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National Hockey League roundup

[July 06, 2017] July 5 (The Sports Xchange) - Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid signed an eight-year, $100 million contract extension on Wednesday, the team announced.

The deal, which will begin in 2018-19, will carry an annual cap hit of $12.5 million, which bests the top annual salary of $10.5 million held by Chicago Blackhawks stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, as well as Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price.

The 20-year-old McDavid's deal is the fourth richest in league history in terms of total dollars, trailing only Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin ($124 million), Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber ($110 million) and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby ($104.4 million).

Eight years is the maximum term allowed under the current collective bargaining agreement.

McDavid concluded a career year in 2016-17 by capturing the Art Ross Trophy as the league's leading scorer, the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP and the Ted Lindsay Award as the league's most outstanding player in the regular season as judged by his peers.

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The New York Rangers agreed to terms with free agent forward David Desharnais and restricted free agent forward Jesper Fast.

Desharnais' deal is for one year and worth $1 million, according to reports. Fast's contract is for three years and averages $1.85 million per season.

Desharnais, 30, recorded six goals and eight assists in 49 games with the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens last season.

Fast, 25, played in 68 games with the Rangers in 2016-17, registering 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) and 16 penalty minutes.

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The Minnesota Wild re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Zach Palmquist to a one-year, two-way contract.

Palmquist, 26, will make $726,000 in the NHL and $70,000 at the American Hockey League level.

Palmquist totaled 21 points (two goals, 19 assists) and 20 penalty minutes in 72 games with the AHL's Iowa Wild in 2016-17.

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The St. Louis Blues signed forward Klim Kostin to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Kostin, 18, was under contract with a Kontinental Hockey League's Moscow team, but he was released so he could sign his NHL entry-level deal.

He was drafted 31st overall by the Blues in 2017 NHL draft.

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The Tampa Bay Lightning re-signed forward Matthew Peca to a one-year, two-way contract.

Peca, 24, played in 10 games with the Lightning last season, recording one goal, two points and two penalty minutes. He made his NHL debut on Dec. 28.

[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

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