Hybrid icing will be in effect for the start of the NHL regular season after it was approved by the players, according to an ESPN.com report on Monday.

The NHLPA gave the go-ahead for the rule change that makes icing a race to an imaginary line across the faceoff dots instead of the puck, which was given a trial run during the preseason.

The goal is to prevent serious injuries, such as the one that sidelined Joni Pitlanen for the entire season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded centreman Joe Colborne to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Calgary’s own fourth-round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. The pick can be upgraded to a third-round pick in 2014 if certain conditions are met in the upcoming season.

Colborne recorded three points (0g, 3a) in six preseason games with Toronto this month. He was obtained by the Maple Leafs from the Boston Bruins on February 18, 2011 and he appeared in 16 NHL regular season games plus two more in the postseason over parts of the past three seasons.

Damien Brunner has signed a two-year deal with the New Jersey Devils.

Brunner played for the Detroit Red Wings last season.

Brunner gives the Devils an abundance of forwards in camp.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed forward Mason Raymond to a one-year contract.

“Based on Mason’s play in the preseason, we feel he fits in well with our group and will have a significant role on our team,” said Nonis. “We agreed to terms over the weekend and look forward to him making a strong contribution this season.”

Raymond, 28, played 46 games for the Vancouver Canucks in 2012-13, collecting 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) with 16 penalty minutes and a plus-two (+2) rating. He ranked second on Vancouver in powerplay goals (4) and fourth in goals (tie-10).

The Capitals will finally get to host a Winter Classic as promised three years ago by the NHL.

A source confirmed to ESPN.com on Friday what local media first reported, that the Capitals will announce Saturday they are hosting the outdoor game on Jan. 1, 2015. 

The source told ESPN.com that no opponent or venue has been chosen. 

Soldier Field is set to host its first NHL game, according to an NHL.com report.

The Blackhawks and Penguins will face off there on March 1 in a regular-season game that will be part of the 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series.

More than 60,000 people are expected to attend, which will mark Chicago's second time hosting an outdoor contest. The Blackhawks played the Red Wings at Wrigley Field in the 2009 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic.

Speaking Tuesday for the first time since returning to the ice, Tim Thomas said it did not cross his mind to play again until watching his former Bruins teammates reach the finals.

"You know what really gave me the itch? Watching the playoffs," Thomas told reporters in Sunrise, Fla., where he is trying out for the Panthers.

There are 32 professional sports teams owned by those on Forbes' Richest 400 Americans list, which was published Monday.

NHL owners include Stan Kroenke (Avalanche), Josh Harris (Devils), Terry Pegula (Sabres, $3.1 billion) and Jeremy Jacobs (Bruins, $2.8 billion), according to an ESPN.com report.

Two-time Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas agreed to a tryout deal with the Panthers on Monday, nearly a year and a half removed from his last game in the NHL, according to an ESPN.com report.

Alex Pietrangelo has agreed to a seven-year, $45.5 million contract with the St. Louis Blues.

"What I said to him, 'This isn't a seven-year deal, this is just another stepping stone,'" GM Doug Armstrong said. "I think he's excited to be here, I know we're excited to have him, get him in here and turn him over to the coach."

Pietrangelo led the team's defensemen with 24 points -- five goals and 19 assists -- and was among the league leaders with an average of 25 minutes per game. 

Pietrangelo had been holding out.

"We kept him up to date until we couldn't speak to him anymore," Ken Hitchcock said. "He knows the last couple weeks what's going on ... players have kept him up to date."