NHL Notes: Stars waive goalie Niemi and intend to buy him out, AP source says

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A person with direct knowledge of the decision has confirmed to The Associated Press that the Dallas Stars have placed goalie Antti Niemi on waivers with the intention to buy out the final year of his contract.

The person spoke to The AP on the condition of anonymity on Monday because the Stars have not announced the move, which was first reported by the Dallas Morning News.

Niemi is due to make $4.5 million next season, and would be bought out at $3 million spread over two years. The ninth-year player, who won a Stanley Cup with Chicago in 2010, is coming off a disappointing season in which he went 12-12-4 and had a 3.3 goals-against average in 37 games.

He became the odd-man out in Dallas behind Kari Lehtonen and after Ben Bishop was acquired in a trade last month. Dallas has until Saturday to sign Bishop before he's eligible to become an unrestricted free agent.

Dallas did announce it re-signed rookie defenseman Esa Lindell to a two-year, $4.4 million contract, and forward Mark McNeill to a one-year deal. Lindell had six goals and 18 points in 73 games during his first full NHL season last year.

Lightning re-sign Sustr, Gourde, make qualifying offers to 9
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed defenseman Andrei Sustr and forward Yanni Gourde and made qualifying offers to nine other players, including forwards Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat.

Sustr agreed to a one-year, $1.95 million contract Monday. He appeared in 80 games last season, finishing with three goals and 14 points.

Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman says Gourde signed a two-year contract worth $1 million a season. The 25-year-old played in 20 games last season, scoring six goals.

Monday is the deadline for clubs to extend offers to ensure the right of first refusal or draft choice compensation should players sign an offer sheet with another team.

Johnson and Palat were among those receiving qualifying offers before the deadline. Others were goalie Kristers Gudlevskis, defensemen Jake Dotchin and Slater Koekkoek and forwards Michael Bournival, Tye McGinn, Matthew Peca and Tanner Richard.

Buffalo Sabres hire Sexton, Greeley to assistant GM jobs
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill continues filling out his staff by hiring Randy Sexton and Steve Greeley as assistant GMs.

Their responsibilities will include player development and overseeing Buffalo's minor-league affiliates, with Sexton also named GM of the American Hockey League Rochester Americans. The additions come two days after the NHL draft and a month after Botterill was hired to replace GM Tim Murray, who was fired along with coach Dan Bylsma in April.

Botterill and Sexton spent the previous seven years working for the Pittsburgh Penguins, where Sexton most recently served as the team's amateur scouting director.

Sexton's NHL experience dates to the early 1990s, when he was one of the co-founders of the Ottawa Senators, and served as the team's president, chief executive officer and general manager. He was also the Florida Panthers GM in 2009-10.

Greeley spent the past two seasons as the New Rangers assistant player personnel director. He previously worked in scouting roles with the Los Angeles Kings and U.S. National Team Development program.

Assistant GM Mark Jakubowski was promoted to become the Sabres vice president of hockey administration.

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