Hockey News

WILKES-BARRE, PA - The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have signed goaltenders Adam Berkhoel and Curtis Darling, it was announced on Friday by Pittsburgh Penguins Assistant General Manager Chuck Fletcher.

Berkhoel, 27, appeared in 31 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) last season, posting a 10-14-4 record with one shutout and a 2.93 goals against average. A former eighth round draft pick by the Chicago Blackhawks (240th overall in 2000), Berkhoel has appeared in nine NHL games during his four-year career (all with the Atlanta Thrashers), going 2-4-1 with a 3.80 goals against average.

(more…)

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray announced today that the club has signed center Zack Smith to an entry-level contract. Smith, who attended the Senators’ development camp in late June, was the club’s third pick, 79th overall, in the 2008 NHL entry draft.

Last year Smith led the Western Hockey League’s Swift Current Broncos in scoring with 69 points on 22 goals in 72 games, while adding 136 penalty minutes. He added five goals, five assists and 29 penalty minutes in 12 playoff games for the Broncos, who were eventually defeated by the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL’s Eastern Conference semi-final.

(more…)

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray announced today the signing of defenseman Geoff Waugh to a one-year, two-way contract.

In 2007-08, Waugh appeared in 71 games for the B-Sens, recording six points (three goals, three assists) and 139 penalty minutes.

The 24-year-old Winnipeg native was a third-round choice (78th overall) of the Dallas Stars in the 2002 National Hockey League entry draft. His four-year collegiate career saw him miss only four regular-season games while playing for the Northern Michigan University Wildcats from 2002 to 2006, when he tallied four goals and added 34 assists in 158 career games.

(more…)

MANCHESTER, NH - The Los Angeles Kings, the parent club of the Manchester Monarchs, have agreed to terms on a three-year entry-level contract with defenseman Drew Doughty, the club’s first-round selection (second overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced today. Per club policy, terms of the agreement were not announced.

Doughty, 18, played in 58 regular season games this past season for Guelph of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and recorded 50 points (13-37=50) and 68 penalty minutes. His 50 points ranked third overall on Guelph and tied for ninth among OHL defensemen, and he ranked third on Guelph with nine power-play goals. In 10 playoff games, the 6-foot, 219-pound blue-liner from London, Ontario, had nine points (3-6=9) and 14 penalty minutes.

(more…)

NORFOLK, VA - The Norfolk Admirals have signed forward Brady Leavold (pronounced “LEE-uh-vohld”) to an AHL Standard Player’s Contract for the 2008-09 season, Admirals General Manager Mike Butters announced today.

“Brady is a solid, two-way player with some grit,” said Butters. “He was impressive at the Lightning’s Prospects Camp last week and appears to be progressing well this summer. He will need some adjustment to playing at the AHL level, but we feel that he will develop into an effective player for the Admirals next season.”

(more…)

MONTREAL, Quebec - Montreal Canadiens General Manager Bob Gainey announced today the signing of free-agent defenseman Chad Anderson to a one-year, two-way American Hockey League / National Hockey League contract for the 2008-2009 season. As per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Anderson, 26, spent the 2007-2008 season with the AHL’s Philadelphia Phantoms. In 55 regular season games, the 6′4″, 217-pound rearguard registered 13 points (two goals, 11 assists), 35 penalty minutes and finished second on the team with a +11 rating.

(more…)

MONTREAL - The Montreal Canadiens signed minor-league defenceman Chad Anderson to a one-year contract, the club announced Wednesday.

Anderson, a 26-year-old free agent, signed a two-way contract and will likely play for the Hamilton Bulldogs next season. The six-foot-four, 217-pound blue-liner played for the AHL Philadelphia Phantoms last season, where he had two goals and 11 assists and was plus-11.

The Canadiens have been restocking their top farm club with veterans.

(more…)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -The Nashville Predators have signed center Jerred Smithson to a two-year, $1.4 million contract extension through 2011.

The deal announced Thursday will pay the 29-year-old forward $725,000 in 2009-10 and $750,000 in 2010-11.

Smithson, a free agent signed by Nashville in 2004, has 45 points in 241 games since making his NHL debut with Los Angeles in 2002.

The team also announced that defenseman Ville Koistinen was awarded a one-year, $700,000 deal in arbitration. He was a restricted free agent this summer and filed for arbitration before the July 5 deadline.

(more…)

WILKES-BARRE, PA - The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed center Dave Gove, it was announced on Tuesday by Executive Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero. Additionally, the Penguins have signed defenseman Danny Richmond to a one-year contract.

Gove, 30, was acquired by Pittsburgh from the Carolina Hurricanes for Joe Jensen on January 31, 2008. He appeared in 36 regular season games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last season, recording 22 points (15 goals, seven assists) and 10 penalty minutes. He led the team with three short-handed goals.

(more…)

GLENDALE, ARIZONA — Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced that the Coyotes have signed right wing Francis Lessard to a contract. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Lessard, 29, recorded 4-1-5 and 49 penalty minutes (PIM) in 14 regular season games with the Hartford WolfPack of the American Hockey League (AHL) last season.

The 6-foot-3, 224-pound Lessard appeared in 91 career NHL games with the Atlanta Thrashers from 2001 to 2006, recording 1-3-4 and 268 PIM. In 367 career AHL games with Philadelphia, Chicago and Hartford, the native of Montreal, Quebec has collected 20-37-57 and 1,744 PIM.

(more…)