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September 1, 2000
The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.
Dearth of veteran leaders puts onus on young core
The Stars’ plan is in place for the next three or four years. But is it a plan that can work? Dallas enters training camp Sept. 8 with all of its restricted free agents under contract-including a new four-year, $10-million deal for Jere Lehtinen. With that signing, the Stars now have Sergei Zubov under contract for five years, Mike Modano and Lehtinen under for four years and Joe Nieuwendyk, Derian Hatcher and Richard Matvichuk under for three years each. The core of the team is set and that core will have to step up, because in locking up its “prime time” players, the Stars also have cast away a crew of expensive veterans. Aside from Mike Keane and Kirk Muller, the Stars will have a list of role players who are basically…
Schneider’s one-year pact bolsters Kings’ blueline
Mathieu Schneider has always considered Southern California a nice place to visit Now, he hopes it’s a great place to live—and to play defense for the Los Angeles Kings. Schneider, an unrestricted free agent signed a one-year deal worth about $2 million, plus bonuses. Both sides have an option to renew the pact at the same salary for 2001-02, unless he records at least 35 points. If he does, the option is his. “I think the Kings are a team headed in the right direction,” said Schneider, who spent the past two seasons with the New York Rangers, but wasn’t offered a new contract. “It’s a good fit for me. They needed someone to play with (Rob) Blake on the power play, a good puck-carrying defenseman. No team can have enough top…
Rare oversight by Devils’ GM pays off for Madden, Rafalski
Instead of paying peanuts to exercise the options on the contracts of soon-to-be sophomores Brian Rafalski and John Madden, New Jersey Devils’ GM Lou Lamoriello wound up asking the two players, Who wants to be a multi-millionaire? In a stunning off-season mistake, Lamoriello acknowledged that he overlooked unique clauses in the contracts of Rafalski and Madden which stated that they had to be personally notified if the Devils intended to pick up their options for 2000-01. The oversight forced the GM to offer lucrative four-year extensions to keep the players rather than lose them as unrestricted free agents. Consequently, Rafalski will play 2000-01 at the club option price of $450,000, before a four-year, $11-million extension kicks in. Madden will earn $550,000 this season prior to a four-year, $7-millon extension. I don’t feel good…
Pronger fulfills prophecy
Once over lightly, but not politely: □ John LeClair always has needed Eric Lindros the way Patrik Elias needs Jason Arnott. With EL gone, JL will be wealthier in dollars, but poorer in goals.□ Big mystery: Why does Mathieu Schneider bounce like a tennis ball from team to team when he always is one of the best defenders on the club he left?□ Tampa Bay has the best Battle of Young Goalies. I predict Kevin Weekes will take the top job from Dan Cloutier.□ If you want to feel sorry for someone, try Coyotes’ beleaguered GM Bobby Smith, who has been left hanging in the Arizona wind while Wayne Gretzky poises to take over the club whenever his sugar daddy, Steve Ellman, comes up with the lettuce.□ How screwy is this?…
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