The St. Louis Blues have re-signed defenseman Carl Gunnarsson to a two-year, $3.5 million contract, the team announced Thursday.

Gunnarsson would have become an unrestricted free agent on Monday.

The Carolina Hurricanes announced Thursday that they have bought out the final year of veteran forward Patrick Marleau's contract.

Marleau, 39, will be free to sign with any team beginning Monday. He had one year and $6.25 million left on a three-year deal he originally signed with Toronto.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have extended the contracts of impending restricted free agents Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson, shoring up a second and third line that helped the Maple Leafs net a triple-digit point total for consecutive seasons.

If restricted free-agent forward Mitch Marner plans to sign an offer sheet to set his price tag, there's no guarantee the Maple Leafs will match it, according to GM Kyle Dubas.

Marner, who led the team with 94 points last season, is one of three RFAs whom Dubas is negotiating with, along with forwards Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson.

The Vancouver Canucks have signed defenseman Alexander Edler to a two-year, $12 million contract, general manager Jim Benning announced Thursday.

Edler, 33, could have become an unrestricted free agent next month.

Forward Kevin Hayes has avoided unrestricted free agency by agreeing to a seven-year, $50 million contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, according to a report by TSN on Tuesday night.

The San Jose Sharks have kept one of the premier free agents off the market, signing defenseman Erik Karlsson to an eight-year deal.

While the team didn't disclose terms, multiple reports say he will receive $11.5 million per season, making him the highest-paid defenseman in the league

The Washington Capitals have re-signed forward Carl Hagelin to a four-year, $11 million deal.

The 30-year-old, who was set to become an unrestricted free agent, was acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in February.

Sabres general manager Jason Botterill remains confident that 40-goal scorer Jeff Skinner will re-sign with the team.

Contract talks began in January. Botterill says negotiations continue and both sides are focused on having a contract completed before the NHL's free-agency period opens July 1.

The Philadelphia Flyers acquired center and pending unrestricted free agent Kevin Hayes from the Winnipeg Jets for a 2019 fifth-round draft pick on Monday.

"By gaining the rights to Kevin at this time, it provides us with an opportunity to negotiate with him prior to July 1, when he is due to become an unrestricted free agent," Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher said.