National Hockey

TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed forward Adam Brooks to a three-year entry level contract. The 21-year-old had 43 goals and 87 assists in 66 regular-season games with the Western Hockey League's Regina Pats last season.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Blue Jackets have bought out the final two years of 35-year-old forward Scott Hartnell's contract, opening up salary cap space to possibly sign another free agent. Hartnell would have cost the team $4.

WASHINGTON — Brendan Smith signed a $17 million, four-year deal with the Rangers, solidifying New York's blue line and setting the market for free agent defencemen . Smith will count $4.35 million against the salary cap through the 2020-21 season.

On the same day that Connor McDavid was nearing agreement on an eight-year extension with the Edmonton Oilers, another star was moving elsewhere in the National Basketball Association.

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes have agreed to terms with a pair of their own pending free agents.

ST. LOUIS — Blues centre Patrik Berglund is expected to be out until December after having surgery to repair a dislocated left shoulder. The Blues say Berglund was injured during an off-season conditioning program in Sweden and flew to St.

DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche have agreed to a two-year deal with Swiss forward Sven Andrighetto. Andrighetto had five goals and 11 assists for the Avalanche after being acquired in a trade with Montreal on March 1.

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators have signed goaltender Mike Condon to a three-year contract extension worth an average annual value of US$2.4 million per season.

Connor McDavid just took home his first NHL MVP award, and now he's on the verge of becoming the league's highest-paid player. The 20-year-old is nearing an extension with the Edmonton Oilers, reportedly worth US$106 million over eight years.

Free agent star power is in short supply yet again this July 1, but that doesn't mean helpful contributors and potential bargains aren't out to be found. Here are eight names to keep an eye when Canada Day rolls around: 1.