The deal comes with a $950,000 average annual value, per TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
A native of LaSalle, Quebec, Deslauriers has seven goals and three assists in 36 games this season. The 26-year-old spent the previous four seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, accumulating 30 points in 211 games.
The Blue Jackets are getting some reinforcements on the back end.
Defenseman Ryan Murray has been recalled from his one-game AHL conditioning stint, the team announced Monday. He hasn't played since Nov. 27 due to an upper-body injury, missing 34 games.
Injuries have plagued Murray throughout his career, as he's suited up for just 244 games in five seasons. The 2012 second overall pick has registered just 65 career points.
Also joining the big club with Murray is forward Zac Dalpe, while defenseman Dean Kukan has been placed on injured reserve.
GANGNEUNG, South Korea (AP) One of hockey's most time-honored traditions is in danger of not happening at the Olympics.
Officials have told players to fist-bump each other rather than shaking hands to prevent transmission of norovirus, which is highly contagious. U.S. defenseman James Wisniewski's 62-year-old father tested positive for norovirus last week and is one of 49 of 283 confirmed Olympic cases still in quarantine.
''It's something that you're like, 'Ah, really how bad can it get?' And then all of a sudden bang, bang - a couple people close to you have it and you don't really know how, you don't know where,'' Wisniewski said Monday. ''You don't want it going through your locker room, that's for sure.''
That's why players are taking precautions by fist-bumping instead of shaking hands. It's particularly important for the Russian team because it's customary for them to shake hands with everyone each day.
The U.S. men's team definitely isn't shaking hands. Alternate captain Jim Slater even fist-bumps media members before interviews.
''It's good,'' Slater said. ''I do it to everybody. Touching hands and stuff, you never know where hands are. Just being cautious.''
Women's teams have decided to continue shaking hands, including the U.S. and Finland after their semifinal game Monday. Players know about the warning and decided the meaning behind the postgame ritual outweighs the risks.
''That's part of what's special about hockey is the mutual respect and the handshake after,'' U.S. forward Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson said after advancing to the gold-medal game. ''In these tournament settings, it's not prelims anymore, so I think shaking hands ... it's just respect.''
International Ice Hockey Federation president Rene Fasel is not sure it's necessary for players to stop but figures it's better to be safe than sorry.
''You know doctors - one doctor (has a) different opinion, like the lawyers,'' Fasel said. ''That would be a disaster if a good team is just taken out because of that. I feel sorry because this is hockey game and we shake hands at the close of game. (But) If we can help to avoid that there is an infection in the team in a very important moment of the tournament, I think that's a good decision.''
Fasel added that he hopes players can have a real handshake in elimination games because it's hockey tradition.
U.S. players don't mind skipping this tradition, saying it's not worth the risk.
''I'm not concerned about it, but just trying to take every precaution not to get it,'' forward Broc Little said. ''I think the fist-bump's a good idea.''
Wisniewski and those around him thought it a good idea to stay away from his father, who is confined to one of two apartments the family is renting in South Korea. Wisniewski said his dad, Jim, started getting sick while waiting for a taxi and had to be transported to the hospital by ambulance.
Jim Wisniewski is feeling a bit better now after sleeping almost all day Sunday, but his son isn't taking any chances.
''It was pretty bad,'' Wisniewski said. ''I've stayed away from him.''
The Blackhawks will receive the higher of the Capitals' two third-round picks. They had their own, plus one that was originally property of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Capitals obtained that pick in the Marcus Johansson trade with the New Jersey Devils, who acquired it from Toronto as compensation for hiring Lou Lamoriello.
Kempny, 27, recorded 15 points in 81 total NHL games with the Blackhawks. He has been a bottom-pairing defenseman throughout his career, averaging just over 15 minutes of ice time per game, and will likely play a similar role in Washington.
The Jets have a rock solid blue line from Nos. 1 to 6, and have a Vezina Trophy candidate in goal in Connor Hellebuyck. Even with a potent top-six forward group, Cheveldayoff doesn't appear to be shy about adding to one of his team's strength.
With a Central Divison-leading 79 points, the Jets are in a prime position to be buyers before next Monday's trade deadline.
U.S. men's hockey captain Brian Gionta is mulling a return to the NHL upon the conclusion of the PyeongChang Games, according to his agent, Steve Bartlett, who's already had discussions with multiple teams.
The forward captained the Buffalo Sabres last season and scored 15 goals, but after they elected not to re-sign him, the 39-year-old rejected offers from other teams in order to play in South Korea.
Now, it sounds like Gionta will be available for the stretch run. Here, we determine his best NHL fits:
New Jersey Devils
This would be a homecoming for Gionta, as he played in more than 500 games for the Devils after they drafted him in 1998. He'd be a good fit with New Jersey's roster that needs more balanced scoring down the depth chart, as it relies almost exclusively on Taylor Hall and Nico Hischier. Gionta also offers veteran experience that would be an asset for a young, up-and-coming Devils team that currently sits in an Eastern Conference wild-card spot. He helped New Jersey win the Stanley Cup in 2003, and a second stint ought to be welcomed 15 years later.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The highest-scoring team in the NHL doesn't necessarily need Gionta, but it'd still be a mutually beneficial partnership. Gionta would be provided with an opportunity to end his career with another Stanley Cup, while the Lightning would gain another depth forward in pursuit of a title. Plus, with eight forwards under 6-feet tall on Tampa Bay's roster, Gionta's diminutive stature (he stands 5-foot-7) won't be held against him and he could be a stylistic match for the team. If he gets an offer from Steve Yzerman, it may be too good to pass up.
Boston Bruins
Boston would represent a homecoming in a different way than New Jersey. Gionta starred for Boston College before heading to the NHL, and the Bruins are once again in contention for the Stanley Cup. Gionta has never played outside of the Eastern Conference and it's unlikely he'll want to venture very far away from his family in Buffalo at this stage of his career. He wouldn't be asked to do too much in Boston's offense and offers a familiarity with its division rivals that few other free agents possess.
The Penguins have failed to address their third-line center void since Nick Bonino left in free agency. Riley Sheahan has filled that role for most of the season, but he provides very little offense.
Brassard, 30, will be an unrestricted free agent after next season. He has 17 goals and 35 points in 55 games this year and has proven to be a clutch playoff performer, totaling 55 points in 78 career postseason games.
In a corresponding move, netminder Linus Ullmark has been recalled from the AHL's Rochester Americans.
Lehner is 12-22-8 this season with a 2.95 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. As a pending unrestricted free agent on a non-playoff team, it comes as no surprise his name has surfaced in trade talks.
Ullmark, meanwhile, has put together a nice season with Rochester, owning a 2.43 GAA and .924 save percentage. The 24-year-old Swede has a 2.54 GAA and .918 save percentage in 22 career NHL games over the past three seasons.
After the Elliott injury, the Red Wings reportedly offered Mrazek to the Flyers for a third-round pick, which was declined, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.
Whether that offer still stands is unclear.
Mrazek will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. He's gone 8-7-3 this season with a 2.89 goals-against average and .910 save percentage. He's played his best hockey of late, though, posting a .935 save percentage in his last 10 games.
Mrazek just turned 26 and has shown flashes of brilliance in his young career, so it's possible he could be more than just a temporary fix for the Flyers.
The Flyers are holding onto third place in the Metropolitan Division with 70 points. They're not in the clear yet, though, as the Devils (70 points), Islanders (64), Hurricanes (64), and Blue Jackets (63), are all battling for what appears to be three Eastern Conference postseason spots.
In the first running of theScore's NHL Rookie Power Rankings, editor Ian McLaren orders the top first-year players from around the league this season - with extra consideration given to their performances this month.
The Tampa Bay Lightning made a bit of a gamble in trading Jonathan Drouin to Montreal for this young, highly-touted yet unproven defenserman, but Sergachev has fit right in, and sits within the top-25 in scoring among all players at his position.
He does rank sixth on the Lightning in terms of average ice time on the blue line, but his production in limited minutes suggests even bigger things to come.
The Boston Bruins are exceeding expectations this season based in part on the contributions of several youngsters, with Heinen fitting in well on the third line.
He isn't the flashiest rookie, and maybe not even the most talented first-year forward on his team (honorable mention to Jake DeBrusk), but Heinen knows his role, plays it well, and his contributions are proving to be a boon for the Bruins.
Connor's addition to the Jets top six gives Winnipeg head coach Paul Maurice an abundance of offensive threats.
The 21-year-old does not look out of place on the top line with Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele, and recently earned praise from the captain.
"I really liked Kyle Connor tonight. He was all over the puck and it makes a really big difference for our line when he's skating like that." Blake Wheeler on fresh lines and an old running mate.
The first overall pick from the 2017 draft has been an important contributor for the upstart New Jersey Devils.
With a goal Sunday against Carolina, he extended his point streak to five games, wherein he's recorded four goals and four assists.
He's doing this while assuming first-line center duties, having gained the trust of head coach John Hynes at both ends of the ice, which is no small feat for a rookie.
Keller has slowed down a bit following a howling start with the Arizona Coyotes, but the fact he's excelling offensively on a team that remains in the NHL's basement is a testament to how good a player he is.
If and when the Coyotes ever make good on years of building, the seventh pick from the 2016 draft is sure to be right at the center of it.
Perhaps the most surprising name on this list is Gourde, who continues to defy expectations wherever he plays.
Undrafted at both the junior and pro levels, Gourde is putting up numbers for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the same way he did in the QMJHL and AHL: in bunches.
The depth scoring and defensive responsibility he brings is one of the many reasons why the Lightning are favored to win the Stanley Cup in 2018.
This stud defenseman is playing on the Bruins top pair alongside Zdeno Chara, and McAVoy is averaging around 22:30 per game, considerably more ice time than his peers.
McAvoy's proven to be a positive possession player with a strong game at both ends of the ice, and his plus-23 is sure to impress even the more traditional analysts.
Once he starts firing the puck with more regularity (61 shots in 52 games), he'll be an even greater forece to be reckoned with. As it stands, he should be a finalist in the rookie of the year voting.
Only eight players have scored more goals than Boeser, who recently earned All-Star Game MVP honors.
The Vancouver Canucks did very well to snag this marksman with the 23rd pick at the 2015 draft, and he's emerging not only as a massive piece in the rebuild, but as one of the most consistent scorers in the game.
In what we have seen is a strong rookie class, Barzal has established himself as the clear favorite to win the Calder Trophy as the best first-year player of 2017-18.
It's not just the amount of points he's piling up, but the dominant manner in which he's able to do it; the New York Islanders forward has recorded three five-point games, and it's become evident that these kinds of offensive outbursts are no fluke.
