NHL Roundup: Ovechkin leads all-star team, Leopold re-signs with Blues
The St. Louis Blues reached agreement Wednesday with defenseman Jordan Leopold on a two-year contract worth $2.5 million per season, according to multiple reports.
A 10-year veteran, Leopold joined the Blues in April after a trade with the Buffalo Sabres for two picks in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He played in 15 regular-season and six playoff games for St. Louis, scoring two points.
The 32-year-old Leopold was in the final year of a three-year contract with an annual salary of $3 million.
---Washington Capitals captain and Hart Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin headlined the NHL All-Star teams announced Wednesday.
Ovechkin, who led the NHL in goals, made the first team as the right winger and also received enough votes from the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at left wing to land a spot on the second team as well.
Joining Ovechkin on the first team were Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, Penguins left winger Chris Kunitz, Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban and Minnesota defenseman Ryan Suter, and Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
The second team was led by center Jonathan Toews of the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, who finished the regular season with 23 goals and 48 points.
The second team also included New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, Anahem Ducks defensemen Francois Beauchemin and Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, Tampa Bay Lightning right winger Martin St. Louis and Ovechkin at left wing.
Capitals coach Adam Oates shifted Ovechkin from right wing to left this year and the six-time All-Star had 32 goals nad 24 assists for 56 points during the regular season. Ovechkin came on strong after a slow start, scoring 23 goals in his final 23 games.
In addition to receiving the Hart Trophy as the league most valuable player, Ovechkin won the Rocket Richard Trophy for the third time.
---The Boston Bruins are nearing agreements on long-term contract extensions with center Patrice Bergeron and goaltender Tuukka Rask, according to reports.
Rask's deal is expected to be in the neighborhood of $56 million for eight years, CBC reported. Bergeron's contract could be slightly less at $52 million to $54 million for eight years, according to ESPN.
The 27-year-old Rask is a nine-year NHL veteran who could become a restricted free agency this summer. Bergeron, meanwhile, still has one year left on his current deal.
This past season, Rask had a one-year, $3.5 million deal. The new contract would double his annual salary, elevating him to a level with Nashville's Pekka Rinne as the only goalies in the league with a cap hit that high.
---The New York Islanders used a compliance buyout on goalie Rick DiPietro, the team announced.
The move makes the oft-injured DePietro an unrestricted free agent and rids the team of his contract. The 31-year-old veteran will received $1.5 million per year through the 2028-29 season.
The Islanders' goaltending situation is up in the air, leading to speculation that the team will be shopping for a goalie during free agency. Evgeni Nabokov, who started in goal for the Islanders last season, is a free agent and Kevin Poulin and Anders Nilsson are inexperienced.
---Los Angeles Kings forward Jarret Stoll suffered a seizure Wednesday morning and was rushed to a hospital but appears to be doing fine, the team said.
Stoll was expected to be released later Wednesday after more tests.
The 31-year-old suffered a concussion in the second round of the playoffs this year on a hit from San Jose forward Raffi Torres and sat out the remainder of the series with the Sharks. Stoll returned to play against the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference finals.
Stoll also had a seizure during the 2006-07 after sustaining a concussion while playing for the Edmonton Oilers.
