two-year contract extension worth $1.15 million. The deal will pay him $550,000 in 2011-12 and $600,000 in 2012-13. He would have been a Group Six unrestricted free agent on July 1. Carson was claimed off waivers from the Carolina Hurricanes by the Flames on February 28. In 19 games last season with the Hurricanes and Flames, he had no points, but did post a plus-nine rating. He also appeared in 38 games with Charlotte of the AHL, scoring four goals and 16 assists for 20 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Flames, as Carson has good size and can chip in offensively. Look for him to be a depth defenseman on the third defensive pairing next season.

Panthers Sign Mark Cullen to One-Year Contract

The Florida Panthers have announced that they have signed center Mark Cullen 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 28 games this past season with Rochester of the AHL, he had five goals and nine assists for 14 points. In 32 career NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers, he has seven goals and nine assists for 16 points. This is really just a depth signing for the Panthers, as Cullen is likely to spend all of next season in the minors once again.

Flyers Acquire Negotiating Rights to Ilya Bryzgalov

The Philadelphia Flyers announced on Tuesday night that they have acquired the negotiating rights to goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for the negotiating rights to right wing Matt Clackson, Philadelphia's third-round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft, and a conditional draft pick. The conditional pick will likely depend on whether the Flyers sign Bryzgalov to a contract or not. The move will now give Philadelphia negotiating rights to a new contract with the 30-year-old Russian goaltender until he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Coyotes will have the same opportunity with Clackson, as he will be a Group Six unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 68 games this past season with the Coyotes, Bryzgalov posted a 36-20-10 record, seven shutouts, a 2.48 GAA, and a .921 save percentage. Clackson appeared in 62 games this past season with Adirondack of the AHL, scoring one goal and three assists for four points and 118 penalty minutes. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. Not a bad trade for the Flyers if they can get Bryzgalov signed before July 1, as he will bring lots of depth, size, and talent in goal to the team. However, signing him to a contract will likely create salary cap problems for the team, which could require a trade to solve the problem. Also, signing Bryzgalov would make him their starting goalie, which will push Sergei Bobrovsky down the depth chart. It is possible Philadelphia could bring in Bryzgalov short-term to serve as a mentor to Bobrovsky so that he could potentially take over the starter's position in a couple seasons, but if he is signed long-term, it could result in an eventual trade of Bobrovsky down the road. Only time will tell if the Flyers will actually sign Bryzgalov or let him hit the free agent market on July 1. As for the Coyotes, if they sign Clackson, he will bring lots of grit and toughness to their lineup, but he doesn't really have a lot of offensive upside. Only time will tell if Phoenix will sign him to a contract.

Coyotes Sign Jason Labarbera to Two-Year Extension

The Phoenix Coyotes announced on Monday that they have signed goaltender Jason Labarbera 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 17 games this past season, he posted a 7-6-3 record, two shutouts, a 3.26 GAA, and a .909 save percentage. In 141 career NHL games with the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Vancouver Canucks, and Phoenix Coyotes, he has a 52-55-14 record, six shutouts, a 2.90 GAA, and a .906 save percentage. This is an okay signing for the Coyotes as Labarbera has been somewhat steady as a backup goaltender for the team. He has good size and provides plenty of veteran depth in goal for the team despite being a bit inconsistent at the NHL level. Even though there is a good chance starter Ilya Bryzgalov could leave the Coyotes via unrestricted free agency this summer, the team would likely replace him with another starter, leaving Labarbera as the backup once again next season.

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.