The Carolina Hurricanes have agreed to a four-year, $19 million contract extension with forward Tuomo Ruutu. The deal will pay Ruutu $4 million next season and $5 million in each of the next three years in a deal that runs through the 2015-16 season. He would've been an unrestricted free agent after this season.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded center Antoine Vermette to the Phoenix Coyotes for two draft picks and goaltender Curtis McElhinney. The deal, announced on Wednesday by Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson, would give Columbus a second-round pick in the 2012 draft and a fifth-round pick in 2013.
Detroit Red Wings star Pavel Datsyuk is expected to miss two weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery Tuesday to remove fragments from his right knee. Datsyuk is the Red Wings' leading scorer with 59 points. "Pav's been out before and he's a huge part of our team but we're going to need guys to step up," goalie Jimmy Howard said after Detroit's 2-1 loss at Chicago...
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier is out indefinitely because of broken right hand. The Lightning said Tuesday night, during the first period of their game against Anaheim, that Lecavalier has a non-displaced fracture. Lecavalier was hurt Saturday night during Tampa Bay's 2-1 win over Washington, but remained in the game.
Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma took a playoff-like approach to a February meeting with the Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers. Marc-Andre Fleury sent a message with his glove, Evgeni Malkin delivered one with his patience, and the Penguins punctuated it with perhaps their best game of the season.
Corey Crawford and the Chicago Blackhawks did just fine without captain Jonathan Toews on Tuesday night. The Detroit Red Wings had a much more difficult time without their star center. Crawford made 31 saves and the Blackhawks beat the Red Wings 2-1 in a matchup of depleted Central Division rivals. "Corey was rock solid," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said.
Rick Nash wears the "C" on his jersey as captain of Columbus. These days, the letter stands more for, coveted. The NHL trade deadline is Monday and no player has been dangled as bait like Nash, the Blue Jackets' 27-year-old star forward, and the greatest player in franchise history. He's done it all in Columbus -- except turn the team into a winner.
Officials in Philadelphia say the death of a Ukrainian hockey coach awaiting trial on federal child molestation charges was a suicide by hanging. The city medical examiner's office said Wednesday that Ivan (ee-VAHN') Pravilov (PRAH'-vuh-lahvz) killed himself in his prison cell. The 49-year-old Pravilov was found dead Feb.
San Jose couldn't overcome its slow start on Tuesday night. Jeff Carter had three goals -- two on the power play during Columbus' four-goal first period -- and the last-place Blue Jackets handed the Sharks their season-high fourth straight loss, 6-3. "They were much better prepared to compete than the white team," San Jose coach Todd McLellan said.
Steven Stamkos had a big game right after saying goodbye to a popular teammate. The All-Star forward scored his league-leading 41st and 42nd goals of the season and added an assist as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 on Tuesday night. The Lightning traded right wing Steve Downie to Colorado as part of a three-team trade before the game that resulted in Tampa Bay getting a...
