Caps finalize Fedorov deal

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By From combined dispatches

The Washington Capitals finalized their one-year deal with center Sergei Fedorov, the team announced Monday.

Fedorov, 38, played in 18 games for the Caps last year after being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets at the trade deadline.

"We are happy to have Sergei back," general manager George McPhee said in a statement. "What he brings to the club extends beyond the rink.

"He is a leader and a player that everyone on our team wanted back."

The Russian-born Fedorov won three Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings and captured the Hart Trophy as the league MVP in 1994.

He has totaled 1,146 points - 472 goals and 674 assists - in 1,196 games with Detroit, Anaheim, Columbus and Washington.

With the Caps, Fedorov scored twice and had 11 assists in the regular season, adding a goal and four assists in seven playoff games.

ISLANDERS: Ted Nolan's return to NHL coaching ended after only two years after a split with New York general manager Garth Snow over "philosophical differences."

Although there had been a growing rift throughout last season between Nolan and Snow, the somewhat surprising midsummer move was made after a morning meeting at Nassau Coliseum before the opening of rookie training camp.

"The process for me was something that took a lot of time to come to terms with," Snow told the Associated Press. "We all know we probably weren't all on the same page in certain areas.

STARS: Dallas rewarded coach Dave Tippett for a trip to the Western Conference finals by adding two years to his deal, keeping him under contract through the 2010-11 season.

It's his second extension in a short time: He was signed for 2008-09 in December.

LIGHTNING: Tampa Bay signed goalie Mike Smith to a two-year, $4.4 million contract extension.

Smith was acquired from the Dallas Stars in February. The incumbent starter played in 13 games with the Lightning last season.

THRASHERS: Free agent forward Jason Williams, who scored 13 goals for Chicago despite missing nearly half the season with an injury, signed with Atlanta.

The 27-year-old right wing also had 23 assists in 43 games for the Blackhawks last season. He missed 39 games after injuring his groin, then having surgery for a sports hernia.