Faceoff Factor

Recent NHL and European Transactions

Michael Farkas | National Hockey League

Aug 14, 09:40 PM | Hype this story!

After missing all but one game of the 2007-08 season due to a heart condition, Sabres defenseman Teppo Numminen has re-upped with the club. He signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract. Numminen turned 40 last month and is a veteran of more than 1,300 NHL games.

The Sabres also inked forward Tyler Bouck. Bouck spent last season as the captain of the Portland Pirates (AHL) where he notched 29 points in 79 games. He has appeared in 91 NHL games with Dallas, Phoenix and Vancouver since turning pro in 2000-01.

Nashville’s second selection and first round pick from 2008 has signed a three-year entry-level deal with the club. Goaltender Chet Pickard was named the WHL’s goaltender of the year last season with the Tri-City Americans. The three seasons will remain intact as long as Pickard does not play more than nine NHL games in his junior-eligible years. In other words, as long as he’s going back to juniors anyway, this will not make him a free agent any sooner.

Also signing his three-year entry-level deal was the second overall selection in 2008, Los Angeles’ Drew Doughty. Doughty will have a legitimate chance to make the Kings roster out of training camp. The 6’1, 220-pound d-man, in all likelihood, received the max salary and bonuses.

The Senators signed Zack Smith to a three-year entry-level contract. Smith was the 79th overall selection by Ottawa in 2008. The 20-year-old spent last season with Swift Current (WHL) before joining the Manitoba Moose (AHL) for a shortened playoff run.

The Florida Panthers have signed Janis Sprukts to a one-year deal. The Panthers retained the rights to the Latvian-born center despite him spending the year with Lukko Rauma [SML]. The 6’3, 235-pounder was the 234th selection in the 2000 draft. Since then he has spent two seasons in the QMJHL, two seasons in Finland, along with stops in the AHL, NHL, Latvia, Belarus and Denmark.

Colorado prospects Tom Fritsche and Nigel Williams have both accepted their respective entry-level contracts. Fritsche completed his time with Ohio State (NCAA) last season and joined Colorado’s affiliate in Lake Erie (AHL) at the tail end of the season. Williams was acquired by Memorial Cup finalist Belleville (OHL) from Saginaw (OHL). Williams gathered seven goals and 18 points in 21 playoff games for Belleville in 07-08.

Aaron Downey has re-signed with the Detroit Red Wings. He was signed to a one-year, two-way deal worth $575,000. The soon-to-be 34-year-old appeared in 56 games last season for Detroit but none in the playoffs as the Wings went on to win the Stanley Cup.

The St. Louis Blues have extended an entry-level contract to former University of North Dakota goaltender Jean-Philippe Lamoureux. Lamoureux, who will be 24 on the 20th, spent three years with the USHL’s Lincoln Stars before spending the next four with the Fighting Sioux. JPL posted a 1.75 GAA and .932 save pct. while registering a 27-11-4 record with six shutouts.

Defenseman Chad Anderson, who spent last year with the Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL), has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Montreal Canadiens. Anderson, 26, spent three seasons with Tri-City (USHL) before moving to University of Alaska-Anchorage (NCAA) for four full seasons ending in 2007. He has yet to play an NHL game.

Quick Hits:

Notable Training Camp Invites:

Jeff O’Neill by Carolina (no 07-08 team)
Richard Matvichuk by Columbus (07-08: Lowell [AHL])
Petr Nedved by N.Y. Rangers (07-08: Sparta Praha [Czech])

Notables Off to Europe:

Stephen Dixon from Anaheim to Brynäs IF [SEL]
Jeff Guiliano from Los Angeles to Dinamo Minsk [KHL]
Sean Hill from Minnesota to EHC Biel/Bienne [Switz]
Jan Hlavac from Nashville to Linköpings HC [SEL]
Zbynek Hrdel from Tampa Bay to HC Sparta Praha [Czech]
Mike Johnson from St. Louis to Kölner Haie [DEL]
Josh Langfeld from Nashville to Frankfurt Lions [DEL]
Trevor Letowski from Carolina to Barys Astana [KHL]
David Ling from Toronto to EHC Biel/Bienne [Switz]
Duncan Milroy from Montreal to ERC Ingolstadt [DEL]
Jaroslav Modry from Philadelphia to HC Liberec [Czech]
Bryan Muir from Toronto [AHL] to Dinamo Minsk [KHL]
Geoff Platt from Anaheim to Ilves Tampere [SML]
Byron Ritchie from Vancouver to HC Genéve-Servette [Switz]
Mathias Tjarnqvist from Phoenix to Rögle BK [SEL]