2K Sports has announced that the highly anticipated hockey title NHL 2K9 has gone gold and is now ready for production on all the major video game systems, according to their official web site. NHL 2K9, developed by Visual Concepts, will be available on September 9 for Xbox 360, Wii, PLAYSTATION 3 system, and PlayStation 2 system.

Andrej Meszaros believes that he will start a new chapter in his life after signing with the Lightning, according to St. Petersburg Times. "I wanted a long-term deal, and Tampa Bay, they wanted to give it to me," Meszaros said by phone from his Slovakia. "I wanted to stay in Ottawa, but it didn't work out. Now I'm really excited to go to Tampa and play. I've got lots of respect for the Ottawa organization. I really appreciate Tampa Bay had interest in me. Now, it's a new chapter in my life. I'm going to do my best to play hard and try to win a Stanley Cup." Tampa Bay signed Meszaros to a six-year, $24-million deal on Saturday.

Stars center Stu Barnes is retiring after 16 years in the NHL, according to an Associated Press report on Thursday. The Stars said that Barnes has agreed to a two-year contract to join Dave Tippett?s coaching staff as an assistant. The Stars also announced two-year contract extensions for associate coach Rick Wilson and assistant coach Mark Lamb to take them through the 2010-11 season.

The Sharks have invited left wing Jeff Friesen, their first-round pick in 1994, to training camp as a tryout, according to Mercury News. "He has a very good history here," General Manager Doug Wilson said, "and we look forward to him coming and being given the opportunity to play."

Mats Sundin may be touring various NHL cities, but Red Wings GM Ken Holland told the Detroit News that he is not interested in signing the veteran center. ?I don?t know Mats Sundin?s travel plans, but we?re not signing Mats Sundin,? Holland told the newspaper on Wednesday.

Todd Bertuzzi is happy to be back in Canada after stints in both Detroit and Anaheim, according to Canadian Press. "Here you can't go five or 10 games without a point without anyone noticing and there you can go under the radar a little bit," Bertuzzi said. "That's one thing that I think is going to benefit not just myself but this team. I think you are under the gun here and under the pressure of having to perform." He has never been very popular in Calgary, especially after his infamous attack on Steve Moore in March 2004 that ended Moore's career. "Obviously I'm well aware I wasn't the most popular pickup in Calgary Flame history but at the same time I think you've got to give it a little time and give me a chance," he added. "I can't lie to you it's not the jersey I thought I was going to wear, but at the same time I played enough games here to know what kind of fan base and what kind of team they are."

Avalanche centre Joe Sakic is scheduled to speak at a press conference Thursday but has given no indication whether he?ll play another season in Colorado or retire, according to a Canadian Press report. Sakic is set to appear before his charity golf tournament although his agent Don Baizley says, he is ?still is trying to make up his mind.?

Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg is aiming to notch 50 gaols and 100 points this season in Detroit, according to MLive.com. Zetterberg also hopes to help the Wings defend the Stanley Cup. "It is of course a great challenge to try to defend [our] Stanley Cup title. We also have great potential to do that because we have an equally good team," he told a Swedish media outlet. RealGM Note: Zetterberg was ranked 17th in season FIC and had a Reina Value of +150%.

Veteran Bryan Berard will attempt to make an NHL club on a tryout contract after being invited to training camp with the Flyers, according to an Associated Press report on Monday.. ?Bryan has been around a number of years now, (and) he has been a good defenseman for quite some time,? said Flyers' GM Paul Holmgren. ?I?m excited about Bryan?s willingness to come here on a tryout. It will certainly pick up the competition level of what is going to take place in training camp.?

The Blue Jackets on Friday announced they reached an affiliation agreement with the Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL, as reported by Yahoo.com.