NHL News: Bruins, Flames, Panthers, Devils, Senators, Flyers, Knights and Playoff Races
Luca Sbisa and Reilly Smith expected back before the playoffs
On the Boston Bruins …

Shawn Hutcheon: Defenseman Zdeno Chara signed a one-year contract extension for $5 million. There are bonuses up to $1.75 million.

Pierre LeBrun: The bonuses are mostly a combination of games played and playoffs.

Jimmy Murphy: Chara had originally been looking for two years. Guessing that giving him more money may have swayed him to going one-year.

Joe Haggerty of NBC Sports Boston: Zdeno Chara, Charlie McAvoy, David Backes and Jake DeBrusk skated yesterday. GM Don Sweeney said that they would return “sooner rather than later.”

Rick Nash didn’t skate but Sweeney indicated there has hope that they would be all be healthy by the start of the playoffs.

On the Calgary Flames … 

Derek Wills: Flames coach Glen Gulutzan doesn’t expect defenseman T.J. Brodie or forward Matthew Tkachuk will play again this season.

On the Florida Panthers …

Chris Johnston: Forward Henrik Borgstrom could be in the lineup tonight for his first NHL game.

On the New Jersey Devils …

Chris Ryan: Forward Patrick Maroon didn’t skate yesterday because of a lower-body injury. Forward Marcus Johansson didn’t skate either but did work out office. He had skated the four prior days.

On the Ottawa Senators …

Bruce Garrioch: The Senators have signed NCAA free agent forward Andrew Sturtz from Penn State. He will finish up his studies and then attend their development came in the summer.

Sens Communications: The Senators reassigned forward Ben Sexton to the AHL.

On the Philadelphia Flyers …

Sam Carchidi: Goaltender Michal Neuvirth left last night’s game with a lower-body injury and will be evaluated today.

On the Vegas Golden Knights …

Jesse Granger: Forward David Perron missed last night’s game.

SinBin.vegas: Coach Gerard Gallant is “very confident” that defenseman Luca Sbisa will return to the lineup before the end of the season. He said the same thing about forward Reilly Smith.