Wild Re-Sign Clayton Stoner for Two Years

The Minnesota Wild have announced that they have signed defenseman Clayton Stoner to a two-year contract extension worth $2.1 million.  The deal will average out to $1.05 million per season.  He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer.  In 51 games this past season, he had one goal and four assists for five points and 62 penalty minutes.  Not a bad signing for the Wild, as Stoner has great size and is a quality stay-at-home defenseman.  He plays a physical game and should continue to be an excellent fit for the Wild over the next two seasons.

Ducks Sign Saku Koivu to One-Year Extension

The Anaheim Ducks have announced that they have signed center Saku Koivu to a one-year contract extension worth $3 million.  He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer.  In 74 games this past season, he had 11 goals and 27 assists for 38 points.  He missed eight games in December with a lower-body injury.  This is a decent signing for the Ducks, as Koivu brings plenty of leadership and two-way skill to the team, as well as lots of talent on the faceoff.  While his offensive skills have waned over the past few years, he's still a quality player on the ice and will likely center Anaheim's third line next season.

Senators Sign Peter Regin to One-Year Extension

The Ottawa Senators have announced that they have signed center Peter Regin to a one-year contract extension.  The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.  He would have been a restricted free agent this summer.  In just 10 games this past season, he had two goals and two assists for four points.  He missed the majority of the 2011-12 season with a shoulder injury.  Not a bad depth signing for the Senators, as Regin has lots of speed, some playmaking skill, and some two-way ability.  He should continue to be a good fit on the team's checking lines next season.

Blue Jackets Re-Sign Nicholas Drazenovic to One-Year Deal

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they have signed center Nicholas Drazenovic to a one-year contract extension, which will be a two-way deal for next season.  The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.  He would have been eligible for group six unrestricted free agency this summer.  In 41 games this past season with Springfield of the AHL, he had 13 goals and 28 assists for 41 points.  He last appeared in an NHL game during the 2010-11 season with the St. Louis Blues.  This is really just a depth signing for the Blue Jackets, as Drazenovic will likely spend the majority of next season in the minors.

Hurricanes Sign Jiri Tlusty to Two-Year Extension

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that they have signed left wing Jiri Tlusty to a two-year contract extension worth $3.2 million.  The deal will pay him $1.5 million in 2012-13 and $1.7 million in 2013-14.  He would have been a restricted free agent this summer.  In 79 games this past season, he had 17 goals and 19 assists for 36 points, career highs in all three categories.  Not a bad depth move for the Hurricanes, as Tlusty is a good playmaker and is versatile enough to play on both wings despite being very inconsistent in his scoring.  If Tlusty can produce numbers over the next two season like he did this past season, then his salary will be a bargain for Carolina.

2012 NHL Award Nominees & Winners

Here is a list of the NHL players who will be up for awards for the 2011-2012 season. The NHL Awards Ceremony will take place on June 20 in Las Vegas. The finalists for each trophy will be listed as the NHL announces them in the coming weeks. The winners of each award will be in bold and italics.


PLAYER AWARDS

ART ROSS TROPHY - Top Point Scorer
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins - 109 points

MAURICE "ROCKET" RICHARD TROPHY - Top Goal Scorer
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning - 60 goals

WILLIAM M. JENNINGS TROPHY - Fewest Goals Allowed
Brian Elliott & Jaroslav Halak, St. Louis Blues - 165 goals allowed

VEZINA TROPHY - Top Goaltender
Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings
Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators

FRANK J. SELKE TROPHY - Top Defensive Forward
David Backes, St. Louis Blues
Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings

LADY BYNG MEMORIAL TROPHY - Skill/Sportsmanship
Brian Campbell, Florida Panthers
Jordan Eberle, Edmonton Oilers
Matt Moulson, New York Islanders

CALDER MEMORIAL TROPHY - Top Rookie
Adam Henrique, New Jersey Devils
Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers

JAMES NORRIS MEMORIAL TROPHY - Top Defenseman
Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins
Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators
Shea Weber, Nashville Predators

BILL MASTERTON MEMORIAL TROPHY - Perseverance & Dedication to Hockey
Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators
Joffrey Lupul, Toronto Maple Leafs
Max Pacioretty, Montreal Canadiens

NHL FOUNDATION PLAYER AWARD - Contributions to Charitable Causes
Mike Fisher, Nashville Predators
John-Michael Liles, Toronto Maple Leafs
Matt Moulson, New York Islanders

JACK ADAMS AWARD - Top Head Coach
Ken Hitchcock, St. Louis Blues
Paul MacLean, Ottawa Senators
John Tortorella, New York Rangers

HART MEMORIAL TROPHY - League MVP
Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning

TED LINDSAY AWARD - MVP Voted by the NHLPA
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins

GENERAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARD - Top General Manager
Doug Armstrong, St. Louis Blues
David Poile, Nashville Predators
Dale Tallon, Florida Panthers

MARK MESSIER LEADERSHIP AWARD - Top Leader in Hockey
Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings
Ryan Callahan, New York Rangers
Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes

KING CLANCY TROPHY - Humanitarian Contribution to Hockey
Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators

CONN SMYTHE TROPHY - Playoff MVP
Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings


TEAM AWARDS

PRESIDENTS TROPHY - Top Team Based on Points
Vancouver Canucks - 111 Pts.

PRINCE OF WALES TROPHY - Eastern Conference Champions
New Jersey Devils

CLARENCE S. CAMPBELL TROPHY - Western Conference Champions
Los Angeles Kings

STANLEY CUP - League Champions
Los Angeles Kings


NHL FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM
Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators
Shea Weber, Nashville Predators
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
James Neal, Pittsburgh Penguins
Ilya Kovalchuk, New Jersey Devils

NHL SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM
Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings
Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins
Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis Blues
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
Marian Gaborik, New York Rangers
Ray Whitney, Phoenix Coyotes

NHL ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Jhonas Enroth, Buffalo Sabres
Justin Faulk, Carolina Hurricanes
Jake Gardiner, Toronto Maple Leafs
Adam Henrique, New Jersey Devils
Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers

NY Islanders Sign Goaltender John Grahame

The New York Islanders have announced that they have signed goaltender John Grahame for the remainder of the 2011-12 season. He will play as Al Montoya's backup while Evgeni Nabokov recovers from a lower-body injury. Grahame last appeared in the NHL during the 2007-08 season with the Carolina Hurricanes. This is really just a depth signing for the Islanders, as they were likely looking for a veteran goaltender to backup Al Montoya since Kevin Poulin will be sent back to Bridgeport of the AHL to help them in the playoffs.

Blues Sign Adam Cracknell to One-Year Extension

The St. Louis Blues announced on Wednesday that they have signed center Adam Cracknell to a one-year contract extension. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been eligible for group six unrestricted free agency this summer. In two games this season with the Blues, he has one goal. He has also appeared in 64 games with Peoria of the AHL, scoring 20 goals and 26 assists for 46 points. This is really just a depth signing for the Blues, as Cracknell will likely spend the majority of next season in the minors, where he will provide plenty of offensive depth for Peoria.

NY Islanders Sign Evgeni Nabokov to One-Year Extension

The New York Islanders have announced that they have re-signed goaltender Evgeni Nabokov to a one-year contract extension worth $2.75 million. He would have been eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer. In 41 games so far this season, he has an 18-18-3 record, two shutouts, a 2.54 GAA, and a .913 save percentage. This is a solid move for the Islanders, as Nabokov has been fairly steady in net all season despite the team's place in the standings. He will be an excellent option in goal next season, especially if Rick Dipietro is sidelined for a long period of time with an injury, which has become the norm for him every year.

NY Islanders Acquire Yury Alexandrov from Bruins

The New York Islanders announced on Tuesday that they have acquired defenseman Yury Alexandrov from the Boston Bruins in exchange for future considerations. He will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer. In 37 games this season with St. Petersburg SKA and Avangard Omsk of the KHL, he has three goals and three assists for six points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. This is really just a depth signing for the Islanders, as Alexandrov is going to finish out the season in the KHL. The Islanders' scouts will likely evaluate him for the rest of the season to determine if they will give him a qualifying offer come July 1.

Bruins Sign Shawn Thornton to Two-Year Extension

The Boston Bruins have announced that they have re-signed right wing Shawn Thornton to a two-year contract extension worth $2.2 million. The deal will average out to $1.1 million per season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 71 games so far this season, he has four goals and eight assists for 12 points and 145 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth signing for the Bruins, as Thornton plays an extremely physical game on the ice. He loves to hit and intimidate the opposition and isn't afraid to drop the gloves to defend his teammates. He will continue to be an excellent fit on Boston's checking lines over the next two years.

Lightning Sign Sebastien Caron to One-Year Contract

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced that they have signed goaltender Sebastien Caron to a one-year contract for the remainder of the 2011-12 season. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He will be ineligible to play in the post-season if the Lightning make the playoffs since he was signed after the February 27 Trade Deadline. In 49 games this season with Iserlohn of the German League, he posted a 25-23-0 record, five shutouts, a 2.57 GAA, and a .932 save percentage. He last played in the NHL during the 2006-07 season with the Anaheim Ducks. This is really just a depth signing for the Lightning, as Caron is likely going to fill in as the backup for the injured Mathieu Garon.

Flames Sign Tim Jackman to Two-Year Extension

While the Calgary Flames didn't make any trades on Trade Deadline Day, they did announce that they re-signed right wing Tim Jackman to a two-year contract extension worth $1.225 million. The deal will average out to $612,500 per season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 62 games so far this season, he has one goal and six assists for seven points and 77 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth signing for the Flames, as Jackman brings a lot of toughness to the lineup. He has good size, loves to initiate contact, and plays a rugged game. Look for him to continue to play a checking line role over the next two seasons.

Canucks Acquire Andrew Gordon from Ducks

The Vancouver Canucks remained busy on Trade Deadline Day by acquiring right wing Andrew Gordon from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for minor league defenseman Sebastien Erixon. Both players have one more year left on their current contracts. In 37 games this season with the Ducks, Gordon has two goals and three assists for five points. He also appeared in 19 games with Syracuse of the AHL, scoring three goals and five assists for eight points. Erixon has played in 30 games with Chicago of the AHL, scoring one goal and seven assists for eight points. This is really just a depth move for both teams, as Gordon and Erixon likely won't have much of an impact with their new teams. Gordon will likely play a fourth line role in Vancouver, while Erixon will probably spend the rest of the season in the minors.

Sabres Acquire Cody Hodgson from Canucks for Zack Kassian

The Buffalo Sabres have acquired center Cody Hodgson and defenseman Alexander Sulzer from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for right wing Zack Kassian and defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani. In 63 games so far this season, Hodgson has 16 goals and 17 assists for 33 points, while Sulzer has one assist in 12 games. Kassian has three goals and four assists for seven points in 27 games with the Sabres. He also appeared in 30 games with Rochester of the AHL, scoring 15 goals and 11 assists for 26 points. Gragnani has played in 44 games so far this season, scoring one goal and 11 assists for 12 points.

This is quite the unexpected trade for both teams, as neither Hodgson or Kassian had figured into any trade rumors as of late. Buffalo gets a highly skilled center in Hodgson, who could gain some consideration for the Calder Trophy as rookie-of-the-year. He has lots of goal-scoring upside, good playmaking skill, and some two-way ability. He should take on an immediate top-six role in Buffalo and will make the team's offense much stronger. As for Sulzer, he will likely play a sixth or seventh defensive role for the remainder of the season. In Kassian, the Canucks get a power forward who plays with a lot of aggression and has good size, lots of strength, and scoring upside. However, Vancouver gave up a highly skilled player in Hodgson to land Kassian, and if Kassian can't make a physical impact on the team, the Canucks will lose this trade hands down. As for Gragnani, he has some offensive upside and plenty of puck-moving skill, so he could be a good fit for Vancouver.

Maple Leafs Acquire Mark Fraser from Ducks for Dale Mitchell

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they have acquired defenseman Mark Fraser from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for right wing Dale Mitchell. Both players will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer. Fraser was acquired by the Ducks from the New Jersey Devils this past December in the Kurtis Foster trade. He appeared in four games with the Devils, scoring no points. He also appeared in 25 games with Syracuse of the AHL, scoring five assists. Mitchell played in two games with Toronto of the AHL, scoring no points. He also appeared in 35 games with Reading of the ECHL, scoring 16 goals and 15 assists for 31 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. This is really just a depth trade for both teams, as Fraser and Micthell will likely spend the remainder of the season in the minors. Although, the Maple Leafs added a similarly skilled player in Fraser after trading Keith Aulie earlier in the day, so he may have a future with the team. He has good size, some mobility, and still some defensive upside despite struggling at the NHL level in recent years, so the change of scenery may help him out.

NY Rangers Acquire John Scott from Blackhawks

The New York Rangers have announced that they have acquired defenseman John Scott from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a fifth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. He will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer. In 29 games so far this season, he has one assist and 48 penalty minutes. A depth move at best for the Rangers, Scott will add some grit, toughness, and great size to their defense. His playing time in Chicago was dwindling, so Chicago did him a favor by moving him to a team that will likely get more use out of him. Also, the Blackhawks did good in landing a fifth round pick for the rugged defenseman and impending free agent.

Bruins Acquire Greg Zanon from Wild

The Boston Bruins have announced that they have acquired defenseman Greg Zanon from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for defenseman Steven Kampfer. Zanon will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, while Kampfer still has one more year left on his current contract. In 39 games so far this season, Zanon has two goals and four assists for six points. He missed 16 games with a groin injury. In 10 games with the Bruins this season, Kampfer has two assists. He also appeared in 12 games with Providence of the AHL, scoring one goal and four assists for five points. This is a decent move for the Bruins, as Zanon will add plenty of grit, experience, and shot-blocking prowess to the blueline. His shutdown skills should be a welcome addition to Boston's defense. As for the Wild, they have added a defenseman with some mobility and offensive upside in Kampfer, but he may not hit his full potential for a few years. With all the defensive changes in Minnesota over the past week or so, the team looks to be rejuvenating their blueline for the future. The Wild have also shed quite a bit of salary over the past week, so they could be making room to make some big splashes on the free agent market this summer, as it's believed they are interested in both Ryan Suter and Zach Parise, both of whom could command a premium on the open market.

Predators Acquire Paul Gaustad from Sabres

The Nashville Predators added more offensive depth to their roster on Monday by acquiring center Paul Gaustad and a fourth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for their first round pick in 2012. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 56 games so far this season, Gaustad has seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points and 70 penalty minutes. He missed six games this season with an upper body injury. With all of the trades the Predators have made over the past week and a half, they have made one thing absolutely clear: they are looking to go deep in the playoffs this year. Gaustad will add lots of grit, toughness, size, defensive skill, and versatility to the checking lines. Nashville did pay a premium to land him, perhaps a little too much for a player of his caliber, but his experience will be extremely valuable to the team in the playoffs. As for the Sabres, the first round pick will definitely help them retool their team with a future prospect.

Bruins Acquire Brian Rolston, Mike Mottau from NY Islanders

The Boston Bruins have announced that they have acquired left wing Brian Rolston and defenseman Mike Mottau from the New York Islanders in exchange for right wing Yannick Riendeau and defenseman Marc Cantin. Rolston and Mottau will both be unrestricted free agents this summer, while Riendeau will qualify for restricted free agency. Cantin still has two years left on his current deal. In 49 games so far this season, Rolston has four goals and five assists for nine points, while Mottau has two assists in 29 games. He missed 24 games this season due to a concussion. This will be Rolston's second stint with the Bruins, where he played from 2000 to 2004. Riendeau appeared in 18 games with Providence of the AHL, scoring three goals and three assists for six points. He also played in 30 games with Reading of the ECHL, scoring nine goals and 20 assists for 29 points. Cantin was held pointless in 19 games with Providence, but scored one goal and five assists for six points in 16 games with Reading. Both Riendeau and Cantin have yet to appear in an NHL game.

Not a bad depth move for the Bruins, as Rolston and Mottau will add plenty of veteran depth to their lineup. Both players could give the team a little bit of a boost as they head into the playoffs. As for the Islanders, they've added a couple of young players to replace some impending free agents who were likely not going to be re-signed in the off-season. While neither Riendeau or Cantin are stellar players, they could potentially see some NHL action in the future.

Blackhawks Acquire Johnny Oduya from Jets

The Chicago Blackhawks have announced that they have acquired defenseman Johnny Oduya from the Winnipeg Jets for a second and a third round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft. In 63 games so far this season, he has two goals and 11 assists for 13 points. He will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer. The Blackhawks were desperate for some defensive depth and they got it in Oduya. He's a very mobile defenseman who can play a shutdown role and can add some grit to his game when needed. Chicago paid a steep price to land him, but they needed to add some defensive depth to their struggling blueline. As for the Jets, Oduya had pretty much been replaced when they plucked Grant Clitsome off waivers earlier in the day. While Clitsome isn't as good as Oduya, the acquisition of the draft picks made it a great move for Winnipeg.

Canucks Acquire Sami Pahlsson from Blue Jackets

The Vancouver Canucks have announced that they have acquired center Sami Pahlsson from the Columbus Blue Jackets for minor league defenseman Taylor Ellington and two fourth round picks in the 2012 Entry Draft. The draft picks that Columbus will receive are Vancouver's fourth round pick and the New York Islanders' fourth round selection, which the Canucks acquired in the Christian Ehrhoff trade this past summer. In 61 games so far this season, Pahlsson has two goals and nine assists for 11 points. Ellington has appeared in 55 games with Kalamazoo of the ECHL, scoring seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points. He was also held pointless in one game with Chicago of the AHL and has yet to appear in an NHL game.

Not a bad depth move for the Canucks, as Pahlsson will bring lots of two-way skill and veteran depth up the middle, particularly on their third and fourth lines. The acquisition ended up being the precursor to the Cody Hodgson trade, and Vancouver really took a downgrade at center on their checking lines. Pahlsson is not as fast as he used to be and the team will likely miss Hodgson's speed up the middle, but he should still be helpful to the Canucks as they inch closer to the playoffs. As for the Blue Jackets, they've been full-blown sellers for the past several weeks, so it comes as no surprise that they moved Pahlsson, an impending free agent. It remains to be seen if Ellington will figure into their rebuild efforts, but the draft picks are the key to this deal to help the Blue Jackets restock their team through the draft.

Lightning Acquire Brian Lee from Senators for Matt Gilroy

The Tampa Bay Lightning remained busy on Trade Deadline Day by acquiring defenseman Brian Lee from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for defenseman Matt Gilroy. Lee will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer, while Gilroy will qualify for unrestricted free agency. In 35 games so far this season, Lee has one goal and seven assists for eight points, while Gilroy has two goals and 15 assists for 17 points in 53 games. Not a bad pick-up for the Lightning, as Lee will bring a good mix of size, offensive upside, and excellent skating to the team. Tampa Bay is clearly looking to improve their blueline for next season and they did that on Trade Deadline Day. As for the Senators, Gilroy should help them in their playoff push with his smooth skating and mobility.

Sharks Acquire Winnik, Galiardi from Avalanche

The San Jose Sharks have announced that they have acquired left wing Daniel Winnik, center T.J. Galiardi, and a seventh round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for left wing Jamie McGinn and centers Mike Connolly and Michael Sgarbossa. In 63 games so far this season, Winnik has five goals and 13 assists for 18 points, while Galiardi has eight goals and six assists for 14 points in 55 games. McGinn appeared in 61 games with the Sharks, scoring 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points. In 40 games with Worcester of the AHL, Connolly has 10 goals and 20 assists for 30 points, while Sgarbossa has 41 goals and 43 assists for 84 points in 57 games with Sudbury of the OHL.

This is a solid trade for both teams, as Colorado and San Jose both addressed some of their needs on offense. The Sharks get an excellent penalty killer in Winnik, who also has good size and plays with some grit. Galiardi also brings some grit to the team, as well as lots of energy and speed. With the addition of Dominic Moore on February 16, the Sharks have filled out their bottom-six forward positions nicely and the versatility of all three players will help the team immensely. McGinn adds some solid two-way ability to Colorado's checking lines, as well as some versatility and a solid work ethic. The Avalanche get a lot of offensive upside in Connolly and Sgarbossa and both players should get a chance to develop into NHL-caliber players in the team's system.

Lightning Acquire Keith Aulie from Maple Leafs for Carter Ashton

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced that they have acquired defenseman Keith Aulie from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for right wing Carter Ashton. Aulie is eligible for restricted free agency this summer, while Ashton still has two more years left on his entry-level deal. In 17 games this season with the Maple Leafs, Aulie had two assists. He also appeared in 23 games with Toronto of the AHL, scoring one assist. In 56 games with Norfolk of the AHL, Ashton has 19 goals and 16 assists for 35 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. This is clearly a trade for the future for both Toronto and Tampa Bay. Aulie will bring plenty of shutdown skills and physical play to the Lightning blueline. He should be an excellent addition to the team as they look to rebuild their defense. Ashton has great size, lots of offensive potential, and is versatile enough to play on both wings. He should be a decent top-six forward for the Maple Leafs down the road.