The Flames have signed defenseman Mark Giordano to a five-year contract extension. The deal is worth $20.1 million, an average of $4.02 million a year, a source told ESPN.com.

Predators President of Hockey Operations/GM David Poile announced today that the club has signed free-agent forward Steve Begin to a one-year, two-way contract worth $550,000 on the NHL level and $105,000 on the AHL level. Begin cleared waivers on Thursday and will report to Milwaukee (AHL). Begin has played 486 career NHL games since 1997-98, posting 100 points and 535 penalty minutes. The Trois-Rivieres, Que., native spent the 2009-10 season with the Boston Bruins, posting 14 points and 53 penalty minutes while playing a career-high 77 games.

The Sharks signed captain Joe Thornton to a $21M, three-year contract extension Saturday, locking up another key player before he could leave for free agency. The Sharks announced the deal hours before their home opener against Atlanta. It comes as little surprise given that Thornton has long talked about his desire to stay in San Jose and the Sharks never wanted him to test free agency after this season.

The Ducks announced today that the club has signed goaltender Igor Bobkov to a three-year entry-level contract. Per club policy, no terms of the deal were disclosed. Bobkov appeared in 14 contests with Magnitogorsk of the Russian junior league last season, posting an 8-1 record with two shutouts and a 2.71 GAA. A native of Surgud, Russia, Bobkov helped lead Magnitogorsk to the league championship in April and was Russia?s starting goalie at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Saskatchewan. In six World Junior appearances, he went 3-3 with one shutout, a tournament-leading 2.45 GAA and .925 SV%.

The Ducks signed veteran defenseman Andreas Lilja on Monday to bolster a defense with major problems after just two games. Lilja signed a one-year, $600,000 contract shortly before Anaheim wrapped up a three-game season-opening road trip at St. Louis.

The Red Wings have signed coach Mike Babcock to a four-year contract extension. Detroit general manager Ken Holland told The Associated Press that Babcock signed the deal Monday morning. Babcock, Holland and assistant Jim Nill are now all under contract with the franchise through the 2014-15 season.

The Bruins have signed defenseman Zdeno Chara to a seven-year contract extension. The deal is worth $45.5 million and will keep Chara in Boston through the 2017-18 season. "Obviously, it's the commitment that I have and that I've felt toward the Bruins since I arrive in Boston with [Bruins GM] Peter [Chiarelli]," Chara said. "It was my goal to establish this team, become contenders, and obviously I want to be a big part of it. It's a very solid organization and I'm very proud to be a Bruin. I feel very comfortable around the whole team, coaching staff, management, and players. I'm very proud to be a Bruin, and my first priority and goal was to stay in Boston. I'm very thankful to the Jacobs family, Peter, [Bruins president] Cam [Neely] and all the players."

The Blue Jackets have signed forward Oliver Gabriel to a three-year standard entry level contract, club Executive Vice President and GM Scott Howson announced today. As is club policy, terms were not disclosed. ?Oliver is a good, young player and we are happy to have him as a member of our organization,? said Howson. ?He really impressed us during our development camp this summer and had a very good training camp as well.? Gabriel, 19, has tallied one goal and three assists for four points with 66 penalty minutes and a cumulative plus/minus rating of +10 in 94 career games with the WHL?s Portland Winterhawks. He scored a goal in two preseason games with Columbus and has collected 1-3-4 and six penalty minutes in three games after being returned to Portland by the Blue Jackets.

Coyotes GM Don Maloney announced today the Coyotes have signed defenseman Brandon Gormley to an entry level contract. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Last season, the defenseman played 58 regular season games with the Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) recording 43 points and 54 penalty minutes. In two games with Moncton this season, Gormley has recorded five points. "We are very pleased to sign Brandon," said Maloney. "He is a talented young defenseman and we are confident that he will be a big part of our organization for years to come." Gormley, 18, was selected by the Coyotes in first-round, 13th overall, in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

The Bruins have signed center Patrice Bergeron to a three-year extension. The deal, worth $15 million, will keep the 25-year-old forward in Boston through the 2013-14 season. "I knew it was going to get done, because at the end of the day I was the one who was going to say yes no matter what," Bergeron said Friday. "I just feel comfortable in Boston, it's my home now. I just wanted to stay in Boston and I think [general manger] Peter [Chiarelli] and the Bruins knew it all along."