NHL

AP Hockey WriterDevils buck odds to win NHL draft lottery; Vegas to pick 6thBy JOHN WAWROWThe New Jersey Devils bucked the NHL lottery odds, and lady luck wasn't with Las Vegas.New Jersey won the lottery, vaulting four teams including the last-place Colorado Avalanche and expansion Vegas Golden Knights for...

AP Sports WriterPredators sign Ryan Johansen to 8-year, $64 million dealBy TERESA M. WALKERNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Nashville Predators have signed top center Ryan Johansen to an eight-year, $64 million contract, the largest deal the franchise has ever handed out.General manager David Poile announced the deal Friday.Poile noted...

Devils C Zajac out 4-to-6 months with pectoral injuryNEWARK, N.J. (AP) The New Jersey Devils have lost top center Travis Zajac for four to six months with a pectoral injury.Devils executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero announced that Zajac had surgery to repair the pectoral muscle...

AP Sports WriterPreds even Stanley Cup Final at 2-2, beat Penguins 4-1By TERESA M. WALKERNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Frederick Gaudreau sure is doing his best to earn his own locker with the Nashville Predators with a Stanley Cup Final debut for the ages.For now, he insists he is happy...

Sabres hire ex-NHLer Komisarek as player development coachBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The Buffalo Sabres have hired former NHL defenseman Mike Komisarek as a player development coach.Komisarek becomes the latest addition to first-time head coach Phil Housley's staff.The 35-year-old is from West Islip, New York, and played for three teams...

Rangers agree to terms with defenseman Brendan SmithNEW YORK (AP) The New York Rangers have agreed to terms on a new deal with defenseman Brendan Smith.General manager Jeff Gorton announced the deal Thursday. Smith was set to be an unrestricted free agent Saturday.Smith, 28, would have been one...

AP Hockey WriterSports hernias putting strain on hockey players of all agesBy STEPHEN WHYNOMonths removed from sports hernia and hip surgeries, Claude Giroux still didn't feel like himself.The Philadelphia Flyers' captain finally got back to normal by the end of the season, roughly nine months after going under the...

AP Hockey WriterNHL's top prospect says he is overcoming 2 hernia injuriesBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Center Nolan Patrick says a misdiagnosis of a sports hernia injury contributed to the NHL's top-ranked draft prospect missing more than half of last season.Patrick had surgery to repair one side of...

AP Hockey WriterConcussion spotter couldn't pull Crosby for hitting boardsBy STEPHEN WHYNOA week after he was knocked out of playoff game with a concussion, Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby slid headfirst into the boards during another tense game against the Washington Capitals.He did not come out of Game 6 on...

AP Hockey WriterAP Source: Stars waive goalie Niemi and plan to buy him outBy JOHN WAWROWA person with direct knowledge of the decision has confirmed to The Associated Press that the Dallas Stars have placed goalie Antti Niemi on waivers with the intention to buy out the final year...

AP Hockey WriterRangers, Stars among the best movers in NHL free agencyBy GREG BEACHAMSeveral big winners in the first hours of the NHL's free-agent signing period didn't even have to move.From Carey Price to Cam Fowler, a bunch of hockey veterans got paid by their current teams when the...

Wild sign defenseman Gustav Olofsson to 2-year, $1.45M dealST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) The Minnesota Wild have agreed with defenseman Gustav Olofsson on a two-year, $1.45 million contract.The deal Monday came after Olofsson was one of eight restricted free agents receiving qualifying offers. Olofsson will make $675,000 this season...