RICHARDS FINDS HOME IN DETROIT

On the first day of NHL free agency, while a handful of big-name defencemen found new homes, other notable players signed deals on a busy day.

Forward Brad Richards left Chicago for Detroit, forward Blake Comeau left Pittsburgh to sign a three-year deal with the Avalanche, and forward Daniel Winnik signed a two-year contract to return to Toronto.

Artem Anisimov agreed to a $22.75-million US, five-year contract extension with Chicago, a day Columbus acquired the forward in a seven-player deal for Brandon Saad.

Among the busier teams was the Nashville Predators, who re-signed forward Mike Ribeiro to a two-year, $7-million contract, signed blue-liner Barret Jackman and forward Cody Hodgson and acquired forward Max Reinhart in a trade with Calgary.