Leafs sign Battaglia
July 3rd, 2007
Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - The Toronto Maple Leafs re-signed forward Bates Battaglia to a two-year contract on Tuesday.
Battaglia played in all 82 games for the Maple Leafs last season and registered 12 goals and 19 assists with a plus-nine rating.
"We are very happy to have Bates back with us," said general manager John Ferguson. "He provides great durability and versatility and will continue to play an important role with the hockey club this season."
Over eight seasons in the NHL, he has played in 567 games and has recorded 80 goals and 118 assists. He has also donned the jerseys of Carolina, Colorado and Washington.
Oilers bring in Garon
July 3rd, 2007
Edmonton, AB (Sports Network) - The Edmonton Oilers signed free agent goaltender Mathieu Garon to a two-year contract on Tuesday.
Garon, 29, appeared in 32 games for the Los Angeles Kings last season and posted a 13-10-6 record with a 2.66 goals-against average with two shutouts.
In six seasons in the NHL, his first four with Montreal and the past two with Los Angeles, he has a 60-56-3-9 record with a 2.86 GAA with 10 shutouts in 138 appearances.
Wild sign trio of players
July 3rd, 2007
St. Paul, MN (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Wild signed center Eric Belanger to a multi-year contract and also signed center Wes Walz and goaltender Nolan Schaefer on Tuesday. No further terms of the deals were disclosed.
Belanger split time last season between Carolina and Atlanta and in 80 games tallied 17 goals and 18 assists.
In six seasons in the NHL, all but one with Los Angeles, he has appeared in 403 games and scored 80 goals and added 105 assists.
"Eric is a strong two-way center who can score, play a responsible game and bring consistent energy at both ends of the rink," said Wild general manager Doug Risebrough.
Walz, who has been with Minnesota since the team came into the league in the 2000-01 season, was a free agent, but re-signed with the team that gave him a second chance in the NHL.
He started his career in Boston during the 1989-90 season and also played for the Flyers, Flames and Red Wings, but after the 1995-96 season played in Europe before being picked up by the team prior to the start of the 2000-01 season.
He is the franchise leader in games played (427) and ranks second in points with 81 goals and 178 assists.
In 596 career NHL games he has 108 goals and 148 assists.
Playing for Worcester, Hershey and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League last season, Schaefer went 14-16-3 with a 2.64 goals-against average and one shutout in 34 games.
"Nolan is a young goaltender with a strong record in the minor leagues and some experience in the NHL and has great potential to become a full-time NHL goaltender," said Minnesota assistant general manager Tom Lynn said.
The 27-year-old appeared in seven games with San Jose in 2005-06 and posted a 5-1-0 record with a 1.88 goals-against average and one shutout. During that run, he became the first Sharks' goaltender to begin his career with five consecutive wins.
Lightning bring back Lukowich
July 3rd, 2007
Tampa Bay, FL (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday brought back defenseman Brad Lukowich as the team signed the free agent to a three- year contract.
Lukowich was a member of the Lightning during the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons and set a career high in goals (five) and points (19) as he was a key component of Tampa Bay's Stanley Cup championship in 2004.
He signed with the Islanders as a free agent prior to the start of the 2005-06 season and was then traded to the Devils at the trade deadline on March 9, 2006.
Last season with the Devils he appeared in 75 games and had four goals and eight assists.
"Brad Lukowich is a warrior," Tampa Bay general manager Jay Feaster said. "He plays the game with his heart on his sleeve and he does whatever it takes to win. He knows our system, he knows our core personnel, he knows how we do things in Tampa and what we expect from our players, and he is a winner. He is also a very good teammate and a popular player in the locker room. He has personality and spirit and old-school flair about him. We like everything about him and we are thrilled to welcome him back to our hockey team."
Over nine seasons in the NHL, which included his first five with Dallas, he has appeared in 523 games and totaled 21 goals and 75 assists and is a plus-48.
Canucks sign three free agents
July 3rd, 2007
Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - The Vancouver Canucks signed three free agents on Tuesday, bringing in center Byron Ritchie, left wing Brad Isbister and goaltender Curtis Sanford to contracts. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.
The team also re-signed defenseman Lukas Krajicek to a new contract.
Ritchie, 30, played in 64 games for the Calgary Flames last season and totaled eight goals and six assists.
He has also played for Carolina and Florida and has 22 goals and 25 assists in 253 career games.
Isbister played in just 19 games last year with the New York Rangers and had just one goal and four assists.
He has 100 goals and 211 points in 486 career games. He has also skated with Phoenix, the Islanders, Edmonton and Boston.
Sanford, 27, appeared in 31 games with the St. Louis Blues last season and posted an 8-12-5 record with a 3.18 goals-against average. In 73 career NHL games, all with St. Louis, he is 26-26-10 with a 2.79 GAA and four shutouts.
The 24-year-old Krajicek scored three goals and added 13 assists in 78 games in his first season with the Canucks last year. Vancouver originally acquired the Czech blueliner from the Florida Panthers last offseason in the Roberto Luongo deal.
Kings agree to terms with Stuart
July 3rd, 2007
Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Kings agreed to terms on a one-year contract with defenseman Brad Stuart on Tuesday.
Stuart has 53 goals and 153 assists with 303 penalty minutes over 507 career regular season games with Calgary, Boston and San Jose. He has registered three goals and nine assists with 33 penalty minutes in 52 career playoff appearances.
For Calgary and Boston last season, Stuart put up seven goals and 15 assists with 44 penalty minutes in 75 games. He was traded to the Flames with center Wayne Primeau in exchange for defenseman Andrew Ference and right wing Chuck Kobasew on February 10, 2007.
The Rocky Mountain House, Alberta native was originally selected by the Sharks in the first round (third overall) of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft,
Devils sign Zubrus, Rachunek
July 3rd, 2007
East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) - The New Jersey Devils signed free- agent forward Dainius Zubrus and defenseman Karel Rachunek on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old Zubrus recorded career highs last season in goals (24), assists (36) and points (60) in 79 games split between Washington and Buffalo.
"I knew that the decision [to sign with the Devils] would be a hockey decision," Zubrus said. "I want to win and that's why I wanted to come here. I believe in this team and the success they've had."
The 10-year veteran was Philadelphia's first-round pick (15th overall) in the 1996 Entry Draft. He has 138 goals and 222 assists in 689 career games.
Rachunek, 27, played with the New York Rangers last season and scored six goals along with 20 assists in 66 games.
"Karel Rachunek is an experienced player who will add size and depth to our defense," said New Jersey general manager Lou Lamoriello.
In six seasons in the NHL, including four-plus with Ottawa, he has appeared in 324 games and has 18 goals along with 109 assists.
Habs sign Kostopoulos
July 4th, 2007
Montreal, Quebec (Sports Network) - The Montreal Canadiens signed free agent forward Tom Kostopoulos to a two-year contract on Wednesday. Per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The 28-year old Kostopoulos spent the last two seasons in Los Angeles after signing as a free agent with the Kings in 2005. In 2006-07 he played in 76 games, notching seven goals and 15 assists for a total of 22 points.
In 231 career games -- with Pittsburgh and Los Angeles -- Kostopoulos has tallied 25 goals and 45 assists along with 249 penalty minutes.
Lightning swap Fritz for Rangers' Lampman
July 4th, 2007
Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired defenseman Bryce Lampman from the New York Rangers in exchange for left wing Mitch Fritz on Wednesday.
The 24-year old Lampman has been a member of the Rangers organization for the past five seasons and appeared in 60 games with the Hartford Wolfpack of the American Hockey League last season, recording six goals, 19 assists.
Fritz, 26, signed with the Lightning as a free agent in 2004 and appeared in 177 games for the AHLs Springfield Falcons the past three seasons, recording nine goals, 16 points and 535 penalty minutes.
"In Bryce Lampman we are obtaining a mobile, very good skating, puck-moving defenseman with good vision who sees the ice well, makes a very good first pass and who possesses excellent hockey sense," Tampa Bay general manager Jay Feaster said. "He is also a player who can be used in all special teams situations. For the past three or four seasons now our pro scouts have felt that he was on the verge of playing regularly in the NHL."
Isles sign Fedotenko
July 4th, 2007
Uniondale, NY (Sports Network) - The New York Islanders signed veteran left wing Ruslan Fedotenko to a one-year contract on Wednesday.
The 28-year old Fedotenko was a key cog in Tampa Bay's Stanley Cup run in 2004, scoring 12 goals in 22 playoff games.
"Ruslan brings so much to our team with his speed, versatility, work ethic and ability to score big goals," said Islanders general manager Garth Snow. "He was one of Tampa Bay's most valuable players when they won the Cup and at only 28 he's just entering the prime of his career. I strongly believe Ted Nolan is going to get the most out of him."
In 465 career NHL games with Philadelphia and Tampa Bay, the Kiev, Ukraine native has 107 goals and 99 assists for 206 points.
"I'm very happy to be an Islander," said Fedotenko. "Last season was a disappointment for me and I'm determined to show the Islanders and our fans what I can do. We have a very good team of talented young players and experienced guys and I really like Ted Nolan's style of play. I looked at a lot of offers, but I know I've come to the right team."
Roenick reportedly set to hang up skates
July 4th, 2007
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Phoenix Coyotes center Jeremy Roenick, one of the greatest American ice hockey players in the history of the sport, is ready to end his 18-year career, a Philadelphia newspaper reported on Wednesday.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Roenick text messaged in to the paper, "I'm retiring; is that still news?", referring to the long-held speculation that last season, in which he tallied only 11 goals, marked his finale as an NHL player.
The 37-year-old Roenick, a nine-time all-star, totaled 495 career goals, ranking third all-time among American-born players, behind only Mike Modano (507) and Joey Mullen (502). He also had 675 assists, good for 1,170 career points while logging time with the Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings, and finally with the Coyotes.
Known just as much for his outgoing and often over-the-top personality as he was for his ability, Roenick was also a two-time Olympian for the U.S.
Despite all of his on-ice accomplishments, Roenick retires without reaching the pinnacle of the sport. He reached the Stanley Cup Finals only once, in 1992, when his Blackhawks were swept out by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Blue Jackets sign Hejda
July 5th, 2007
Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - The Columbus Blue Jackets signed defenseman Jan Hejda to a two-year contract Thursday. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The 29-year-old Hejda played in 29 games last season for the Edmonton Oilers and scored one goal to go along with eight assists.
Hejda was originally selected 106th overall in 2003 NHL Draft. He then spent three years playing in the Russian Elite League
Flames ink Eriksson
July 5th, 2007
Calgary, Alberta (Sports Network) - The Calgary Flames signed veteran defenseman Anders Eriksson to a two-year contract Thursday. Financial terms of the deal were not announced.
Eriksson skated in 79 games last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets and picked up 23 assists.
In 491 career games with the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets, the Bollnas, Sweden native has registered 21 goals and 132 assists.
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound blueliner was originally selected with the 22nd overall pick in the 1993 NHL Draft by the Red Wings.
Devils sign Weekes
July 5th, 2007
East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) - The New Jersey Devils signed free agent goaltender Kevin Weekes on Thursday.
Weekes, who will serve as the backup to veteran Martin Brodeur, appeared in 14 games last season for the New York Rangers and went 4-6-2 with a 3.39 goals- against average.
"Kevin Weekes has played more than 300 career NHL games and will bring added experience as a backup goaltender to Martin Brodeur," said New Jersey's CEO/president/general manager Lou Lamoriello.
In 323 career games with Vancouver, the Islanders, Tampa Bay, Carolina and the Rangers, Weekes has a 2.90 GAA and 19 shutouts.
Oilers get Rourke from Islanders
July 5th, 2007
Edmonton, AB (Sports Network) - The Edmonton Oilers have obtained defenseman Allan Rourke and a third round pick in the 2008 draft from the New York Islanders for the Oilers' second round pick in the 2008 draft.
"We have added depth to our defense with the addition of Allan," stated Oilers' Vice President of Hockey Operations Kevin Prendergast. "He is a veteran of seven pro seasons, and will provide us with experience in Springfield."
Over three seasons in the NHL, his first spent in Carolina and the last two with the Islanders, Rourke has appeared in 42 games and has one goal with four assists and 26 penalty minutes.