Alberta Premier says ministers, staff accepting playoff hockey tickets onside

EDMONTON – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she doesn’t think her cabinet ministers and political staff accepting tickets to luxury suites at playoff hockey games runs afoul of ethics rules. Smith says expects individual MLAs to follow the rules and disclose gifts properly to the province’s ethics commissioner. But Opposition New Democrat leader Naheed Nenshi says attending the games on lobbyists’ dimes is a clear example of cronyism and entitlement. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, front second left, and B.C. Premier David Eby, front right, watch the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers play Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup […]

Evgeny Kuznetsov clears unconditional waivers, has his NHL contract terminated by the Hurricanes

Evgeny Kuznetsov had his contract terminated Thursday after clearing unconditional waivers, bringing an abrupt end to the talented but inconsistent center's NHL career, at least for the time being.

The Carolina Hurricanes put Kuznetsov on unconditional waivers Wednesday for the purpose of terminating his deal. Kuznetsov by agreeing to the mutual termination walks away from the $6 million salary owed to him in the final season of his $64.2 million, seven-year deal originally signed in 2017.

“Ultimately both sides agreed this was the best course of action for both the player and the team,” general manager Eric Tulsky said Wednesday. “We thank Evgeny for his time with the team and wish him and his family the best.”

Reports emerged earlier in the week that Kuznetsov was planning to mutually terminate his contract and go home to Russia to play for SKA Saint Petersburg in the KHL. He and his camp had to agree to such a move for this to happen now, unless the Hurricanes waited for a buyout window to open later this summer when one of their restricted free agent arbitration cases was settled.

The Islanders have signed restricted free agent forward Simon Holmstrom to a 1-year contract

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Islanders have signed forward Simon Holmstrom to a one-year contract.

The Islanders announced the signing with the 23-year-old restricted free agent from Sweden on Tuesday.

Holmstrom had 15 goals and 10 assists in 75 games with the Islanders last season. His five short-handed goals and seven short-handed points led the team and ranked second overall in the National Hockey League.

The Islanders selected him with the 23rd overall pick in the 2019 NHL draft. He has 21 goals and 13 assists in 125 NHL games and 27 goals and 43 assists in 154 games with the Islanders' American Hockey League affiliate in Connecticut.

Blues’ Torey Krug diagnosed with pre-arthritic changes in his left ankle, could miss the season

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Blues defenseman Torey Krug is in danger of missing the entire 2024-25 NHL season after being diagnosed with pre-arthritic changes in his left ankle.

The team announced Tuesday that Krug will work to rehabilitate the injury without surgery over the next six to eight weeks before being re-evaluated. If an operation is needed, the 33-year-old would be out for the season.

Krug is considered out indefinitely.

The team says the diagnosis is a cumulative result of a bone fracture earlier in his career. Krug injured his left ankle in a preseason game in 2018 while playing for Boston.

Vancouver Canucks sign golatender Arturs Silovs to two-year contract

VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Canucks have signed goaltender Arturs Silovs to a two-year contract, the NHL club announced Tuesday.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by the Canucks.

The 23-year-old Silovs, from Riga, Latvia, appeared in 10 playoff games for the Canucks last season after starting netminder Thatcher Demko sustained an undisclosed injury in Game 1 of Vancouver's first-round series with Nashville.

He went 5-5 with a 2.91 goals against average and an .898 save percentage as Vancouver lost in seven games to Edmonton in the second round.

Byfield agrees to 5-year, $31M contract extension with the L.A. Kings

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Canadian forward Quinton Byfield has agreed to a five-year, $31.25 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Kings.

The Kings announced the deal Monday for Byfield, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft. The contract runs through the 2028-29 season.

The 21-year-old Byfield, from Newmarket, Ont., made significant strides last season with the Kings, recording a career-high 20 goals and 35 assists while playing 80 games. He was the first Los Angeles player to record a 20-goal season at his age since captain Anze Kopitar in 2007-08.

After a slow start to his NHL career as a teenager, the 6-foot-5 power forward has grown into a prominent role with the Kings, particularly on special teams. Byfield had a career-best 14 points on the power play last season, and he scored four game-winning goals while finishing with a plus-19 rating.

Jets sign defenceman Ville Heinola to a two-year contract extension

WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg Jets have signed defenceman Ville Heinola to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of US$800,000, the NHL club announced Monday.

The 23-year-old from Honkajoki, Finland had 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 41 games for the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose last season.

He has 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) in 35 games over four seasons with the Jets after Winnipeg selected him in the first round, 20th overall, at the 2019 NHL draft.

He has also posted 23 goals, 79 assists and 92 penalty minutes in 152 career games for the Moose.

Brett Sutter retires after 17 pro hockey seasons, 1,090 AHL games

CALGARY - Brett Sutter announced his retirement from pro hockey after 17 seasons Monday.

The son of former NHL coach Darryl Sutter played in 1,090 games in the American Hockey League, which ranks fourth all-time, and another 60 in the NHL.

Brett Sutter concluded his playing career with the Calgary Flames' AHL affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers, and will join the team's coaching staff as an assistant.

“Saying goodbye to playing isn’t easy. The game has treated my family and I so well for so long, but the opportunity to stay within the organization that my family loves, makes this transition easier," Sutter said Monday in a statement.

Senators re-sign goaltender Sogaard, deal forward Jarventie to Oilers

OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators have retained some goaltending depth behind new netminder Linus Ullmark by signing Mads Sogaard to a two-year contract.

The first year of the deal announced Monday is a two-way contract, and the second year is one-way. It carries an annual value of US$775,000 in the NHL and $225,000 in the American Hockey League.

Sogaard, from Aalborg, Denmark, had a 1-3-0 record with a 4.05 goals-against average and .859 save percentage in six appearances, including five starts, with Ottawa last season.

Ottawa's 37th-overall pick at the 2019 NHL draft had an 18-9-3 record with a 2.45 GAA and .916 save percentage in 32 games with the AHL's Belleville Senators.

Blue Jackets sign goaltender Jet Greaves to a 2-year, 2-way contract

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Columbus Blue Jackets signaled their continued interest in Jet Greaves by signing the 23-year-old goaltender to a two-year contract.

The contract is a two-way NHL/AHL deal for the 2024-25 season and an NHL deal in 2025-26, the team said Saturday. Terms were not disclosed.

The 6-foot, 191-pound Greaves has seen limited NHL action so far, posting a 3-7-0 record with a 3.44 goals-against average and .912 save percentage in 10 career appearances with the Blue Jackets since making his debut on Apr. 4, 2023, at Toronto.

He set a franchise record for most saves in a goalie's first career win by stopping 41 of 43 shots in a 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 8.