Dominic Moore is mighty pleased with the New York Rangers' recent re-signing of teammate Chris Kreider.

The club came to terms with Kreider, a restricted free-agent forward, on a four-year, $18.5-million contract just prior to a scheduled arbitration meeting, and as Moore sees it, they locked up an all-time skater.

"Chris is the most explosive skater in the history of the NHL, in my opinion," Moore said, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimelman. "He's a game-changer because he can break out and do amazing things because he is a freak athlete. Guys like that don't grow on trees. He has earned his way into being a valuable player in the league."

Former teammate - and newest member of the Ottawa Senators - Derick Brassard echoed Moore's praise, suggesting the 25-year-old's biggest attribute is his strength.

"Chris is very physically gifted," Brassard said. "He's one of the strongest guys in the league who has really good speed and a really good shot. Guys like him are really hard to find. … The Rangers are lucky to have a player like him."

Kreider is coming off his third full season with the Rangers and his second-straight 21-goal campaign, but feels he's just coming into his own.

"Hopefully I am just scratching the surface," Kreider said. "I am of the mindset that I am trying to get better every single day. I guess if you are not improving, there's no point of doing it."

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A day after a report claimed the New York Islanders are talking to the New York Mets about building a new arena in Queens, Robert Brodsky and Jim Baumbach of Newsday reported, citing a source, that the Islanders are eyeing Belmont Park as another possible venue.

An arena at Belmont Park, located just outside New York City's limits in Elmont, would bring the Islanders back to Nassau County, where they played for 43 years before relocating to Brooklyn's Barclays Center last season.

The source indicated the Islanders' new owners, Jon Ledecky and Scott Malkin, have met with the New York Racing Association - which runs Belmont Park, currently a horse-racing facility - several times in recent months.

Though the Islanders have only played one season in Brooklyn, the desire for a move stems in part from the unhappiness of fans and players with the commute and conditions of the arena.

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The New York Rangers avoided arbitration for the second time Friday, re-signing forward Kevin Hayes, the team announced.

The deal will reportedly pay Hayes $2.6 million in both years for a total of $5.2 million, according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post.

Hayes was the final restricted agent to contend with after the club announced the signing of Chris Kreider earlier in the day. Like Kreider, Hayes was also set to go to arbitration, with a meeting scheduled for July 27.

The 24-year-old is coming off his second full season with the Rangers where he finished with 14 goals and 36 points in 79 games.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed restricted free-agent defenseman Connor Carrick to a two-year contract, the team announced.

Carrick was acquired this past season by the Maple Leafs - along with Brooks Laich - in a trade that sent forward Daniel Winnik to the Washington Capitals.

He put up four points in 16 games with the Maple Leafs, but proved his offensive abilities during the Calder Trophy playoffs when he led the league with 18 points in 15 games with the Toronto Marlies, despite being eliminated in the conference finals.

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The NHL is well aware of the news that Buffalo Sabres forward Evander Kane turned himself into Buffalo police Friday morning, and has been charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass and five non-criminal offenses.

The league is monitoring the situation, but won't take any disciplinary action at this time, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

Kane's arrest stems from an incident at Bottoms Up bar in Buffalo on June 24 where Kane allegedly put his hands on four people (three women and one male bouncer.)

The 24-year-old is also alleged to have put his hand on the throat of one of the woman while trying to force her into his car.

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly spoke with Dreger, and says that Kane will be directed to the NHL/NHLPA Behavioral Health professionals for evaluation and counseling if deemed necessary.

The Sabres issued a statement Friday regarding the arrest stating they are aware of the incident and will not speak further.

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Kris Versteeg appears to be taking his talents across the Atlantic.

The 30-year-old is expected to sign with SC Bern of the Swiss National League this weekend, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

Versteeg split last season between the Carolina Hurricanes and Los Angeles Kings where he managed a combined 15 goals and 38 points in 77 games, chipping in another two points in two postseason contests.

Since joining the league full-time during the 2008-09 season, Versteeg has changed teams six times. He has accumulated 131 goals and 313 points in 550 games.

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Buffalo Sabres forward Evander Kane turned himself into Buffalo police on Friday, and has been charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass and four counts of non-criminal harassment, according to Dan Herbeck, Jane Kwiatkowski Radlich, and Lou Michel of the Buffalo News.

The 24-year-old was taken in cuffs into the City Court building Friday morning. Kane's attorney Paul J. Cambria spoke to Buffalo News, where he maintained his client's innocence and plans to fight the charges.

"Without a doubt, he plans to defend himself against these charges," Cambria said.

The charge is in relation to an incident on June 24 at Bottoms Up bar in Buffalo - that also saw Kane slapped with non-criminal harassment charges - where police sources say Kane allegedly put his hands on four people, including grabbing the throat of one woman and trying to force her into his car.

Despite the charges, Cambria believes Kane's future with the Sabres should not be impacted.

"Why not?" Cambria said. "These are minor, non-criminal (charges). The trespass is a non violent property allegation."

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are making a last ditch effort to avoid going to arbitration with forward Peter Holland.

The club has placed the 25-year-old on waivers, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Holland elected to go to arbitration and is scheduled to have his hearing on July 25. He played a career-high 65 games with the team last season, where despite scoring two fewer goals, he managed a career-best 27 points.

In his last contract, Holland made $1.55 million over two seasons.

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