Hossa coming back well from vicious Torres hit

CHICAGO -- Chicago forward Marian Hossa says he's recovering on schedule from a brutal hit that ended his season in Game 3 of the Blackhawks' opening-round playoff series loss to Phoenix in April.

Hossa, who led the Blackhawks with 77 points last season, was knocked out and suffered a concussion when the Coyotes' Raffi Torres left his feet to deliver the high, hard blow in the first period of the game April 17.

Hossa was rushed off the ice on a stretcher and went to the hospital.

On Friday, Hossa said he had resumed high-intensity off-ice training several weeks ago and has experienced no ill effects. He has not yet started skating again, however.

Blues lock in Oshie for five

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues have signed forward T.J. Oshie to a five-year contract.

Terms were not disclosed, but the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the deal is worth nearly $21 million.

At 25, Oshie is among many young up-and-coming players for the Blues. He tied for the team lead with 54 points in 2011-12. He was third in goals with 19 and second in assists with 35. In four seasons, he has 63 goals and 112 assists for 175 points.

Oshie was a first-round pick (24th overall) for the Blues in the 2005 draft.

Oilers, Gagner work it out

EDMONTON -- The Edmonton Oilers have avoided arbitration with Sam Gagner, signing the forward to a one-year deal worth US$3.2 million.

Gagner, 22, played in 75 games last season with the Oilers, scoring a career-high 18 goals with 29 assists for 47 points.

He had a breakout eight-point night against the Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 2.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pound native of London, Ont., has spent his entire career with Edmonton since being drafted by the club sixth overall in 2007. In his five seasons, Gagner has played in 366 games, collecting 220 points (77 goals, 143 assists).

Ducks sign forward Winnik

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Versatile forward Daniel Winnik agreed to a two-year, $3.6-million contract with Anaheim on Friday, moving down the California coast from San Jose to bolster the Ducks' depth and penalty killing.

Winnik has played five NHL seasons with Phoenix, Colorado and the Sharks, who acquired him last Feb. 27 and let him leave as an unrestricted free agent. He was eager to stay in the Western Conference, and after going unsigned in the early days of the NHL's free-agent frenzy, he finally reached a deal with the Ducks.

Wins car at own tourney

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Montreal Canadiens centre Scott Gomez might have another pro sports career ahead of him when he hangs up his skates.

The Anchorage native won a new, US$50,000 Acura MD X Thursday when he hit a hole-in-one at his own Scotty Gomez Foundation Celebrity Golf Tournament.

The Anchorage Daily News reports Gomez got his hole-in-one on the par-3 sixth hole at the Eagleglen Golf Course at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage.

"The guy wins a car at his own tournament," says dealership owner Marten Martensen, who donated the car. "Can you believe it?"

Gomez is entering the sixth year of a seven-year contract with the Canadiens, valued at $51.5 million.

-- from the news services

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 21, 2012 C2