NHL notebook: Rangers buy out Shattenkirk's contract

The 30-year-old had two years remaining on a four-year, $26.6 million
extension he signed in July 2017.

The buyout will save the Rangers $5.17 million this season, with $1.48 million
counting against the salary cap, according to CapFriendly.com. The cap hit
balloons to more than $6 million in 2020-21, however.

Shattenkirk, a first-round pick by Colorado in 2007 and an All-Star with St.
Louis in 2015, tallied two goals (a career low) and 26 assists in 73 games in
2018-19. He has 349 points (75 goals, 274 assists) in 609 career games with
the Avalanche, Blues, Washington Capitals and Rangers.

--The Colorado Avalanche signed 21-year-old defenseman Samuel Girard to a
seven-year contract extension that extends through the 2026-27 season.

According to reports, the contract averages $5 million per season and has a
total value of $35 million.

Girard played in all 82 regular-season games for Colorado in 2018-19,
extending his consecutive games streak to 150. He tallied 27 points (four
goals, 23 assists) and finished sixth on the club in average ice time (19:53).

--The New Jersey Devils re-signed defenseman Will Butcher to a three-year,
$11.2 million contract.

According to general manager Ray Shero, the 24-year-old Butcher will earn $3.5
million in 2019-20, $3.6 million in 2020-21 and $4.1 million in 2021-22.

Butcher tallied four goals and 26 assists in 78 games last season, finishing
second among New Jersey's defensemen with 30 points. In 2017-18, he tallied 44
points (five goals, 39 assists) in 81 games and made the NHL All-Rookie Team.

--Field Level Media