The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed left-winger Chris Durno to a one-year contract. The six-foot-four 205-pounder had four goals and eight points in 41 games with the Colorado Avalanche last season. He played 43 games with the Avs the previous two seasons.

More than perhaps ever before, it has been an off-season filled with purpose. Every step he takes, every workout he puts himself through ... Zack Smith does it all with a singular focus. With one defined goal he's determined to reach always right in front of mind.

The Montreal Canadiens make a pair of depth moves on Tuesday, signing forward Ryan Russell and goaltender Cedrick Desjardins each to one-year, two-way contracts. The 23-year old Russell played in 74 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2009-10. He finished sixth on the team with 37 points (19 goals, 18 assists), and led the team with three shorthanded goals.

Where some players see a traffic jam, Brett Sterling imagines an opportunity.
He's already tried out what might have been perceived as a fast lane to the NHL, but that didn't work out so well. So now his view of career advancement has taken a 180-degree turn, and it points him toward Pittsburgh.

"Dennis is very athletic and competitive," said Mackasey, who saw Endras play at the 2010 IIHF World Championship. "He had an outstanding season last year, and we're excited to land him. Right now, he gives us depth at the goaltender position and in time, he should develop into a starting NHL goalie."

Frisco, Tex. - The Dallas Stars announced today that the club has signed defenseman Jace Coyle to a three-year entry-level contract. Coyle, 20, played in 68 games for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) last season, collecting 46 points (10g, 36a). He also skated in 12 playoff games for the club, posting four points (3g, 1a).

While they evaluate their options for wingers at the NHL level, the Penguins continue to fill their roster with two-way contracts. Today, the Pens signed left wing Brett Sterling to a one-year, two-way contract that will pay him $500,000 if he plays in the NHL next season.

Mauldin, 28, spent most of this past season with the New York Islanders’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, where he led the team in scoring with 54 points (25g/29a) in 77 games.  He also appeared in one game with the Islanders, April 8 at Pittsburgh (no points).  Originally selected by Columbus in the seventh round (199th overall) of the 2002 Entry Draft, the Boston native has played in seven career NHL games, six with the Blue Jackets and one with the Islanders (0g/0a).

Radko Gudas watched the 2008 and '09 Entry Drafts from his home in Prague. He didn't hear his name called during either weekend, but it was another phone call that changed his career direction.
The call came from the Los Angeles Kings, who invited him to their training camp in September. He liked the experience so much that he decided to stay in North America. The Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League were the beneficiary of Gudas' decision, one that almost certainly will see him land with an NHL team this time around.

A junior player's draft season is the most important one he's played in to that point. It's the season that determines how close to reality his dream of playing in the NHL actually is. Ideally, a player going through his draft season wants as much ice time as possible to showcase his skills. At the same time, however, with hockey being a team sport, winning games and -- hopefully -- championships also is important. That's the situation in which Windsor Spitfires left wing Justin Shugg found himself. He could be fifth banana on an all-star caliber team that featured top-rated draft candidates like Taylor Hall and Cam Fowler, as well as NHL draft picks like Ryan Ellis, Adam Henrique, Greg Nemisz and Dale Mitchell. Or he could lobby for a trade to a team that would give him more ice time, but might not have the same kind of success.

For the first time, the Entry Draft will be held in Los Angeles, and a number of players from California are in line to hear their name called pretty early at the June 25-26 selection process.
Medicine Hat Tigers right wing Emerson Etem, No. 8 on NHL Central Scouting's ranking of North American skaters, grew up in nearby Long Beach. He led all first-year Western Hockey League players with 37 goals and was fourth with 65 points. He isn't the only highly regarded player with California roots. Five players in Central Scouting's top 100 North American skaters hail from the Golden State -- Etem; No. 32 Beau Bennett of Torrance (Penticton, BCHL); No. 51 Jason Zucker of Newport Beach (USNTDP); No. 68 Jacob Fallon of Riverside (Indiana, USHL); and No. 88 Taylor Aronson of Placentia (Portland, WHL).

The Ducks have signed defenseman Sheldon Brookbank to a two-year contract extension. Per club policy, no financial terms of the deal were disclosed. Brookbank, 29 (10/3/80), appeared in 66 games for the Ducks in 2009-10, scoring 0-9=9 points with a +10 rating and 114 penalty minutes (PIM). Brookbank, who appeared in his 100th career NHL game on Nov. 16 at Pittsburgh, set career highs in points, assists, plus/minus, PIM and blocked shots (59). The 6-1, 200-pound blueliner also finished second on the Ducks in plus/minus and PIM.

Brandon, MB - The Canadian Hockey League today announced ten national award winners for the 2009-10 season including Jordan Eberle of the Regina Pats as the CCM CHL Player of the Year. 

COLOGNE – The accredited media has voted the tournament All-Star Team in Cologne. Germany’s goalkeeper Dennis Endras took all available prizes as he was voted to media’s all-star team, and tournament Most Valuable Player, and elected Best Goalkeeper by the directorate.
 

The launch of the second phase of an Ottawa campaign to help cancer patients is getting a $1.8 million boost from a company headquartered in the area, Maplesoft Group president and CEO Jody Campeau announced Tuesday. The donation from the consulting and business solutions firm will go toward achieving the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation's $50-million target for its Courage Campaign, "It's important for us to know the money stays here locally," Campeau said after the announcement. "Giving back to the community is something that's ingrained in the fabric of our corporate culture at Maplesoft." Linda Eagen, president and CEO of the foundation, said the donation will help to achieve their campaign goals: shortening wait times at cancer facilities; developing research and new therapies; bringing care close to home and providing a better quality of life for cancer patients.

The Red Wings announced today that the club has signed forward Mitchell Callahan to a three-year entry level contract.  In accordance with team policy, additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Brian Burke, president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Friday that the hockey club has agreed to terms with free agent goaltender Jussi Rynnas (pronounced YEW-see RIH-nuhs) on a two year NHL Entry Level contract. “The Leafs feel that the addition of Jussi Rynnas bolsters the organization’s depth at the goaltending position,” said Burke.