Penguins, Staal hammer out new $16M contract The Penguins have reached a four-year deal with center Staal taking effect at the start of the 2009-10 season, the team announced Thursday.
Oshawa trades top NHL draft prospect Tavares John Tavares, the 18-year-old Canadian junior star expected to be one of the top picks in the NHL draft, joined the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights on Thursday in a trade with the Oshawa Generals.
Sabres' Connolly back Friday after 24 games Tim Connolly is ready to return Friday when the Sabres host the New York Rangers. He's back this time after missing 24 games with a broken rib. Before that, he missed the first 10 games of the season with a broken vertebra.
Ruutu bite costs 2 games, chunk of salary Senators forward Jarkko Ruutu was suspended by the NHL for two games without pay for biting Buffalo Sabres enforcer Andrew Peters.
Sakic has back surgery, out roughly 10 weeks Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic underwent successful back surgery Wednesday. The 11-time All-Star is expected to miss roughly 10 weeks while recovering from the procedure.
Ex-NHL goalie Grahame appealing banishment Former NHL goaltender John Grahame, who had his contract terminated in December by his Continental Hockey League team, Avangard Omsk, will return to Moscow on Jan. 14 to appeal, ESPN.com has learned.