Canucks re-sign Sami Salo

The Vancouver Canucks announced today that defenceman Sami Salo has signed a four-year contract extension worth $14 million US.

“We are pleased to have agreed to a long-term extension with Sami today,” said Nonis in a release. “Sami is an elite defenceman who compliments our group very well. We are confident that he will continue to perform at the high level he has established for himself over the next four seasons.”

“His primary motivation was to stay in Vancouver and is secondary motivation was to win in Vancouver,” said Salo’s agent Bill Zito. “If he decided to become a free agent, there is no question he could have got millions more. There aren’t too many players who would do what he did.”

Source: Canucks.com / The Province

This is a great for the Canucks, he’s a very important part of the Canucks and we really struggled last year when he was out of the lineup down the stretch. We also have unconfirmed reports the Canucks have also re-signed defenceman Yannick Tremblay to a contract extension.

Kings sign prospect Jack Johnson

The Los Angeles Kings are going to announce that they’ve signed prospect Jack Johnson and will make his NHL debut Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks.

Johnson’s father, Jack Johnson Sr. says his son plans to return to college after playing the final six games of the Kings season and earn a degree.

Source: TSN.ca

Johnson was originally drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 1st round, 3rd overall  in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He was traded to the Kings on September 29th along with Oleg Tverdovsky for Tim Gleason and Eric Belanger.

It’s a three-year deal that will pay him the rookie maximum of $850,000 plus bonuses. The Hurricanes got ripped off badly for Johnson, he’s going to be very good for the Kings for years to come.

Rangers sign Jason Strudwick

The New York Rangers announced today that they’ve signed former Canuck defenceman Jason Strudwick to a contract.

Before being allowed to join the team, he had to clear waivers, which he did today.

Under NHL rules, Strudwick will be eligble to play for the rest of the NHL regular season, but will not be allowed to play in the playoffs.

Source: NYRangers.com

Canucks sign Mason Raymond

The Vancouver Canucks announced on Friday that they’ve signed prospect Mason Raymond to a three-year entry-level contract.

Raymond will report to the Manitoba Moose.

Source: The Sports Forecaster

Correction to what I said before, he is under contract to the Canucks and could be called up tomorrow to the Canucks if they wanted.