1.   Neil Smith, the president and general manager, also signed defenseman Alexander Karpovtsev this week for a similar average wage over a three-year contract.

2.   The Boston Bruins signed defenseman Elias Abrahamsson to a three-year contract.

3.   The Anaheim Mighty Ducks signed defenseman Mike Crowley to a two-year contract.

4.   The Colorado Avalanche signed defenseman Dan Smith to a three-year contract, the team said.

5.   The Chicago Blackhawks signed defenseman Michael Sykora to a multiyear contract.

6.   The Boston Bruins signed free agent defenseman Dave Ellett to a three-year contract, adding another veteran to their core of young players.

7.   The Coyotes signed defenseman J.J. Daigneault last week.

8.   The Dallas Stars signed veteran defenseman Dan Keczmer to a two-year contract.

9.   The Devils are better since signing holdout defenseman Scott Niedermayer, but the Kings rarely put pressure on goaltender Martin Brodeur.

10.   The Dallas Stars signed defenseman Derian Hatcher to a two-year contract, getting their captain back in the lineup after a one-month holdout.