NHL Notes: Bruins acquire Recchi

The 41-year-old Mark Recchi (right), seen celebrating a goal by Phil Kessel in April, wants his fourth Stanley Cup ring in Boston.

Recchi headed to Boston

BOSTON -- Mark Recchi joined the Boston Bruins hoping to win his fourth Stanley Cup ring. He decided to stay to take another shot at it.

The NHL's sixth-leading active goal scorer signed a one-year deal to return to the Bruins.

The 41-year-old Recchi, obtained in a March 4 trade from Tampa Bay, said four days after the Bruins were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs that he might retire if they didn't offer him a contract.

Recchi has been part of three Stanley Cup-winning teams -- Pittsburgh in 1991 and 1992 and Carolina in 2006. He has 545 goals and 897 assists for 1,442 points in 1,490 regular-season games for seven clubs. He had six goals and 10 assists in 18 regular-season games with Boston.

The Bruins also signed defenseman Johnny Boychuk to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal announced late Wednesday were not disclosed.

Blackhawks sign Madden

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks signed John Madden, adding a veteran center who has spent his entire 10-year career with the New Jersey Devils.

The 36-year-old Madden signed a one-year contract. Terms were not disclosed.

Madden helped the Devils make the playoffs the last nine seasons, including Stanley Cup titles in 2000 and 2003. He has 140 goals and 157 assists for his career during the regular season. A year ago, he had 16 assists and seven goals in 76 games.

Thrashers sign Antropov

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Thrashers signed free agent forward Nik Antropov to a four-year, $16 million contract, setting up a reunion with Ilya Kovalchuk.

The 29-year-old Antropov played with Kovalchuk in Russia during the NHL lockout. General manager Don Waddell said Kovalchuk endorsed the signing with a text message saying "great job."

Kovalchuk's approval is important. The Thrashers' captain and biggest star is entering his free-agent season, and has said he wants to see the team's offseason moves before he talks about signing a new deal.

Waddell said the Antropov signing should help the team re-sign Kovalchuk.

Leopold signs with Panthers

SUNRISE, Fla. -- The Florida Panthers have signed defenseman Jordan Leopold to a one-year deal.

A day earlier, Panthers assistant general manager Randy Sexton had said the chances of signing Leopold appeared "remote."

Leopold had his exclusive negotiating rights traded to the Panthers by the Calgary Flames on Saturday for the rights to defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, who signed a multiyear contract with Calgary on Tuesday.

Also, the Panthers announced that defenseman Clay Wilson had signed a two-year contract.

Stars get Skrastins

DALLAS -- The Dallas Stars have signed free agent defenseman Karlis Skrastins to a two-year deal worth $2.75 million.

The Stars gave the 34-year-old Skrastins $1.1 million for the 2009 season and $1.65 million for 2010.

Skrastins played in 80 games for the Florida Panthers last season and had four goals, 14 assists, 18 points and led the team with 171 blocked shots.

Elsewhere

• Free agent defenseman Adrian Aucoin has signed a one-year contract with the Phoenix Coyotes, giving the team a veteran presence on and off the ice.

• Mikhail Grabovski has signed an $8.7 million, three-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

• The New York Islanders have signed goaltender Scott Munroe, left wing Jeremy Reich and defenseman Brett Westgarth to one-year contracts.

• Forward Ilkka Pikkarainen has rejoined the New Jersey Devils. Devils' President Lou Lamoriello announced the deal with the 6-2, 220-pound player from Finland, but contract details were not disclosed.

• The Calgary Flames have signed center Garth Murray and minor-league forward Riley Armstrong.

The Carolina Hurricanes locked up another of their free agents, re-signing forward Chad LaRose to a two-year deal. -- From Wire Reports