NHL-National Football League roundup

Sept 10 (The Sports Xchange) - The Buffalo Sabres on Thursday signed free-agent defenseman Cody Franson to a two-year contract reportedly worth around $6.6 million. The six-year veteran set career highs with 36 points and 29 assists in 79 games last season. He began the season with the Toronto Maple Leafs before being traded to the Nashville Predators on Feb. 15. The Sabres had been seeking another veteran defenseman, and Franson provides a right-shot blueline option with good size. Originally a third-round pick by Nashville, the 6-foot-5, 213-pound Franson turned 28 last month. He was a third-round pick by Nashville in 2005 and made his NHL debut in the 2009-10 season before being traded to Toronto the next year. For his career, Franson has 169 points (35 goals, 134 assists) and 134 penalty minutes in 400 regular-season games and 15 points (4, 11) and two penalty minutes in 28 playoff games. - - - The Calgary Flames have agreed terms on a two-year, $1.65 million contract with forward Micheal Ferland. Ferland, who had been a restricted free agent, will count $825,000 against the salary cap in the NHL. Ferland was the Flames' final unsigned restricted free agent. Ferland, 23, made his NHL debut last season, recording two goals and three assists in nine games during the season and three goals and two assists in nine playoff games. - - - First-round draft pick Mathew Barzal has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the New York Islanders, the team announced Thursday. Barzal, the 16th overall pick in June, had 12 goals and 45 assists in 44 games last season with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League. The forward added four goals and four assists in the playoffs. (Editing by Andrew Both)