Newsmakers

Named Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Washington’s Alex Ovechkin joined Henrik Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks as finalists for the Hart Trophy given to the league’s MVP. The winner will be announced June 23 in Las Vegas. Crosby and Ovechkin have traded verbal jabs – and some real ones – over the past few years as they combined to win three consecutive Hart trophies.

Extended The Philadelphia Eagles signed quarterback Kevin Kolb to a one-year contract extension that could keep him with the team through the 2011 season. Kolb stepped in when Donovan McNabb was injured in the season opener last year at Carolina. The 2007 second-round draft choice became the first NFL quarterback to throw for 300 yards in his first two starts.

•The Buffalo Sabres picked up the one-year contract option on head coach Lindy Ruff, which means he will be back for a 13th season. The team is also prepared to negotiate a long-term extension with Ruff and general manager Darcy Regier.

Declared North Carolina State’s Tracy Smith declared himself eligible for the NBA draft, though he hasn’t hired an agent and could return for his senior season. The 6-foot-8 forward led the Wolfpack with 16.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season. The second-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference pick led the conference by shooting 65 percent from the floor.

Transferred BYU says guard Michael Loyd Jr. is transferring after playing two seasons for the Cougars. Coach Dave Rose and Loyd have decided he should finish up his education and basketball career at another school. Loyd averaged 5.1 points and 1.2 assists while shooting 53 percent last season. He scored a career-high 26 points in the Cougars’ double-overtime win over Florida in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.

Signed The Denver Broncos signed unrestricted free-agent linebacker Nick Greisen. The ninth-year pro spent last season on injured reserve with the Broncos after signing as a free agent on April 29, 2009.

Departed Assistant coach Mark Cline left Oklahoma to take a similar position at Marshall, becoming the second assistant to leave Jeff Capel and his basketball staff following a 13-18 season.