The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Thursday that they have signed defenseman Jesse Blacker to a standard three-year entry level contract. He will report to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL) tomorrow.

Blacker, 18, was originally selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round, 58th overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He played in one preseason game for Toronto in September.

Blacker skated in 57 games this season in the Ontario Hockey League, posting 33 points (six goals, 27 assists) and 74 penalty minutes. The Toronto, Ontario native played in 48 games with the Owen Sound Attack, recording six goals and 24 assists to go along with 62 penalty minutes. [READ]

Ryan Kesler has signed a six-year contract extension with the Canucks, according to an Associated Press report on Friday.

The 25-year-old forward due to become a restricted free agent on July 1 is now under contract through the 2015-16 season.

Kesler is having a career season with 21 goals and 45 assists in 71 games. [READ]

Marc-Andre Fleury made 17 saves for Pittsburgh's first shutout of the season and the Penguins won 3-0 as the Bruins got little spark from their retaliation against Matt Cooke less than 2 minutes into the game Thursday night.

Shawn Thornton squared off with Cooke 5 seconds after the Penguin came on for his first shift. The anticipation of a fight had built since March 7, when Bruins center Marc Savard was sidelined indefinitely after Cooke’s hit caused a Grade 2 concussion in Pittsburgh. [READ]

Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski has been suspended for eight games, without pay, for delivering a hit to the head area of an unsuspecting opponent, Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook in NHL Game #1041 Wednesday night, the NHL announced on Thursday. [READ]

Flyers goalie Michael Leighton will be out of action eight to 10 weeks with a severe high ankle sprain.

Leighton suffered the injury during a 4-3 shootout loss to Nashville on Tuesday.

He is 16-5-2 with a 2.48 GAA and .918 save percentage since joining the Flyers. [READ]

Bruins coach Claude Julien says that fans shouldn't expect any retribution Thursday night when they face the Penguins.

It will be the first meeting between the teams since March 7, when Pittsburgh's Matt Cooke laid a blindside hit on Boston's Marc Savard, which resulted in a Grade 2 concussion that likely ended Savard's season.

"We need the two points," Julien said. "Things need to be done within the rules. Unfortunately, the rules aren't the same as in 1970 and in those days it was a lot different. There were bench-clearing brawls, which you don't see anymore. There was a lot of other things going on and that's what everybody has to understand.

"You guys, turn the page here, I've had enough of this." [READ]

The Blue Jackets have signed left wing Matt Calvert to a standard three-year entry level contract, GM Scott Howson announced on Thursday. As is club policy, terms were not disclosed.

Calvert was the Blue Jackets’ fifth pick, 127th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He is in his third season with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL and has collected 47 goals and 52 assists for 99 points in 68 games. [READ]

The Ducks announced on Wednesday that the club has reassigned left wing Kyle Calder to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL.

Calder appeared in 14 contests with Anaheim this season, collecting two assists (0-2=2) with eight penalty minutes. Calder tallied his first point as a Duck on Nov. 25 vs. Carolina in a 3-2 Anaheim win. He was originally assigned to Toronto on Dec. 30 and recalled on Mar. 15. With the Marlies, Calder has scored 11-13=24 points in 31 games, including three goals (3-1=4) in his last two AHL contests. [READ]

Canucks winger Mikael Samuelsson will be out up to three weeks with an undisclosed upper body injury during Tuesday night’s loss to the Islanders, according to an Associated Press report. [READ]

The NHL wants to adopt a new rule against blindside hits to the head before the end of this season, according to two reports Wednesday.

The league is hoping to fast-track the proposed rule and is preparing a DVD package after a number of players suffered concussions this season.

"It's a process that has never been done before in the season," NHL senior vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell told the Globe and Mail in a story published online early Wednesday. "But this is so important an issue that if we can possibly avoid just one concussion, we should do this." [READ]

Flyers goalie Michael Leighton is day-to-day with an ankle injury.

The team said Wednesday that Leighton is scheduled to have an MRI exam Thursday.

He is 16-5-2 with a 2.48 GAA and .918 save percentage since joining the Flyers on Dec. 15. [READ]

The Anaheim Ducks announced Wednesday that they have signed free agent defenseman Jake Newton to a three-year entry-level contract.

Newton, 21, just completed his freshman season at Northeastern University.

He played 34 games for the Huskies this season, scoring 22 points with 10 penalty minutes. The 6-3, 200-pound blueliner led all team defensemen in scoring.

"We are very happy to announce Jake's signing," said Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray. "He has a combination of size and skill, making him one of the top offensive defensemen at the college level this season."

A native of San Jacinto, CA, Newton played youth hockey in Southern California. [READ]