NHL News

Los Angeles - The Kings on Monday announced the team has agreed to terms on a two-year contract with restricted free agent defenseman Alec Martinez. Terms of the deal were not released. Martinez, 25, had one goal and four assists in 27 games with the Kings last season. He also had two assists in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games. A 2007 fourth-round draft pick by the Kings, Martinez has 12 goals and 33 points in 142 games, all with the Kings.

NY Islanders - The New York Islanders on Monday agreed to terms with restricted free agent forward Josh Bailey on a new five-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not released, but ESPN.com reported the total value of the deal at $16.5 million. "Josh has become an important member of the young core of the players we have in our dressing room," Islanders general manager Garth Snow said in a statement announcing the move. "We're excited to come to terms with him on a deal that will ensure he is a member of this team as we solidify ourselves as consistent playoff contenders."

Bailey, 23, had 11 goals and eight assists in 38 games last season, and joined with Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo to the give Islanders a potent second line behind the team's top trio of John Tavares, Matt Moulson and Brad Boyes. He also had three assist in six Stanley Cup Playoff games as the Islanders returned to the postseason for the first time since 2007. The ninth pick of the 2008 NHL Draft, Bailey has 58 goals and 139 points in 329 games, all with the Islanders.

Boston - The playoff run that took the Boston Bruins to within two victories of the team's second Stanley Cup win in three seasons was keyed at times by an infusion of youth; particularly from rookie defenseman Torey Krug. Three weeks after coming up short and falling to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games in the Cup Final, the Bruins will continue to look to their prospects in the upcoming 2013-14 season. "Obviously you want to develop your talent and bring them in and let them play. Sometimes there's not room for them and sometimes you use them as chips in deals, but you always have to develop," Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli said while attending the final day of the team's development camp on Sunday. "It will be good, there will be some young guys that will breathe new life and new enthusiasm into the team."

That focus on prospects means Chiarelli has ruled out the possibility of bringing back veteran wing Jaromir Jagr, who was acquired from the Dallas Stars at the Trade Deadline last season and contributed 10 assists in 22 playoff games. The 41-year-old's return to Boston appeared less likely when the team signed veteran forward Jarome Iginla to a one-year, $6 million contract. Boston will have some roster spots to fill after forwards Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley were traded to the Stars and defenseman Andrew Ference signed with the Edmonton Oilers. So a number of young players will be looking to crack the roster of the defending Eastern Conference champions. That list includes young forwards Reilly Smith and Matt Fraser, both of whom were acquired in the Seguin trade. There is also Ryan Spooner, who played four games with Boston during the 2012-13 season and led the team's American Hockey League affiliate in Providence in both assists (40) and points (57). Other prospects looking to crack the Bruins squad could include Jordan Caron, Jared Knight and Anthony Camara. "We've got enough candidates that are vying for these jobs that I'm going to wait and see how they play," Chiarelli said. "I have a general sense of how I think it'll end up, but I’m not going to comment on it publicly because I want to see."

Chiarelli also mentioned that goaltender Niklas Svedberg, who was a first-team AHL All-Star this past season playing in Providence, would be considered for the backup job to No. 1 goaltender Tuukka Rask. That job was vacated when previous backup Anton Khudobin signed a one-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Carolina - The Carolina Hurricanes on Monday announce the club had signed Elias Lindholm, its top pick at the 2013 NHL Draft, to a three-year, entry-level contract. Lindholm, the fifth pick of the draft, had 11 goals and 19 assists in 48 games with Brynas in the Swedish Hockey League last season. He also had four points in six games to help Sweden win the silver medal at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship.


Buffalo - With one year remaining on their contracts, Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller and forward Thomas Vanek have been the subjects of trade rumors in recent weeks. But Sabres general manager Darcy Regier doesn't believe he will move either player before the start of next season. "We've had some discussions regarding both those players," Regier told the team's website. "Obviously they're here and they're part of our organization. Nothing's changed in that regard."

One of the biggest issues facing Regier is most of his trading partners would have difficulty fitting either Miller or Vanek under the salary cap. Vanek has a $7.1 million cap charge and Miller's value comes in at $6.25 million, according to capgeek.com. Vanek had 20 goals and 21 assists in 38 games for the Sabres last season; Miller went 17-17-5 with a 2.81 goals-against average and .915 save percentage. "The cap is a real big part of it. Any discussions that I have now involve taking back money, moving money. Money plays a very big role," Regier said. "I think you can look at clubs you wouldn't expect to be up and around $60-million-plus and they're there."

The Sabres are still looking at free agency "just lightly right now," according to Regier."We've dabbled in it, but not in any real depth," he said.