A Canada-Russia series in the works … NHL-CHL reach agreement … Kane, Fowler, Ennis, Klein and Smith sign extensions
  • Jeff Marek via twitter: The NHL and CHL have a one year agreement that deal with placement of players. 1. “Any 18 year old player who played in the NHL last season may be assigned to the AHL.” 2. “When the lockout ends NHL teams can either sign unsigned picks and keep them in the NHL, or recall signed picks playing in the CHL and keep them in the NHL. This must be done within 7 days of the date NHL’ers have to report after the lockout. “
  • Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe: Dupont wonders that if there is a prolonged lockout, that Tim Thomas may reconsider sitting out a year, finishing out the last year of his contract. If the season started on January 1st, he’d have 8 months of rest. He would receive a pro-rated salary of $3 million. If GM Peter Chiarelli were to deal him, he’d likely only get “a dollar bill or a bag of pucks.”
  • John Vogl of the Buffalo News: The Sabres signed Tyler Ennis to a 2 year deal worth $5.625 million.

    “I think the biggest significance for us prior to was that it allows once we know we’re going to get started to get started with the full group,” Regier said, “and not have to concern ourselves with, in any kind of hurrying fashion, try and get a deal done with Tyler Ennis. It allows us to focus on the preparation of the game versus any contractual issues.”

  • Josh Cooper of the Tennessean: The Predators have signed Kevin Klein to a 5 year contract extension worth $14.5 million, and Craig Smith to a 2 year deal worth $4 million. Klein will get $3 million in the first 3 years, and $2.75 million in the last 2.