The Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday signed defenseman Clayton Stoner to a four-year contract and goaltender Jason LaBarbera to a one-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"I'd like to keep growing and improving. Hopefully, the next few years here in Anaheim are the best of my career," Stoner said.

Brad Richards learned about the Chicago Blackhawks' interest in him from his agent Sunday. The center's ears immediately perked up, even if he met the news from Pat Morris with some skepticism.

"When he mentioned Chicago obviously I was very interested," Richards said Tuesday. "I knew full well of what the challenges were of trying to get a contract because of the salary cap."

Richards' excitement intensified after a conference call he had Monday night with Chicago general manager Stan Bowman and coach Joel Quenneville. Richards' hope became reality Tuesday when he and the Blackhawks agreed to a one-year contract worth a reported $2 million.

Goaltender Thatcher Demko of San Diego, Calif., watched with great interest the opening day of NHL free agency on Tuesday.

In particular, he wondered if the Vancouver Canucks had plans of adding another goaltender to their mix. After all, Demko, who will enter his sophomore year at Boston College in Hockey East in 2014-15, was selected by the Canucks in the second round (No. 36) of the recently completed 2014 NHL Draft in Philadelphia on June 28.

He didn't need to wait too long when general manager Jim Benning announced in the morning the team had signed East Lansing, Mich., native Ryan Miller to a three-year contract.

What was expected to be an eventful first day of free agency for the New York Rangers saw several new faces make their way to the Big Apple.

The Rangers started the day by signing defenseman Dan Boyle to a contract that is reportedly for two years and worth $9 million, according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post. Signing the veteran was just the beginning of a day when New York re-signed forward Dominic Moore and signed forwards Tanner Glass and Chris Mueller, defensemen Michael Kostka, Matt Hunwick and Steven Kampfer, and goaltender Cedrick Desjardins.

VANCOUVER -- Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning was a scout with the Buffalo Sabres when they picked goaltender Ryan Miller in the fifth round of the 1999 NHL Draft.

Right before making Miller the 138th selection, Benning was asked to check with his agent, Mike Liut.

"I ran up to the stands, I asked Mike, 'Is this the time to take Ryan in the draft?' and Mike said 'Yep, this is Miller time,'" Benning said Tuesday.

Fifteen years later, it's Miller time again for Benning.

The Calgary Flames added three players on the first day of free agency Tuesday, signing goaltender Jonas Hiller, forward Mason Raymond and defenseman Deryk Engelland each to a multiyear contract.

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Two hours after agreeing to a three-year, $19.5 million contract, Thomas Vanek slipped on a Minnesota Wild jersey for the first time.

"Feels good. Looks good," Vanek said.

Vanek, who makes his home about 20 minutes east of Xcel Energy Center in Stillwater, Minn., chose to take less money, over fewer years, to stay home and reap all the benefits that has to offer.

"It's beyond my wildest dreams," Vanek said. "It's still hard to put into words."

ST. LOUIS -- Unrestricted free agent center Paul Stastny was one of the big fish on the open market Tuesday.

Stastny was the St. Louis Blues' top target and they landed the former Colorado Avalanche center, signing him to a four-year contract worth $28 million.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins look drastically different than they did when Tuesday began after an active first day of free agency that was highlighted by the signing of defenseman Christian Ehrhoff.

The Penguins signed Ehrhoff to a one-year contract worth $4 million shortly after free agency began at noon ET. The 31-year-old defenseman became a free agent when he was bought out of the final seven years of his 10-year, $40 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres.

"Once he was bought out, of course he was going to get a lot of attention," Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said. "I made the call, like I'm sure several other teams did. I just made him aware that we were interested. … He loved the opportunity to come with the Penguins. He just felt let's give it one-year try with a good team with a chance to win."

The Los Angeles Kings signed right wing Adam Cracknell and left wing David Van der Gulik to one-year contracts Tuesday.

Cracknell, 28, had two assists in 19 regular-season games with the St. Louis Blues and one goal in five Stanley Cup Playoff games.

In parts of four seasons with the Blues, Cracknell had six goals and 16 points in 65 games.