The Calgary Flames signed defenseman Jay Bouwmeester to a multi-year contract Tuesday just hours before the NHL free-agency period. The Flames, during last weekend's NHL entry draft, acquired the rights to Bouwmeester, who was to become a restricted free agent Wednesday.

The Calgary Flames have traded for defenseman Jay Bouwmeester of the Florida Panthers, strengthening one of the NHL's best defensive teams. In return, Florida got defenseman Jordan Leopold and a third-round pick, which the Panthers used Saturday in the NHL draft to select right wing Josh Birkholz. Bouwmeester, 25, the third overall pick in the 2002 draft by the Panthers, is to become a free agent July 1, when the Flames will need to come to terms on a contract to retain exclusive bargaining rights. I'd heard all the rumblings that something was going to happen, he told the Calgary Herald Saturday.

Boston University senior defenseman Matt Gilroy was named Friday as the winner of the Hobey Baker Award -- college hockey's most prestigious honor. The award is named for a Princeton hockey player who died in World War I.

The Northwest Division-leading Calgary Flames acquired Phoenix forward Olli Jokinen before Wednesday's trading deadline expired. The deal also included the Coyotes getting forwards Matthew Lombardi and Brandon Prust and a conditional first-round draft pick from the Flames. Earlier, Calgary also obtained

By Roger Lajoie VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Several major trades highlighted the annual National Hockey League entry draft on Saturday, with the Colorado Avalanche and the Calgary Flames announcing the first trade of the day just minutes after the draft started.