Hasek, O'Donnell, Weinrich, Conroy leave free-agent market Tuesday[/u][/color]
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
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CANADA.COM(CP) - The Calgary Flames have lost their No. 1 centre. And Craig Conroy has hit the jackpot.
Conroy, an unrestricted free agent, signed a four-year, $12.6-million US deal with the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday. "It was tough for him to leave Calgary," said Conroy's agent, Lewis Gross.
Conroy, a two-way centre, had 47 points (8-39) in 63 regular-season games last season and added 17 points (6-11) in 26 games during Calgary's surprising run in the playoffs.
But the small-budget Flames could not retain the 32-year-old American, who will earn $3.15 million a season under his new deal, a raise over the $2.2 million he made last season.
The Kings had money to spend after cutting loose Jason Allison, Adam Deadmarsh and Anson Carter last week.
Meanwhile, a pair of veteran defencemen joined Dominik Hasek in vacating the NHL's free-agent market Tuesday.
Sean O'Donnell left Boston after accepting a three-year, $6-million offer from the Phoenix Coyotes while Eric Weinrich re-signed with the St. Louis Blues, agreeing to a two-year, $3.5-million contract.
Both players were unrestricted free agents.
Weinrich, 37, had four goals and 15 assists in 80 games with Philadelphia and St. Louis last season. He will earn $1.75 million a season and can make up to $2 million per year if he reaches his performance bonuses.
The 6-3, 228-pound O'Donnell brings size and toughness to the Coyotes blue-line. The 32-year-old had one goal, 10 assists and 110 penalty minutes in 82 games last season, his third with the Bruins.
"When you look at the top blue-lines over the years, they were a mix of physicality and mobility," Coyotes GM Mike Barnett said on the phone from Phoenix. "With Derek Morris, Paul Mara and David Tanabe we knew we had mobility and puck movement, but with Sean O'Donnell we really addressed the physical aspect. He's a solid player."
For O'Donnell, it's a return home of sorts. He played for the IHL's Phoenix Roadrunners 10 years ago and never sold his house.
"Right away I told my agent that Phoenix was a spot I'd like to go to," O'Donnell said on the phone Tuesday. "I almost felt like it was more me chasing the Coyotes on July 1."
Other moves Tuesday:
- Phoenix was busy, also trading defenceman Radoslav Suchy, 28, and a sixth-round selection in the 2005 entry draft to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the same draft.
"We had to make room for Sean O'Donnell minutes-wise," Barnett said in explaining the trade.
- The Washington Capitals re-signed centre Jakub Klepis to a three-year deal. The Caps acquired his rights from Buffalo in the Mike Grier deal last March.
O'Donnell, meanwhile, joined Mike Knuble (Philadelphia) in what may be an exodus out of Boston. Other unrestricted free agents in Beantown include Glen Murray, Brian Rolston, Dan McGillis, Michael Nylander and Travis Green.
"I had a sense that most of the unrestricted free agents would be leaving Boston," O'Donnell said. "Boston has some interesting decisions to make this summer."
Reports in Toronto have linked Murray to the Maple Leafs but his agent Tuesday downplayed those rumours.
"We're not close to getting a deal done with the Toronto Maple Leafs," said Anton Thun. "We've spoken to a number of teams, but nothing is imminent."
Sources indicate Bruins captain Joe Thornton is none too pleased with the direction management is taking this summer, especially if his linemate Murray leaves Boston. The New York Post reported the star centre had asked for a trade.
Thornton's agent J.P. Barry would not confirm the trade request.
"I'm waiting to have discussions with the team before I comment further," Barry said Tuesday.
Thornton is a restricted free agent who also needs a new deal. Time will tell whether the Bruins step up to the plate and re-sign their franchise player or force him to go the salary arbitration route.
Hasek, meanwhile, was the first major star to sign since free agency opened last Thursday, and there remains a bevy of big names still out there as unrestricted free agents, the likes of Alexei Kovalev, Pavol Demitra, Paul Kariya, Glen Murray, Mathieu Schneider, Alexei Zhitnik, Craig Conroy, Brendan Shanahan, Petr Nedved, Ziggy Palffy, Eric Lindros, Peter Bondra, Jason Allison, Anson Carter and Alexei Zhamnov.
"We've tried to re-sign Zhamnov, but it's not a big surprise to me that a lot of these names are still out there," Flyers GM Bob Clarke said from Philadelphia on Tuesday. "With the new CBA coming, no one knows for sure what to do."
The Flyers haven't been able to reel in the talented Zhamnov, who had 18 points in 20 games after joining Philadelphia late in the season. He earned $4.5 million last season and his agent Jay Grossman is reportedly looking for a raise on that despite the uncertain economic climate.
"Even the association (NHLPA) knows the salaries are going down but some agents - not all - are still operating like nothing's changed," said Clarke.
Still, he'd love to get Zhamnov back in the fold.
"We're not going to change our offer, we think it's a heck of an offer, but we still hope to sign him," Clarke said. "I know he enjoyed playing here, maybe it will work out."
