Red Wings Sign Hossa to 1-Year Deal; Bruins Land Ryder

BOULDER, Colorado -- The Marian Hossa sweepstakes are over, and the league's best team just got better as the Detroit Red Wings signed the right winger to a one-year, US$7.45 million contract Wednesday.

Hossa had earlier rejected an offer of six years and $45 million to stay with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He had also drawn interest from the Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, and New York Rangers.

I must say I am glad the Bruins did not saddle themselves with that millstone of a deal they were rumored to have offered Hossa, and I hope that New York Post report was nothing more than rumor. I am surprised that Hossa did not opt for a multi-year deal, and he got only a modest pay raise (he earned $7 million in 2007-08) from Detroit. But the short deal gives Detroit a great deal of flexibility to re-sign Henrik Zetterberg, who will becomes an unrestricted free agent after next season.

The Red Wings have proven over the years that they are willing to spend to hold onto their best players, and many players have taken pay cuts to stay in Detroit. There is a lot of loyalty in that organization (just look at the signings of Chris Osgood and Darren McCarty), and perhaps that appealed to Hossa. The chance to win a Stanley Cup also probably played a large role in his decision.

Without Hossa to worry about, the Penguins were able to lock up Evgeni Malkin for the next several years, signing the 22-year-old center to five-year, $43.5 million contract extension Wednesday. Malkin is entering the final year of his rookie contract, meaning the new deal takes effect in 2009-10 and lasts through 2013-14.

The Boston Bruins acquired unrestricted free agent right wing Michael Ryder from the Montreal Canadiens, signing him to a multi-year contract Tuesday. Details of the deal were not disclosed, as per team policy.

Ryder will be trying to put last season behind him, a dreadful campaign that saw him score only 14 goals and 31 points and ensured his exit from Montreal. Ryder had previously notched two consecutive 30-goal seasons for the Canadiens. During his rookie campaign in 2003-04, he led all rookies in goals (25), assists (38) and points (63) and finished second in Calder Trophy voting behind Bruins goalie Andrew Raycroft.

For a full run-down of all the free agent signings, visit ESPN.com.