The Flames have signed restricted free agent Ryan O'Reilly to an offer sheet, the team announced Thursday.

The offer is for two years, $10M, according to a source.

The Avalanche now have until March 7 to match the offer or accept draft picks as compensation. Colorado would receive a first- and a third-round draft pick if they choose not to match, according to an ESPN.com report.

Twice in one week, Rick DiPietro has been the talk of the Twitter-verse, but this time the jabs and jokes came to a halt after a TV reporter revealed that DiPietro said he had suicidal thoughts over the past three years.

However, the former Islanders goaltender insists that those comments he made to News 12 Long Island were not meant to be taken literally.

"I was just trying to draw attention to how important my wife has been to me," DiPietro told ESPNNewYork.com in a telephone interview.

The Capitals have claimed Aaron Volpatti off waivers from the Canucks, according to an ESPN.com report.

The Capitals on Thursday added the 27-year-old left wing, who had one goal and 28 penalty minutes in 16 games with Vancouver this season.

Predators President of Hockey Operations/GM David Poile announced today that the club has acquired defenseman Joe Piskula from the Flames for forward Brian McGrattan. Piskula will report to the Predators primary developmental affiliate, the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals.

Piskula, 28, has 10 points and 51 penalty minutes in 46 games for Calgary’s AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat, in 2012-13.

The blueliner played 112 games during a three-year career at the University of Wisconsin from 2004-07, posting 22 points (3g-19a) and 80 penalty minutes. 

Ryan Kesler lasted only seven games before being forced out of the Canucks' lineup once again.

The team said Wednesday that Kesler will be out for up to six weeks because of a broken right foot. The fracture was revealed on a CT scan, according to an ESPN.com report.

The Canadiens have acquired winger Michael Ryder from the Stars in exchange for winger Erik Cole, according to an ESPN.com report on Tuesday.

The Canadiens also received a third-round draft pick from the Stars.

The NHL is proposing a new realignment plan which would feature playoff wild-card spots plus see the league go from six divisions to four.

The plan was detailed in an NHL memo sent to all 30 clubs Tuesday, which a team source leaked to ESPN.com.

The Kings have acquired a conditional draft selection in the 2013 NHL Draft from the Flyers in exchange for forward Simon Gagne, Kings President/GM Dean Lombardi announced today.
 
Gagne, 32, has played in 11 games this season with the Kings, recording five assists and two penalty minutes.  He has played in 772 career NHL regular season games with the Flyers, Lightning and Kings, recording 586 points and 318 penalty minutes.  In 109 career NHL playoff games he has 59 points and 32 penalty minutes.
  

Penguins star Evgeni Malkin has been diagnosed with a concussion and placed on IR Monday, retroactive to Feb. 22.

Malkin was injured in the third period of Friday's game against the Panthers after getting nudged by Florida's Erik Gudbranson. Malkin's back hit the boards at full speed and his head snapped back upon impact.

Coyotes GM Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have signed defensemen David Schlemko to a two-year contract.  

“We are very pleased to sign David to a multi-year contract," said Maloney. "David is a skilled defenseman and has developed into a reliable player for us. In today's game where skating, mobility and puck movement are so important for defensemen, David's talent makes us a better team."

Schlemko has recorded 0-2-2 in nine games with the Coyotes this season. He ranks second on the team with 26 blocked shots.