ARLINGTON, Va. — First Alex Ovechkin, now Nicklas Backstrom. The Washington Capitals have their two best players locked into big money contracts for a decade.
So, who buys lunch?
“Maybe we’ll have to do rock, paper, scissors,” Backstrom said with a smile.
The 22-year-old Swede signed a 10-year, $67 million deal Monday, a major investment in a player who has rapidly developed into one of the best centers in the NHL. He and two-time league MVP Ovechkin have developed a partnership that accounted for 210 points this season, making them the top scoring teammate duo in the league.
“We now have two of maybe the top five players in the world playing on our team for many years to come,” coach Bruce Boudreau said.
Panthers name Tallon new GM
Dale Tallon has been hired as general manager of the Florida Panthers. The Panthers made the announcement Monday, a day ahead of the press conference at which Tallon is to be introduced. He comes to Florida from the Chicago Blackhawks, where he most recently served as a senior adviser of hockey operations.
Sabres, RW Grier agree to deal
The Buffalo Sabres agreed to terms on a one-year contract with veteran forward Mike Grier. Grier, who could have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, reached the deal with the Sabres.
The gritty forward scored 10 goals and had 22 points in 73 games for Buffalo this past season. He also had a pair of goals in the Sabres’ six-game loss to Boston in the first round of the playoffs.
Wild sign Chad Rau
Minnesota signed Chad Rau to a two-year deal. The center ranked third in the league in goals and fourth in scoring for the Wild’s AHL affiliate in Houston last year. The Wild have been looking for depth at center behind stalwart Mikko Koivu and Rau will get a chance with his hometown team.
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