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Detroit Red Wings: Goaltender Jimmy Howard signed a three-year contract with the Red Wings after starring in college at Maine.

He was selected by Detroit in the second round (64th overall) in the 2003 NHL draft.

"Howard had an outstanding collegiate career," Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill said. "We expect him to come into camp battling for the No. 3 position."

Howard allowed only 1.84 goals a game during three seasons at Maine and recorded a school-record 15 shutouts. The school said Wednesday he was not returning for his senior year.

"I have been dreaming of playing in the National Hockey League all my life and to get one step closer to that goal is special," Howard said.

Montreal Canadiens: The team signed defenseman Andrei Markov to a two-year deal.

Markov, entering his fifth season with Montreal, played last season with Russian league champion Dynamo Moscow. In 2003-04, he had six goals and 22 assists in 69 games with the Canadiens.

In his NHL career, the Russian has 30 goals and 82 assists in 267 games.

Buffalo Sabres- Calgary Flames: The Sabres acquired defenseman Toni Lydman from the Flames in exchange for a third-round pick in next year's draft.

A native of Finland, Lydman had four goals and 16 assists in 67 games in 2003-04 but missed 10 games and part of the playoffs after sustaining a concussion. Two goals and 12 assists came on the power play.

The Sabres have been focused on bolstering their defensive ranks after losing Alexei Zhitnik to free agency. Buffalo signed veteran free-agent defenseman Teppo Numminen earlier this month.

Lydman has an opportunity to compete for one of the top four defensive spots, behind Numminen and returning veterans Jay McKee and Dmitri Kalinin.

Lydman's best season came in 2001-02, when he had six goals and 22 assists in 79 games, finishing second among Calgary defensemen with 28 points.

Calgary's fourth-round pick in the 1996 draft, Lydman has 19 goals and 74 assists for 93 points in 289 career NHL games.

Lydman played with HIFK Helsinki last season and, in 2004, represented Finland in the World Cup of Hockey tournament, registering three assists in six games.

McCarty sued: Darren McCarty recently signed a deal with Calgary, but he has unfinished business in Detroit.

The Detroit News reported that the former Red Wing is being sued in Oakland (Mich.) Circuit Court for $1.52 million. Huntington National Bank claims McCarty, who received the money in July 2003, failed to repay a business loan that was originally due in August 2004. The bank extended the loan twice before saying it was due in April 2005.

"Darren D. McCarty has failed to repay the note," the three-page lawsuit, filed Aug. 12, said. The bank said it made a demand "of McCarty for the full and immediate repayment ... but [McCarty] has failed, neglected and refused to honor the demand."

The lawsuit claims McCarty owes $1.48 million in principal, plus $39,000 in interest and late fees. The News reported that the bank is also seeking reimbursement for its attorneys fees and costs.

McCarty's lawyer, Martin L. Freed, told the News that he thought the suit had been filed because of "poor communication" and that he was looking forward to resolving the suit. McCarty wouldn't comment.

Anaheim Mighty Ducks- Atlanta Thrashers: The Thrashers acquired defenseman Mark Popovic from the Mighty Ducks in exchange for forward Kip Brennan.

Popovic made his NHL debut with Anaheim in 2004 after he was selected by the Mighty Ducks in the 2001 draft.

With AHL Cincinnati, Popovic had one goal and 17 assists in 74 games.

In three seasons with Cincinnati, Popovic had eight goals and 48 assists for 56 points.

Brennan was acquired by Atlanta from Los Angeles in March 2004. He played five games with the Thrashers at the end of the 2003-04 season and 41 games in parts of three seasons with the Kings.

Washington Capitals: Free-agent center Dave Steckel signed a two-year contract.

The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Steckel, taken in the first round of the 2001 draft by Los Angeles, had 10 goals and seven assists in 63 games with the AHL's Manchester Monarchs last season.

He had 50 goals and 55 assists in 146 games at Ohio State, helping the school reach the NCAA tournament in his last two years.

Steckel played for the U.S. national under-18 team.

Ottawa Senators: The team signed defenseman Andrej Meszaros, its first-round pick in 2004, to a three-year contract.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

The 19-year-old Meszaros recorded 11 goals and 30 assists last season with Vancouver of the Western Hockey League.

Meszaros played for Slovakia's silver medal-winning team in the 2003 International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 World Junior Hockey Championship in Yaroslavl, Russia.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.