Capitals re-sign Green, but lose Huet

The Washington Capitals are keeping the dynamic young star with the oh-my-gosh end-to-end moves, but not the goaltender whose outstanding play helped lead the late surge to the playoffs.

The guy with the moves? No, not Alex Ovechkin. He’s already under contract. Tuesday was Mike Green’s day as the NHL’s top scoring defenseman was rewarded with a four-year, $21 million contract.

Washington also added free agent Jose Theodore, signing the former Montreal and Colorado goalie to a two-year, $9 million contract. Theodore, the 2002 NHL MVP, was courted after the Capitals were unable to reach an agreement with Cristobal Huet, who instead signed a four-year, $22.5 million deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Green scored 18 goals last season at the age of 22, becoming the youngest player to lead defensemen in goals since Paul Coffey in 1981-82.

Columbus explores trade market

Seeking to add experience to one of the NHL’s youngest rosters, the Columbus Blue Jackets acquired winger Raffi Torres from the Edmonton Oilers for promising center Gilbert Brule.

With money to spend on veteran free agents, the Blue Jackets also filled a huge hole with the signing of defenseman Mike Commodore, a 6-foot-5, 228-pounder who provides a hulking presence on the blue line that they have been missing. Commodore split last season between Carolina and Ottawa.

Staying put

The St. Louis Blues retained forward David Backes by quickly matching the three-year, $7.5 million offer sheet the young forward signed with the Vancouver Canucks.

•The Montreal Canadiens agreed to terms with rising star Andrei Kostitsyn on a three-year, $9.75-million deal.

•The Anaheim Ducks signed restricted free agent Corey Perry, their leading goal scorer last season, to a five-year, $26.6 million deal.

The 23-year-old Perry scored 29 goals and his 54 points were second on the Ducks last season.

Free agents on the move

Brian Campbell, the top free-agent defenseman available, signed an eight-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.

■The Tampa Bay Lightning signed veteran goalie Olie Kolzig to a one-year contract. Kolzig, 38, spent his entire career with Washington, playing in 711 games. He has 301 wins, which ties him for 22nd place on the NHL career list.

•The Lightning also signed unrestricted free agent right wing Radim Vrbata to a three-year contract worth $9 million. He finished as the Phoenix Coyotes’ second-leading scorer with 27 goals and 56 points in 76 games last season.

• Free-agent goalie Patrick Lalime signed a two-year, $2 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres to become Ryan Miller’s backup.

•The Florida Panthers signed forward Cory Stillman to a three-year, $10.6 million deal.

•The Ottawa Senators signed goalie Alex Auld to a two-year, $2-million contract. He saw limited action with Phoenix and Boston last season.

•The New York Islanders signed free-agent defenseman Mark Streit to a five-year contract worth $20.5 million.

Last year with Montreal, Streit scored seven of his 13 goals and had 27 of his 49 assists on the power play.

Trades

The Carolina Hurricanes traded forward Erik Cole to the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Joni Pitkanen. The Hurricanes picked up a young, offensive-minded defenseman they’ve long coveted in exchange for their top-line right wing, the third-leading goal-scorer in franchise history.

•The Minnesota Wild acquired defenseman Marek Zidlicky from the Nashville Predators for forward Ryan Jones and a second-round pick in next year’s draft.