Calgary re-signs defenseman Babchuk

July 5, 2011 at 4:21AM

The Calgary Flames re-signed defenseman Anton Babchuk to a two-year contract extension worth $5 million.

Babchuk, 27, played in 65 games with Calgary last season after coming over in a trade from Carolina along with Tom Kostopoulos.

Babchuk had 11 goals and 24 assists and was a team-best plus-14 with the Flames. He had eight points in 17 games with Carolina.

A first-round draft pick by Chicago in 2002, Babchuk has played 250 NHL regular-season games, with 34 goals and 62 assists.

Wanted: backup goalie The Detroit Red Wings are searching for a backup goaltender to spell Jimmy Howard, and their options are limited.

"The market for goalies is pretty picked over," Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland said. "We're comfortable with Chris Osgood if we have to do it."

Osgood has won three Stanley Cups, two as a No. 1 goalie, and 401 games, mostly with Detroit. But he played in only 11 games last season, recovering from sports hernia surgery.

Holland might bring back Ty Conklin, who won a career-high 25 games for the Red Wings during the 2008-09 season.

Etc. • The Winnipeg Jets signed several free agents, including several with local connections. Winnipeg native Derek Meech and former Manitoba Moose forward Rick Rypien and defenseman Mark Flood were among six players signed Monday. The Jets also agreed to terms with defenseman Randy Jones, winger Tanner Glass and center Aaron Gagnon.

• The Buffalo Sabres re-signed defenseman Mike Weber to a multiyear contract. Weber scored four goals in 58 games last season.

• The Phoenix Coyotes signed goalie Curtis McElhinney and defenseman Tyler Eckford to one-year contracts. McElhinney, 28, has played in 67 games over four NHL seasons with Ottawa, Anaheim and Calgary. Eckford played four games with New Jersey and 37 with Albany of the AHL last season.

Theo Peckham agreed to a one-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers. Peckham, a restricted free agent, played in 71 games for Edmonton last season.

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