The New Jersey Devils did more than sign Ilya Kovalchuk to a $100 million contract. A byproduct of the revised 15-year deal was that the Devils helped the NHL and its players union reach an agreement on long-term contracts that will define how much money will count toward salary caps. "That is exactly what just transpired with the amendment," Devils president and general manager Lou...

The San Jose Sharks signed the goalie who helped knock them out of the playoffs, agreeing to a one-year, $2 million deal with Antti Niemi on Thursday. Niemi joins fellow Finnish netminder Antero Niittymaki in San Jose as the replacements for longtime starter Evgeni Nabokov. Niittymaki signed a two-year, $4 million deal on the first day of free agency in July.

The Montreal Canadiens have re-signed restricted free-agent goalie Carey Price to a two-year contract. The 22-year-old goaltender signed the new contract on Thursday, ending two months of negotiations with the Canadiens. Price has spent his entire career in Montreal after being selected fifth overall in the 2005 NHL draft.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed forward Mike Comrie to a $500,000, one-year contract, giving them a proven scorer who might be capable of playing on one of their top three lines. The Penguins, looking for affordable scoring help because they have little salary cap space, signed forward Arron Asham to a $700,000, one-year contract two weeks ago.

The Colorado Avalanche remain committed to their youth movement, signing forward Chris Stewart to a two-year deal. The 22-year-old Stewart led the team with 28 goals last season and finished with 64 points. The deal's terms weren't disclosed. Colorado general manager Greg Sherman says the team is looking forward to seeing Stewart "build on what he started a year ago." The Avalanche...

Penguins forward Jordan Staal is expected to miss the start of training camp as he recovers from an infection to his right foot, which was severely injured during the NHL playoffs. Staal's offseason preparation has been hampered by the infection, which developed after he twice had surgery to repair a lacerated tendon.

The Nashville Predators owners have completed a purchase of the 26 percent stake in the team held by the bankrupt estate of a California financier jailed for fraud. Preadators Holdings LLC chairman Tom Cigarran announced Thursday that the NHL and Metro Nashville Sports Authority had approved the transaction for the ownership shares previously held by William "Boots" Del Biaggio III and...

Jacques Demers, the former NHL coach turned Canadian senator, said he will have a third operation after nearly dying during a botched hernia procedure. The 66-year-old Demers made his first public appearance since the initial operation when he joined Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Wednesday at an outdoor rally.

Chris Chelios, the longest-tenured defenseman in NHL history, is finally hanging up his skates. After 26 NHL seasons and three Stanley Cups, Chelios announced his retirement Tuesday at the age of 48. "I guess I've been dreading this day for a long time," he said at a news conference in Detroit.

Edmonton Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin of Russia has been sentenced to 30 days in jail stemming from his Arizona drunken-driving conviction. The four-time All-Star received the sentence Tuesday in Scottsdale City Court. He also was fined $5,100 and must enroll in an alcohol-treatment program. He was ordered to report to jail Saturday, but that could be delayed because he's appealing his...