Stars get D Methot in trade

It was a busy day for the rebuilding Dallas Stars, who finished it by acquiring defenseman Marc Methot from the Vegas Golden Knights.

In exchange for Methot, selected by Vegas from Ottawa in the expansion draft last week, the Golden Knights will get a 2020 second-round draft selection and goaltender Dylan Ferguson, who was drafted by Dallas in the seventh round last week.

Methot, 32, was with the Senators for the past five seasons, spending much of that time alongside Erik Karlsson on the team's top defensive pairing.

Methot has just 21 goals and 99 assists in 11 NHL seasons, but is a plus-44 for his career.

Earlier, a person with direct knowledge of the decision confirmed to The Associated Press that Dallas placed veteran goalie Antti Niemi on waivers with the intention of buying out his contract.

Niemi is due to make $4.5 million next season and would be bought out at $3 million spread over two years. He became the oddman out behind Kari Lehtonen once Ben Bishop was acquired in a trade last month. Dallas has until Saturday to sign Bishop before he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

The Stars also have signed defenseman Esa Lindell to a two-year, $4.4 million deal after he had six goals and 18 points in 73 games in his first full NHL season.

Blues

St. Louis did not extend a qualifying offer to Russian winger Nail Yakupov, making the 2012 No. 1 pick an unrestricted free agent.Yakupov, 23, had just nine points in 40 games last season after four years with Edmonton and never has had more than 33 points in a season. The Blues tendered qualifying offers to five other restricted free agents including former Penguins center Oskar Sundqvist.

Oilers

Edmonton signed forward Zack Kassian to a three-year contract extension. Kassian, 26, appeared in 79 games with the Oilers last season, finishing with 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists). He added three goals in 13 playoff games.

Wild

Minnesota agreed with defenseman Gustav Olofsson on a two-year, $1.45 million contract. Olofsson will make $675,000 this season and $775,000 next season. He appeared in 13 games for the Wild last season but could become a top-six regular in 2017-18.