Hockey

Defenseman Aaron Ekblad is staying with the Florida Panthers instead of becoming a free agent. Ekblad is re-signing with the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions on an eight-year contract worth $48.

CALGARY — The Calgary Flames have hired three-time Stanley Cup champion and Olympic gold medallist Brent Seabrook to the team's player development staff. The defenceman from Tsawwassen, B.C.

Mitch Marner is set to join Leon Draisaitl , Auston Matthews , Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid as one of the highest-paid players in the NHL, even if he does not get to unrestricted free agency.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks have signed four depth players to new deals after they helped the club's minor league affiliate to a championship title.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Wild will play the upcoming season at Grand Casino Arena, after a naming rights deal with the tribal gaming and hospitality company that succeeds the venue's original name, Xcel Energy Center.

The Nashville Predators acquired defenseman Nicolas Hague in a three-player trade that sent center Colton Sissons and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon to the Vegas Golden Knights, both teams announced Monday.

TORONTO — Matthew Knies is staying in Toronto. Knies has signed a six-year extension worth US$46.5 million with the Maple Leafs, according to several media reports.

Veteran Senators forward Claude Giroux is staying put in Ottawa for one more season, and Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro has a new four-year contract that keeps him in Columbus.

OTTAWA — Veteran forward Claude Giroux has signed a one-year contract extension with the Ottawa Senators. The contract carries a base salary of US$2 million for next season with bonuses that could reach a maximum value of $4.75 million.

NHL teams have a whole lot of money to spend in free agency with the salary cap getting the biggest increase in its existence, and a bunch of players will cash in when the clock strikes noon on Tuesday. The cap is jumping $7.