The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed defenseman Dan Boyle to a six-year contract extension today, Executive Vice President and General Manager Jay Feaster announced. "We are extremely pleased to have Dan back in the fold for the next six years," Feaster said. "Our team and our fans have been able to witness first-hand, during Dan's injury and recovery, how tough it is to win without Dan in our line-up. As John Tortorella has consistently said, Danny is the player that makes our offense go from the back end, and this signing demonstrates the commitment of current and prospective ownership to ice a championship caliber team in Tampa." "I am grateful that we were able to get the deal done today," said Boyle. "I am very proud of what we have been able to accomplish here in Tampa over the past few years, including winning the Stanley Cup. And while this year may not have gone the way we have liked to this point, I am confident we can return to those winning ways very quickly. Otherwise, I would not have made the commitment to stay with the Lightning." Boyle, a native of Ottawa, Ontario, was selected to the NHL?s Post-Season Second All-Star Team in 2006-07 after setting a franchise record for goals by a defenseman in a season with 20. He ranked fourth on the Lightning in points (63), goals (20), assists (43) and power-play goals (10). His 63 points were the second most all-time by a Tampa Bay defenseman in a season. Considered one of the best puck-moving defensemen in the league, Boyle has played in 503 NHL games with the Lightning and the Florida Panthers with 75 career goals, 278 points, 33 power play goals and 13 game-winning goals. He has played in 374 games for Tampa Bay, recording 65 goals, 239 points, 30 power play goals and 12 game-winning goals. Boyle needs one goal to become the Lightning?s all-time leader in goals by a defenseman with 66 (Pavel Kubina, 65). He ranks 13th on the franchise list in games played, eighth in points, sixth in assists, and seventh in power play goals. Boyle, in his sixth season with Tampa Bay, won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2003-04 and played in all 23 games en route to his first championship. He scored two goals and recorded 10 points in those games. He was selected to the taxi squad for the 2006 Canadian Olympic Team. The 5-foot-11, 184-pound defenseman has three goals and 11 points in 17 games with the Lightning this season. He missed 45 games earlier this season following wrist surgery. He has one multi-goal game and three multi-point games since his return. He has averaged 27:34 of ice time per game this season, including playing more than 30 minutes in five games since returning. Boyle was acquired from Florida on January 7, 2002 in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He was originally signed by Florida as an undrafted free agent on March 30, 1998.

Peter Forsberg on Monday signed a contract with the Avalanche for the remainder of the season, according to a Yahoo Sports report. Suffering from foot and ankle injuries that hindered him in last year, Forsberg has been rehabilitating in his native Sweden. While rumors swirled as to which team he would sign with as a free agent, the former Hart Trophy winner recently had hinted he was not at full strength and may opt to sit out the entire NHL season.

The Associated Press reports that Darren McCarty has returned to the Red Wings, signing a one-year deal with the team four years after he left Detroit for Calgary. McCarty earned the opportunity to return to Detroit during productive stints with the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins and the IHL's Flint Generals, Red Wings' GM Ken Holland said on Monday.

Minnesota Wild President and General Manager Doug Risebrough today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed defenseman Nick Schultz to a six-year contract extension. Schultz, 25 (8/25/82), is in his sixth season with the Wild and has collected 73 points (18-55=73), 172 penalty minutes (PIM,) and a plus-25 rating in 428 NHL games. He has recorded 11 points (1-10=11), 34 PIM, and has served as team captain for January and February while appearing in all 61 games this season. Schultz leads the Wild in blocked shots (102) and ranks second in hits (87) this season. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound defenseman has missed just one game due to injury in six seasons and ranks third on the team?s all-time games played list. The Strasbourg, Saskatchewan native was originally selected by Minnesota in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. As per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Cliff Fletcher, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Saturday that the club has signed forward Alex Steen to a two-year contract extension. Steen, 23, has played 56 games for Toronto this season collecting 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists), with 22 penalty minutes. The native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, set career highs last season in games played (82), game-winning goals (5), and shots (192). He was also selected to participate in the YoungStars Game at the 2007 All-Star Game in Dallas. Steen has played in 213 career games for the Maple Leafs (2005-2008), registering 43 goals, 63 assists for 106 points, along with 90 penalty minutes. He was originally Toronto?s first choice, 24th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

The Blackhawks on Monday signed Brent Seabrook to a three-year contract extension, as reported by Yahoo Sports. Financial terms were not disclosed. ?Brent Seabrook is one of our core players, and we feel he has a brilliant future,? said GM Dale Tallon. ?Seabrook is a big part of our team and one of our team leaders. He is going to be a major part of our success for years to come.?

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has signed defenseman Fedor Tyutin to a contract extension. Tyutin, 24, has skated in 60 games with the Rangers this season, registering four goals and 10 assists for 14 points, along with 33 penalty minutes. Among defensemen, he currently ranks third on the team in goals (four), and fourth in assists (10) and points (14). He also leads the team in hits (163), ranks third in blocked shots (83), is tied for third in icetime per game (20:31), and ranks sixth in shots (104). His 163 hits rank eighth in the NHL. He tied a career-high with seven shots while skating in his 200th NHL game on December 16 vs. Phoenix. On January 22, he tallied a career-high, three points (three assists) vs. Atlanta. The 6-3, 210-pound defenseman has skated in 228 career NHL games in four seasons with the Rangers, registering 14 goals and 46 assists for 60 points, along with 149 penalty minutes. Last season, Tyutin registered two goals and 12 assists for 14 points, along with 44 penalty minutes in 66 games. In 2005-06, Tyutin achieved career-highs in several statistical categories, including games played (77), goals (six), assists (19), points (25) and penalty minutes (58). Among team defensemen, he ranked first in power play goals (four), tied for first in goals (six) and was second in scoring with 25 points. He made his NHL debut on February 12, 2004 at Philadelphia and picked up his first NHL point on February 16, 2004 vs. Ottawa. Tyutin has also skated in 14 post-season games with the Rangers, collecting six assists and eight penalty minutes. In the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he appeared in 10 matches, registering five assists and eight penalty minutes. He led all team defensemen with five assists and tied for third on the team with 21 hits. Internationally, the defenseman has represented his country in several tournaments, winning three Gold Medals at the World Junior Championships (2001, 2002, 2003). In addition, Tyutin tallied one assist and four penalty minutes in eight games for Team Russia at the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino, Italy. The Izhevsk, Russia native was originally selected as the Rangers second round draft choice, 40th overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

New York Rangers' President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has signed defenseman Dan Girardi to a contract extension. Girardi, 23, has skated in 59 games with the Rangers this season, registering eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points, along with 14 penalty minutes. Among defensemen, he currently ranks second on the team in goals (eight), third in assists (14), and second in points (22). He is also tied for the team lead in blocked shots (86), ranks second on the team overall in average icetime per game (21:16), fourth in hits (121), and fifth in power play goals (five). His eight goals are tied for 16th in the NHL in goals scored by a defenseman, and he is tied for 30th in the league with 121 hits. On October 18, he notched his first career goal, on the power play, at Atlanta. The 6-2, 208-pound defenseman has skated in 93 career NHL games in two seasons with the Rangers, registering eight goals and 20 assists for 28 points, along with 22 penalty minutes. In 2006-07, Girardi appeared in 34 games with the Rangers, collecting six assists, eight penalty minutes, and a plus-seven rating. He posted a plus or even rating in 28 of his 34 games and tied for ninth among NHL rookies in plus/minus rating (plus-seven). On February 17, 2007, he registered his first career NHL points (two assists) vs. Philadelphia. The Rangers posted a 19-9-6 record with him in the lineup following his NHL debut on January 27 at Philadelphia. He also skated in 10 post-season contests during the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Welland, Ontario native signed as a free agent with the Rangers on July 1, 2006.

Montreal Canadiens' General Manager Bob Gainey announced today the signing of free agent centreman Brock Trotter to a three-year contract (2007-08 to 2009-10). As per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. He will report to the Hamilton Bulldogs on Friday. In 2007-08 the 20-year-old Trotter played in 24 games with the University of Denver Pioneers, his third season with the NCAA team. He led the team with 31 points in 24 games (13 goals, 18 assists) and registered 18 penalty minutes. The 5?10?, 180-pound forward native of Brandon, Manitoba, led the Pioneers in scoring with 40 points in 40 games in 2006-07 (16 goals, 24 assists). He registered 76 points (32 goals, 44 assists) and 42 penalty minutes in three seasons with Denver (79 games).

All-Star defenseman Dion Phaneuf has signed a six-year contract extension with the Flames, according to an Associated Press report. Terms of the deal were not announced.