NEWARK, N.J. -- The New Jersey Devils have acquired former No. 1 overall draft pick Taylor Hall from the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Adam Larsson.
The teams announced the trade Wednesday, two days before the start of free agency.
The trade gives the goal-starved Devils an exciting young left wing who was the No. 1 pick overall in 2014. The Oilers get a solid defenseman who was the No. 4 overall selection in 2011.
The 24-year-old Hall spent his entire six-year career with the Oilers, collecting 132 goals and 196 assists in 381 NHL games. He has led Edmonton in scoring for three of the last four seasons, and has finished in the top three on the squad in each of his six seasons. This past year, he had 26 goals and 39 assists. He represented the Oilers at the 2016 NHL All-Star Game.
Larsson had 3 goals and 15 assists, playing in all 82 games on the Devils' top defensive pairing.
Predators: Shea Weber traded to Canadiens for P.K. Subban
The Nashville Predators pulled off a blockbuster before the start of free agency Wednesday by acquiring P.K. Subban from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Shea Weber, a swap of All-Star defensemen.
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Subban won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman in 2013 and had six goals and 45 assists last season before suffering an injury. The offensive-minded, dynamic 27-year-old has 63 goals and 215 assists in 434 career games, all with the Canadiens.
Weber, who turns 31 on Aug. 14, had been with Nashville since the start of his NHL career in 2005. He signed a $110 million, 14-year offer sheet with Philadelphia as a restricted free agent in 2012, but Nashville matched it to keep him. The three-time Norris Trophy finalist was a team captain and had 20 goals and 31 assists last season.
Blue Jackets: Seth Jones signs 6-year deal worth $32.4 million
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed defenseman Seth Jones to a $32.4 million, six-year contract.
Jones will count $5.4 million against the salary cap through the 2020-21 NHL season. He was a pending restricted free agent.
General manager Jarmo Kekalainen says reaching a long-term agreement with Jones was an offseason priority.
Agent Pat Brisson confirmed the terms of the contract, which includes a modified no-trade clause in years five and six.
Jones was the fourth overall pick in the 2013 draft to the Nashville Predators. The Blue Jackets acquired him in a January trade that sent center Ryan Johansen to Nashville.
In three NHL seasons, the 21-year-old Jones has 17 goals and 66 assists for 83 points. Kekalainen says Jones was just beginning to tap into his potential.
Lightning: Steven Stamkos elects to re-sign
Two people familiar with the decision have confirmed to The Associated Press that Lightning captain Steven Stamkos is staying put in Tampa Bay.
The people spoke on the condition of anonymity on Wednesday because the Lightning have not announced the decision. Details of the contract weren't immediately available.
The agreement was reached two days before the 26-year-old Stamkos had the opportunity to test free agency, where he was expected to command lucrative offers from numerous bidders, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings.
Instead, the two-time NHL scoring champ chose to stay with the franchise that selected him with the No. 1 pick in the 2008 draft.
Blues: Kyle Brodziak signs 2-year contract extension
ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues have signed forward Kyle Brodziak to a two-year contract extension.
The 32-year-old Brodziak had two goals in the playoffs after totaling 11 points in 76 regular-season games leading the checking line.
The 11-year veteran also has played for Edmonton and Minnesota and has 239 points in 697 career games. He was a seventh-round draft pick by the Oilers in 2003.
The Blues also announced Wednesday that the Chicago Wolves, their American Hockey League affiliate, have named Craig Berube head coach. The 50-year-old Berube, former head coach at Philadelphia from 2013-15, got a two-year contract.
Berube played 17 seasons with the Flyers, Maple Leafs, Flames, Capitals and Islanders.