Kings sign free-agent forward Danault
Phillip Danault signed a six-year, $33-million contract with the Kings on Wednesday. Slotting in Danault, a 28-year-old forward who had five goals and 19 assists for the Montreal Canadiens last season, with captain Anze Kopitar gives the Kings one of the strongest pairs of two-way centers in the NHL.
Danault established himself as a defensive stalwart, especially on the penalty kill, and a standout in the faceoff circle in six seasons with Montreal, traits that were on display as he helped the Canadiens reach the Stanley Cup Final this year. He had one goal and three assists in 22 postseason games.
The Kings also signed veteran defenseman Alex Edler to a one-year, $3.5-million contract and re-signed forward Andreas Athanasiou to a one-year, $2.7-million contract.
They also signed unrestricted free-agent goaltender Garret Sparks and forward TJ Tynan to one-year, two-way contracts with an average annual value of $750,000 at the NHL level, according to general manager Rob Blake.
Ryan Getzlaf agreed to terms on a one-year contract to remain with the Ducks. The deal should allow the 36year-old Getzlaf to become the franchise’s career leader in points this season. He has 982 points in 1,101 games and needs seven to pass Teemu Selanne’s mark.
More than a dozen goalies changed places in the opening hours of free agency. The expansion Seattle Kraken made one of the biggest splashes by signing Colorado goalie Philipp Grubauer to a six-year, $35.4-million contract. Seattle then flipped one of the goalies they picked in the expansion draft, Vitek Vanecek, to Washington for a 2023 second-round pick to spin the carousel some more . ... Ryan Suter signed a four-year deal worth $14.6 million with the Dallas Stars . ... Tampa Bay’s Blake Coleman got a deal worth $29.4 million over six years from the Calgary Flames . ... The Carolina Hurricanes acquired defenseman Ethan Bear from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for forward Warren Foegele . ... The New Jersey Devils signed unrestricted free-agent goalie Jonathan Bernier to a two-year, $8.2-million contract . ... The Ottawa Senators gave coach D.J. Smith a two-year extension . ... Nashville signed forward Mikael
Granlund to a four-year, $20-million contract.
ETC. Bush won’t get Heisman back
Reggie Bush isn’t likely to see his 2005 Heisman Trophy returned anytime soon. The NCAA provided the latest stiff-arm in the former USC running back’s effort to reclaim the coveted trophy, declaring it would not reconsider past NCAA penalties, even in the wake of landmark changes to name, image and likeness rules across college sports.
— Ryan Kartje
Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby, who sent a ceaseand-desist letter to ESPN, told the Associated Press that the network is pushing other conferences to pick apart the league so Texas and Oklahoma can move to the Southeastern Conference without paying a big buyout. “ESPN is incentivizing other conferences to destabilize the Big 12,” he said.
Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson tested positive for COVID-19 and missed the team’s first practice of training camp . ... The Green Bay Packers traded 2022 sixthround pick to Houston Texans for wide receiver Randall Cobb, reuniting him with Aaron Rodgers and the team he played for for eight seasons . ... Indianapolis Colts right tackle Braden Smith signed a four-year contract extension that will make him one of the league’s highest-paid offensive linemen. A person with knowledge of the deal said Smith would earn $72.4 million with $42 million guaranteed. The person requested anonymity because terms of the deal were not released publicly . ... Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is day to day because of a right shoulder strain.
U.S. prosecutors are asking a judge to order the Federal Bureau of Prisons to transfer all money in Larry Nassar’s prison account — about $2,000 — to help provide restitution to five victims as part of his 60-year child porn sentence.
The trial of ex-Angels employee Eric Kay in connection with the overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs was delayed for a third time.
In response to a defense motion, U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means issued an order rescheduling the trial for Oct. 4.