guinevere
06-30-2003, 01:03 PM
Free and uneasy
Air of uncertainty sign of NHL times
By TERRY KOSHAN -- Toronto Sun
If there is one aspect of the impending free agency period that can be taken to the bank, it's this: There's relative uncertainty as to what will unfold tomorrow.
Teams say they will be fiscally responsible and not try to blow each other out of the water. Agents, of course, hope there is little difference than what has happened in past years on July 1, when free agents often have landed monstrous contracts. That's unlikely this time, but still it's not easy to believe that many prominent players will be left in the cold.
"In the past few years, it probably has been over by July 3," Maple Leafs executive Ken Dryden said. "I don't think we are going to find that this year, and I think the summer will develop more slowly than it has in other years."
There certainly will be more players available than usual. On top of the players who are unrestricted, more will learn today that their current teams will not be tendering qualifying offers. Players such as the Leafs' Jonas Hoglund, the Vancouver Canucks' Trevor Letowski, and Oleg Tverdovsky of the New Jersey Devils all would automatically have been qualified had there been no concern about what a work stoppage in September 2004 could bring.
MARQUEE NAMES
Some of the marquee names such as Derian Hatcher, Brian Leetch and Sergei Fedorov may have to settle for shorter-term contracts. Contracts could be grandfathered into any new collective bargaining agreement, but do clubs want to be tied to millions of dollars far into the future?
"Only the teams can answer that," said agent Pat Morris, who represents Hatcher. "I think it would be quite peculiar if there was not interest in the better and well-known free agents. Teams were signing players to long-term deals (Bill Guerin with Dallas, Bobby Holik with the New York Rangers, are two examples) last year, and people knew of the (labour trouble) possibilities in 2004 then as well."
So what of the usual suspects? Leafs GM Pat Quinn won't jump into the market with both feet. Rangers GM Glen Sather has not set the world on fire with his big acquisitions, the Red Wings have their own players to worry about and the Stars are looking to dump some money. The Avalanche, which just gave Peter Forsberg $11 million US for one season, will figure into the picture to a degree.
Wings GM Ken Holland told the Detroit News that, understandably, he does not want to dole out big bucks without knowing exactly what the future holds.
"We don't want to overpay and have our hands tied," Holland said. "Nobody knows what the new (agreement) will bring. We want to have some flexibility."
A clear sign that teams are concerned about the NHL's next path is that many big-ticket items are available for trade. Guerin signed a five-year, $45-million US deal with the Stars just a year ago, but he can be had for the right price. Ditto for Washington's Jaromir Jagr, John LeClair of the Flyers, Keith Tkachuk of the Blues and Islanders captain Michael Peca. In goal, Sean Burke of Phoenix and Nikolai Khabibulin could be on the move.
Another agent believes organizations will take a deeper breath than usual, but just how deep is another question.
"I don't think teams will not sign players, but they will take a step back," said Anton Thun, who represents Hoglund and Ken Klee of the Capitals, among others. "Term is going to be as significant as dollars, and I think deals will get done, but players might have to settle for shorter terms. Teams are going to be cautious."
THAT WAS THEN
Last summer's prominent free agents and their seasons that followed:
- Bobby Holik, NYR, five years, $45 million US
Injuries helped lead to miserable 35-point year
- Bill Guerin, Dallas, five years, $45 million
Twenty-five goals later, is being shopped around
- Darius Kasparaitis, NYR, six years, $25.5 million
One of few Rangers who was not a minus (plus-5)
- Robert Lang, Washington, five years,$25 million
Was better than either Holik or Guerin
- Curtis Joseph, Detroit, three years, $24 million
Left fans wanting more; to be replaced by Hasek?
- Tony Amonte, Phoenix, four years, $24 million
Traded to Philadelphia; scored just 20 goals
- Ed Belfour, Toronto, two years, $13.5 million
Nominated for Vezina Trophy in stellar comeback
- Chris Chelios, Detroit, two years, $12 million
Played nearly 25 minutes a game at age 41
- Teemu Selanne, San Jose, one year, $6.5 million
Skits
Air of uncertainty sign of NHL times
By TERRY KOSHAN -- Toronto Sun
If there is one aspect of the impending free agency period that can be taken to the bank, it's this: There's relative uncertainty as to what will unfold tomorrow.
Teams say they will be fiscally responsible and not try to blow each other out of the water. Agents, of course, hope there is little difference than what has happened in past years on July 1, when free agents often have landed monstrous contracts. That's unlikely this time, but still it's not easy to believe that many prominent players will be left in the cold.
"In the past few years, it probably has been over by July 3," Maple Leafs executive Ken Dryden said. "I don't think we are going to find that this year, and I think the summer will develop more slowly than it has in other years."
There certainly will be more players available than usual. On top of the players who are unrestricted, more will learn today that their current teams will not be tendering qualifying offers. Players such as the Leafs' Jonas Hoglund, the Vancouver Canucks' Trevor Letowski, and Oleg Tverdovsky of the New Jersey Devils all would automatically have been qualified had there been no concern about what a work stoppage in September 2004 could bring.
MARQUEE NAMES
Some of the marquee names such as Derian Hatcher, Brian Leetch and Sergei Fedorov may have to settle for shorter-term contracts. Contracts could be grandfathered into any new collective bargaining agreement, but do clubs want to be tied to millions of dollars far into the future?
"Only the teams can answer that," said agent Pat Morris, who represents Hatcher. "I think it would be quite peculiar if there was not interest in the better and well-known free agents. Teams were signing players to long-term deals (Bill Guerin with Dallas, Bobby Holik with the New York Rangers, are two examples) last year, and people knew of the (labour trouble) possibilities in 2004 then as well."
So what of the usual suspects? Leafs GM Pat Quinn won't jump into the market with both feet. Rangers GM Glen Sather has not set the world on fire with his big acquisitions, the Red Wings have their own players to worry about and the Stars are looking to dump some money. The Avalanche, which just gave Peter Forsberg $11 million US for one season, will figure into the picture to a degree.
Wings GM Ken Holland told the Detroit News that, understandably, he does not want to dole out big bucks without knowing exactly what the future holds.
"We don't want to overpay and have our hands tied," Holland said. "Nobody knows what the new (agreement) will bring. We want to have some flexibility."
A clear sign that teams are concerned about the NHL's next path is that many big-ticket items are available for trade. Guerin signed a five-year, $45-million US deal with the Stars just a year ago, but he can be had for the right price. Ditto for Washington's Jaromir Jagr, John LeClair of the Flyers, Keith Tkachuk of the Blues and Islanders captain Michael Peca. In goal, Sean Burke of Phoenix and Nikolai Khabibulin could be on the move.
Another agent believes organizations will take a deeper breath than usual, but just how deep is another question.
"I don't think teams will not sign players, but they will take a step back," said Anton Thun, who represents Hoglund and Ken Klee of the Capitals, among others. "Term is going to be as significant as dollars, and I think deals will get done, but players might have to settle for shorter terms. Teams are going to be cautious."
THAT WAS THEN
Last summer's prominent free agents and their seasons that followed:
- Bobby Holik, NYR, five years, $45 million US
Injuries helped lead to miserable 35-point year
- Bill Guerin, Dallas, five years, $45 million
Twenty-five goals later, is being shopped around
- Darius Kasparaitis, NYR, six years, $25.5 million
One of few Rangers who was not a minus (plus-5)
- Robert Lang, Washington, five years,$25 million
Was better than either Holik or Guerin
- Curtis Joseph, Detroit, three years, $24 million
Left fans wanting more; to be replaced by Hasek?
- Tony Amonte, Phoenix, four years, $24 million
Traded to Philadelphia; scored just 20 goals
- Ed Belfour, Toronto, two years, $13.5 million
Nominated for Vezina Trophy in stellar comeback
- Chris Chelios, Detroit, two years, $12 million
Played nearly 25 minutes a game at age 41
- Teemu Selanne, San Jose, one year, $6.5 million
Skits