NHL Summer Buzz: Antti Niemi to be bought out by Stars

Welcome to the NHL Summer Buzz. With the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, the Trade/Waiver Freeze and the NHL Draft over, and the beginning of free agency on July 1, the 31 NHL teams are free to make moves to shape their rosters for the 2017-18 season.
Here's a look around the League at the latest doings for Monday:

4 p.m.

Blackhawks agree to terms with two players

The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to terms with goaltender Anton Forsberg on a two-year contract and forward Tomas Jurco on a one-year contract.
For more details on the moves,
click here
.

3:50 p.m.

Antti Niemi to be bought out by Stars

The Dallas Stars have placed goaltender Antti Niemi on waivers with the intention of buying out his contract.
Niemi, 33, had one year left on a three-year, $13.5 million contract ($4.5 million average annual value) he signed with the Stars on June 29, 2015, according to CapFriendly.com. Niemi can become an unrestricted free agent Saturday.
He was 12-12-4 with a 3.30 goals-against average and .892 save percentage in 37 games (30 starts) this season. It was his worst GAA and save percentage in eight NHL seasons with the Stars, San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks.
Dallas acquired Niemi in a trade with the Sharks for a seventh-round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft on June 27, 2015. He was signed by the Blackhawks as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2008.
Niemi was 16-6 with a 2.63 GAA and .910 save percentage in 22 Stanley Cup Playoff games to help Chicago win the Stanley Cup in 2010, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. He is 36-29 with a 2.77 GAA and .905 save percentage in 67 playoff games.
The Stars acquired goalie Ben Bishop in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings on May 9 and signed him to a six-year, $29.5 million contract ($4.916 million AAV) on May 12.
Dallas also has goalie Kari Lehtonen under contract for one more season at a $5.9 million salary-cap charge.
The Stars also signed defenseman Esa Lindell to a two-year, $4.4 million contract, an average annual value of $2.2 million.
Lindell, 23, would have become a restricted free agent Saturday.
As a rookie this season, Lindell had 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 73 games. The Stars selected him in the third round (No. 74) of the 2012 NHL Draft.

3:20 p.m.

Zack Kassian signs three-year contract with Oilers

Forward Zack Kassian signed a three-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers on Monday. The contract has an average annual value of $1.95 million.
Kassian, 26, would have become a restricted free agent Saturday. He had 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists) in 79 regular-season games and three points (three goals, no assists) in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games for the Oilers this season.

1:55 p.m.

Tom Pyatt signs two-year contract with Senators

Forward Tom Pyatt signed a two-year contract with the Ottawa Senators on Monday. The contract has an average annual value of $1.1 million.
Pyatt, 30, would have become an unrestricted free agent Saturday. He had 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) in 82 regular-season games and two points (two goals, no assists) in 14 Stanley Cup Playoff games for the Senators this season.

1:51 p.m.

<>Korbinian Holzer signs two-year contract with Ducks

Defenseman Korbinian Holzer signed a two-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks on Monday.
Holzer, 29, would have become an unrestricted free agent Saturday. He had seven points (two goals, five assists) in 32 games for the Ducks this season. He was held without a point in his first five career Stanley Cup Playoff games.
He was acquired by the Ducks in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 2, 2015.

11:47 a.m.

<>Andrej Sustr

Defenseman Andrej Sustr signed a one-year, $1.95 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday.
Sustr, 26, would have become a restricted free agent Saturday.
Sustr (6-foot-7, 220 pounds) had 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 80 games for Tampa Bay this season. He has 56 points (eight goals, 48 assists) in 274 games the past five seasons with the Lightning.
Tampa Bay signed Sustr as an undrafted free agent on March 21, 2013. He played all 26 Stanley Cup Playoff games and had two points (one goal, one assist) to help the Lightning reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2015. They lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games.

9:50 a.m.

Derek Ryan agrees to one-year contract with Hurricanes

Forward Derek Ryan agreed to terms with the Carolina Hurricanes on a one-year contract worth $1.425 million Monday.
"Derek proved he belonged in the NHL last season," Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis said. "He brings skill and versatility to our lineup and sets an example for our younger players with his character and determination off the ice."
Ryan, 30, would have become an unrestricted free agent Saturday. He scored an NHL career-high 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists) in 67 games for Carolina this season.
The Hurricanes signed Ryan as an undrafted free agent on June 15, 2015. He has played 73 NHL games the past two seasons.