NHL CLEARS CAPITALS ON TRADING, SIGNING ORPIK AFTER BUYOUT

» The NHL quesARLINGTON, VA. tioned the Washington Capitals about resigning Brooks Orpik after trading him to Colorado and cleared the Stanley Cup champions of any wrongdoing.

General manager Brian MacLellan said the league questioned the Capitals for trading the veteran defenseman and then bringing him back at a cheaper salary after the Avalanche bought him out. MacLellan says the Capitals were above board in everything they did and would face no consequences.

In an email to The Associated Press, deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed MacLellan’s assessment that the league investigated Washington and found nothing to be amiss.

At the draft in June, the Capitals traded Oprik and backup goaltender Philipp Grubuaer to Colorado for a secondround pick, a move made largely to clear salarycap space. Avalanche GM Joe Sakic said almost immediately after the trade that he’d be buying out the final season of Orpik’s deal that carried a salary of $4.5 million and a cap hit of $5.5 million.

Orpik signed with the Capitals about a month later, a oneyear deal worth $1 million with $500,000 in incentives. If the 37yearold defenseman reaches those incentives, he’ll combine to make the same amount he would have if he weren’t bought out.

G Corey Crawford skates before Chicago’s first practice.

CHICAGO» Corey Crawford is skating again. The Stanley Cupwinning goaltender hasn’t been cleared for practice just yet, but he thinks he is close.

Now about those defensemen for the Chicago Blackhawks.

While Crawford delivered a positive update Friday on his recovery from a concussion that sidelined him for most of last season, defensemen Connor Murphy, Brent Seabrook and Gustav Forsling missed the start of training camp due to injuries.

Forsling had right wrist surgery in July, but the back injury for Murphy and abdominal issue for Seabrook were new developments. Murphy will be sidelined for about eight weeks. The 33yearold Seabrook is expected to miss about one week.

Red Wings star Henrik Zetterberg calls it a career.

DETROIT» Detroit Red Wings star Henrik Zetterberg is ending his professional playing career because of a back injury. Zetterberg will go on longterm injured reserve with three years left on his 12year, $73 million contract. The 37yearold Swede will continue to be paid and the team will get more than $6 million in salary cap relief. Zetterberg helped the Red Wings hoist the 2008 Stanley Cup, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy. He had 337 goals and 960 career points.

Ankle healed after devastating injury, Suter back with Wild.

MINN.» Ryan Suter has

ST. PAUL, ranked in the top three in the NHL for time on ice in all six of his seasons with the Minnesota Wild. This year he was forced to ponder the question whether he’d be able to play at all. When Suter and his right leg crashed into the wall during a game late in the regular season he broke two bones and needed surgery. Had he played a different sport, doctors told him his career might have ended. Now Suter has completed the painful rehab and joined the Wild for training camp.

Rookie Torres in 4way share of lead at Evian women’s major.

FRANCE» Tour rookie EVIAN-LES-BAINS,

Maria Torres shared the fourway lead Friday after two rounds in her second major tournament. Topranked, twotime major winner Sung Hyun Park has the weekend off.

Torres, the first Puerto Rican to earn an LPGA Tour card, shot a 2under 69 before Amy Olson (65), Mo Martin (66) and Mi Hyang Lee (66) matched her 8under 134 total.

Park (71) started and finished play Friday at 6 over at the sunsoaked Evian Resort Golf Club and missed the cut by three shots.