Newsmakers

Signed All-Star center Steven Stamkos signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, two months after helping the team make a surprising run to the Eastern Conference finals. Stamkos played in all 164 games during the previous two seasons for the Lightning, leading the NHL with 96 goals.

Hired The New Jersey Devils named Peter DeBoer as their coach. The 43-year-old DeBoer spent the past three seasons as the coach of the Florida Panthers. He was fired after failing to lead the team to the playoffs during his tenure. DeBoer succeeds Jacques Lemaire.

Filed Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall is suing the parent company of the Champion sports apparel maker, calling the decision to drop his endorsement deal over his tweets about the death of Osama bin Laden and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks a breach of contract. Mendenhall’s lawyers filed suit Monday in U.S. District Court in Raleigh, N.C., seeking roughly $1 million in damages from Hanesbrands, Inc., the corporate parent of Champion.

Replaced NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya will have a new crew chief when he returns next week to Indianapolis Motor Speedway because his team replaced Brian Pattie. Jim Pohlman will immediately take over as crew chief on an interim basis, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing announced.

Retired Detroit Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood is retiring after being sidelined by injury most of last year. Osgood, 38, who won three Stanley Cups with Detroit, will remain with the Wings, helping scout and develop young goalies.

Injured Former NFL quarterback Jim McMahon and two others were injured Monday when a limousine crashed through a fence south of Reno, Nev. The Nevada Highway Patrol said the accident happened around 2 p.m. on U.S. 395. McMahon’s injuries were described as “non-incapacitating.”

Died Four-time Pro Bowl center Forrest Blue, who helped the San Francisco 49ers win three straight division titles in the early 1970s, has died at Carmichael, Calif. He was 65.