Jaromir Jagr may leave New York without even discussing a new contract with the Rangers. Jagr has been offered a three-year, $35M deal from Omsk of the Russian Super League, according to an article posted Friday on the New York Post?s web site.

The Panthers bought out the remaining year of Jozef Stumpel?s contract on Friday, Yahoo.com. reports. Stumpel recorded 20 points in 52 games with the Panthers last season.

The Avalanche and Jose Theodore have broken off talks of a contract extension, and it appears the veteran goaltender will test the free agent market, according to a published report in the Denver Post on Thursday.

Darcy Tucker was optimistic Thursday after his buyout from the Maple Leafs became official, according to an Associated Press report. ?I look at it as an opportunity,? the 33-year-old told the Barrie Examiner before teeing off in the Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic. ?A door is opening for me here, and there are teams out there that I think would be thrilled to have me in their lineup.? Sixteen months after signing Tucker to a four-year extension, buying out Tucker?s contract will cost the Maple Leafs $1M a season for the next six seasons, saving them $3M over the life of the contract.

Unrestricted free agent defenseman Brooks Orpik on Thursday rejected a contract offer from the Penguins, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Orpik?s agent Lewis Gross told the newspaper that the two sides are still talking.

Martin Straka has decided to leave the NHL and return to his former Czech club, according to an Associated Press report. Straka, who played for the Rangers the last three seasons after joining the NHL in 1992, will be a player and sports director for HC Lasselsberger Plzen, the club said on its Web site Thursday.

The Lightning are moving closer to making Vincent Lecavalier the face of the franchise for the rest of his career. According to a report from TSN of Canada on Wednesday, the Lightning and Lecavalier have agreed to terms on a nine-year contract extension worth $77M. When contacted by PA SportsTicker, the Lightning would not comment on any potential deal.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have bought out the contract of goaltender Marc Denis today, Executive Vice President and General Manager Jay Feaster announced. Denis had one year remaining on his contract. "Needless to say, we are all sorry things didn't work out differently for Marc with our organization,? Feaster said. ?To his credit, Marc has been the ultimate professional to the very end, handling this news with the same dignity and grace as he has handled everything that has happened during his tenure in Tampa. We wish him nothing but success as he moves forward with his career." Denis played in 54 games in two seasons with Tampa Bay from 2006-08. He posted a record of 18-23-1 with a .879 save percentage and a 3.32 goals-against average. In 2006-07 he posted a 17-18-1 record with a .883 save percentage and a 3.19 goals-against average in 44 games. He ranked fourth in the NHL, first among goaltenders with more than six shots faced, in shootout save percentage with .900, stopping 18 of 20 attempts against. He earned a 4-1 record in shootouts.

The NHL has opened negotiations with a new Russian hockey league to establish a temporary agreement to prevent either league from signing players under contract, according to The Associated Press. However, if such a deal isn't reached, Continental Hockey League founder Alexander Medvedev has no problem extending offers to current NHL stars. "I believe the clubs have a free hand to do whatever they want," Medvedev told The Associated Press. "Legally, they have the full right to do so because we have suffered in the past. We can't say, 'Look boys, it's morally not good without having an agreement. Don't do it.'"

Barry Melrose has been named the sixth head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, as announced by owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie. ?We are very pleased that Barry signed on to become the next head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning,? Barrie and Koules said in a joint statement. ?We believe Barry offers just what this team needs, and it starts with his ability to get all 20 players pushing in the same direction and playing at 100 percent night-in, night out. We like his enthusiasm and passion for the game, and we know the fans of Tampa Bay will take a liking to him.? A winner at every level he has coached, Melrose spent three seasons (1992-95) as the head coach in Los Angeles, leading the Kings to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 1993. Melrose, 51, began his coaching career in 1987 when he led the Western Hockey League?s Medicine Hat Tigers to a 44-22-6 record and the Memorial Cup title.