Month: July 2009

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche have signed free agent forward David Koci to a one-year contract.The financial terms weren’t disclosed in Wednesday’s announcement

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Seeking depth at centre, the Columbus Blue Jackets have signed free agent Samuel Pahlsson to a three-year contract.Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson announced the move on Wednesday, the first day NHL teams could sign free agents from other clubs

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins signed checking-line forward Mike Rupp to a US$1.6 million, two-year contract Wednesday, adding a physical presence to a team that didn’t have an enforcer on the ice during the playoffs

BOSTON – Byron Bitz has signed a multi-year contract to stay with the Boston Bruins.The deal announced Wednesday keeps the 24-year-old forward with the team after a rookie season in which he had four goals and three assists in 35 games and showed a physical style

PHOENIX – Phoenix Coyotes general manager Don Maloney wishes he had a larger budget for next season.What general manager doesn’t?The NHL and owner Jerry Moyes have been battling in bankruptcy court, but Maloney said representatives of the league and Moyes have agreed on a payroll that will allow the financially strapped team to be competitive

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Unable to meet defenceman Jaroslav Spacek’s contract demands, the Buffalo Sabres wasted little time to find an experienced – but less expensive – replacement: Steve Montador

TORONTO – Mike Komisarek is about to see the other side of hockey’s oldest rivalry.The free-agent defenceman signed a $US22.5-million, five-year deal to join the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday

CALGARY – Jay Bouwmeester was ready to be a piece of the Calgary Flames puzzle instead of carrying the load for an NHL team.The 25-year-old from Edmonton was the biggest fish in the free agent pond of defencemen and he didn’t even wait for the market to open Wednesday

OTTAWA – Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean has announced 60 new appointments to or within the Order of Canada.Hockey great Wayne Gretzky is promoted to a Companion of the Order, as is Calgary Flames part owner Harley Hotchkiss

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche have signed free agent goalie Craig Anderson to a two-year contract.Anderson, who agreed to terms Wednesday, spent the past three seasons with the Florida Panthers

MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens leapt into the free agent market with both feet on Wednesday.At the end of a day of handing out more than US$70 million to free agents, general manager Bob Gainey signed wingers Mike Cammalleri from Calgary and Brian Gionta from New Jersey and defencemen Jaroslav Spacek from Buffalo and Hal Gill from the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins

EDMONTON – The Edmonton Oilers are turning to another veteran goaltender.Edmonton signed 36-year-old Nikolai Khabibulin to a US$15-million, four-year contract on Wednesday

RALEIGH, N.C. – Erik Cole is staying in Carolina.The Hurricanes re-signed the free-agent winger to a US$5.8-million, two-year deal on Wednesday

MIAMI – The Florida Panthers agreed to a six-year contract extension with David Booth shortly after the young forward became a restricted free agent on Wednesday

WASHINGTON – Thirteen seasons in the NHL have made Mike Knuble comfortable with doing the dirty work in the corners and in front of the net.Just because he’ll be skating next season on the wing opposite Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, Knuble doesn’t expect to alter his approachThe Capitals addressed their need for a scoring winger, signing free-agent right winger Knuble to a two-year deal worth US$5

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Dwayne Roloson is heading to the Island to help put off retirement.The veteran goalie signed a two-year deal with the New York Islanders

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Forward Joe Ward agreed to a two-year deal with the Nashville Predators, the club announced Wednesday.Ward, who is going into his second full NHL season, signed a two-year, US$3-million contract with Nashville

CHICAGO – Marian Hossa’s hockey odyssey appears to have reached its final destination.The free-agent winger has signed a massive 12-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks

ST. LOUIS – Ty Conklin is packing his bags again.The free-agent goaltender has signed a US$2.6-million, two-year deal with the St. Louis Blues, joining his sixth NHL team since the lockout

When the doors to free agency finally opened, NHL general managers went charging into the marketplace like bargain-hunters on Boxing Day.They might not have been throwing around as many long-term deals as in years past, but there was still plenty of July 1 spending being done