NHL

AP Hockey WriterRussian winger Zaripov cleared to pursue NHL contractBy STEPHEN WHYNORussian winger Danis Zaripov has been cleared to pursue an NHL contract after being banned by the Kontinental Hockey League and International Ice Hockey Federation for doping.The NHL said in a statement that Zaripov was cleared in part...

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 WriterRangers, Brendan Smith agree to $17M, 4-year dealBy STEPHEN WHYNOWASHINGTON (AP) Brendan Smith signed a $17 million, four-year deal with the Rangers, solidifying New York's blue line and setting the market for free agent defensemen.Smith will count $4.35 million against the salary cap through the 2020-21...

AP Sports WriterNew home for Red Wings, Pistons raises a city's hopesBy LARRY LAGEDETROIT (AP) Chris Ilitch sounded like an excited tour guide.He was showing off Little Caesars Arena, the new home of the Detroit Red Wings and Pistons and the gem of a 55-block development dubbed The...

AP Hockey WriterLeaner Ovechkin makes early debut at Caps' summer workoutsBy STEPHEN WHYNOARLINGTON, Va. (AP) A slimmer, trimmer-looking Alex Ovechkin is back on the ice for summer workouts more than two weeks before the start of training camp.The Russian superstar skated in an informal practice with Washington Capitals...

Stars re-sign Radek Faksa to $6.6 million, 3-year dealFRISCO, Texas (AP) The Dallas Stars have re-signed young center Radek Faksa to a $6.6 million, three-year contract.Faksa is coming off his first full NHL season, when he had 12 goals and 21 assists in 80 games. The 23-year-old center...

AP Sports WriterLos Angeles Kings prospect raised by 2 momsBy JAY COHENCHICAGO (AP) Moments after Jaret Anderson-Dolan was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings, he hugged his mothers Fran and Nancy. They cried a few tears as Anderson-Dolan made his way to the floor of the United Center...

Senators reduce capacity at Canadian Tire Centre by 1,500OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk believes less could mean more.Tired of seeing too many empty seats, the NHL club is reducing the capacity at Canadian Tire Centre by 1,500 to about 17,000. Rows in the upper bowl...

AP Sports WriterSigned for 5 years with Wild, now Niederreiter can relaxBy DAVE CAMPBELLNino Niederreiter has been bold enough with his hobbies to ride on the outside of an airplane . On the ice, he plays a fearless game with a thick frame that's tough to knock off the...

Larry Robinson won't return to Sharks next seasonSAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Larry Robinson will not be back with the San Jose Sharks next season.A team spokesman confirmed Thursday that Robinson's contract expires in the summer and that he will not return. Robinson had been with the Sharks for...

AP Sports WriterMystique vs. mayhem in unlikely Stanley Cup FinalBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) The dynasty that once appeared so certain is again in the offing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.Four victories against the Nashville Predators in the Stanley Cup Final would make Pittsburgh the first franchise to win back-to-back...

AP Sports WriterParade of forwards at top of NHL draftBy JAY COHENCHICAGO (AP) Cody Glass played in a youth hockey tournament in Las Vegas when he was 10. His Junior Steelers team finished a disappointing second.He is looking forward to many more games in Sin City.Glass was selected...