The Lightning have bought out the contract of left wing Todd Fedoruk, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced. Fedoruk had one year remaining on his contract. "On behalf of the entire Lightning organization, I would like to thank Todd for his service both on and off the ice," Yzerman said. "As the team heads in a different direction, we wish him the best of luck as he moves forward in his hockey career."

The Devils have hired former All-Star Adam Oates as an assistant coach on John MacLean's coaching staff. Oates was hired on Tuesday and is joining fellow assistant Larry Robinson and goaltending coach Chris Terreri under MacLean, who was named coach on June 17.

Mike Modano said he was "upset and disappointed" on Tuesday when it became official that the Stars were not going to offer him a contract next season. Dallas general manager Joe Nieuwendyk called Modano on Monday evening and told him the club was headed forward without him. "I always thought there would be an outside chance of something happening here," Modano said. "The dialogue that Joe and I have had going on for about a month-and-a-half led me to believe I needed to prepare for things not happening. But when it's here and reality sets in, it's disappointing. I didn't think it would happen. I was told some years ago that I'd be able to decide when I wanted to stop playing. But that was verbally and things change."

Congressman Mike Quigley announced the House passage of H. Res. 1439, a resolution honoring the Blackhawks, who defeated the Flyers to win the Stanley Cup on June 9. "About three weeks ago, several hundred brave Chicago Blackhawk hockey fans sat in Philadelphia and wondered why Patrick Kane was flying across the ice in celebration," Quigley said. "He scored the goal that no one saw; the goal that brought an end to 49 years of frustration for Blackhawk fans and exorcised the ghost of the demons of Jacques Lemaire in 1971, and he helped make the Chicago Blackhawks the Stanley Cup champions."

The Stars are not going to offer Mike Modano a contract for next season, general manager Joe Nieuwendyk said Tuesday. Modano has spent 22 seasons with the Stars. "This decision doesn't come easy, but it's something I've been talking to Mike about for quite some time," Nieuwendyk said Tuesday. "It's a difficult decision for fans and our entire organization. I feel it's necessary for us to move forward under these trying times. We have young players that I believe have to be put in a position where they can be successful and unfortunately the depth of our team is at the center position. I didn't anticipate Mike's role moving forward from a fourth-line position and, in fact, we need to incorporate a different look there as well."

The Blackhawks extended a qualifying offer to restricted free-agent winger Andrew Ladd, according to a source, a day before Monday's deadline, as reported by ESPN.com.

The Oilers got their man Friday, making Windsor Spitfires left wing Taylor Hall the No. 1 overall pick in Friday's NHL entry draft, as reported by ESPN.com. Hall, the projected top selection for nearly a year, joins an Edmonton team that finished with a league-low 62 points last season. "They're such a great franchise with so much history behind them," Hall said. "With the five [Stanley] Cups they won, it will mean a lot to me to join their organization and hopefully bring another one up there." The Bruins immediately selected consensus top-two pick Tyler Seguin with the second-overall selection. The Bruins held the No. 2 pick after last offseason's trade of Phil Kessel to the Maple Leafs.

Tom Renney figured he would become head coach of the Oilers. He just didn?t think it would happen so soon, according to an Associated Press report. Pat Quinn was removed as coach of the Oilers on Tuesday after his team finished with the worst record in the league in his first season. ?It?s not my decision,? Quinn said on a conference call from Toronto. ?I had been looking forward to coaching the team next year. A decision was made. They?ll have a place for me to continue to help them make their changes, which I will move to.?

The Sharks will not offer Russian goaltender Evgeni Nabokov a contract when he becomes an unrestricted free agent next week, cutting ties with one of the NHL team?s cornerstone players, according to an Associated Press report. GM Doug Wilson announced the decision Tuesday in a pre-draft news conference, shortly after delivering the news personally to Nabokov.

The Ducks announced on Tuesday that after 18 years in the NHL, team captain Scott Niedermayer has announced his retirement. Niedermayer will remain with the organization as a consultant to Executive Vice President/GM Bob Murray. Niedermayer is the only player in hockey history to have won a Stanley Cup, Olympic gold medal, World Championship, World Cup, Memorial Cup and World Junior title (no other player other than Niedermayer has even won five of those six). No NHL player won more than Niedermayer?s four Stanley Cups during his playing career (Draper, Holmstrom, Lidstrom, Maltby and McCarty have also won four in that time). In addition, Niedermayer is the only player in hockey history to have won a combination of four Stanley Cups and two gold medals. ?After two months of thinking about my future, I have decided to retire from playing in the National Hockey League,? said Niedermayer. ?It has been a difficult decision, but I feel it is the right time. I am excited about experiencing new opportunities, as well as pursuing my other interests. The last 18 years have been filled with more than I ever could have dreamed. There are many wonderful things I will miss about the game, especially the challenge of competing with my teammates. I wish them the best of luck in the future.?