Yelle Signs 1-year, $550K Deal With ‘Canes

The Hurricanes said Wednesday that the 14-year pro has agreed to a one-year deal worth $550,000.

The 35-year-old had seven goals and 11 assists with Boston, and has won the Stanley Cup twice with Colorado.

General manager Jim Rutherford calls Yelle “a proven winner” who “adds depth and experience to the Hurricanes at the center position.”

The Hurricanes previously signed free agent defenseman Aaron Ward from the Bruins and forward Tom Kostopoulos from Montreal.

Detroit Signs Todd Bertuzzi

Detroit signed Todd Bertuzzi to a one-year, $1.5 million contract Tuesday in the hopes that the veteran forward can help make up for some of the Red Wings’ significant losses.

After falling one win short of repeating as Stanley Cup champions in June, the Red Wings watched watch as forwards Marian Hossa, Jiri Hudler, Mikael Samuelsson and Tomas Kopecky signed with other teams.

“We lost almost 90 goals,” Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. “I read or hear people picking us to be about fourth in the Western Conference.

“Even though a lot of teams have gotten better, I still think we’re a Stanley Cup contender because our defense is as good as anyone’s defense and I like the rest of our team.”

The 34-year-old Bertuzzi scored 15 goals and had 44 points last season, ranking sixth in both categories for the Calgary Flames . He played in an average of 67 games the past two seasons after a back injury stunted his career.

Mark Messier Reunites With Rangers As GM

Mark Messier, who in 1994 led the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup title in 54 years, is returning to the club as a special assistant to general manager Glen Sather, the club said Sunday. Messier, a six-time Cup champion as a player, has not been shy in recent years about his desire to eventually run a team as GM.

This could be the first step in the process that might lead Messier replacing Sather when the current GM’s tenure with the Rangers is over.

In a statement, Sather called Messier one of the greatest players in the NHL and is “looking forward to him joining the organization and learning a whole new part of the hockey business.”

Messier played his final game with the Rangers on March 31, 2004 – during his second stint with the team – and scored his 694th goal. He officially announced his retirement on Sept. 12, 2005, after the yearlong NHL lockout.