The Avalanche announced today that the team has signed forward Cody McLeod to a three-year contract extension through the 2017-18 season and defenseman Brad Stuart to a two-year extension through the 2016-17 campaign.

“Cody has been an Avalanche his entire career,” said Avalanche Executive Vice President/GM Joe Sakic. “He brings grit, energy and passion to the rink every single day.  We are excited to have him under contract for another three years.”

“Brad is a steady, experienced defenseman who is a solid addition to our blue line,” added Sakic.

McLeod, 30, has spent his entire career with the Avalanche after signing as a free agent on July 6, 2006.  The Binscarth, Manitoba native has appeared in 467 career games, tallying 91 points and 978 penalty minutes.  

Stuart, 34, is entering his first season with Colorado after being acquired from San Jose on July 1, 2014.  He has appeared in 985 career games in the NHL, recording 322 points. 

Restricted free-agent Jaden Schwartz signed a two-year contract with the Blues on Saturday.

The deal is worth $2.35M on average per season, a source told ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun.

"We are excited to have Jaden in the fold for the next two seasons," GM Doug Armstrong said in a statement. 

The Predators have agreed to terms on a new deal with defenseman Ryan Ellis.

Ellis will earn an average of $2.5M a year for five years, a source told ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun. 

GM David Poile announced the deal Thursday before the Predators' preseason home opener against the Lightning.

Pro golfer Dustin Johnson and fiancee Paulina Gretzky are having a baby.

Gretzky posted a photo on Instagram late Tuesday announcing the news.

The news was confirmed by Johnson's agent at Hambric Sports. The daughter of hockey great Wayne Gretzky did not say when they were expecting. The two announced their engagement in August 2013.

The Red Wings are facing a key injury, announcing Wednesday that center Pavel Datsyuk will be out a month with a separated right shoulder.

"It's going to be around four weeks, give or take, depending on the healing process," Red Wings GM Ken Holland told ESPN.com Wednesday.

"The good news is, two weeks of the healing process is going to be during preseason."

Hurricanes center Jordan Staal broke his lower right leg in a preseason game at Buffalo on Tuesday night, general manager Ron Francis said.

Staal is scheduled to return to Raleigh, North Carolina, with the team Wednesday after its preseason game against the Islanders, and will be evaluated by team doctors the next day.

Francis said he didn't have a timetable for Staal's recovery.

Amid the NFL's domestic violence scandals, Gary Bettman says the NHL has been proactive about off-ice conduct. 

Speaking at The Canadian Club of Toronto, the NHL commissioner did not specifically address football's problems but said hockey has tried to stay ahead of similar issues by educating players. Bettman added that sports can be a "vehicle for positive social change."

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed defenceman Cody Donaghey to a three-year entry level contract.

Donaghey, 18, registered 38 points (9 goals, 29 assists) in 67 regular season games with the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season. The 6-1, 185-pound defenceman also collected 8 points (1 goal, 7 assists) in five playoff games with the Remparts last season. A native of St. John’s, Newfoundland, Donaghey led all defensemen on his team in both points (38) and goals (9) during the 2013-14 season.

Drew Doughty missed the first practice of training camp on Friday with an upper-body injury.

The Los Angeles Kings don't yet have a timetable for Doughty's return.

Doughty was injured during an offseason workout back home in Ontario, but has skated in recent days.

Claude Giroux will miss at two weeks after sustaining a lower-body injury on the first day of training camp.

Giroux left the ice only 15 minutes into the first session at camp.

Giroux was selected last season as a Hart Trophy finalist, the league's MVP award. Giroux matched a career high with 28 goals and finished third in the NHL scoring race with 86 points.