Leafs' Bell suspended 15 regular-season games

New York, NY (Sports Network) - The National Hockey League suspended Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mark Bell for 15 regular-season games without pay on Wednesday for having engaged in and acknowledging conduct deemed to be dishonorable, prejudicial to or against the welfare of the league or the game of hockey.
The NHL originally suspended Bell indefinitely without pay on September 4 and placed him in the league's substance abuse program.
Bell pleaded no contest in August to hit-and-run charges and drunken driving, both charges coming from an incident in California last September, when Bell was a member of the San Jose Sharks. The 27-year-old will serve six months in jail next summer after the end of the season.
The upcoming season is now up in the air for Bell. He will remain in the league's substance abuse program until approval for his reinstatement is given by the NHL, the NHL players' union, and program doctors.
According to the suspension under By-Law 17, Bell's 15-game penalty will not begin until he receives the proper clearance by all three parties. Although he will not be allowed to play during the ban, Bell will be able to participate in practice and training sessions with the Maple Leafs.
"Playing in the National Hockey League is a privilege, and with that privilege comes a corresponding responsibility for exemplary conduct off the ice as well as on it," said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. "Such conduct is a violation of our covenant with our fans, and to the game, and is prejudicial to the welfare of the league."
The Maple Leafs acquired Bell in a draft-day trade in June along with goaltender Vesa Toskala in exchange for three draft picks.
Bell has scored 83 goals and accrued 89 assists in 410 career games with the Sharks and Blackhawks. He finished with 11 goals and 10 assists in 71 games for the Sharks last season.

Bruins ink top draft pick

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - The Boston Bruins have agreed to terms with center Zach Hamill, the club announced Wednesday. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The 18-year-old Hamill was selected eighth overall by the Bruins in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He has spent the past four seasons with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League, where he scored a franchise-record 187 points (61 goals, 126 assists) in 183 games.
Also signed on Wednesday were defenseman Sean Curry and goaltender Jordan Sigalet, two players for the Bruins' American Hockey League affiliate in Providence.

Devils re-sign Parise

East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) - The New Jersey Devils announced Wednesday that forward Zach Parise was re-signed to a multi-year contract.
Parise, 23, led the club last season with a career-high 31 goals, and notched career marks in assists (31) and points (62) while appearing in all 82 games of his second season in the National Hockey League. Parise recorded career highs in goals (7), assists (3), and points (10) during 11 playoff appearances, as well.
Originally selected as a first-round pick by New Jersey (17th overall) in the 2003 Entry Draft, Parise posted 14 goals and 18 assists for 32 points in his rookie season of 2005-06.

Blues re-sign Stempniak

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - The St. Louis Blues re-signed forward Lee Stempniak to a multi-year contract on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old Stempniak had the best season of his young career last year, recording a team-high 27 goals and 25 assists, in all 82 games for the Blues.
"Lee has been a terrific player since breaking in with the Blues two seasons ago and we are excited to watch him grow wearing the Bluenote," said St. Louis president John Davidson. "He's a young player with tremendous skills and he will continue to be a valued asset for our hockey club as we move forward."
In 139 career NHL games, the West Seneca, New York native has totaled 41 goals, 38 assists and 55 penalty minutes with the Blues.
"I'm appreciative of the Blues ownership and thrilled that they have made a long term commitment to me," said Stempniak. "I enjoyed playing last season under Andy Murray and I'm happy to continue my career with the team. St. Louis is an outstanding sports town and its been great to play in front of our great fans."

Coyotes re-sign Thomas

Glendale, AZ (Sports Network) - The Phoenix Coyotes re-signed right wing Bill Thomas to a one year contract Friday.
As per team policy, financial terms were not disclosed.
The 24-year-old Thomas played 24 games with the Coyotes last season, registering eight goals and six assists. He also scored 13 goals and 20 assists with the San Antonio Rampage (AHL) last season.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound forward originally signed with the Coyotes as a free agent on March 27, 2006 and recorded one goal and two assists in nine games at the end of the 2005-06 campaign.

Sidney Crosby inks extension with Pens

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby has signed a five-year contract extension that will keep him with the club through the 2012-13 season.
Financial details of the new deal were not released, but Crosby will play the upcoming season under the terms of his original entry-level contract. The extension will take effect with the start of the 2008-09 campaign.
Crosby had a banner second season with the Penguins in 2006-07 at just 19 years of age, winning the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL scoring champion and the Hart Trophy as the league's regular-season MVP.
"Sidney has proven himself to be a dynamic player and team leader at a very young age, and it is exciting news for our franchise and our fans to have him under contract for the next six seasons, through 2013," said Penguins general manager Ray Shero in a statement Tuesday. "When you've got a guy who leads the league in scoring and wins the MVP award at the age of 19, you know have someone very special. But Sid also is a tremendous asset for this organization as a leader in the dressing room, and as the face of our franchise in the community. And the fact that he wants to be here long-term is a great statement about the city of Pittsburgh and our organization."
Crosby notched 36 goals and 84 assists for 120 points last season, helping the Penguins to their first playoff berth since 2001. In addition to the Hart Trophy, he was also named a First-Team All-Star at center and won the Lester B. Pearson Award as the league's most outstanding player in voting by his peers.
"I really enjoy playing and living in Pittsburgh and I want to be here for a long time," said Crosby in a statement Tuesday. "Individual honors and scoring championships are great, but my No. 1 goal is to win the Stanley Cup. I'd love to be a part of bringing the Cup back here to Pittsburgh."
The 5-foot 11, 193-pound native of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia became the youngest player to win a scoring title in North American professional sports. Through two NHL seasons, his career totals are 75 goals, 147 assists and 222 points in 160 games. He will turn 20 years old on August 7.
Crosby, the first pick of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, is the youngest player in NHL history to record 100 and 200 career points.

Kings agree to terms with four free agents

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Kings made their first dip into the free agent market on Monday and made a big splash as the team agreed to terms with defenseman Tom Preissing and center Michal Handzus to four-year contracts, left wing Kyle Calder to a two-year contract, and left wing Ladislav Nagy to a one-year contract.
Preissing, 28, has played in 223 career games with 20 goals and 80 assists and 56 penalty minutes. The defenseman played two seasons with San Jose from 2003-04 and 2005-06 before leading all Senators defensemen in points with seven goals and 31 assists last year for Ottawa.
Handzus, 30, has 115 goals and 185 assists with 313 penalty minutes over eight NHL seasons, including this past season with the Chicago Blackhawks and three with the Philadelphia Flyers, two with the Phoenix Coyotes and three with the St. Louis Blues.
Calder, 28, has registered 99 goals and 146 assists with 242 penalty minutes over seven seasons, six of which were with the Blackhawks from 1999-06 before splitting last season between Philadelphia and Detroit.
Nagy, 28, has 106 goals and 179 assists with 340 penalty minutes over seven NHL seasons with Dallas, Phoenix, and St. Louis.