Penguins pay out
Evgeni Malkin is staying in Pittsburgh for quite some time.
The Penguins signed the MVP finalist to a five-year extension worth $43.5 million on Wednesday, a deal which will keep him under contract until 2013-14. The 21-year-old forward still has one year left on his initial three-year, entry-level contract.
His deal is equal to one signed last year by teammate Sidney Crosby that begins with the upcoming season.
“This is an important signing for our franchise and the city of Pittsburgh and we commend Evgeni on his commitment to the future of the franchise and the city,” Penguins general manager Ray Shero said in a statement. “This signing continues to ensure the young core of this team can stay intact for years to come.”
The Penguins also signed a six-year, $22.5 million contract with defenseman Brooks Orpik, considered by Shero to be a “mainstay.” The deal averages $3.75 million per year.
Red Wings add Hossa
Marian Hossa lost the Stanley Cup to the Detroit Red Wings last month. Now, the star forward is joining the champions to help them repeat.
Hossa signed a one-year contract with Detroit, and a person in the NHL told the Associated Press the deal is worth $7.45 million.
The high-scoring winger was one of the key players who helped Pittsburgh advance to the Stanley Cup finals, which they lost to Detroit in six games.
With Hossa headed for Detroit, the most highly coveted forwards left on the free agent market are Jaromir Jagr and Mats Sundin. Sundin isn’t close to signing with anyone, and said he needs more time to decide where – or if – he wants to play next season.
Blue Jackets make trade
The Columbus Blue Jackets traded enigmatic offensive star Nikolai Zherdev and center Dan Fritsche to the New York Rangers for defensemen Christian Backman and Fedor Tyutin.
Fritsche was thrilled to find himself going from the only NHL team to never make the playoffs to one that is a perennial power.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Fritsche, 22, who was the first Ohio native to play for the Blue Jackets. “I couldn’t be more excited. I’m going to a Stanley Cup contender with an abundance of talent.”
“One player that won’t be returning to the Rangers is prime agitator Sean Avery, who left New York and the fashion world behind to sign a four-year, $15.5 million deal with the Dallas Stars.
Additional additions
The New York Islanders signed 37-year-old center Doug Weight to a one-year deal worth $1.75 million plus incentives. … Vancouver inked forward Ryan Johnson to a two-year deal for $2.3 million, goalie Curtis Sanford to a one-year contract worth $650,000, and defenseman Nolan Baumgartner for one year. … One day after coming to the Carolina Hurricanes in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers, defenseman Joni Pitkanen signed a three-year contract for $12 million. Carolina also plucked defenseman Josef Melichar away from the Penguins with a one-year, $1 million contract.