MONTREAL — Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara will be questioned in the coming weeks by Montreal police, who will decide whether to press charges for a hit that sidelined Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty with a concussion and a cracked vertebra.

The incident took place in a regular-season game March 8.

Police spokesman Ian Lafreniere said Chara is the last person they need to speak with to complete their investigation. He added that the Bruins have been cooperative and hired a Montreal lawyer to act as an intermediary.

Pacioretty recently signed a new two-year contract with the Canadiens and is expected to be ready for next season.

HALL OF FAME: Former All-Star goalie Ed Belfour was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, joining Doug Gilmour, Mark Howe and Joe Nieuwendyk as the newest class of inductees.

The four former NHL stars were chosen by the hall’s 18-member selection committee. The induction ceremony will be held Nov. 14.

Belfour, a two-time Vezina Trophy winner as the league’s top goalie, posted 484 wins, third on the NHL career list, and 76 shutouts during a 17-year career during which he played for Chicago, San Jose, Dallas, Toronto and Florida.

Gilmour played 20 years in the NHL and finished with more than 1,400 career points.

Howe, the son of Hall of Famer Gordie Howe, was a runner up for the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman three times and also had three 20-goal seasons.

Nieuwendyk won the Stanley Cup with three teams – Calgary, Dallas and New Jersey.

HURRICANES: Carolina re-signed defenseman Joni Pitkanen and forward Patrick Dwyer to contracts three days before they could have become unrestricted free agents.

Pitkanen agreed to a three-year contract worth $4.5 million per season, the Hurricanes said. Dwyer received a two-year deal and will make $600,000 this season and $650,000 in 2012-13.

PENGUINS: Pittsburgh re-signed forward Pascal Dupuis to a two-year contract with an annual value of $1.5 million.

Dupuis had 17 goals and 20 assists last season and was also a mainstay on the league’s top penalty-killing unit.

LIGHTNING: Tampa Bay re-signed defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron to a two-year contract. Bergeron played in 14 playoff games with the Lightning last season, recording two goals and one assist.

CAPITALS: Center Brooks Laich signed a six-year, $27 million deal to stay with Washington rather than test the open market. He was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent Friday.

CANUCKS: Vancouver sent the rights to defenseman Christian Ehrhoff to the New York Islanders for a fourth-round pick in next year’s draft. Ehrhoffcould become an unrestricted free agent on Friday.

• Defenseman Kevin Bieska agree to terms on a five-year contract worth $23 million.