Johnny Gaudreau signs 6-year deal with the Calgary Flames
Sportsnet: Johnny Gaudreau has signed a six-year contract with the Calgary Flames. Gaudreau’s new deal is expected to have an average annual value of $6.75 million. The AAV comes in just $400,000 higher than teammate Sean Monahan signed for earlier this off-season, though Monahan signed for seven years.The term covers one of Gaudreau’s free agency years.
Sidney Crosby out with a concussion
TSN: Four months after guiding the Pittsburgh Penguins to a second Stanley Cup, Sidney Crosby will not be on the ice on Thursday night to celebrate the banner’s rise to the rafters. Crosby was diagnosed with a concussion, the Penguins announced on Monday afternoon, without even appearing in a preseason game. It is Crosby’s first diagnosed concussion in nearly five years, since Dec. 2011. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said Crosby sustained the concussion during practice last Friday, but declined to disclose the sequence in which it occurred. Reporters who regularly cover the team did not recall any unusual interaction, both on the ice and talking to Crosby after practice. Crosby, 29, reported the ill-effects to Penguins brass the following day and was a late scratch for their preseason finale.
Nikita Kucherov close to signing with the Tampa Bay Lightning
TSN: The Tampa Bay Lightning could have restricted free-agent Nikita Kucherov in the lineup when they open their season on Thursday.
According to TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie, the negotiations are intensifying between the two sides and it’s “likely” Kucherov plays against the Detroit Red Wings later this week. The 23-year-old scored 30 goals and added 36 assists in 77 games last season. He added 11 goals and recorded 19 points in 17 playoff games.
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