Around the NHL: Devils sign forward Butler

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says the league is prepared to lock out its players if a new collective bargaining agreement is not reached by Sept. 15 (see story).

The Flyers on Wednesday re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Marc-Andre Bourdon to a two-year, $1.225 million extension, and signed 2012 first-round draft pick center Scott Laughton to an entry-level contract (see story).

Now, here's a few notes from around the NHL.

Devils ink Butler
The New Jersey Devils on Thursday signed forward Bobby Butler to a one-year, two-way deal. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Butler, 25, was bought out by the Ottawa Senators on July 27.

In two seasons with the Sens, Butler had 16 goals and 21 assists in 94 games.

The University of New Hampshire product racked up 10 goals and 11 assists in 36 games during the 2010-11 campaign.

Leafs sign first-round pick
The Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday signed 2011 first-round pick Tyler Biggs to a three-year entry-level contract, according to TSN.

Biggs spent last season with Miami of the CCHA, registering nine goals and 17 points in 37 games.

His father, Don Biggs, was drafted by Minnesota in 1983 and played 11 games for the Flyers in 1987.