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Bertuzzi agrees to deal with Ducks

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

Todd Bertuzzi left Detroit and headed west to Tinseltown, agreeing to terms Monday night on a two-year, $8 million deal with the Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks.

He was the highest-profile player to switch teams Monday, which featured a lot of the activity of the first day of free agency even if it lacked the big names.

The best remaining center came off the board earlier in the day when Michael Nylander left the New York Rangers – who stocked up on the position Sunday – and came to terms on a four-year, $19.5 million contract with the Washington Capitals.

If Nylander can set up Alexander Ovechkin the way he did former Rangers teammate Jaromir Jagr, the Capitals will be quite pleased.

The Montreal Canadiens shook off the disappointment of not landing Daniel Briere or fellow forward Ryan Smyth on Sunday and reached deals with center Bryan Smolinski and former Calgary defenseman Roman Hamrlik. Smolinski, who split time with Chicago and Vancouver last season, agreed to a one-year contract for $2 million. Hamrlik got a four-year, $22 million deal.

Trying to keep up with their successful neighbors in Anaheim, the Los Angeles Kings made a flurry of moves.

Los Angeles agreed to terms with center Michal Handzus on a four-year, $16-million contract; forward Ladislav Nagy on a one-year deal worth $3.75-million; defenseman Tom Preissing on a four-year, $11-million contract; and forward Kyle Calder on a two-year, $5.5-million contract.

In other moves:

•Owen Nolan left the Phoenix Coyotes for a one-year deal worth $1.75 million with the Calgary Flames.

•The Pittsburgh Penguins added veteran help to a young team, signing forward Petr Sykora and defenseman Darryl Sydor to two-year, $5 million contracts.

•Robert Lang agreed to a two-year contract worth $8 million with Chicago.

•The Atlanta Thrashers signed defenseman Ken Klee to a two-year, $2.5-million deal.

•Jed Ortmeyer, the only NHL player from Nebraska, left the Rangers for a two-year, $1.5 million deal with Nashville. But New York re-signed defenseman Jason Strudwick for next season at $500,000.

•Bates Battaglia stayed with Toronto, signing a two-year deal for $1.3 million.

•The Chicago Blackhawks gave general manager Dale Tallon a two-year contract extension despite missing the playoffs for the eighth time in nine seasons.