Newsmakers

Released The Pittsburgh Steelers have released veteran quarterback Troy Smith, a former Ohio State star who won the 2006 Heisman Trophy. Smith signed with the Steelers earlier this year. He has also spent time with the Omaha Nighthawks (2011) of the United Football League, the San Francisco 49ers (2010) and the Baltimore Ravens (2007-2009). The Ravens drafted him in the fifth round (174th overall) of the 2007 draft.

Signed Goaltender Ondrej Pavelec and the Winnipeg Jets have agreed to a $19.5 million, five-year deal. The 24-year-old Czech had been headed to restricted free agency this summer. He made $1.3 million last season. He appeared in 68 games last season, compiling a 29-28-9 record, 2.91 goals-against average and .906 save percentage.

• The Los Angeles Kings have finalized contracts with forwards Jarret Stoll and Colin Fraser. Stoll gets a three-year deal worth $9.75 million, while Fraser has a two-year deal worth $1.65 million.

Announced Dallas and Boston will play exhibition games next season in Europe, including a homecoming in Germany for Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki. The NBA announced that the Mavs will play eight-time German champions Alba Berlin at Berlin’s O2 arena on Oct. 6 and the Celtics will open the NBA Europe Live tour Oct. 5 in Istanbul against five-time Turkish champ Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul. Boston will then move to Milan, Italy, to face Italian power EA7 Emporio Armani on Oct. 7. The NBA says the Mavericks will play an additional game in Spain, with details still to be announced.

• The IAAF announced that Sebastian Coe and Sergei Bubka are among the 24 inaugural members of the track and field governing body’s Hall of Fame. Coe is head of the London Olympics organizing committee. The Briton won 1,500-meter gold and 800-meter silver at the 1980 Moscow Games and repeated the feat four years later at Los Angeles. Pole vaulting great Bubka, a Soviet-Ukrainian, is the only athlete to have won six world championships in the same individual discipline.