Yandle gets seven-year deal
Keith Yandle signed with the Florida Panthers, three days after the team acquired the highscoring defenseman’s negotiating rights in a trade with the New York Rangers.
The Panthers sent a sixthround pick in the draft this week to the Rangers on Monday, and now owe New York a fourth-round pick next year after successfully signing the 29-year-old Yandle.
The Milton native was set to become an unrestricted free agent July 1.
The deal is for a reported seven years at $6.35 million a season, with the first six seasons including a no-movement clause.
“We’re thrilled,” Panthers coowner Doug Cifu said. “Keith wants to win the Stanley Cup in Florida. That’s why we were his top priority and vice versa.”
Yandle had five goals and 42 assists in 82 regular-season games with New York last season, his first full year with Rangers after parts of nine seasons with the Arizona Coyotes. He has 72 goals and 297 assists in 661 regular-season games.
Avs deal for forward
The Colorado Avalanche added another forward by picking up Rocco Grimaldi from the Panthers for goaltender Reto Berra.
The 23-year-old Grimaldi had three goals and two assists in 20 games for the Panthers last season. He spent a majority of the season with AHL Portland.
Berra had a 2.41 goals-against average in 14 games with the Avalanche before an ankle injury in December sidelined him. Berra was sent to AHL San Antonio and remained there for the rest of the season. . . .
The Philadelphia Flyers signed Czech defenseman Radko Gudas to a multi-year contract extension. The 26-year-old Gudas had six goals and five assists in 76 games this past season, his first with the Flyers.
No surgery for Malkin
The Penguins said center Evgeni Malkin will not need surgery for his injured left elbow.
Malkin, who suffered the injury March 11, will undergo rehabilitation and is not expected to miss any playing time. The injury sidelined Malkin for 16 games, including one postseason contest.