NHL

Predators sign Austin Watson to 3-year, $3.3 million dealNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Nashville Predators have signed forward Austin Watson to a three-year $3.3 million deal keeping him under contract through 2019-20.The Predators announced the deal Monday.Watson will earn $1 million this season, $1.1 million in 2018-19 and $1.2...

AP Hockey WriterButcher an NHL free agent after not signing with AvalancheBy JOHN WAWROWCollege hockey's top player is an NHL free agent after former University of Denver defenseman Will Butcher allowed a deadline to pass without signing with the Colorado Avalanche.The Avalanche selected Butcher in the fifth round of...

AP Hockey WriterPredators left surprised, determined by Johansen's injuryBy GREG BEACHAMANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) The Nashville Predators are still stunned by the loss of top scorer Ryan Johansen to a season-ending thigh injury after Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.They're also determined not to allow his absence to...

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Not that they did before, but it's official now: No one wants to get in front of Shea Weber's shot. The Nashville Predators defenseman fired the hardest shot of 108.5 mph at the NHL All-Stars skills competition on Saturday night, taking advantage of five-time champion Zdeno...

Canucks name Green new coach, spent last 4 seasons in AHLVANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) The Vancouver Canucks have named Travis Green their new coach.The team announced Green's hiring in a statement. He is scheduled to be introduced at a news conference later Wednesday at Rogers Arena.Green spent the...

LA Kings sign D Kevin Gravel, avoiding arbitrationEL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) The Los Angeles Kings re-signed Kevin Gravel to a one-year, $650,000 contract extension Friday, avoiding arbitration with the restricted free agent defenseman.The Kings also signed restricted free agents Justin Auger, Andrew Crescenzi, Zachary Leslie, Kurtis MacDermid and...

AP Sports WriterPenguins star Crosby returns to practice after concussionBy WILL GRAVESCRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) Sidney Crosby returned to work Friday, practicing with his Pittsburgh Penguins teammates barely four days removed from a frightening hit that left the him with a concussion, and his status for the rest...

AP Sports WriterBlackhawks deal Panarin and Hjalmarsson, get Saad backBy JAY COHENCHICAGO (AP) General manager Stan Bowman promised changes were coming after the Chicago Blackhawks were swept in the first round of the playoffs.Boy, he wasn't kidding.Chicago re-acquired Brandon Saad and parted with Niklas Hjalmarsson and Artemi Panarin...

AP Hockey WriterDevils buck odds to win NHL draft lottery; Vegas to pick 6thBy JOHN WAWROWA few weeks after the New Jersey Devils closed their worst season in nearly 30 years, general manager Ray Shero has something to smile about.''We finally won something,'' Shero told The Associated Press by...

Flames sign defenseman Michael Stone to 3-year dealCALGARY, Alberta (AP) The Calgary Flames have signed defenseman Michael Stone to a three-year deal reportedly worth $10.5 million.The Flames acquired Stone from Arizona before last season's trade deadline to add stability to their defense.He had two goals and four assists...

AP Sports WriterBruins will bring back Bruce Cassidy as head coachBy JIMMY GOLENBOSTON (AP) The Boston Bruins are bringing Bruce Cassidy back next season, dropping the interim tag from his title as a reward for leading the team back to the playoffs for the first time in three...

Vegas Golden Knights to play first game at Dallas on Oct. 6By The Associated PressThe expansion Vegas Golden Knights will make their regular-season debut on the road in Dallas on Oct. 6 and host Arizona on Oct. 10 in the first home game in franchise history.NHL teams announced their...