Jagr, Babcock and Gagner sign deals

New Jersey - The New Jersey Devils reportedly have signed one of the more coveted unrestricted free agents remaining on the market, with ESPN.com reporting Monday that the team has signed veteran right wing Jaromir Jagr to a one-year contract. According to the ESPN report, the deal will officially be announced Tuesday. Jagr split last season with the Dallas Stars and Boston Bruins, totaling 16 goals and 19 assists in 45 games, while averaging 18:20 of ice time. He had 10 points, all assists, in 22 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Bruins. Even at age 41, Jagr remains a valuable asset to any team seeking a big body with some scoring touch. The Devils certainly are in need of a power forward-type, following the losses of Ilya Kovalchuk to retirement and David Clarkson to the Toronto Maple Leafs during free agency. Jagr has 681 goals and 1,688 points in 1,391 regular-season games spanning 19 seasons with six different clubs.
Olympics 2014 - Hockey Canada announced Monday that Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock will return as coach of Canada's Olympic team for the 2014 Sochi Olympics in February. Babcock will be joined by St. Louis Blues coach Ken Hitchcock, Dallas Stars coach Lindy Ruff and Claude Julien of the Boston Bruins. Babcock, Hitchcock and Ruff were part of the coaching staff that helped Canada win Olympic gold in 2010 in Vancouver. The 50-year-old Babcock is the only coach with a Stanley Cup win, an IIHF world championship and an Olympic gold medal on his resume. "I am extremely proud to represent my country and coach Team Canada," Babcock said in a statement. "To have had the opportunity to share the Olympics with family, friends and all Canadians in Vancouver was something very special. To win gold in Canada was a dream come true. In February, we will have a whole set of new challenges with a new group of players and staff. I am very excited to be working with Claude, Lindy, Ken, the management group, support staff and players to defend our Olympic gold medal."

The 2014 Olympic hockey tournament runs Feb. 12-23. The coaching staff was named by Canada's management group, which consists of executive director Steve Yzerman and Doug Armstrong, Ken Holland, Kevin Lowe, Bob Nicholson and Brad Pascall. The coaches will conduct Canada's Olympic orientation camp in Calgary from Aug. 25-28. "Canada's coaching staff has a great deal of international and professional experience for the challenge that awaits us in Sochi," Yzerman said. "Mike did a great job setting the foundation for our gold medal win in Vancouver, and I know that with Ken, Claude and Lindy working with him, our team will be very well prepared."

Edmonton - The Edmonton Oilers announced Monday the club has agreed to terms on a new three-year contract with restricted free agent center Sam Gagner. Financial details of the deal were not released, but TSN is reporting the total value at $14.4 million for an average annual value of $4.8 million. The contract also reportedly includes a no-movement clause in the second season. The deal avoids a salary-arbitration hearing scheduled for Monday afternoon. "It's nice to get something done," Gagner told Sportsnet. "I wanted to be an Oiler and to get something done. I'm pretty happy we were able to avoid going in there [arbitration hearing room] and getting a deal done. It's a good feeling."

Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish said Gagner's desire to remain with the organization resonated with him."I know Sam doesn't want to go anywhere, he's an Oiler," MacTavish told Sportsnet. "He was fearful that if he did sign a long-term deal without any control he wouldn't be able to stay in Edmonton and see this whole thing through to a high level of competitiveness. I understood that argument."

Gagner, 23, was second on the Oilers last season with 38 points in 48 games. Taken by the Oilers with the sixth pick of the 2007 NHL Draft, Gagner has 91 goals and 258 points in 414 NHL games, all with the Oilers. As a part of a core group that includes Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nail Yakupov and Justin Schultz, Gagner feels he's ready to raise his level of play as expectations have been raised for the Oilers. "They believed in me," Gagner said. "I was part of their core going forward. That gives me confidence, but the end of the day it's about me going out and showing what I'm capable of. I feel I have lot left to prove. Last year was a good year for me, but there's a different level I want to get to."