Signing free-agent forward Alexander Semin wasn't a decision Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford made lightly. In fact, he started doing his homework on Semin before the former Washington Capitals forward even became available.

"I remember having a relatively long conversation with [former Capitals coach] Bruce Boudreau at the draft," Rutherford said. "That was the start of us really doing our homework leading to this signing."

All the research done by Rutherford and his staff led to the Hurricanes signing the talented -- but enigmatic -- Semin to a one-year, $7 million contract Thursday.

SHANE DOAN

RIGHT Wing - FREE AGENT

GOALS: 22 | ASST: 28 | PTS: 50
SOG: 226 | +/-: -8

The answers to several of the summer questions are in.

Rick Nash is a Ranger. Shea Weber is still with the Predators, and could be for the next 14 seasons. Zach Parise and Ryan Suter are teammates in Minnesota. Adam Oates is now the bench boss in Washington, and Edmonton will be guided by coach Ralph Krueger, who helped convince coveted defenseman Justin Schultz to sign with the Oilers.

Even with all that, the verdict is still pending on at least four more important transactions that could happen between now and when training camps open.

The Philadelphia Flyers' first goal when they went into the offseason was to upgrade their defense. With Chris Pronger's future uncertain and 37-year-old Kimmo Timonen entering the last year of his contract, they were hoping to find a big-time piece to fill at least one of those big-time holes.

The Flyers took a shot at free agent Ryan Suter and missed when he signed with the Minnesota Wild. Then their own free-agent blueliner, Matt Carle, signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

On Tuesday, their hopes were dashed again as the Nashville Predators matched the 14-year, $110 million offer sheet they signed Shea Weber to July 18.

The Nashville Predators have retained franchise defenseman Shea Weber, agreeing Tuesday to match the offer sheet Weber signed with the Philadelphia Flyers last week.

On July 18 Weber, a restricted free agent, had agreed to a 14-year, $110 million contract with the Flyers.

Predators GM David Poile previously had said that the franchise would match any offer Weber received, and on Tuesday lived up to his word. The Predators had until Wednesday night to make their decision, but didn't need to take the full seven days.

In a team-issued press release, Nashville called matching the Weber offer sheet "the most important hockey transaction in franchise history."

NASHVILLE -- In the most important hockey transaction in franchise history, Nashville Predators Chairman Tom Cigarran, President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile and CEO Jeff Cogen announced today that the team has matched the 14-year, $110 million offer sheet between the Philadelphia Flyers and defenseman Shea Weber, insuring that the Predators' captain will remain with the franchise for the next 14 years.

The decision to enter into the largest contract in franchise history was made by all parts of the organization, including ownership, hockey operations and business operations.

As the organization analyzed the overall situation and worked toward a conclusion, the decision boiled down to three questions:

- Was Shea Weber the individual that this franchise wanted to lead our team, a team that would compete for the Stanley Cup every year, for the next 14 years?

- Would matching the offer sheet be in the best long-term interest of the team and organization?

- Would a decision not to match the offer sheet send a negative message to current Predators players and other NHL organizations, a message that the Predators would only go so far to protect its best players and be pushed around by teams with "deep pockets?"

ST. LOUIS -- T.J. Oshie's heart belongs in St. Louis. That's why he was busy talking about a long-term contract Friday instead of stating his case to an arbitrator.

The St. Louis Blues and Oshie avoided an arbitration hearing Friday after agreeing to a five-year, $20.875 million contract late Thursday. Oshie's contract calls for him to make $3.375 million for the upcoming season, $4 million in 2013-14 and $4.5 million in each of the final three seasons.

T.J. Oshie

Right Wing - STL

GOALS: 19 | ASST: 35 | PTS: 54
SOG: 188 | +/-: 15

A 2005 first-round pick by the Blues, the 25-year-old Oshie set career-highs in goals (19), assists (35), points (54) and games played (80). His 54 points were tied for the team lead this past season.

"We're obviously excited to have T.J. under contract as he enters the prime of his career and to know that we'll have him through that portion," Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said. "It's very rewarding and we think he's a big piece of our team from last year and he's a big piece moving forward."

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues and T.J. Oshie avoided an arbitration hearing Friday after agreeing to a five-year, $20.875 million contract late Thursday night.

The 25-year-old Oshie, who is coming off of career highs in goals (19), assists (35), points (54) and games played (80), was a restricted free agent who made $2.35 million on a one-year contract in 2011-12. He was the Blues' first-round pick (No. 24) in 2005. His 54 points were tied for the team lead this past season.

"We're obviously excited to have T.J. under contract as he enters the prime of his career and to know that we'll have him through that portion," Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said. "It's very rewarding and we think he's a big piece of our team from last year and he's a big piece moving forward."

The Toronto Maple Leafs and left wing Nikolai Kulemin have agreed to a two-year contract, avoiding an arbitration hearing that had been scheduled for July 26.

Financial terms of the deal were not released, but CBC and TSN reported Kulemin's contract will pay him $2.8 per season.

Kulemin had seven goals and 21 assists in 70 games last season, a drop-off from the career-best 30 goals he had in 2010-11.

The Edmonton Oilers and center Sam Gagner have agreed on a one-year, $3.2 million contract, avoiding an arbitration hearing.

The hearing had been scheduled for today.

"It's obviously a long process but … I'm really excited it's over with," Gagner told the Oilers' website. "Arbitration is something you want to avoid if you can. I'm just happy something got done and I'm signed up for next year."