The Senators have landed highly coveted NCAA prospect Stephane Da Costa, according to an Associated Press report. The free-agent forward signed a two-year, entry-level contract with Ottawa on Thursday.

Predators president/general manager David Poile announced Wednesday that the club has signed 2010 first-round pick Austin Watson to a three-year entry level contract. He spend the duration of the 2010-11 season with AHL's Milwaukee on an Amateur Tryout Agreement. Watson, 19, completed his third Ontario Hockey League season in 2010-11, posting 68 points in 68 games with the Peterborough Petes. The Ann Arbor, Mich., native tied for 12th in the OHL in power-play goals (14), tied for the club lead in goals, and ranked second on the Petes in points.

The Blue Jackets have signed goaltender Allen York to a standard two-year entry level contract, club Executive Vice President and GM Scott Howson announced today. York, 21, just completed his junior season at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he went 18-11-4 with a 2.17 goals-against average, .924 save percentage and two shutouts in 34 games. He was named Third Team All-ECAC after he finished the season ranked third in the league in wins and goals-against average and fifth in save percentage.

The Penguins signed forward Paul Thompson to a two-year, entry level deal on Monday, according to an Associated Press report. Thompson, the 2010-11 Hockey East Player of the Year while at New Hampshire, led the league with 52 points this season. He scored 28 goals, and led the No. 11 Wildcats to the NCAA Regional Finals, where they lost to No. 9 Notre Dame 2-1 on Sunday.

The Blue Jackets have signed forward Cam Atkinson to a two-year entry level contract, club Executive Vice President and GM Scott Howson announced today. Atkinson, 21, just completed his junior season at Boston College, where he registered 31 goals and 21 assists for 52 points, 28 penalty minutes and a +21 plus/minus rating in 39 games. He set a career high in goals, which led the nation for the second consecutive season, while ranking third (tied) in points and sixth (tied) in power play goals (11).

Longtime Avalanche captain Joe Sakic will serve as an executive adviser, involved in all facets of hockey operations. He will also represent the team at the board of governors meetings as an alternate governor. He assumes his new position at the end of the regular season, according to an ESPN.com report on Friday.

The Colorado Avalanche announced Friday that the team has signed defenseman Tyson Barrie and goaltender Calvin Pickard to an entry-level contracts. Barrie, 19, was named the Western Conference Finalist for the WHL Defenseman of the Year award, an honor he already captured last year. Pickard was Colorado's second-round selection (49th overall) in the 2010 Entry Draft. He led all Western Hockey League goaltenders with 68 appearances this season, posting a 27-33-8 record with a 3.36 goals-against average, .916 save percentage and one shutout for the Seattle Thunderbirds.

The Lightning have signed undrafted free agent goaltender Pat Nagle to a two-year entry-level contract today, vice president and GM Steve Yzerman said. Nagle played in 37 games with the Ferris State (Mich.) Bulldogs this season, posting an 18-14-5 record with a 2.02 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. He ranked fifth in NCAA Division-1 in GAA, tied for ninth for shutouts with three and tied for 10th in save percentage. A native of Bloomfield, Michigan, Nagle was named to the All-CCHA First Team this past season and was named a Hobey Baker Memorial Award candidate. Nagle has played in 101 career games with Ferris State from 2007-10. During that time he recorded a 2.32 GAA and a .916 save percentage with a 45-42-11 record with five shutouts. Prior to joining the Bulldogs, Nagle played under Norfolk Admirals head coach Jon Cooper with the St. Louis Bandits of the NAHL.

The Ducks announced today that the club has signed center Rick Schofield to a one-year entry-level contract. Per club policy, no financial terms of the deal were disclosed. Schofield collected a collegiate-high 35 points with 22 penalty minutes in 39 games with the Lake Superior Lakers of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association this season. Schofield led Lake Superior in scoring, goals, game-winning goals (3) assists, and tied for the team lead in power play goals (6) and appearances. He tallied a career-tying 2-2=4 points in his senior season debut on Oct. 8 vs. University of Minnesota-Duluth. In addition forward matched a career best with three assists on Jan. 28 at Bowling Green. Schofield increased his point total in each of his four collegiate seasons.

Brian Burke, President and GM of the Maple Leafs, announced Monday that the club has signed forward Tyler Brenner to a two-year entry level contract. Brenner will report to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies for the remainder of the season. Brenner has played the last three seasons for the NCAA’s Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers. This season the forward played 37 games, registering 26 goals, 15 assists and 41 points along with 39 penalty minutes. He ranked first on the Tigers in goals and powerplay goals (11), and second in points. He was named the Atlantic Hockey Association’s (AHA) player of the week for the period ending January 2 when he recorded eight points (six goals, two assists) in three games.