The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired forward Jussi Jokinen and the Carolina Hurricanes will receive a conditional draft pick in return, according to NHL.com on Wednesday. The deal was agreed upon hours before the league’s 3 p.m. EST trade deadline.

According to tweets from TSN’s Bob McKenzie, Carolina would get a sixth round pick from Pittsburgh if Jokinen plays 50 percent of the Penguins’ playoff games this season. Pittsburgh would also need to win the Stanley Cup for the sixth round pick to be sent to Carolina. If he plays 25 percent of the Penguins’ playoffs games this season and goes to the Stanley Cup final, Carolina would get a seventh round pick. The Washington Post also reported, citing McKenzie, that Carolina would retain some of Jokinen’s $3 million salary.

Jokinen, 30, has six goals and 11 points in 33 games so far this season. He had one of his best seasons in 2009-10 when he scored 30 goals and recorded 65 points. Over the past two seasons, he has accumulated 52 points and 46 points, respectively. The Finnish forward was drafted by the Dallas Stars in 2001 and has also spent time playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning before signing with the Hurricanes and now the Penguins.

For a career, he has started 569 games, recording 121 goals and 346 points. In 2009, he helped the Hurricanes to the Eastern Conference Finals, and has nine goals and 15 points in 27 career Stanley Cup playoff games.

If Jokinen plays 50 per cent of PIT 2013 playoff games AND PIT wins the CUP, CAR gets a 6th round pick from PIT. #tradecentre—
Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) April 03, 2013

If Jokinen plays 25 per cent of PIT 2013 playoff games AND PIT goes to Cup final, CAR gets 7th round pick from PIT. #tradecentre—
Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) April 03, 2013

The debate about hybrid icing in the National Hockey League will rage on after Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Joni Pitkanen was carried off in a stretcher Tuesday night after trying to outrace Washington Capitals forward  Troy Brouwer on an icing call.

Pitkanen injured his right ankle on the play and is expected to be out three months, according to TSN. 

The play happened with less than two minutes left in the second period of the game with the Capitals leading 4-3 and ended with Pitkanen crashing into the boards and in obvious pain afterwards. He has recorded one goal and eight assists this season for the Hurricanes (16-16-2).

The Hurricanes have struggled lately going 2-7-1 in their last 10 contests and are in danger of missing the playoffs. They currently 10th in the Eastern Conference and are five points behind the New York Islanders for the eighth and final playoff spot.

Hurricanes forward Alex Semin was locked up by the team with a 5-year deal, $35 million extension. (Gregg Forwerck/NHL/Getty Images)

The Carolina Hurricanes signed forward Alexander Semin Monday to a five-year extension, worth $7 million per season, the team announced.

Semin, 29, ranks second on the team with 30 points (8 goals, 22 assists) this season for the Hurricanes, who are 15-13-2 this season.

Semin spent the first seven seasons of his NHL career with the Washington Capitals and has scored 205 goals and 233 points in his career.

The team signed Semin to a one-year contract worth $7 million last offseason.

The New Jersey Devils welcomed goaltender Martin Brodeur back from injury on Thursday with the expectation that he would stop a lot of shots. They probably didn’t expect him to add to their offense.

Brodeur was credited with scoring his third career goal Thursday night against the Carolina Hurricanes. According to ESPN Stats and Info, Brodeur became the first goalie with three career goals.

In the first period of the Devils’ contest against the Hurricanes, Brodeur turned aside a puck into the corner as the Devils’ Marek Zidlicky took a penalty. Because of the delayed penalty, Hurricanes goalie Dan Ellis went to the bench for an extra attacker.

After Brodeur brushed aside the puck, Hurricanes center Jordan Staal tried to make a cross-ice pass. But the puck reached no one, hit off the boards, and went into the empty net for a Devils goal. As the last Devil to touch the puck, Brodeur was credited with the score.

Watch the video of Brodeur’s goal below:

Martin Brodeur will return Tuesday for Devils-Rangers. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Martin Brodeur was slated to return to the ice on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes after missing 11 games with a pinched nerve in his neck, but the veteran goalie said he will backup Johan Hedberg Tuesday night when the New Jersey Devils host the New York Rangers, according to NHL.com. 

The 40-year-old goalie said he will likely start in the net on Thursday. He hasn’t played since a 3-2 Devils win against the Washington Capitals on Feb. 21 but said Tuesday after his second consecutive day of practicing that he’s been given the green light to play in a game and is looking forward to being back on the ice:

“That’s the plan now … I’ve been given the OK and that’s the way we’re going now. It’s been fun the last two days being in the room and knowing what’s going on a little bit. When you’re injured, you’re always on the side doing your own thing, so it’s nice to be back.”

The pinched nerve in his neck/upper back had caused a numbing sensation in his shoulder and arms. Brodeur said surgery had been considered but it was more of a “last resort” type of option because he would’ve been out for approximately two months.

“They did MRI’s and they saw something was blocking the nerve root and could have been anything. It’s something that sometimes takes up to two or three months to heal, but everyone is different. They could do surgery if it didn’t get any better, but then you can’t play for eight or nine weeks so that wasn’t an option. Not that they thought about doing it, but it was a last resort type of tying if in three months it wasn’t resolved.”

Brodeur backing up Hedberg on Tuesday will mark the first time in more than two years that he hasn’t started against the Atlantic Division rival Rangers. The last time he was a backup against New York was Feb. 18, 2011 when he was rehabbing a sprained MCL in his right knee.

To make room for Brodeur now that he’s been activated off the injured reserve, New Jersey sent Jeff Frazee to the Albany Devils of the American Hockey League.

Brodeur: "I want to practice a little more before I get a start. I feel good; I feel a hundred percent now. I'm ready to back Heddy up."—
  (@NHLDevilsPR) March 19, 2013

The Carolina Hurricanes made a big splash at the NHL Draft when they traded for center Jordan Staal and subsequently signed him to an extension. In late July, they landed free-agent forward Alexander Semin on a one-year deal.

Earlier Tuesday evening, GM Jim Rutherford hinted that he was in the process of tying up another one of his young forwards:

It looks like we are going to be able to get Jeff Skinner tied up for a number of years. Exciting news for our franchise.—
Jim Rutherford (@HurricanesGM) August 07, 2012

Bob McKenzie of TSN later chimed in with the details:

Jeff Skinner's extension with CAR expected to be 6 years with an AAV of $5.725M.—
Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) August 08, 2012

That makes it a six-year contract worth a total of $34.35 million. If it is indeed an extension, then it won’t kick in until after next season, the final one on Skinner’s three-year rookie deal.

Skinner, 20, was the seventh overall pick of the 2010 draft. He won the Calder Trophy in 2010-11, when he also became the youngest player to ever play in the NHL All-Star Game. He has 51 goals and 56 assists in 146 career games.

Jordan Staal found out he was being traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins to his brother’s Carolina Hurricanes on his own wedding day. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Jordan Staal, the 23-year-old selected second overall in the 2006 NHL Draft, was at his own wedding on June 22 when he found out he was being traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Carolina Hurricanes, where his brother, Eric, is the captain, according to a report from Kevin and Kasey Allen of USA Today:

“It was definitely tough news to hear,” Staal said. “But obviously I’m still very excited about it. With my teammates in the back corner, it got a little emotional, but they knew that a lot of good things could come out of this. It’s not too often just to have brothers in the NHL, but to play alongside one is a pretty special thing and I’m excited about where I ended up.”

Staal said that his agent approached him during his own wedding and told him that he had just been traded to the Hurricanes. He said that in retrospect, it all worked out for the best because he had his now-former teammates at the reception to celebrate and say goodbye.

“We talked about it for a bit,” Staal said. “Instead of just texting each other we could hang out and say our goodbyes.”

The Penguins decided to trade the No. 3 center, who had played behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, after he turned down a 10-year extension with the team. In return, the Penguins received Brandon Sutter, Brian Dumoulin and a first round draft pick.

A day after reports surfaced that Pittsburgh Penguins center Jordan Staal rejected a 10-year, $60 million contract extension, general manager Ray Shero dealt Staal to the Carolina Hurricanes, where he will be reunited with his brother Eric.

In return, the Penguins received the No. 8 pick in Friday’s NHL draft (which they used on defenseman Derrick Pouilliot), center Brandon Sutter (son of Brent and nephew of many other Sutters) and defenseman prospect Brian Dumoulin.

Shero was cheered as he stepped to the podium at Pittsburgh’s Consol Energy Center after the trade was announced. The initial reaction on Twitter is that it was an impressive haul for a player who appeared ready to bolt when he became an unrestricted free agent after next season.

Pittsburgh got good value. Carolina willing to pay bigger than most teams because of its confidence in being able to sign Staal—
Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) June 23, 2012

This is a day that Staal — who is getting married tonight in Ontario — will remember for the rest of his life.

Bob McKenzie of Canada’s TSN was the first to report that Pittsburgh Penguins center Jordan Staal has rejected a 10-year contract extension.

Breaking news: Hearing Jordan Staal turned down 10-yr mega offer from PIT. Has indicated to PIT he doesn't plan on signing extension now.—
Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 21, 2012

Pierre LeBrun of TSN and ESPN.com reports that the proposed deal was believed to be for $60 million. Staal, who turns 24 in September, has one year remaining on his current contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Staal’s agent, Paul Krepelka, told LeBrun: “[Staal] is not prepared to enter into a contract extension at this time.” Whether this is posturing for more dollars or a sign of greater discontent remains to be seen, but there is already speculation that Staal, who has 120 goals and 248 points in 431 career games, may want to join his brother Eric with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Nick Cotsonika of Yahoo! Sports tweets:

One thing Jim Rutherford has said often: Canes want someone to play with Eric Staal. He has to know via Eric how Jordan feels.—
Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) June 21, 2012

One NHL general manager told LeBrun: “Let’s be honest, Carolina has the hammer.”

The Carolina Hurricanes have re-signed center Jiri Tlusty to a two-year, $3.2 million contract, according to The Fourth Period. Tlusty was scheduled to be a restricted free agent on July 1.

According to The Fourth Period, Tlusty, 24, will earn $1.5 million next season and $1.7 million in 2013-14.

In 2011, Tlusty had 17 goals and 19 assists for the Hurricanes.

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that forward Tuomo Ruutu will miss three weeks with an unspecified upper body injury, according to the Associated Press.

Ruutu sustained the injury in the first period of a 5-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night.

The 28-year-old Finn leads the Hurricanes with 17 goals and is tied for second on the team with 30 points.

Jerome Samson has been called up from the Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate in Charlotte on an emergency basis to replace Ruutu. It’s his third stint with the big club this season.

The Carolina Hurricanes have signed defenseman Tim Gleason to a four-year contract, according to the team’s website.

“We thank Tim for choosing to stay with the Hurricanes long term,” said Hurricane’s President and GM Jim Rutherford in a statement. “He is one of our core players, someone who brings character and leadership to our locker room, along with being a key piece on the ice. This is a very important signing for our team going forward.”

Gleason, 29, is currently in his sixth season with the Hurricanes. In 51 games this season he has tallied one goal and 13 assists for 14 points on the year. Last season in 82 games he collected two goals and 14 assists for 16 points total.

Carolina is currently in a three-way tie with the New York Islanders and the Buffalo Bills for having the fewest points in the Eastern Conference. The Hurricanes, 18-24-9, have the fewest wins in the conference.

The Carolina Hurricanes have relieved head coach Paul Maurice of his duties, according to an official team release. The team will announce their new head coach later today.

Carolina is currently 8-13-4 through 25 games this season, which places them second to last in the Eastern Conference with 20 points. The team has gone just 3-6-1 in its last 10 contests.

Maurice, who served two separate stints as the head coach of the Hurricanes, posted a 116-100-30 record since taking over the team for the second time in 2008. From 1997-2004 he posted a 268-291-115 record as Carolina’s head coach, with his best year coming in 2001-02 when he led the team to an Eastern Conference Championship.

The 45-year-old coach has a career record of 460-457-167 in 15 seasons in the NHL.