July 8, 2017 / 12:15 PM
NHL notebook: Kevin Klein of the New York Rangers retires
The Sports Xchange
Kevin Klein of the New York Rangers is retiring after 12 NHL seasons. Photo by Mark Goldman/UPI | License Photo
New York Rangers defenseman Kevin Klein announced his retirement from the NHL on Friday after parts of 12 seasons in the league.
Klein, 32, played in 627 career NHL games with the Rangers and Nashville Predators, recording 154 points (38 goals, 116 assists) and 185 penalty minutes. He made his NHL debut as a member of the Predators on Dec. 3, 2005, against the Philadelphia Flyers -- 10 days shy of his 21st birthday. He recorded his first career NHL goal/point on Jan. 26, 2007, against the Chicago Blackhawks.
--The Edmonton Oilers signed forward Jussi Jokinen to a one-year contract.
RELATED NHL: Anaheim Ducks sign Dennis Rasmussen to one-year deal
Financial terms were not disclosed by the club for Jokinen, who was bought out by the Florida Panthers last month.
Jokinen collected 11 goals, 17 assists and 39 penalty minutes while serving as the alternate captain in 69 games last season with the Panthers. The 34-year-old Finn has recorded 186 goals, 360 assists and 365 penalty minutes in 891 career contests with the Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins and Panthers.
RELATED Vancouver Canucks re-sign Joseph LaBate to two-way contract
--Former Buffalo Sabres and Colorado Avalanche center Mikhail Grigorenko returned to Russia, signing a three-year contract with CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League.
Grigorenko was Buffalo's first-round pick (12th overall) in 2012 but failed to live up to expectations in the NHL during three seasons with the Sabres and the last two for the Avalanche. The native of Khabarovsk, Russia, has been an unrestricted free agent after his contract with Colorado expired.
Grigorenko, 23, recorded 10 goals and 13 assists in 75 games for the Avalanche last season. He owns 64 points (22 goals, 42 assists) in 217 career NHL games with the Sabres and Avalanche.
RELATED NHL: Edmonton Oilers sign Jussi Jokinen to one-year deal
--The Anaheim Ducks signed forward Dennis Rasmussen to a one-year contract through the 2017-18 season.
The 27-year-old center had eight goals, nine assists, a plus-5 rating and 16 penalty minutes in 112 career NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks. He played the entire 2016-17 season with the Blackhawks, scoring four goals while adding four assists in 68 games.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder won bronze for Team Sweden at both the 2014 World Championship in Russia and 2010 World Junior Championship in Saskatchewan.
--The Vancouver Canucks re-signed forward Joseph LaBate to a one-year, two-way contract.
The 24-year-old LaBate provides a physical presence at the NHL level, where he recorded 24 hits in limited ice time over 13 games last season.
Kevin Klein
Jussi Jokinen
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