Koivu signs 1-year deal with Anaheim
Saku Koivu has left the Montreal Canadiens after 13 seasons to join the Anaheim Ducks.
The two-time All-Star center, who turns 35 in November, signed a 1-year deal yesterday.
Koivu was Montreal's captain for nearly 10 years, tying Jean Beliveau for longest-serving in the team's 100-year history. He had 191 goals, 450 assists and 623 penalty minutes with the Canadiens, the only team Koivu has played for during his NHL career.
"Saku Koivu's character and leadership qualities are unquestioned," Ducks general manager Bob Murray said. "He is a skilled playmaker and we are thrilled to add him to our team."
Koivu reached the 600-point milestone with a goal against Florida in October. He had 16 goals and 34 assists in 65 games last season. He has recorded 40 or more assists in five of the last six seasons and surpassed 50 points in the last six consecutive seasons.
"I'm very excited to join the Ducks this coming season," said Koivu, who helped Finland win an Olympic silver medal in 2006. "I'm also looking forward to a full season with Teemu Selanne as a teammate."
Koivu successfully overcame non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and returned to hockey 7 months after being diagnosed in September 2001.
In other news:
* Claude Lemieux announced his retirement again, wrapping up a 21-year NHL career with four Stanley Cups. The 44-year-old forward came back from a 5-year retirement in December to sign with the San Jose Sharks, where he had one assist in 18 games.
"I want to thank my former teammates from my entire career for all of their support," Lemieux said in a statement. "I feel very fortunate that I was able to have a career like I had.
"There have been many great NHL players who did not get the opportunities to win that I had. I played for a long time, but it went by so very fast."
Lemieux won four Stanley Cups (Montreal 1986; New Jersey 1995, 2000; Colorado 1996), one of only eight players to win the prize with three different teams.
* The Chicago Blackhawks agreed to terms with left wing Kris Versteeg on a 3-year contract, effectively ending a free- agent signing headache that prompted a grievance from the NHL Players' Association. According to published reports, Versteeg's contract is worth $9.25 million over 3 years.
* The Dallas Stars have filled their big need for a backup goalie, getting Alex Auld from the Ottawa Senators. The Senators had a logjam at the position, so they were willing to give up Auld for merely a sixth-round pick in 2010. The selection actually belongs to San Jose, having been acquired for Dallas' seventh-rounder at this year's draft. The 6-4, 223-pound Auld will help ease the load on Marty Turco, who played 74 games last year. *
