B10

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

Enlarge Photo

The Associated Press

Colton Orr

NHL clubs were busy on the first day of free agency solidifying their lineups and re-signing proven veterans. Here is a wrap-up of Wednesday's key transactions:

* The Anaheim Ducks locked up 35-year-old captain and defenceman Scott Niedermayer for another season, thanks to a $6-million, one-year deal plus bonuses.

* The Washington Capitals signed right-winger Mike Knuble to a two-year deal worth US$5.6 million. Knuble, who turns 37 on Saturday, had 27 goals and 20 assists in 82 games for Philadelphia last season.

* The Carolina Hurricanes gave forward Erik Cole a $5.8-million, two-year contract. Cole, 30, had 18 goals and 24 assists in 80 games with Edmonton and Carolina last season.

* The New York Rangers filled the void left by the departure of enforcer Colton Orr to Toronto by bringing on board big Donald Brashear. The hard-nosed forward led the Washington Capitals with 119 penalty minutes last season. During his 989-game career with Montreal, Vancouver, Philadelphia and Washington, Brashear has collected 2,561 penalty minutes.

* Nashville re-signed forward Steve Sullivan to a $7.5-million, two-year contract.

* The New Jersey Devils retained defenceman Andy Greene, signing him to a $1.475-million, two-year deal.

* The Florida Panthers held on to winger David Booth, signing him to a six-year contract. The 24-year-old Booth recorded career-highs in goals (31), assists (29) and points (60) last season, becoming just the sixth player in franchise history to score at least 30 goals in one season.

* The Boston Bruins signed rookie Byron Bitz to a multi-year contract to stay in Boston.

* The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed checking-line forward Mike Rupp to a US$1.6 million, two-year contract, adding a physical presence to a team that didn't have an enforcer on the ice during the playoffs. The six-foot-five, 230-pound Rupp will make US$825,000 each season. He had three goals, six assists and 136 penalty minutes in 72 games for the New Jersey Devils last season.

* 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. The seven-year NHL veteran agreed to a two-year US$3.1 million contract. He'll make $1.55 million - nearly double what he earned last year - in each season.

* The Phoenix Coyotes signed free-agent centre Vern Fiddler to a two-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed. The 29-year-old Fiddler had 11 goals and six assists in 77 games last season for the Nashville Predators. He has 45 goals and 48 assists in 305 career NHL games over six seasons, all with Nashville.

Source: Canadian Press