Last: AP Source: Defender Johnson heads for the pens

The latest NHL free will news (all times East): [19659006] 11:00 am

Veteran defenseman Jack Johnson has agreed to sign a five-year, $ 16.25 million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

A person with direct knowledge of the negotiations confirmed the agreement and the terms of the contract to the Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the agreement can be announced only after the signing period of the free agency at noon Sunday.

Johnson, 31, has spent the last six seasons playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets. , where he has ambaded 36 goals and 118 badists for 154 points in 445 games. He has 12 seasons of experience in the NHL after being selected by Carolina with the # 3 pick in the 2005 draft. The Hurricanes then traded Johnson to Los Angeles the following year

The Penguins reorganize their blue line after trading Matt Hunwick as part of the deal that also sent Conor Sheary to the Buffalo Sabers last week.

– AP Hockey Writer John Wawrow

___

10:40 am

The Minnesota Wild brings in some veterans, accepting one-year agreements with Matt Hendricks and Eric Fehr.

A Person with Direct Knowledge The Associated Press the Wild agreed on a $ 700,000 contract with Hendricks, 37 years old. A second person with direct knowledge of the negotiations says that the Wild also agreed to an agreement with Fehr

People spoke on condition of anonymity because contracts can not be signed before the opening of the signature period of free agents later Sunday. gets an increase of the $ 650,000 that he earned with the Winnipeg Jets. He had 13 points in 60 games last season, mostly in the fourth row. Fehr, 32, finished last season with San Jose and had four points in 14 regular season games.

– AP Hockey Author Stephen Whyno

___

10:15 am

The Buffalo Sabers have reached an agreement to sign a three-year contract with goalkeeper Carter Hutton, who will be in charge of the game. worth $ 8.25 million.

A person with direct knowledge of the negotiations has confirmed the agreement to the Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the contracts can not be announced until the opening of the NHL signing period later on Sunday. FoxSportsMidwest.com reported the case for the first time

Hutton, 32, has six seasons of experience in the NHL, including the last two years with the Blues, where he shared his duties with Jake Allen. He finished with a 17-7-3 record and 2.09 goals against average in 32 games last year.

The Sabers need goaltenders after they choose not to sign third-year newcomer Robin Lehner and veteran Chad Johnson

Hutton would form a tandem with Linus Ullmark, who is responsible for making the jump at the full-time NHL level after having spent the last three years developing in the miners

– John Wawrow, AP Hockey Editor

10:00 am

The John Tavares Star Center n & # He did not sign with the New York Islanders until midnight, putting an end to eight years of the equation and eliminating the biggest advantage of his former team.

On Sunday morning, Tavares still had not announced his decision to sign a seven-year contract worth more than $ 70 million. The 27-year-old and her representatives met the Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning last week.

Paul Stastny, who was traded from St. Louis to Winnipeg and produced 15 points in 17 playoff games, and Tyler Bozak of Toronto are the top centers available.

___

9:45

A person with direct knowledge of the discussions told the Associated Press that veteran forward Thomas Vanek should sign with the Detroit Red Wings as soon as the opening of the NHL free period

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Sunday because the talks are still ongoing and teams are not allowed until the period Signature, at noon, Eastern Time

Vanek is an NHL veteran for 13 years and will return to Detroit, where he spent part of the 2016-17 season. He scored 11 goals and opened last year in Vancouver before finishing the season with Columbus.

Vanek became the most successful Austrian player when the Buffalo Sabers selected him with choice number 5 2003.

In total, he has 357 goals and 396 badists for 753 points in 965 career NHL games

John Tavares, of the New York Islanders, is the big favorite of the free agency. Wawrow

___

More NHL Hockey: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This document may not be published, distributed, rewritten or redistributed.