The Blue Jackets have signed center Michael Chaput to a three-year entry level contract, club Executive VP of Hockey Operations and GM Scott Howson announced today. Chaput, 20, registered 21 goals and 42 assists for 63 points, had 47 penalty minutes in 57 games with Shawinigan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 2011-12. He led the club in assists, while ranking second in points and third (tied) in game-winning goals (four). Philadelphia's first pick, 89th overall, in the 2010 Entry Draft, Chaput was acquired along with Greg Moore from the Flyers in exchange for Tom Sestito on February 28, 2011.

The Blue Jackets have signed forward Nick Drazenovic to a one-year, two-way NHL-AHL contract, club Executive Vice President and GM Scott Howson announced today. Drazenovic, 25, registered 13 goals and 28 assists for 41 points, had 16 penalty minutes and was +1 in 41 games with the Springfield Falcons, Columbus' AHL affiliate in 2011-12. St. Louis' sixth pick, 171st overall, in the 2005 Entry Draft, Drazenovic spent four seasons in the Blues organization from 2007-11, making his NHL debut against the Predators on November 11, 2010.

Jiri Tlusty has signed a two-year contract worth $3.2M to stay with the Hurricanes, according to an ESPN.com report. The team said Tuesday that Tlusty agreed to a deal that will pay him $1.5M next season and $1.7M in 2013-14.

The Blue Jackets have signed forward Jake Hansen to a standard two-year entry level contract, club Executive Vice President and GM Scott Howson announced today. Hansen, 22, just completed his senior season at the U. of Minnesota, where he registered 16 goals and 22 assists for 38 points, 58 penalty minutes and a +19 plus/minus rating in 43 games. He set career highs in goals, assists, points, plus/minus rating, penalty minutes and games played, while helping the Gophers reach the Frozen Four.

The Avalanche announced today that the team has signed forward Paul Carey to a two-year, entry-level contract. He will report to Colorado's AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters. Carey, 23, just capped off his collegiate career by helping Boston College win the 2012 NCAA championship this past Saturday. The senior forward was named to the Frozen Four All-Tournament Team after scoring three goals in the Frozen Four, including the game-winner in the national title game against Ferris State. It was Carey's second national championship, as he also won as a sophomore at B.C. in 2010.

The Blue Jackets have signed forward Cody Bass to a one-year, two-way NHL-AHL contract, club Executive Vice President and GM Scott Howson announced today. Bass, 24, registered one assist and 32 penalty minutes in 14 games with the Blue Jackets in 2011-12 after signing with the club as a free agent on July 13, 2011. He added 5-6-11 and 43 penalty minutes in 23 games with the Falcons.

Former Hurricanes assistant Tom Rowe was hired as head coach of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl as the Russian club rebuilds after all of its players, coaches and staff were killed in a plane crash. Hurricanes spokesman Mike Sundheim confirmed Rowe's hiring Monday.

The Blue Jackets have signed defenseman Will Weber to a standard two-year entry level contract, club Executive Vice President and GM Scott Howson announced today. Weber, 23, just completed his senior season at Miami University (CCHA), where he registered four assists and 69 penalty minutes in 40 games. In 154 career games with the RedHawks, he tallied 4-26-30, 263 penalty minutes and a cumulative plus/minus rating of +26 from 2008-12. Weber was the Blue Jackets' third pick, 53rd overall, in the 2007 Entry Draft. Prior to his career at Miami, he notched 8-10-18, 137 penalty minutes and was +12 in 46 games with Chicago of the United States Hockey League.

Jeremy Welsh is expected to skate for the Hurricanes at Florida on Saturday night. That's less than 48 hours after his Union College team lost in the NCAA semifinals and he signed with Carolina as a college free agent. "I want to see him play, and I'm sure he'll get some good ice time," Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller said Friday after practice.

The Ducks have announced that the club has signed center Chris Wagner to a three-year entry-level contract. Wagner recently completed his sophomore season with Colgate of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC), scoring 17-34=51 points with 69 penalty minutes. Leading all NCAA Division 1 underclassmen in scoring, Wagner's 51 points currently rank sixth in the nation.