Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has signed an eight-year, $41 million contract before he would have reached unrestricted free agency this offseason, the team announced Tuesday.

His $5.125 million cap hit is lower than that of his previous contract, which was $6 million annually on a seven-year deal. His new contract also carries a no-movement clause.

Veteran forward Wayne Simmonds signed a two-year contract extension with the Maple Leafs on Tuesday.

The team said his contract has an average annual value of $900,000.

Don Granato has been named as the new head coach of the Buffalo Sabres, the team announced Tuesday.

Granato's deal with the Sabres is for three years, a source told ESPN.

Granato, 53, served as interim coach of the Sabres for the final 30 games of last season after Ralph Krueger was fired in March.

Center Blake Lizotte has re-signed with the Los Angeles Kings on a one-year, $800,000 contract extension.

The Kings announced the signing Thursday of Lizotte, a restricted free agent.

The Dallas Stars signed forward Rhett Gardner to a $1.5 million, two-year contract after the 25-year-old recorded the first two points of his career with Dallas this season.

Gardner had a goal and an assist in 28 games and finished with 52 hits.

The Seattle Kraken have named Dave Hakstol as their first head coach.

Hakstol, 52, was an assistant coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs for the past two seasons. He previously coached the Philadelphia Flyers for three and a half seasons, before he was fired in the 2018-19 season. When he was hired by Philadelphia in 2015, Hakstol -- a longtime coach at the University of North Dakota -- became the first coach to jump from the NCAA to the NHL in 33 years.

The Dallas Stars are bringing back veteran forward Blake Comeau on a $1 million, one-year contract.

The 35-year-old Comeau led Dallas forwards with 106 hits while scoring 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) last season. Comeau has spent three of his 15 seasons with the Stars.

The Arizona Coyotes and British forward Liam Kirk have agreed to terms on an entry-level contract three years after he became the first player born and trained in England to be drafted, his agent and Ice Hockey UK said Friday.

The 21-year-old Kirk was the joint top goalscorer at the recent world championship in Latvia, where he had seven goals in as many games for Britain.

Jason Spezza signed a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Maple Leafs on Wednesday.

The forward, who turned 38 on Sunday, could have become an unrestricted free agent July 28. He returns for his 19th season in the NHL, the past two with the Maple Leafs, after scoring 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 54 regular-season games to help Toronto (35-14-7) win the Scotia North Division. Spezza scored five points (three goals, two assists) in the Stanley Cup First Round, a seven-game loss to the Canadiens.

"I feel like there's a lot of unfinished business," Spezza said June 2, after the Maple Leafs were eliminated. "I feel very invested in the group here and hopeful that I get another opportunity to do that again next year and push this team over the top."

The Anaheim Ducks have hired Geoff Ward and Mike Stothers to replace assistant coaches Mark Morrison and Marty Wilford.

The Ducks announced the overhaul of head coach Dallas Eakins' staff Tuesday. Morrison and Wilford both could end up in other jobs in the organization.