NHL Capsules: Capitals acquire enforcer King from St. Louis
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — The Washington Capitals have acquired enforcer D.J. King from the St. Louis Blues for prospect Stefan Della Rovere.
The deal was announced Wednesday.
King, a left winger, has spent four seasons with the Blues but has played in only 13 games over the last two seasons because of injuries. He dislocated his shoulder in the 2008-09 opener, and managed only 12 games last season due to a broken finger.
King has amassed 185 penalty minutes along with four goals and five assists over 101 NHL games.
Della Rovere, a left winger, was a seventh-round draft pick by the Capitals in 2008.
Ducks sign 1st-round pick Fowler to 3-year deal
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Anaheim Ducks have signed defenseman Cam Fowler to a three-year contract, likely putting the first-round draft pick on a fast track to the NHL.
The Ducks announced the deal Wednesday.
Anaheim drafted Fowler with the 12th overall selection last month after the projected top-five pick unexpectedly fell several spots.
The 18-year-old had eight goals and 47 assists for the Windsor Spitfires last season during their run to the Memorial Cup title. The puck-moving defenseman also played for the U.S. junior team that beat Canada in the world championships.
The Ducks are hoping Fowler eventually emerges as a successor to Scott Niedermayer, their recently retired captain idolized by Fowler.
Blackhawks re-sign Bickell, Skille
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks have re-signed left wing Bryan Bickell to a three-year contract and right wing Jack Skille to a one-year contract.
Bickell and Skille agreed to terms with the Blackhawks on Wednesday.
Bickell had a career-best three goals and four points in 16 regular-season games with the Blackhawks last season. Overall, the Bowmanville, Ontario native has notched five goals, six points and nine penalty minutes in 23 career regular-season games with the Blackhawks over parts of three seasons.
Skille appeared in 30 games with the Blackhawks over the last three seasons, collecting eight points, two of them in six regular-season games last season. He was selected by the Blackhawks with the seventh overall pick in the 2005 National Hockey League Entry Draft.
Senators hire Rick Wamsley as goaltending coach
OTTAWA (AP) — The Senators are bringing in Rick Wamsley as goaltending coach.
Ottawa general manager Bryan Murray made the announcement Wednesday.
Wamsley spent the past four seasons with the St. Louis Blues. In 43 games as interim head coach of the Blues' Peoria AHL team, Wamsley went 17-20-6 with the Rivermen.
He also spent seven years as a goaltending coach and scout with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and worked as an assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
During his playing career, Wamsley won 204 games in 12 NHL seasons with Montreal, St. Louis, Calgary and Toronto.
Blue Jackets re-sign Stralman
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Columbus Blue Jackets and defenseman Anton Stralman have agreed on a one-year contract, just minutes before they were to go to arbitration on Wednesday morning.
General manager Scott Howson announced the re-signing.
Stralman, who turns 24 on Sunday, had six goals and 28 assists with 37 penalty minutes in 73 games with the Blue Jackets last season, leading club defensemen in assists and points and ranking second in goals and time on ice (20:29).
The native of Tibro, Sweden, was acquired on Sept. 28, 2009, from Calgary for a third-round pick in this summer's draft. He has played in 161 games with the Blue Jackets and Toronto Maple Leafs.
D Fraser signs 1-year, $500,000 deal with Devils
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Defenseman Mark Fraser has agreed to a one-year, $500,000 contract with the New Jersey Devils.
The deal will allow the sides to avoid a salary arbitration hearing set for later this week.
Fraser played in 61 games last season, his first full season in the NHL. The 23-year-old had three goals and three assists.
The Devils also announced Wednesday that rookies will report to training camp Sept. 13, four days before the veterans.
Preds prospects to play 2 games against Florida
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A team of Nashville Predators prospects will play two games against Florida Panthers draft picks Sept. 15-16 in Sunrise, Fla.
The games will precede the opening of Predators training camp Sept. 17.
The first preseason game for the team is Sept. 23 at home against Carolina.
