The St. Louis blues have solidified their goaltending, signing Jake Allen to a six-year contract extension worth $17.4 million and inking Carter Hutton to a two-year contract worth $2.25 million, the team announced.
Allen was given the reins between the pipes after the Blues dealt Brian Elliott to the Calgary Flames at the draft.
The 25-year-old started 44 games for the Blues last season, posting a .920 save percentage, a 2.35 goals-against average, and six shutouts.
Hutton, the former Nashville Predators backup, appeared in 17 games last season, posting career highs with a .918 save percentage and a 2.33 goals-against average.
The Bruins have also signed goalie Anton Khudobin to a two-year, $1.2-million deal, reports Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.
The Bruins sent third- and fifth-round picks plus prospect Anthony Camara to the Carolina Hurricanes in order to acquire Liles this past season. In 17 games in Boston, the 35-year-old recorded six assists. For his career, he's averaging 0.46 points per game.
Khudobin appeared in 15 games for the Bruins before spending the past three seasons in Carolina and Anaheim. He has posted a .918 save percentage in 100 career games.
The New Jersey Devils have signed free-agent defenseman Ben Lovejoy to a three-year contract, the club announced.
The deal is worth $2.66 million annually, or just under $8 million total, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.
Lovejoy had four goals and six assists in 66 games last season, and added six points during the Pittsburgh Penguins' march to the Stanley Cup.
In 334 career games, Lovejoy has 15 goals and 62 assists, and is a positive possession player (51 percent Corsi For rating, according to Hockey Reference.)
Staal is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career. He had 13 goals and 26 assists in 83 games before being traded to the New York Rangers at the trade deadline. His time in Broadway wasn't great, as he had three goals and three assists in 20 games and went pointless in the playoffs.
Turning 32 in October, Staal let it be known before he hit the market that he wants a top-six role, preferably at center. His production has dipped in each of the last three seasons.
Backes, who had served as the Blues' captain since 2011, will join the Bruins coming off his third straight 20-goal campaign.
The 32-year-old was originally drafted by the Blues in the second round in 2003. He'll exit the franchise ranked fifth all time in games played, sixth in goals, and sixth in points.