NHL notes: Canadiens sign Andrew Shaw to 6-year deal

Forward Andrew Shaw agreed to a six-year, $23.4 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens on Monday.

The contract carries an annual average value of $3.9 million (all figures US dollars).

Shaw scored 14 goals and registered 34 points in 78 games last season. He also was a standout during the playoffs, posting six points — including four goals — in six games.

He was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday via trade.

"We are very pleased to have agreed to a long-term deal with Andrew Shaw," general manager Marc Bergevin said in a statement. "As I mentioned last Friday following his acquisition, we are adding a solid character player to our team, a reliable player who plays with grit and a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks over the past five seasons. Andrew will add more leadership to our team.

"I had the opportunity to discuss with him over the past few days, and I sense his determination and excitement in joining the Canadiens' organization for many years to come."

A five-year NHL veteran, the Belleville, Ont., native won the Stanley Cup twice in Chicago, hoisting the NHL's championship trophy in 2012-13 and again in 2014-15.

The Canadiens also made qualifying offers to pending restricted free agent forwards Daniel Carr and Phillip Danault.

The club had recently signed forward Sven Andrighetto and defencemen Mark Barberio and Joel Hanley to new contracts to avoid restricted free agency on July 1. Not given qualifying offers were forwards Michael Bournival and Lucas Lessio and defencemen Mac Bennett, Morgan Ellis and Darren Dietz.

Forsberg re-ups in Nashville

The Nashville Predators have signed forward Filip Forsberg to a six-year, $36 million contract, locking up one of their brightest young stars long term.

Forsberg will make $6 million each of the next six seasons under terms of the deal announced Monday, At a Monday conference call, Forsberg described the negotiations as a "really smooth process."

"To be honest with you, I never really thought about anything else but staying in Nashville," Forsberg said. "I think we've got something really interesting going and I wanted to be a part of that."

Forsberg, 21, led the Predators in goals (33) and points (64) for the second straight season in 2015-16. He tied a single-season franchise record in goals and ranked 10th in the NHL in that category. That followed a 2014-15 season in which Forsberg had 26 goals and 37 assists.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound wing has played all 82 of Nashville's regular-season games each of the last two years.

Nashville advanced to the second round of the playoffs this past season before losing to the San Jose Sharks in seven games. "It's going to be really interesting to be a part of this and just try to build on it," Forsberg said. "We had a really good team last year. If all the players that we've still got can just improve and get better, and we add something in free agency and stuff like that, we have a really good chance of winning the Cup in the future."

2 women allege Sabres' Evander Kane threatened, grabbed them

Buffalo police have released a pair of complaints against Sabres forward Evander Kane in which two women accuse him of grabbing them at a bar.

The accusers' names are blacked out in the harassment reports released Monday. The incidents allegedly occurred shortly after 3 a.m. EDT June 24.

Police say they're investigating and no charges have yet been filed.

According to the reports, one woman told police Kane threatened her inside the club, and while outside grabbed her throat and tried to push her into his car. The second woman accused the 6-foot-2-inch Kane of trying to force her from the bar.

Kane's attorney and the Buffalo Sabres didn't immediately return messages. Kane was investigated for a possible sex offence in December but prosecutors determined there wasn't evidence to support charges.

Bourque pleads not guilty

Former Boston Bruins star Ray Bourque (bork) has pleaded not guilty to a drunken driving charge.

Bourque was charged June 24 with operating under the influence of alcohol after his Mercedes-Benz rear-ended a minivan in an Andover construction zone. No one was hurt.

The 55-year-old Bourque entered his plea Monday in Lawrence District Court.

The Eagle-Tribune newspaper reported that police said Bourque had a blood-alcohol level of 0.249, three times the legal limit. Authorities say he told police he had "a few drinks" at the Andover Country Club.

In a statement Sunday, Bourque said he accepted responsibility for his actions. He said, "I am not happy about the situation I put myself into."

Canucks waive Higgins, plan to buyout

The Vancouver Canucks announced Monday the club has placed Chris Higgins on waivers with the intention of buying out the final year of his contract.

The move to cut ties doesn't come as a shock after the veteran forward found himself squeezed out of the lineup during a 2015-16 season that included a 22-game stint with the AHL's Utica Comets.

Prior to sending Higgins to the minors, the Canucks took the unusual step of announcing publicly they were trying to deal him to another team in order to make room for younger players. Vancouver also attempted to move the native of Smithtown, N.Y., at the trade deadline, but couldn't find a taker.

The 33 year old, who was set to make $2.5 million in 2016-17, broke his foot in training camp last September and never really found any traction, finishing a miserable campaign with three goals and an assist in 33 games.

Oilers sign Pakarinen

The Edmonton Oilers have signed winger Iiro Pakarinen to a one-year contract.

The 24-year-old registered 13 points (five, eight assists) and eight penalty minutes in 63 games with the Oilers last season.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound forward also appeared in four games with the American Hockey League's Bakersfield Condors last season, posting three points and four penalty minutes.

The Loviisa, Finland native has accumulated 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) and 10 penalty minutes in 80 career NHL games.

Senators deal Chiasson to Flames for Sieloff

Ottawa Senators have dealt forward Alex Chiasson to the Calgary Flames in exchange for defenceman Patrick Sieloff.

Chiasson, 25, was acquired by Ottawa from the Stars on July 1, 2014 in the five-player trade that sent forward Jason Spezza to Dallas. He scored 19 goals and added 21 assists in 153 games over two seasons with the Senators. The Flames announced they signed Chiasson to a one-year deal.

Sieloff, 22, made his NHL debut with Calgary last season. He scored the game-winning goal in his lone NHL game as the Flames beat the Minnesota Wild 2-1 on April 9.​

Coyotes sign Domingue for 2 years

The Arizona Coyotes have signed goalie Louis Domingue to a two-year contract.Terms of the deal were not released.

The 24-year-old Domingue was solid as Arizona's goalie after Mike Smith went out with a core injury early last season, going 15-18-5 with a 2.75 goals-against average and .911 save percentage. He set the Coyotes' rookie record for wins and was the NHL's rookie of the month in January by going 6-3-2 with a 2.25 goals-against average.

Domingue is 16-20-6 with a 2.74 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage in 46 career NHL games.​

Sharks qualify Hertl, 3 others

The San Jose Sharks issued a qualifying offer to pending restricted free agent forward Tomas Hertl and three other players.

The Sharks also issued qualifying offers Monday to restricted free agents forwards Matt Nieto and Ryan Carpenter and defenceman Dylan DeMelo. San Jose will retain negotiating rights with the four players.

Hertl had 21 goals and 25 assists last season when he thrived on the top line with Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski. Hertl hurt his right knee in the Stanley Cup Final, but is expected to be a key part of the team again next season.

The Sharks did not make offers to forwards Chris Crane, Petter Emanuelsson, Jeremy Langlois and Jeremy Morin; and goalie Joel Rumpel, making them unrestricted free agents.