10 Copyright (c) 2008 Yahoo!, Inc. All rights reserved. en-us 126 15 http://sports.yahoo.com http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/b/ysp_logo_rss.gif http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl Latest news and information about the NHL. Dallas Stars center Stu Barnes is retiring after 16 years in the NHL. The Stars said Thursday that the 37-year-old Barnes has agreed to a two-year contract to join Dave Tippett's coaching staff as an assistant. The Stars also announced two-year contract extensions for associate coach Rick Wilson and assistant coach Mark Lamb to take them through the 2010-11 season. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:06:52 PDT urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,ap:20050301:nhl,article,ap-stars-barnesretires:1 Patience paid off for the Colorado Avalanche, who signed Joe Sakic to a one-year, $6 million contract Wednesday after he decided to play a 20th season in the NHL rather than call it a career. "Ultimately it came down to the fact that I still enjoy playing and competing," the 39-year-old captain said in a statement released by the team. Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:16:23 PDT urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,ap:20050301:nhl,article,ap-avalanche-sakic:1 Defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic agreed to a four-year contract extension with the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday, keeping one of the club's best young players with the Sharks through the 2012-13 season. Vlasic had two goals and 12 assists while playing in all 82 regular-season games for the Sharks last season, just his second full NHL campaign. Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:10:05 PDT urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,ap:20050301:nhl,article,ap-sharks-vlasic:1 Veteran NHL defenseman Bryan Berard will attempt to make an NHL club on a tryout contract, after being invited to training camp with the Philadelphia Flyers. "Bryan has been around a number of years now (and) he has been a good defenseman for quite some time," said Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren. Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:42:25 PDT urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,ap:20050301:nhl,article,ap-flyers-berard:1 The Chicago Blackhawks signed 19-year-old right wing Akim Aliu, the 56th overall pick in the 2007 draft, to a three-year contract on Monday. Financial terms were not disclosed. The native of Nigeria played for the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights last year, scoring 28 goals with 33 assists and 133 penalty minutes in 60 games. Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:22:29 PDT urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,ap:20050301:nhl,article,ap-blackhawks-aliu:1 The Detroit Red Wings signed tough-guy right wing Aaron Downey to a one-year contract on Wednesday. Downey signed with Detroit last season and played in 56 games. He has spent parts of eight seasons with the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues and Montreal Canadiens. In his career, Downey has collected seven goals, nine assists and 487 penalty minutes. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:18:33 PDT urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,ap:20050301:nhl,article,ap-redwings-downey:1 The Minnesota Wild hope to make Marian Gaborik an offer he won't refuse. Their first step was a visit to Slovakia for a face-to-face meeting with their franchise player. President and general manager Doug Risebrough and assistant GM for hockey operations Tom Lynn traveled to Gaborik's home in Trencin last week, armed with data and ready to listen. Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:01:32 PDT urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,ap:20050301:nhl,article,ap-wild-gaboriksfuture:1 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:06:52 PDT