Newsmakers

Signed The Seattle Seahawks have signed rookie free agent wide receiver Kevin Smith after he was released by both Arizona and Jacksonville. Seattle signed Smith on Wednesday, a day after clearing a roster spot by releasing rookie defensive tackle Andre Pulu.

• The Portland Timbers have signed veteran English Premier League defender Liam Ridgewell to a multiyear contract. Ridgewell will be Portland’s third designated player and will join the team once he obtains his transfer documentation and visa. Ridgewell, 29, is a veteran of 11 EPL seasons, including stints with Aston Villa, Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion.

• Left wing Marian Gaborik has agreed to a seven-year deal to stay with the Los Angeles Kings. Gaborik would have been an unrestricted free agent next week. He scored 16 points in 19 regular-season games before leading the NHL with 14 postseason goals during Los Angeles’ run to the title.

• The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed forward Ryan Callahan to a six-year contract. Callahan, who has played in 470 games with the Lightning and Rangers, has 138 goals and 127 assists.

Traded The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded defenseman Nikita Nikitin to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. The 28-year-old Nikitin registered two goals and 13 assists for 15 points in 66 games with Columbus last season. Recovering Sprint star Mark Cavendish is skipping this weekend’s British national championships so that he can clear up a bout of bronchitis before the start of the Tour de France.

Honored Retired Marine Corps Sgt. Josh Sweeney will receive the inaugural Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2014 ESPY Awards on July 16. Sweeney played on the U.S. Paralympic sled hockey team that beat the Russians 1-0 in Sochi, scoring the game’s lone goal and giving the Unites States its second straight gold medal in the event. Sweeney has also been honored with a Purple Heart for his service in the Marines.