News

The Tampa Bay Lightning have named Rick Tocchet, Wes Walz and Cap Raeder as assistant coaches to head coach Barry Melrose.

Tocchet is a 24-year NHL veteran both as a player and a coach.

EDMONTON – The Edmonton Oilers signed forwards Marc Pouliot and Jean-Francois Jacques to two-year contracts on Wednesday.Both players split last season between the Oilers and the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League.

EDMONTON – The Edmonton Oilers signed forwards Marc Pouliot and Jean-Francois Jacques to two-year contracts on Wednesday.Both players split last season between the Oilers and the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League.

MONTREAL – Josh Gorges, who played his way into a starting role on the Montreal defence last season, signed a US$3.3 million, three-year contract with the Canadiens on Wednesday.

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes signed forward Chad LaRose to a US$875,000, one-year contract on Wednesday.The deal allowed the team to avoid going to salary arbitration with LaRose, who made $500,000 last year.

MONTREAL – Persistence paid off for defenceman Josh Gorges in the form of the US$3.3 million, three-year contract he signed Wednesday with the Montreal Canadiens.

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes signed forward Chad LaRose to a US$875,000, one-year contract on Wednesday.The deal allowed the team to avoid going to salary arbitration with LaRose, who made $500,000 last year.

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Thrashers re-signed forward Eric Boulton, an unrestricted free agent, to a multi-year deal on Wednesday.The 31-year-old Boulton played in a career-high 74 games last season.

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Thrashers re-signed forward Eric Boulton, an unrestricted free agent, to a multi-year deal on Wednesday.The 31-year-old Boulton played in a career-high 74 games last season.

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Thrashers re-signed forward Eric Boulton, an unrestricted free agent, to a multi-year deal on Wednesday.The 31-year-old Boulton played in a career-high 74 games last season.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Columbus Blue Jackets have re-signed veteran centre Michael Peca to a US$1.315-million, one-year contract.The 34-year-old unrestricted free agent had 34 points (8-26) in 65 games last season while keying the team’s penalty killing.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Columbus Blue Jackets have re-signed veteran centre Michael Peca to a US$1.315-million, one-year contract.The 34-year-old unrestricted free agent had 34 points (8-26) in 65 games last season while keying the team’s penalty killing.

Ray Emery will kickstart his hockey career in Russia.The 25-year-old goaltender, bought out by the Ottawa Senators last month, has signed a one-year deal worth around US$2 million (tax free) with Atlant Mytishchi of the new Continental Hockey League.

Ray Emery will kickstart his hockey career in Russia.The 25-year-old goaltender, bought out by the Ottawa Senators last month, has signed a one-year deal worth around US$2 million (tax free) with Atlant Mytishchi of the new Continental Hockey League.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals re-signed a pair of key forwards Wednesday, agreeing to a US$4-million, one-year contract with veteran Sergei Fedorov and locking up Brooks Laich to a $6.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Coach Ken Hitchcock signed a three-year contract extension with the Blue Jackets on Wednesday, saying he welcomes the chance to turn the only team never to make the playoffs into winners.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals re-signed a pair of key forwards Wednesday, agreeing to a US$4-million, one-year contract with veteran Sergei Fedorov and locking up Brooks Laich to a $6.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Coach Ken Hitchcock signed a three-year contract extension with the Blue Jackets on Wednesday, saying he welcomes the chance to turn the only team never to make the playoffs into winners.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed coach Ken Hitchcock to a three-year contact extension, locking him in through the 2011-12 season.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – The New York Islanders have signed alternate captain Brendan Witt to a two-year contract extension worth US$6 million through the 2010-11 season.