A local Buffalo-area car dealership is doing its best to try and convince Jimmy Vesey to call the city home.

Northtown Automotive has taken out a billboard that reads "Buffalo Loves Vesey," with the hope that the pending unrestricted free agent will sign with the Sabres.

The Sabres acquired the rights to the 23-year-old from the Nashville Predators in late June. However, Vesey has stated that he plans to hit the open market in August when he becomes a free agent.

That considered, Vesey's agent admitted on Friday that the left winger felt "very comfortable" with the Sabres following a meeting with the team on Thursday.

- With h/t to Bardown

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Stanley Cup champion Phil Kessel did indeed go under the knife to repair an injury that affected him for much longer than first reported.

The Pittsburgh Penguins winger recently underwent surgery on an unspecified hand, general manager Jim Rutherford confirmed Saturday. It's believed Kessel suffered the injury - also unspecified - during the 2015 preseason and not the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as was initially reported.

"It was something he dealt with all season," Rutherford told Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "It bothered him. He took care of it. He's not expected to miss any time."

Despite the injury, Kessel was able to appear in all 82 regular-season games, as well as an additional 24 in the playoffs, where he played some of the best hockey of his career and finished second to Sidney Crosby in Conn Smythe voting.

Altogether, Kessel recorded 36 goals and 45 assists in 106 games in 2015-16.

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Josh Wilkins is doing his best to make an impression on the Carolina Hurricanes brass.

The 19-year-old was invited to the club's development camp and Saturday showed wizardry, scoring a cheeky goal in the shootout.

Wilkins is a Raleigh native who spent last season with the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL.

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The Carolina Hurricanes have signed 2016 first-round draft picks Jake Bean and Julien Gauthier to three-year, entry-level contracts.

The deals will pay Bean - selected 13th overall - and Gauthier - selected 21st - $832,500 each at the NHL level or $70,000 at the AHL level through their first three seasons as pros.

Bean, an 18-year-old defenseman, recorded 29 goals and 103 points in 119 games for the WHL's Calgary Hitmen over the last two campaigns.

"It was great having Jake here for our development camp this week, and getting to know him better as a person and player," said general manager Ron Francis. "He has a bright future in our organization and we are looking forward to seeing him again at the rookie tournament and during training camp."

Gauthier, also 18, scored 41 goals in 56 games for the QMJHL's Val d'Or Foreurs in 2015-16.

"For an 18-year-old, Julien already has the body of a professional hockey player," Francis said. "He had a great week in Raleigh for development camp, and will play an important role in the Hurricanes' future."

They both also received signing bonuses of $277,500.

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Jonathan Bernier is looking forward to taking flight with the Anaheim Ducks.

Traded Friday by the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 2017 conditional draft pick, the 28-year-old goalie did not expect to be on the move, but appears quite pleased about his destination.

"I had no idea there was a trade coming up or that I was going to get moved," Bernier said on a conference call with reporters. "(Toronto general manager) Lou (Lamoriello) called me this morning and gave me the news.

"For me, I'm definitely very happy to come to the Ducks. It seems like a really great organization. They have a great team has well. I think it's going to be a great fit for me and obviously a new chapter."

Related: Expectations, pressure and Mandela: Bernier's time in Toronto comes to a close

Bernier spent three seasons in Toronto after being acquired from the Los Angeles Kings, posting a record of 59-68-17 with a .917 save percentage. He joined the Maple Leafs during a down time in the team's history, and leaves with generally positive memories and a renewed hope for his hockey future after being relegated to the AHL for a spell this past season.

"Playing in Toronto, I had a real good experience," Bernier said. "I had a lot of fun. But when you go through a rebuild it's never easy. I'm going to a team that's a Stanley Cup contender, and you're feeling better coming into camp and knowing you have a great team in front of you."

That "great team" will be coached by Randy Carlyle, under whom Bernier played for a season and a half in Toronto.

"Knowing (Carlyle), he's very detailed on how well he wants to play defensively. So I think it's a great fit," Bernier said of the reunion. "I had to gain his confidence when I got traded to Toronto, but we always got along well. He's a very detailed coach, and he demands a lot. That's what you want from your coach."

Bernier, who's expected to begin the season as John Gibson's backup, has one year left on his contract and will carry a $4.15-million cap hit in 2016-17 heading into unrestricted free agency next summer.

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A decision on Patrik Elias' tenure with the New Jersey Devils likely won't come until closer to training camp.

The veteran forward is back in the Czech Republic recovering from knee surgery, and while Devils general manager Ray Shero says he's been in contact with Allan Walsh - Elias' agent - it is yet to be determined whether the unrestricted free agent will return to the team.

"Once he starts getting the green light to start ramping up his training off ice, we'll see where that takes him and certainly when he gets back on ice, if it's going to be later in the summer, we'll see where that goes," Shero told Chris Ryan of NJ.com. "And his body will tell him or his knee will tell him how he feels, and we'll be in constant communication with Patrik."

Earlier this offseason, Walsh stated Elias "desperately" wants to play one more season.

Elias was drafted 51st overall by the Devils in 1994 and sits 43 games behind Ken Daneyko for the team's games-played record.

The 40-year-old, who was limited to 16 games this past season due to injury, is the franchise leader in goals (408), assists (617) and total points (1,025).

After acquiring Taylor Hall and re-signing Kyle Palmieri, the Devils still have over $13 million in available cap space, and his stable presence would be invaluable for a club looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2012.

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While Mark Scheifele and Nathan MacKinnon were rewarded with long-term contract extensions Friday, several notable restricted free agents are still waiting to put pen to paper on new deals of their own.

Here's a look at some of the highest profile names on that list.

* player filed for arbitration

** team filed for arbitration

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