(Reuters) - Several teams rushed to sign players to new contracts on Friday with the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire on the weekend and the National Hockey League (NHL) threatening a lockout.
The Dallas Stars solidified their netminding by signing Kari Lehtonen to five-year, $29.5 million contract extension making the Finn one of the NHL's highest paid goalkeepers at nearly $6 million a season.
"Kari Lehtonen has worked extremely hard in his time with the Dallas Stars to establish himself as an elite goaltender in the NHL," Stars general manager Joe Nieuwendyk said in a statement.
"We believe that his best days as a goaltender are ahead and that his work ethic and leadership will help guide this team into a perennial Stanley Cup contender."
Taken second overall by Atlanta in the 2002 NHL draft, Lehtonen spent five seasons with the Thrashers before being traded to Dallas in 2010.
In 344 career games, the 28-year-old netminder has a record of 166-133-32 with 21 shutouts and a 2.71 goals against average.
The Washington Capitals re-signed 22-year-old defenseman John Carlson to a six-year $23.8 million deal. Carlson, taken in the first round of the 2008 NHL Draft by Washington, recorded 32 points last season and a career-high nine goals.
Trying to fill a hole on their blueline left by the retirement of All-Star defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, the Detroit Red Wings signed free agent Carlo Colaiacovo to a two-year deal.
In nine seasons split between the Toronto Maple Leafs and St. Louis Blues, Colaiacovo has 30 goals and 139 points.
Detroit also re-signed forward Justin Abdelkader to a four-year extension.
If the NHL and union representing its players fail to reach a new labor agreement before the current pact expires at 12:01 a.m. (0401 GMT) on Sunday, teams will not be able to make any signings or personnel moves until a new CBA is reached.
© Thomson Reuters. All Rights Reserved