Newsmakers

Signed The Edmonton Oilers have signed top overall draft pick Taylor Hall to a three-year, entry-level contract. Hall’s deal includes the maximum base salary of $900,000 per season and bonuses that max out at $3.75 million annually. When the four-day development camp opens, Hall will be lacing his skates alongside 2009 first-rounder Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, taken 10th overall, and 2008 first-rounder Jordan Eberle, selected 22nd. Died Retired hockey enforcer Bob Probert, who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks and struggled to overcome drinking problems, has died. He was 45. Probert was on a boat in Lake St. Clair, Ontario, with his wife, children and in-laws when he “developed severe chest pains,” family friend Rich Rogow said. Probert played for the Red Wings from 1985-94 and for the Blackhawks from 1995-02.

• Trainer Blane Schvaneveldt, who won nearly 4,000 races and handled such quarter horse champions as Refrigerator and Dash for Speed, has died at 76.

Agreed South Florida men’s basketball coach Stan Heath has agreed to a three-year contract extension after leading the Bulls to their most successful season since entering the Big East. USF went 20-13 on the way to earning a spot in the National Invitation Tournament. In three seasons under Heath, the Bulls have a 41-54 record.

Suspended Phoenix’s Ketia Swanier has been suspended one game by the WNBA for leaving the bench during an altercation in the Mercury’s game Saturday night against the New York Liberty. Swanier, who left the bench as New York’s Cappie Pondexter hit the Mercury’s Penny Taylor in the face during the game and was ejected, will miss the Mercury’s game at Los Angeles tonight.

Inducted Six-time Driver of the Year Dave Palone and breeder Hal Jones have been inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y. Also inducted Sunday were three horses: Italian trotting champion Varenne, Bunny Lake and the late pacing mare Three Diamonds.