National Hockey

NEW YORK CITY — A series of Canadian clashes will feature early in the NHL calendar next season, including a tilt between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre.

Patrick Kane is returning to the Detroit Red Wings for next season on a contract that gives him a chance to earn up to $6.5 million if he helps the Original Six franchise end its lengthy playoff drought.

NHL free agency opens Monday, less than a week since Commissioner Gary Bettman presented the Stanley Cup to the Florida Panthers .

TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs re-signed forward Max Domi to a four-year contract on Sunday. The average annual value is US$3.75 million.

MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens have traded defenceman Johnathan Kovacevic to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick. The pick will be the best of the three fourth-round picks currently owned by the Devils in 2026.

The Tampa Bay Lightning got a head start on free agency by acquiring the rights to high-scoring winger Jake Guentzel on Sunday. The Lightning sent a 2025 third-round draft pick to the Carolina Hurricanes.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks signed defenceman Jett Woo to a one-year, two-way contract on Sunday.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Matthew Tkachuk was soaked. Such is life when you're out in an absolute downpour for a few hours. He did not seem to be bothered by this whatsoever.

The Buffalo Sabres officially moved on from Jeff Skinner, the top-paid forward on the team’s roster, by buying out the final three years of the veteran’s contact on Sunday.

Jon Cooper had Steven Stamkos right in his line of sight.