Jackets give Nash 8 years, reported $62M (AP)
Rick Nash and the Columbus Blue Jackets have reached agreement on an eight-year contract extension through the 2017-18 season. Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson confirmed the signing to The Associated Press on Friday night. The Canadian Press first reported the signing, saying the deal is worth $62.4 million.
Kings acquire LW Smyth from Avalanche (AP)
The Los Angeles Kings acquired left wing left wing Ryan Smyth from the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night for defensemen Kyle Quincey and Tom Preissing and a fifth-round draft pick next year. The 33-year-old Smyth had 26 goals and 33 assists in 77 games last season. He has 310 goals and 350 assists in 920 regular-season games with Edmonton, the New York Islanders and Colorado.
Samuelsson leaves Wings to join Canucks (AP)
Free agent forward Mikael Samuelsson signed a $7.5 million, three-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks on Friday. "Obviously (the money) was the key, I shouldn't lie," Samuelsson said in a conference call after signing the deal. The Swedish right wing spent the past four seasons in Detroit, winning the Stanley Cup in 2008 and falling one game short this past season.
Fedotenko OKs pay cut to stay with Pens (AP)
Turns out more than one player is willing to take a hometown discount to stay with the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Ruslan Fedotenko signed a $1.8 million, one-year contract Friday, becoming the third forward to take a pay cut so he wouldn't have to leave a mostly young team that expects to be a championship contender for years.
Ducks' Selanne done after next season (AP)
Anaheim forward Teemu Selanne says his next NHL season will be his last. Selanne, a 10-time All-Star, celebrated his 39th birthday Friday. He told the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper in Finland that a man his age doesn't belong in the NHL. Selanne recently contemplated retirement but decided to play for one more season.
Mark Recchi wants one last chance to be a Stanley Cup champ again. The 41-year-old Recchi, who signed a one-year deal to return to the Bruins on Thursday, said during a conference call Friday that he'll likely call it quits after next season. "I'm going to be honest with you. This will probably be it," the 20-year veteran said.
When Chicago would no longer give him a long-term contract, Martin Havlat turned his focus to Minnesota. He was intrigued by the Wild's hockey-savvy fans, well-regarded arena, young core players and new up-tempo style, enough that he was willing to take a little less money than offered elsewhere to leave general manager Chuck Fletcher salary-cap flexibility.
Blackhawks sign former Devils C Madden (AP)
The Chicago Blackhawks signed John Madden on Thursday, adding a veteran center who has spent his entire 10-year career with the New Jersey Devils. The 36-year-old Madden signed a one-year contract. Terms were not disclosed. Madden helped the Devils make the playoffs the last nine seasons, including Stanley Cup titles in 2000 and 2003.
Thrashers get Antropov for $16M, 4 years (AP)
The Atlanta Thrashers signed free agent forward Nik Antropov to a four-year, $16 million contract on Thursday, setting up a reunion with Ilya Kovalchuk. The 29-year-old Antropov played with Kovalchuk in Russia during the NHL lockout. General manager Don Waddell said Kovalchuk endorsed the signing with a text message saying "great job." Kovalchuk's approval is important.
Rob Scuderi signed a four-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, leaving the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins without their top defensive pairing. Scuderi, who teamed with Hal Gill to form a shutdown tandem on the blue line, led the Penguins with a plus-23 rating and had a career-high 16 points in 81 regular-season games.
