Nolan Is Re-Signed by Sharks

Right wing Owen Nolan, the San Jose Sharks’ captain and leading scorer last season, signed a new contract with the team and is expected back soon.

Nolan, a restricted free agent, was signed late Wednesday to a five-year deal with a club option for a sixth year. Financial terms were undisclosed.

Nolan set franchise records last season with 44 goals and 84 points.

Nolan, recovering from a mid-August hernia operation, is not expected in the lineup for a few more games.

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With no resolution to contract talks in sight, Buffalo Sabre captain Michael Peca wants to be traded, saying, “I don’t think that an ongoing process is going to benefit either side.”

Peca, a restricted free agent, has reportedly dropped his demands from $4 million to $3.5 million a year, which would still more than double the $1.65 million he made last season. The team is reportedly offering about $2 million.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins are holding the line on escalating salaries, beginning this season with a $30.16 million payroll that is slightly less than last year’s $31.5-million payroll.

Four-time NHL scoring champion Jaromir Jagr’s $9.4-million salary, however, is by far the team’s biggest and represents nearly one-third of the payroll. In fact, the Penguins’ entire payroll is worth less than Jagr’s $48-million contract, which runs for two more seasons after this one.

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New York defenseman Vladimir Malakhov will be sidelined for four weeks after spraining his left knee during his Ranger debut Saturday. . . . Montreal Canadien center Saku Koivu will be sidelined indefinitely after suffering a sprained left knee Wednesday against the Rangers. . . . Philadelphia Flyer left wing John Leclair (back spasms) and right wing Mark Recchi (concussion, foot injury) were sidelined for Thursday’s game against the Dallas Stars. Leclair is expected to return in about a week. Recchi’s status was uncertain. Dallas center Mike Modano (strained back) also sat out. He is expected back Saturday. The Stars also placed center Shaun Van Allen (back spasms) on injured reserve and recalled Greg Leeb from the Utah Grizzlies.