NHL teams are rushing to re-sign players to eight-year contracts while they still can, before midnight when the new collective bargaining agreement kicks in and sets a new ceiling of seven years. Washington locked up Ryan Leonard for $84 million and Ottawa signed Drake Batherson for $86 million, the richest contract in franchise history. Buffalo did the same with 22-year-old center Noah Ostlund, who has played just 71 games in the league. Players signing maximum-length extensions this summer will be under contract through 2035.