Henrique just Ducky about $29M
Center Adam Henrique has signed a $29.1 million, five-year contract extension with the Anaheim Ducks.
The deal announced yesterday runs through the 2023-24 season and allows Henrique to avoid free agency next summer.
“That was a goal for me, just to get something done this summer if the team wanted to as well,” he said. “I’m very happy we have it done now and can just focus on training and get ready for camp and the upcoming season.”
Henrique had a combined 24 goals and 26 assists in 81 games with Anaheim and New Jersey last season. He was acquired from the Devils for defenseman Sami Vatanen and a conditional draft pick in November.
The 28-year-old center led Anaheim with eight game-winning goals (third in the NHL), tied for second in goals and tied for third in power-play goals with four in 57 games.
He had a career-high 30 goals in 2015-16 with the Devils . . . .
The Nashville Predators signed goaltender Juuse Saros to a three-year contract and forward Ryan Hartman to a one-year deal. Both were restricted free agents. Saros’ threeyear deal is worth a total of $4.5 million. Hartman’s one-year contract will pay him $875,000 . . . . The Calgary Flames signed forward Elias Lindholm to a six-year contract at an average salary of $4.85 million. The 23-year-old Swede was acquired by Calgary along with defenseman Noah Hanafin in a June 23 trade that sent defensemen Dougie Hamilton and Adam Fox and forward Michael Ferland to Carolina . . . .
The Columbus Blue Jackets re-signed forward Oliver Bjorkstrand and defenseman Ryan Murray. The 23-year-old Bjorkstrand, the team’s fifthleading scorer last season with 11 goals and 29 assists, signed a three-year pact worth $7.5 million. The 24-year-old Murray accepted the team’s qualifying offer of a one-year contract worth $2.8 million.
Final Four sites OK’d
The Final Four is headed back to Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio and Indianapolis. The NCAA announced the sites for 2023-2026, with all four cities recently hosting the finale of the NCAA tournament . . . .
A former Western Michigan University basketball player has been sentenced for his role in a robbery that led to the fatal shooting of another student. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports that 21-year-old Joeviair Kennedy was ordered to spend at least 171⁄2 years in prison . . . .
Alabama fans will be walking through metal detectors to get into BryantDenny Stadium this season. University of Alabama system trustees approved the use of 180 metal detectors that reportedly will cost $982,800 collectively . . . .
Former Tennessee football players A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams are going on trial to face aggravated rape charges nearly 31⁄2 years after both men were indicted. Jury selection began yesterday in Knoxville, Tenn . . . .
Tennessee has suspended defensive lineman Ryan Thaxton from team activities following his arrest on charges of false imprisonment and domestic assault.
No MNF for Esiason
Boomer Esiason is dropping his national radio duties on NFL Monday night games. Esiason was the analyst on Westwood One’s broadcast for 18 years. Citing his daily drive-time radio show in New York and his work on CBS and Showtime studio shows, Esiason said “the timing was right for me to step away.” . . .
Serena Williams climbed 153 spots in the WTA rankings after her runner-up finish at Wimbledon, putting her back in the top 30. Williams is ranked 28th after she reached the final before losing to Angelique Kerber of Germany. Kerber climbed six spots to No.4, with Simona Halep holding onto the top ranking.
Kevin Anderson climbed into the men’s top 5 for the first time after his run to the Wimbledon final, while champion Novak Djokovic jumped 11 spots to No. 10. Rafael Nadal, who lost to Djokovic in the semifinals, remains No. 1 . . . .
Tottenham winger Son Heung-min could miss the start of the Premier League season after being selected by South Korea to play in the Asian Games in Indonesia . . . .
World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. has reinstated Hulk Hogan to its Hall of Fame, three years after he was found to have used racial slurs in a conversation caught on a sex tape.