NHL Roundup: Coyotes complete deal with G Smith
Goaltender Mike Smith will remain with the Coyotes, officially signing a six-year contract to stay with Phoenix and avoid free agency.
Smith's contract is worth more than $34 million. He was expected to be one of the top free agents on the market when signings with other teams can begin Friday. General manager Don Maloney said the multi-year contract with Smith was a clear priority as the future of the franchise in Glendale remains in flux.
Smith went 15-12-5 with a 2.58 goals-against average, .910 save percentage and five shutouts in 2012-13 after carrying the Coyotes to the Western Conference finals in 2011-12.
---Defenseman Hal Gill was waived by the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.
Gill, 38, has one season remaining on his contract at $2 million.
He didn't register a point last season in 38 games played.
---New Jersey Devils forward David Clarkson won't re-sign without hearing what other teams have to offer beginning Wednesday.
Agent Pat Morris said the Devils made an offer during the NHL Draft over the weekend, but Clarkson wasn't moved to sign it. Instead, he'll be listening to offers Wednesday when teams can reach out and offer deals to the 2005 undrafted free agent.
Clarkson scored 15 goals in 2012-13 and had 30 in 2011-12.
---The Buffalo Sabres have opened contract discussions with impending restricted free agent center Cody Hodgson, general manager Darcy Regier told reporters Tuesday.
Hodgson, 23, scored 15 goals and had 34 points in 2012-13, his first full season with the Sabres.
Regier also said that the Sabres will contact former captain Danny Briere, who spent four years in Buffalo before signing with the Philadelphia Flyers in July 2007. The Flyers announced June 20 that they would buy out the final two years of the 35-year-old's eight-year, $52 million contract.
---Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron spoke to reporters Tuesday for the first time since being admitted to the hospital following Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The assistant captain gave detailed descriptions of the torn rib cartilage he suffered in Game 4, the broken rib on his left side that occurred in Game 5 and the separated right shoulder and punctured left lung from Game 6. The puncture led to a collapsed lung, and Bergeron spent three days in the hospital after the Bruins' loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.
"I'm feeling a lot better," said Bergeron, who played nearly 18 minutes in the deciding Game 6. "The ribs and the shoulder now just need some time to rest but it's a lot better."
---The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired defenseman Drew Olson from the Columbus Blue Jackets for future considerations.
The 23-year-old skated in five games with the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League last season. He skated in 38 games with the University of Minnesota-Duluth last season, scoring one goal and collecting seven points.
---Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang finalized an eight-year contract extension on Tuesday worth $58 million.
Letang has one year remaining on his current contract, which means the new deal will runs through the 2021-22 season. His average annual salary will become $7.25 million
The 26-year-old Letang is hailed as one of the top offensive defenseman in the NHL. The 2013 Norris Trophy finalist had 38 points (five goals, 35 assists) in 35 games during the regular season and added 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) in 15 playoff games.
