The respective management of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks have begun re-signing their free agent players.

On Tuesday the Blue Jackets announced the re-signing of defenseman Jan Hejda to a three year, $6 million contract, while the Ducks re-signed forward Ryan Carter to a three-year contract.

Hejda’s new contract breaks down as $2 million per season against the Jackets salary cap, while financial terms for Carter’s new deal have yet to be disclosed.

The 29-year-old Hejda was coming off his second NHL season and his first with Columbus but under the terms of the NHL’s CBA he was eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer.

Given his statistics from last season, however, it’s not surprising that Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson was loath to lose him to the UFA market. In 81 games this season Hejda registered 13 points and an impressive plus-minus rating of +20, best on the Jackets and tied for tenth amongst NHL defensemen.

Hejda was a true workhorse on the Blue Jackets defense, regularly logging over 22 minutes of ice time per game. Had he hit this summer’s unrestricted free agent market he would’ve attracted considerable interest from clubs seeking defensive depth, so it’s a good move by Howson to retain Hejda and at a reasonable price.

Carter, 24, saw limited action with the Ducks this season as he bounced between the big club and their farm team in Portland earlier in the season. Recalled in mid-December he stuck with the Ducks until sidelined in late-February with a broken wrist, although he returned in time to play in all six of their playoff games this spring.

He was only under contract for $560K this season so it’s unlikely he got much more than that, however, Carter is to be commended for his hard work in making and sticking with the defending Stanley Cup champions this season.

The Hockey News’ 2007-08 Yearbook ranked him tenth among their top ten prospects, noting he “combines skill with a physical presence”, which were notable in his limited action this season with the Ducks. He’s also a versatile forward, capable of playing both center and left wing.

The Buffalo Sabres announced the signing of goaltender Jocelyn Thibault to a one-year contract.

A former starter, Thibault spent the last two seasons backing up Marc-Andre Fleury in Pittsburgh, and last season proved himself quite capable spelling off Fleury when the young netminder would occasionally falter.

Sabres GM Darcy Regier obviously wasn't comfortable with Ty Conklin backing up Ryan Miller for another season. The last thing the Sabres need is for the wiry Miller to be overworked before the playoffs. Bringing in Thibault gives them a quality backup with plenty of experience who can spell off miller for 25-30 games next season.  

The New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers have pillaged each other’s roster via unrestricted free agency this summer.

Having signed former Rangers defenseman Karel Rachunek earlier this week the Devils on Thursday signed former Ranger backup goalie Kevin Weekes to a two-year, $1.375 million contract.

It’s obvious Devils GM Lou Lamoriello is concerned that too much playing time may be wearing down franchise player Martin Brodeur, who played in 78 games last season which may have contributed to his uneven performance in this year’s playoffs.

Brodeur will probably still see considerable playing time but Weekes, an experienced, reliable backup, should allow Brodeur the opportunity for more rest during the season, perhaps cutting him back from 70-plus games to a more reasonable 60-65.

The Calgary Flames signed veteran blueliner Anders Eriksson to a two-year contract. This’ll be the sixth NHL team for the much-traveled Eriksson and could be considered a replacement for Andrei Zyuzin, whom the Flames dealt to Chicago last month for Adrian Aucoin.

The Columbus Blue Jackets signed former Edmonton Oilers blueliner Jan Hejda to a two-year contract.

Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson obviously like what he saw of Hejda last season when Howson was assistant GM of the Oilers.

The Anaheim Ducks signed UFA defenseman Shane Hnidy to a two-year contract.