File        : 1980 newspaper.JPG
Description : 1980 Newsday says it all

File        : 1980 team photo from book.JPG
Description : 1980 Color Photo with all games and results

File        : Isles team Photo today.jpg
Description : 1999-2000 Islanders

Anaheim Mighty Ducks:
Jorgen Jonsson C- seems to like the organization and Gauthier has been giving him the sales pitch on staying with the Ducks.

Atlanta Thrashers:
Donald Audette F :
Rumun Ndur D : has a two-way contract.

Boston Bruins
Anson Carter F-unlikely he will exercise his right to salary arbitration, since he played only 59 games and had 22-25-47 totals.
Joe Thornton C
Sergei Samsonov C/F- both lack arbitration rights, they have limited leverage beyond the very
real threat of withholding their services during training camp next season or beyond.  "Getting them signed are priorities, and we're going to make a real strong attempt to get them done," said GM Harry Sinden. "But there's a time in their careers when they don't have the leverage that they're going to have later.

Buffalo Sabres
Michael Peca F
Alexei Zhitnik D
Jason Woolley D
Erik Rasmussen D
Geoff Sanderson F
Martin Biron G
Dwayne Roloson. G

Carolina Hurricanes:
All local papers, team reports from nhl sites do not have a single article on any restricted players on the Canes who need to
be resigned. Worst NHL coverage by a mile, never should have left Hartford.

Calgary Flames:
Fred Braithwaite G
Marc Savard F-became the playmaking center the team expected.
Derek Morris F- A future All-Star whose offense and skating continue to improve.
Jason Wiemer F- A defensive specialist who provides a physical presence up front.

Chicago Blackhawks:
Anders Eriksson D
Michael Nylander C
Dean McAmmond LW
Michal Grosek     LW
Ryan VandenBussche RW
Derek Plante C

Smith also must decide whether he wants to pick up the team option on defenseman Bryan McCabe's contract. The option would require the Hawks to pay McCabe $1.75 million next year. "Either way, I'm going to be here next year," said McCabe, who made about $1.58 million this season.
 

Colorado Avalanche:
Joe Sakic F-One week short of being unrestricted free agent.
Chris Drury F
Milan Hejduk F
Adam Deadmarsh F

Detroit Red Wings:
Kris Draper G: Turna 29 later this month but he may be exposed in the expansion draft.
Slava Kozlov F: regular season with only 18 goals and during playoffs with just two.

Edmonton Oilers:
Doug Weight F-led the team in points, like he does almost every year, but he made $4.3 million.
Todd Marchant F-Made it clear he wants to stay in Edmonton. Best penalty-killer, close to 20-goal scorer.
Roman Hamrlik D- wants $2.5 million led the defense in points.
Ryan Smyth F-Led them in goals with 28 and was second in points, behind Doug Weight.
Jason Smith D-most consistent blue-liner on team, was injured but a steal from Leafs a season ago.
Mike Grier F-bad scoring year after 20 last season, but nobody hits harder.
Ethan Moreau-career high with 17 goals. Tough player to play against.
Georges Laraque F- earned just $200,000 US last season. One of the top three heavyweights in the league 8 goals.
Rem Murray F-two serious injuries didn't get to double figures in goals after 20 last year.
Boyd Devereaux-Terrific skater, dogged checker. Very ordinary hands.
Sean Brown D-hasn't made the jump to a top-four defenseman.
Alex Selivanov F-27 goals, but he had two separate seasons.
Igor Ulanov D-a guy who looks for the big hit, a guy who pinches and gets caught.
 
 

Florida Panthers:
Rob Neidermayer F- The Panthers will tender a qualifying offer with no raise June 30 to retain his rights, but it would not be a shock if the Panthers dealt him.
Ray Whitney F-  The best for each party would be if Whitney chooses to go to arbitration in mid-July. Possible holdout.
Paul Laus D
Peter Worrell  F

Los Angeles Kings:
Jamie Storr G
Steve McKenna F
Bob Corkum F
Glen Murray F
Jaroslav Modry D
Bryan Smolinski F
Jozef Stumpel. C
Aki Berg D
Philippe Bouchere D
Ian Laperriere F-underwent successful ACL surgery on his left knee last week and is expected to be ready for training camp.
Craig Johnson F
Brad Chartrand
Jason Podollan. D

Montreal Canadians
Jose Theodore G : can expect a request for a healthy raise  who had a breakthrough season with a 2.10 goals-against average - fourth-best in the NHL - and league-leading .919 save percentage. past, and made $605,000 this season.
Habs have option on three players:
Martin Rucinsky F-Habs offering a raise from $2.4 million to $2.7 million.
Saku Koivu- F the club has an option on a $3.6-million deal for  but will make him a qualifying offer of $3.3 million.
Brian Savage- will be looking for a raise from $1.9 million coming off career threatening neck injury.
Scott Lachance-D
Craig Rivet-F
Dainius Zubrus-D

Nashville Predators
Patrick Cote injured for much of the year, but the Predators' coaching staff also made him a frequent healthy scratch.

New York Islanders: 20 impending free agents at all levels.

Kenny Jonsson D
Brad Isbister F
Zedeno Chara D
Jamie Rivers -- excellent supporting cast-type of player for any team.
Dmitri Nabokov  F--  apathy on skates?
Johan Davidsson C--
Vladimir Orszagh F --  Goring favorite, but then disappeared will continue the life of a Lowell-Long Island frequent flyer.
Sean Haggerty F-- Scores well in IHL, which might be the right level for him. RFA this summer.
Ray Schultz D-- Another guy who gives depth to the organization. And another RFA.

New York Rangers: No one under 30 allowed.
Darren Langdon F -- Muckler wouldn t play him early in the season, Abdominal surgery wiped out his second half. A restricted free agent, he might not receive a qualifying offer, making him unrestricted.

Ottawa Sentors:  10 players poised to become either restricted or unrestricted free agents on July 1.
John Gruden: restricted free agent July 1 ($405,000 Cdn)
Chris Phillips: restricted free agent, July 1 ($875,000 U.S.)
Patrick Traverse: restricted free agent July 1 ($350,000 Cdn)
Jason York: restricted free agent July 1 ($1.4 million U.S.)
Magnus Arvedson: restricted free agent July 1 ($1.1 million U.S.)
Radek Bonk: restricted free agent July 1 ($800,000 U.S.)
Andreas Dackell: restricted free agent, July 1 ($800,000 U.S.)
Kevin Dineen: club option ($450,000 U.S.)
Joe Juneau: club option ($1.7 million U.S.)
Kevin Miller: club option ($375,000 U.S.)
Andre Roy: restricted free agent July 1 ($350,000 Cdn)

Phoenix Coyotes:.
Travis Green  C 1.8 million-will be made qualifying offers by June 30
Mikael Renberg F 1.8 million-will be made qualifying offers by June 30
Trevor Letowski F $300,000-will be made qualifying offers by June 30
    .
Robert Reichel C- will likely end up being traded at some point this summer, possibly at the NHL draft in late June. A
handful of teams have expressed interest to Coyotes Gm Bobby Smith, and he's more than willing to accommodate them for the right payback. "Is he worth a first-round draft pick?" Smith asked. "I wouldn't trade Robert Reichel for a first-round draft pick. It's going to take more than that."

Pittsburgh Penguins:
Janne Laukkanen D
Matthew Barnaby F
Rene Corbet F
Aleksey Morozov F
Josef Beranek F
Pat Falloon F
John Sebastian Aubin G

San Jose Sharks:
Owen Nolan F- 44 goals and 84 points during the regular season.
Steve Shields G- made steady progress after supplanting veteran Mike Vernon, who was traded to Florida in late December.
Todd Harvey F
Marcus Ragnarsson F
Patrick Marleau F
Alex Korolyuk F
Ron Stern F
Niklas Sundstrom F

Tampa Bay Lightning: Among the veterans whose contracts expire June 30.
Dan Cloutier G
Pavel Kubina D
Fredrik Modin F
Todd Warriner F
Brian Holzinger F
Wayne Primeau F
Ryan Johnson F

Tornoto Maple Leafs:  Quinn has to re-sign defencemen Danny Markov and Alexander Karpovtsev soon since both can become restricted free agents July 1.
Nik Antropov, Jeff Farkas and Adam Mair - because of their level of experience - are exempt. picks.
The Leafs may leave Bryan Berard exposed, thinking no team will claim him due to uncertainty over his sight.

Washington Capitals:
Andrei Nikolishin C-probably will accept his qualifying offer (about $1.1 million)
Jan Bulis F- probably won't make much more than the $800,000 he made last season
Chris Simon F-$1.3 million, led the team with a career-best 29 goals.
Sergei Gonchar D-who made $1.8 million, finished second on the team in scoring
and averaged a point per game in the second half of the season.
Ken Klee D-earned $575,000 last season, became a top-four defenseman by the end of the season.
Brendan Witt. D-blossomed into a legitimate top defenseman and one of the biggest hitters in the NHL.

 
Vancouver Canucks:
The Canucks have only a handful of NHL free agents. Of those, Darby Hendrickson and Greg Hawgood likely won't be back,
leaving either as free agents or in the expansion draft.
 
 
 
 
 

Anaheim Mighty Ducks:

Fredrik Olausson D: Announced retirement this week.
Ted Donato F
Tony Hrkac C
Dominic Roussel G
Pascal Trepanier D
Kevin Haller D

Atlanta Thrashers:
Johan Garpenlov F : minus-29 with two goals.
Chris McAlpine D: A defenseman picked up off waivers from Tampa Bay, McAlpine seemed to play well for several games, then disappeared. Some of that was injury, some was coach's choice.
Norm Maracle G :  three-year contract expires. The club has an option, but it's not likely it will be
picked up after Maracle's shaky season.
Mike Stapleton C: wants to stay, by all indications, and the Thrashers won't have to spend a lot to keep
him. He's valuable as penalty-killer and second-best face-off guy on team. He got better second half of the season.
Denny Lamber F : gave the team its identity with his spirited play (he led the NHL in penalty minutes).

Boston Bruins
Don Sweeney D: he is the team's only major unrestricted free agent, and there is speculation the 33-year-old will test the open
market.

Buffalo Sabres:
Dixon Ward F
Vladimir Tsyplakov

Chicago BlackHawks:
 Ed Olczyk F- 33 does not think he will be in the nhl next season.
 Kevin Dean D-  has played on three teams this season, didn't rule out returning to the Hawks, but he wants to find the right fit for his style of play.

Colorado Avalanche:
Ray Bourque D
Dave Andreychuk. F

Carolina Hurricanes:
Gary Roberts F-- A tireless worker who excels at so-called "garbage goals." Fierce hitter. Often sets early tone with crunching
hits. Good hands. Not quick. Soon to be 34.
Sean Hill D- Blossomed as a two-way defenseman. Led backliners in points. Led team in hits and ice time. Lethal righthanded
slap shot was an asset on power plays. Doesn't hesitate to join offensive rushes.
Paul Coffey D- 39 years old.
Jeff Daniels F

Calgary Flames:
Darryl Shannon D-defensive liability.
Brad Werenka- F: Solid in is brief appearance in Calgary,  not in the team's rebuilding  plans.

Dallas Stars:
Scott Thornton D

Detroit Red Wings:
Igor Larionov D:  At 39, he's an unrestricted free bad blood between he and Red Wings' management.
Doug Brown F : turns 36 in June.  Had an injury-plagued regular season.
Todd Gil D: Will be exposed in expansion draft.  34-year-old.
Brent Gilchrist:  33 and an unrestricted free agent could return if he is willing to take less money.
Larry Murphy D: He has slowed considerably defensively and in his own zone will likely try to re-sign him for less money.

Edmonton Oilers:
German Titov F

 Florida Panthers:
Len Barrie

Montreal Canadians.
Shayne Corson F -The team has said it won't pick up a $4 million option for next season and their
latest offer is for $1.7 million. The two sides are also split over the length of a new deal. It's unlikely that any deal will be done
until the club settles its GM position. . . .

New York Islanders:
Vladimir Chebaturkin D -- Refused to sign an extension during season, now might be ex-Isled.
Mikael Andersson -- Said after he was traded from Philadelphia that he was headed to Sweden after this season.
Chris Ferraro -- Unrestricted free agent who will be hoping an expansion club calls.
Aris Brimanis -- Played well in spot duty on a moments notice.
Scott Pearson -- Unrestricted free agent veteran.
Daniel Lacroix -- Same as Pearson.

New York Rangers:
Kevin Hatcher D  --  never fit in or appeared to care enough, his mere presence was a negative.
Kevin Stevens F --  his season and probably his career came to an end that tragic night.
Mathieu Schneider D -- Rebounded from a troubled 98-99 season both on and off the ice to re-establish himself as one of the
NHL s better two-way defensemen. An unrestricted free agent July 1, he wants to stay in his native New York.

New Jersey Devils:
Vladimir Malakhov D
Claude Lemieux F

Ottawa Senators:
Shaun Van Allen: unrestricted free agent July 1 ($500,000 U.S.)
Tom Barasso G

Phoenix Coyotes:
Dallas Drake F-is one of the hardest hitters in the league and one of its finest muckers and grinders. He'd like to stay in Phoenix, but he also would like to explore the market. Made 1.1 mil last season.
Greg Adams F-1.2 mil salary.
Benoit Hogue F-$450,000
Lyle Odelein D-difficult re-sign. He'll want a new deal worth more than the $1.8 million he earned this season.
JJ Daigneault D
Sean Burke G

Philadelphia Flyers :
Rick Tocchet F

Pittsburgh Penguins:
Ron Tugnutt G -  He made only $552,500 this season, so he is in line for a significant raise.
Peter Popovic  D -   made $1.4 million this season, said he wants to stay in Pittsburgh and would stay for the same money.
Rob Brown F  not bent on testing the market.

San Jose Sharks :
Jeff Norton D
Dave Lowery F
Ron Sutter F

St Louis Blues:
Kelly Chase

Tampa Bay Lightning:
Daren Puppa's G Contract with the Lightning expires and he's expected to consider retirement at the age of 35.

Toronto Maple Leafs:
Glenn Healy G
These three will become free if the team does not reup the contracts:
Kris King F
Wendel Clark F
Dmitri Khristich F

Vancouver Canucks:  This is not Islanders West," Burke said.

Mark Messier F- team will offer him a new contract for about $2 million. Messier genuinely likes playing in Vancouver and feels an obligation to continue helping the Canucks' turnaround. But Burke is asking for a boatload in loyalty and sacrifice, since Messier will be able to command far more on the open market when he becomes an unrestricted free agent after the buyout.

Washington Capitals:

The Capitals have six unrestricted free agents
Joe Murphy F
Jim McKenzie
Joe Sacco F
Mike Eagles D-37, who has been with the club since 1994, probably won't be back. He could opt to retire this summer.
Rob Zettler  D
Craig Billington G  Eagles,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

File        : isles banners.jpg
Description : The Championship Banners

<I think the main reason the Isles went after Beezer as opposed to
<another goalie was because they thought he'd be a great mentor for
<DiPietro.

<Normally, I would want a player in DiPietro's situation in Lowell,
<but I think playing back-up and learning from Vanbiesbrouk would be
<more beneficial to his development.

Chief: Im skeptical about the entire thing and its not an anti-
Milbury issue but more of a common sense issue.

Last year Beezer was mentor to a more seasoned goalie in Brian
Boucher on an experienced team.

The Islanders are a team of kids looking for veteran leaders and see
Claude La Pointe.

Kids on the Isles struggle because they play on lines with Gino
Odjick, Ted Drury, Tony Hrkac, Steve Webb, and Nik Andersson, other
teams have several established stars to learn from in the lockeroom.

This problem has been on the Islanders since they lost Turgeon,
Thomas, Hogue, Ferraro. Its the biggest reason the kids that come in
cannot develope properly and why so many young players have failed
here in the last five years.

Di Pietro is only 18. At this point he should not need an nhl mentor,
he needs to play hockey everyday and learn to handle a higher level
of shooters and skill than he did at Boston University.

Di Pietro can come into the Nhl and dominate next season, but whether
it works or not, the Islanders by trying this are risking the future
of a number one draft pick at too early an age.

When you break this down the Islanders are going against the odds and
considering how many prospects have failed here in recent years, it
would suggest the Isles should play it smart and safe. You can bet
Milbury will be under pressure to see results from Di Pietro.

Beezer is going to be in for his hardest nhl season since he joined
the Panthers as an expansion team. Im skeptical he can handle the
amount of work and high quality shots he will see at his age on a
regular basis. Weekes and Luongo had to be very good for the Isles to
even compete last season and while Weekes was playing well at the end
of the season, Beezer was struggling badly.

Under these circumstances it will be very hard for Beezer to spend
lots of time with Di Pietro, Beezer is going to have lots of problems
for himself.

I hope Im wrong.

Selivanov is an unrestricted free agent, free to shop his wares to
any club in the league.

  "It's too bad they're going to lose a player of that offensive
upside for nothing,'' said Selivanov's agent Jay Fee. "But teams are
going to have to make some hard choices.''

  The Oilers like Selivanov. His 27 goals were second only to Ryan
Smyth's 28. But they're not too crazy about his $1.7-million
contract. He's one of the league's better finishers, but he took too
many nights off last year, and that was without the security of a
freshly signed deal in his back pocket.

  WILLING TO TALK

  If he'd be willing to come back to Edmonton for a pay cut, they'd be
willing to talk.

  Selly says he'd rather explore his options first.

  "I'll shop myself around to other teams, but if I had a choice I
would rather Edmonton qualified me,'' he said from his home in
Florida. "That would be my lucky day. It's a beautiful town. It's a
hockey town.''

  A town that can't afford to take a $1.7-million risk.

  "It's not that we don't want him back,'' said vice- president of
hockey operations Kevin Prendergast. "But not for that kind of
money.''

Saturday, July 1, 2000


By KEN FIDLIN -- Toronto Sun

   TORONTO -- It's open season on free agents today in the NHL, but
don't be expecting a major spending spree anytime soon.

  This is the first day that teams may dip into the free-agent pool to
bolster their lineups, but one look at the list tells you there are
not a lot of answers to teams' problems out there.

  With the possible exceptions of Eric Lindros or Mark Messier, the
list reveals its usual catalogue of journeymen and over-the-hillers.
Claude Lemieux, Rick Tocchet, Vladimir Malakhov, Sylvain Cote and
Mathieu Schneider are among those available.

  Last year, most of the unrestricted free agents were ignored, or at
least forced to settle for well below expectations.

  LAUGHING STOCK

  The New York Rangers were the only team to blow the bankroll and
became the laughingstock of the league, missing the playoffs with
their $61-million US payroll. Now, with Glen Sather in place as the
hockey boss in New York, even that avenue of financial insanity has
dried up

Flyers submit qualifying offer to Lindros

Updated 8:38 PM ET June 30, 2000

PHILADELPHIA (AP) The Philadelphia Flyers submitted an $8.5 million
qualifying offer to center Eric Lindros on Friday night, preventing
him from becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Lindros, his career in jeopardy because of a series of concussions,
has until Aug. 1 to accept the offer.

"Eric Lindros is one of the top players in the game and is an
integral part of the Flyers organization," said Bob Clarke, the
Flyers' president and general manager. "We are hopeful that he will
enjoy a complete recovery and return to play hockey at the high level
to which we have become accustomed."

Clarke also made an overture to Lindros personally, noting the feud
between the former captain and management.

"On a personal level, I greatly regret the extent to which the
relationship between myself and Eric and his family has
deteriorated," Clarke said. "I intend to do whatever I can to try to
move this relationship onto a better course."

The 27-year-old center has had six concussions in his NHL career, the
most recent on a check by New Jersey's Scott Stevens in Game 7 of the
Eastern Conference finals on May 26.

James Kelly, a concussion expert who has been treating Lindros said
in a report that the injury-plagued star should not play for now, but
can do light exercise, play golf and ride a bike.

Lindros has said he doesn't know when he can return to the ice and is
considering sitting out up to a full year. He even indicated he might
play in Europe where the style of play is less physical.

Lindros has played eight seasons with the Flyers following a mammoth
trade with Quebec that included six players, two first-round draft
choices and $15 million.

Lindros has made six All-Star teams and won an MVP award in 1995, but
the Flyers lost in their only Stanley Cup final with him.

Lindros' time in Philadelphia has been marked by turmoil and
controversy, including reports that he once left tickets for reputed
Philadelphia mob boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino.

His relationship with Clarke, his childhood hero, deteriorated to a
point this season where the two men didn't speak for months.

The boiling point came after Lindros criticized the team's medical
staff for failing to diagnose his second concussion of the season on
March 4.

Clarke then stripped Lindros of his captaincy, and the star was
ostracized from the team until he returned for Games 6 and 7 of the
Eastern Conference finals.

Clarke had an even bigger problem with Lindros' parents.

He accused Carl and Bonnie Lindros of constantly meddling in the
team's affairs. He said Carl has called him and insisted the team not
trade for certain players for reasons ranging from the player doesn't
pass the puck enough or Eric doesn't like the player's agent.

"We don't want his mom and dad. We've had enough of them," Clarke
said.

The relationship between the Lindros family and the Flyers really
began to sour after Lindros suffered a collapsed lung on April 1,
1999, in Nashville.

The potentially life-threatening injury was diagnosed the following
day, and Lindros and his family had little to no confidence in the
team's medical staff after the incident.

Still, Lindros said he wanted to remain with the team.

"I love playing in this city. The fans in this city are spectacular,"
he said last month in his most recent press conference with the team.

Updated 3:23 PM ET June 30, 2000

SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) -- The Florida Panthers today declined to
pick up the contract options of veteran right wing Ray Sheppard and
backup goaltender Mikhail Shtalenkov, making them unrestricted free
agents.

Sheppard, 34, recorded 10 goals and 10 assists in 47 games for
Florida last season after signing with the team in November. It was
his second stint with the Panthers, having played 143 games for them
from the 1995-96 through the 1997-98 seasons.

Updated 5:44 PM ET June 30, 2000

VANCOUVER -- With an extra $2 million in his bank account, Mark
Messier becomes a free agent Saturday, with most reports indicating
he's headed back to New York.

The Vancouver Canucks opted to pay the 39-year-old Messier a $2-
million buyout for the final two years of his five-year contract
instead of being on the hook for $6 million a season.

Officially the Canucks still hold a faint hope of convincing their
captain to return to Vancouver at a reduced salary.

"I discussed with Mark what our level of interest is," Canucks
general manager Brian Burke said Friday. "He told me he intended to
look around."

Speculation is Messier wants to return to New York, where fans still
cherish the memory of him leading the Rangers to the 1994 Stanley
Cup. Burke wouldn't comment if the Rangers have a strong chance of
putting Messier's act back on Broadway.

"Why are you asking me that? Call Slats," he said of new Rangers GM
Glen Sather. "I have no idea how this will shake down. There's a lot
of speculation the Rangers will step up. I can't control that."

Doug Messier, Mark's father and agent, refused to say where his son
might play this season.

"We're sitting tight ... there's nothing new to report right now,"
the elder Messier said from his South Carolina home.

Let's see if the Rangers show some class this summer, or will it be
another summer of buying the best paper team money can buy.

Sather, like Neil Smith, will be under pressure to make his team
better now and cannot get rid of the players he has under contract
with long-term deals, no team will touch most of these players at
these prices and with their baggage.

What I going to write is not popular but sadly true. How long before
this finally pays off for the Rangers and they start winning ?

When you look at Sweeney's age, the money he is going to want, and
the fact he is not a complete player (scoring, speed) who is 34 years
old and scored one goal, the question that stands out is why the
Islanders need this kind of player at all.

If Jonsson or Hamrlik do not work out, he cannot play the powerplay.

What sense does it make to persue him ?

Yes, I know Milbury loves players from Boston......

It looks like the Isles would be better served to get back Rich Pilon
from the Rangers, if they really want Sweeney.

The Islanders need the complete package in a defenseman:

The two best are Sean Hill and Mattheiu Schneider, they both can do
everything and Schneider would be happy to become an Islander again
and stay in the area, which makes it a good deal for both sides.

The Rangers let Schneider go to another team and he may take less to
play here a few years.

If the Islanders must get a hitter to go with Chara and Cairns, they
should see if Pittsburgh wants to dump Kaspariatis's salary like they
did in the Hatcher/Popovic trade a year ago. At least that deal sells
tickets and Darius has always expressed a desire to return to Long
Island.

July 1, 2000


Robinson Will Coach Devils Again
By ALEX YANNIS


With Lou Lamoriello returning to run the Devils, Larry Robinson
decided he was coming back, too. Robinson agreed yesterday to a new
contract as head coach, a day after Lamoriello agreed to continue
running the Devils under the ownership of the YankeeNets.

Robinson replaced Robbie Ftorek as coach with eight games left in the
season, and then led the team to the Stanley Cup. He had expressed
reluctance about returning next season if Lamoriello did not continue
to run the team.

Robinson had also indicated that he was unsure if he wanted to work
as a head coach anywhere else, but he said yesterday that his success
with the Devils and the support of Lamoriello had changed his mind.

"Working with Lou was the best thing that ever happened to me,"
Robinson said in a conference call. "We became more than a hockey
team, we became a family. I never worked with a man of his experience
who believed in the same things I did about the way a team should be
run."

Robinson agreed to a two-year contract as head coach. The agreement
also calls for him to serve the team for an additional two years as a
consultant.

Lamoriello agreed Thursday to stay on as the Devils' president and
general manager for an unspecified number of years under the
YankeeNets, which bought the team last February.

Robinson was the top assistant to Jacques Lemaire when the Devils won
their first Stanley Cup in 1995. He then was head coach of the Los
Angeles Kings for four years, before returning to the Devils last
summer as an assistant coach.

"Larry was a big part of both our Stanley Cup championships,"
Lamoriello said. "He brings leadership and a wealth of hockey
knowledge to our club. We feel that both our veterans and younger
players will continue to benefit from his experience."

In the Eastern Conference finals against the Flyers, the Devils fell
behind by three games to one. Robinson was given substantial credit
for the team's comeback in the series.

"I'm very proud of what we did," Robinson said, "but we cannot rest
on our laurels. Everybody will be after us the way we were after
Dallas." The Devils dethroned the Dallas Stars in the Stanley Cup
finals.

Robinson, who was driving to Binghamton, N.Y., yesterday to visit
Jacques Caron, the goaltending coach, said that Caron and Slava
Fetisov would return as assistant coaches. He said he was not sure
about Bob Carpenter's plans.

MESSIER'S A LOCK TO RETURN TO RANGERS

What was unthinkable even a summer ago now seems inevitable. What
probably would never have happened with Neil Smith occupying the
general manager's office is all but a lock with Glen Sather running
the hockey operation on Broadway.

Mark Messier, an unrestricted free agent as of 12:00:01 this morning,
kicked out of town out of spite three years ago, should be on his way
back home in no more than a few New York minutes.

"The tampering rules are very strict so I can't talk about any free
agents until [today], but I'm sure that Doug Messier and I will be
speaking," the GM said yesterday from his home in Banff, Alberta. "I
just want to say that I have so much admiration for Mark, we've had
such a great relationship for more than 20 years, that I don't want
whatever is going to happen between us here to be difficult.

"And it's not just Mark I have that relationship with, it's Doug and
the whole family. I consider them all to be my friends."

Only The Captain himself knows what he'll need to return to the
Rangers, who are in desperate need of his leadership, presence and
identity. Only Messier, who will celebrate his 40th birthday in
January, knows whether he needs two years guaranteed, or whether one
year at a time is good enough. Only No. 11 knows how much money it
will take -$4 million per; $5M per? -to get his name on the bottom
line.

Because no matter the mutual respect between the Messier Family and
Sather; no matter their mutual admiration society; no matter that
Brian Leetch wants Messier here and Mike Richter wants him here and
Adam Graves wants him here and even Dave Checketts wants him here; no
matter that the Rangers need to go back to Messier the same way the
Devils needed to go back to Claude Lemieux before they could move
ahead; no matter the mud the franchise has been dragged through since
his exile; no matter of all that, this is still business.

And so there might be some hardballing and there might be some
posturing even though Mark and Doug Messier will be able to look
Sather in the eye, secure in the knowledge the GM isn't working on
some hidden agenda.

"I don't want this to be tough, but it's always complicated when
you're negotiating a contract," Sather said. "It just is."

*

While Sather and Messier figure out the best way to remarry, the
Rangers are believed to have significant interest in bruising 29-year-
old Dallas power forward Scott Thornton, scheduled to become an
unrestricted free agent today by having played 10 years as a pro
while last year earning less than the league average. Thornton, who
earned $950,000 last season, was still being courted yesterday by the
Stars, for whom he played so well in the Finals against the Devils.

The 6-3, 215-pound winger, obtained by Dallas from Montreal midway
through the season, was in the Edmonton organization for five years
and played three full years for the Oilers in the mid-'90s before
Sather traded him to Montreal for Andrei Kovalenko in September of
1996.

"I never had any problem with Thornton at all," Sather said. "I wound
up trading him for a guy who scored 30 goals for us that next
season."

But while Sather is attracted to Thornton, sources indicate that the
GM is less than enthusiastic about re-signing Mathieu Schneider, the
31-year-old unrestricted free agent who was selected by Columbus in
last week's expansion draft.

"Lukewarm," is the way one individual categorized Sather's interest
in Schneider, who was, in fact, one of the team's best and grittiest
players last season, even given his personal conflicts with John
Muckler.

While Schneider, who earned $2.75M last season, may earn too much for
Sather's liking, the GM is believed to have at some interest in
lesser-paid veteran free agents such as Kevin Haller and Sean Hill.

*

Ted Green, one of the most despised opponents in franchise history,
is expected to join the Ranger coaching staff as an assistant to Ron
Low, with whom he worked two years in Edmonton,, a well-placed source
told The Post yesterday.

Green, vilified while playing for the Bruins - he nearly killed Phil
Goyette with a spear to the kidney midway through the 1965-66 season,
an act that prompted team president Bill Jennings to place a "bounty"
on his head - has held a variety of coaching and executive positions
with the Oilers since the 1981-82 season. An assistant coach for the
last three seasons, Green's contract with the Oilers expired
yesterday.

NHL COACHES READY TO ORGANIZE
By MARK EVERSON

The coach who united the Devils is all for the uniting of the
coaches. Larry Robinson says he has already joined that fledgling
union, while the GM who signed him yesterday says that association
had better not start talking salaries.
As much a Stanley Cup hero as anyone in Devildom, Robinson yesterday
made formal what had become obvious when Lou Lamoriello stayed on as
GM: Robinson's contract as an assistant coach was reworked for two
years as head coach - probably for nearly $1 million each - and two
years as a well-paid consultant.

Robinson was still toiling on his assistant coach's contract when he
won the Stanley Cup and when he joined the coaches' group that is
being formed.

"I think they're great if they're used in the right context. In this
instance, I don't think it has anything to do with [salaries],"
Robinson said. "We're just trying to give ourselves a little bit of
security. Tomorrow, you can be fired, and there's no pension, no
insurance."

The concept of a coaches' union has been around for decades, but it
appears this time it is coming to pass.

"We elected Scotty Bowman as our president to handle our affairs.
He's going to be our voice until something more formal is gotten, and
that's Scotty's first job as president," Robinson said.

Lamoriello gave his unneeded approval to a limited association of the
coaches, but was adamantly opposed to a genuine union.

"I support what they're doing to make situations better," Lamoriello
said. "I don't look at it as anything other than cooperation.

"Under no circumstances would I endorse a union of coaches. I feel
it's the responsibility of each individual organization to treat
their employees the best way they can. These are individuals in a
high financial bracket."

Robinson told the Stanley Cup Party at the Meadowlands that he would
be back as head coach if Lamoriello decided to remain as GM when
YankeeNets took over ownership of the team. On Thursday, Lamoriello
signed on as CEO-president-GM.

"Working with Lou was probably the best thing that ever happened to
me," said Robinson, saying a mouthful considering all he accomplished
as a player with Montreal.

*

Lamoriello can begin negotiating with unrestricted free agents today,
and has three of his own players going up for grabs: Claude Lemieux,
Vladimir Malakhov and Sergei Nemchinov.

Broadway Reunion?
Ranger redux likely for freed Messier

By JOHN DELLAPINA
Daily News Sports Writer

he Vancouver Canucks yesterday merely made official what the entire
hockey world already knew was coming. The Rangers' related plans are
only slightly less certain.

With little other choice given their financial limitations, the
Canucks yesterday paid Mark Messier $2 million to buy out the final
two seasons of his $6 million-a-year contract. Messier therefore
became an unrestricted free agent at midnight last night.

And, barring a completely unexpected development, Messier will join
the Rangers again within the next couple of weeks.


Free agent Mark Messier.
The signing might take a while. Messier is notoriously and
understandably protective of his summer leisure time and didn't hurry
the last time his contract came up. And new Rangers GM Glen Sather
has his son's wedding coming up next weekend and is tending to
ongoing contract negotiations with prospective head coach Ron Low.

Still, if you don't think Messier is coming back, you probably also
didn't think Theo Fleury would come to New York a year ago.

Not that the Rangers' foray into this summer's free-agent market
figures to be similar to their '99 shopping blitz. Another year
without the playoffs has made even the Rangers wary of trying to buy
success.

Still, on many levels, merely re-signing Messier will be as momentous
as signing six major free agents was last summer. Even before Sather
was hired, important members of the Garden hierarchy â€" i.e.,
Dave
Checketts â€" came to believe that Messier's return could cure
much of
the locker- room dysfunctionality that sabotaged last year's Rangers.

Sather's hiring merely cemented the Rangers' pursuit of Messier
â€" and
not just because of their wildly successful personal history
together. When the Rangers were fighting for a playoff spot last
March, then-Edmonton GM Sather told then-Rangers GM Neil Smith that
he believed the Rangers could make a long playoff run if they
reacquired Messier.

Messier isn't the only object of the team's desires. Role-playing
winger Dallas Drake is a unrestricted free agent the Rangers will
inquire about. Sather also would like to sign another veteran
defenseman â€" Boston's Don Sweeney is available.

Defenseman Mathieu Schneider, who became an unrestricted free agent
last night, badly wants to return, but Sather was lukewarm on the
idea. "We might be interested ... if the price is right."

Robinson to Return for Devs

Larry Robinson, who reluctantly accepted the Devils' head-coaching
job on an interim basis on March 23, is now eager to take on the
position full-time after guiding New Jersey to the Stanley Cup.

"We became more than a hockey team. We became a family," Robinson
said yesterday, after the Devils announced he would be returning
behind the bench. "We all worked toward a common goal."

In other news, the St. Louis Blues yesterday signed free agent
defenseman Mike Van Ryn. Van Ryn, a first-round pick of the Devils in
1998, was declared a free agent by an NHL arbitrator June 20 after
leaving the University of Michigan to play major junior hockey in
Canada.

Seeking Mark Of Leadership

Alan Hahn

After their busy past weekend at the NHL draft filled holes in need
positions at center (Oleg Kvasha), right wing (Mark Parrish and Raffi
Torres) and on the power play (Roman Hamrlik), the Islanders look to
the NHL free-agency season, which opened today, to fill what they
believe is their last need: veteran help on defense.

For the Rangers, the need has been clear over the past three non-
playoff seasons: leadership. Or, better put, Mark Messier.

While the Islanders know they can't yet attract a high-profile free
agent such as Messier, they have compiled a mildly ambitious wish
list of veteran defenseman that begins with swift skating Gary
Galley, 37, who had nine goals and 30 points for the Los Angeles
Kings this past season and hard-hitting Don Sweeney, 33, who averaged
over 22 minutes of ice time for the Boston Bruins.

Other possibilities include Sylvain Cote, 34, of the Dallas Stars and
Kevin Haller, 29, from the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, both would be
good fits.

If the Rangers don't re-sign unrestricted defenseman Mathieu
Schneider, they could look to fill his vacancy with Sean Hill, 30,
who had a break-out year with the Carolina Hurricanes, posting career-
best numbers of 13 goals and 44 points.

Saturday, July 1, 2000

  SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) -- Center Igor Larionov, who spent five seasons
with the Detroit Red Wings and helped them win two Stanley Cups,
signed a free-agent contract with the Florida Panthers Saturday.

  Larionov, 39, signed a one-year contract with a club option for a
second season.

  Panthers general manager Bryan Murray said Larionov, a 10-year NHL
veteran, will center the team's top line, playing with wing Pavel
Bure, the league's leading goal scorer.

  "We believe that his poise and character, along with what he can add
to our younger players in the organization, is well worth bringing
him on board," Murray said.

  Larionov played 79 games last season for Detroit, with nine goals
and 38 assists. He had one goal and two assists in nine playoff
games.

Filed at 4:36 p.m. EDT


By The Associated Press
Igor Larionov began the NHL's free-agent season, signing a one-year
contract with the Florida Panthers Saturday.

The 39-year-old, who spent five seasons with the Detroit Red Wings
and helped them win two Stanley Cups, chose the Panthers over the
Calgary Flames. He signed a one-year deal worth $1.8 million with a
club option for 2001-2002 at $2 million.

``We believe that his poise and character, along with what he can add
to our younger players in the organization, is well worth bringing
him on board,'' Panthers general manager Bryan Murray said.

The NHL released its official free agent list Saturday, one of the
least impressive in years.

That's unless a team is willing to give up five first-round draft
picks for a talented restricted free agent like Joe Sakic, Jason
Arnott or Saku Koivu.

That's unlikely to happen.

Instead, teams looking for an immediate upgrade will look at the
unrestricted free-agent crop, players 31 and over whose skills are on
the decline but whose salary demands remain high.

Among the unrestricted free agents are forwards Gary Roberts, Shayne
Corson, Claude Lemieux and Mark Messier, defensemen Vladimir
Malakhov, Paul Coffey, Sean Hill, Larry Murphy and Mathieu Schneider,
and goaltenders Ron Tugnutt and Tom Barasso.

``It's not a banner year in free agency, but that doesn't mean we
can't find somebody who can help us in the short term,'' Anaheim
Mighty Ducks general manager Pierre Gauthier said. ``We're going to
look at free agency carefully.''

Big-spending teams like the Red Wings and New York Rangers will find
it difficult to sign more than one player.

``It's not a great crop of free agents,'' Red Wings GM Ken Holland
said.

Last summer, unrestricted free agents Theo Fleury and Valeri Kamensky
get big-money contracts from the Rangers. Both were major
disappointments.

``We've seen a lot of guys get contracts based on what they did in
the past, and then they never did anything else,'' Gauthier said.
``You have to project in the future.''

It's inevitable that new Rangers GM Glen Sather will be phoning Doug
Messier, Mark Messier's father and agent.

``I'm sure that Doug Messier and I will be speaking,'' Sather said.

Tugnutt's short stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins appears over.

``We expect to test the market,'' Pat Morris, Tugnutt's agent, said.
``It doesn't appear that Pittsburgh is interested.''

Tugnutt made $552,500 last season but hopes to earn more than $1.5
million with his new contract.

Roberts could be the most sought-after player. The Carolina
Hurricanes have offered Roberts a three-year contract, something
other teams might not be willing to give a 13-year veteran with a
history of injuries.

``We've made it clear that we will pay him the going rate for a
player at his position,'' GM Jim Rutherford said, ``and he has chosen
not to take the offer.''

Sakic, the Colorado Avalanche's all-time leading scorer, missed
becoming an unrestricted free agent by six days. Players who are 31
by Saturday are in that category, and Sakic's 31st birthday isn't
until July 7.

Sakic has spent all 12 of his NHL seasons with the Quebec/Colorado
franchise, and he would like to end his career with the Avalanche.
That still could happen, but he is seeking about $8 million a year.

Sakic is eligible to file for binding salary arbitration and accept a
one-year contract. That way, he can become an unrestricted free agent
next summer.

One player who isn't an unrestricted free agent his year is Eric
Lindros.

The Philadelphia Flyers weren't about to take a chance of losing
Lindros for nothing, and on Friday they submitted an $8.5 million
qualifying offer to him.

Lindros, his career in jeopardy because of a series of concussions,
has until Aug. 1 to accept the offer.

``Eric Lindros is one of the top players in the game and is an
integral part of the Flyers organization,'' Philadelphia president
and general manager Bob Clarke said. ``We are hopeful that he will
enjoy a complete recovery and return to play at the high level to
which we have become accustomed.''

Lindros has had six concussions in his NHL career, the most recent on
a check by New Jersey's Scott Stevens in Game 7 of the Eastern
Conference finals May 26.

2000 NHL Free Agents

NEW YORK (July 1, 2000) -- The National Hockey League today released
the names of the players, who, effective today, July 1, 2000, became
free agents. Some players whose names appear on this list may have
signed with their respective clubs over the last several days. Their
contracts, however, had not yet been filed with the League and
therefore their names appear here.

FREE AGENTS SUBJECT TO COMPENSATION AND RIGHT TO MATCH -- GROUP II:

Group II -- The players listed below have been tendered a qualifying
offer by their respective clubs and are subject to draft choice
compensation and right to match. The draft choice compensation scale
is based on compensation offered by the new club:

OFFER COMPENSATION:

$551,076 or below - None
Over $551,076 - $757,729 Third-round choice
Over $757,729 - $895,498 Second-round choice
Over $895,498 - $1,102,152 First-round choice
Over $1,102,152 - $1,377,689 First-and third-round choices
Over $1,377,689 - $1,653,227 First-and second-round choices
Over $1,653,227 - $1,928,765 Two first-round choices
Over $1,928,765 - $2,342,071 Two first-round and one second-round
choice
Over $2,342,071 -  Three first-round choices
Each additional $1,377,689 - One additional first-round choice to a
maximum of five


ANAHEIM: Antti Aalto, Matt Cullen, J-S Giguere, Jorgen Jonsson,
Ladislav Kohn, Mike Leclerc, Dean Malkoc, Marty McInnis, Patrick
Traverse, Oleg Tverdovsky

ATLANTA: Donald Audette, Petr Buzek, Brett Clark, Hnat Domenichelli,
Shean Donovan, Scott Fankhouser, Steve Guolla, Andreas Karlsson,
Denny Lambert, Norm Maracle, Yannick Tremblay, Herbert Vasiljevs,
Brian Wesenberg

BOSTON: Elias Abrahamsson, Shawn Bates, Anson Carter, Mikko Eloranta,
John Grahame, Cameron Mann, Eric Nickulas, Sergei Samsonov, Andre
Savage, Joe Thornton

BUFFALO: Martin Biron, Denis Hamel, Jason Holland, David Moravec,
Michael Peca, Erik Rasmussen, Jason Woolley, Alexei Zhitnik

CALGARY: Wade Belak, Jason Botterill, Fred Brathwaite, Chris Clark,
Jeff Cowan, Miika Elomo, Andreas Johansson, Derek Morris, Dave Roche,
Marc Savard, Darrel Scoville, Jeff Shantz, Andrei Trefilov, Jason
Wiemer, Clarke Wilm

CAROLINA: Bates Battaglia, Steven Halko, Greg Koehler, Ian MacNeil,
Sandy McCarthy, Jeff O'Neill, Sandis Ozolinsh, Byron Ritchie

CHICAGO: Anders Eriksson, Michal Grosek, Casey Hankinson, Dean
McAmmond, Bryan McCabe, Michael Nylander, Nathan Perrott, Marty
Wilford

COLORADO: Adam Deadmarsh, Chris Drury, Milan Hejduk, Dan Hinote, Jon
Klemm, Brad Larsen, Eric Messier, Ville Nieminen, Nolan Pratt, Joe
Sakic, Dan Smith, Brian White, Stephane Yelle

COLUMBUS: Matt Davidson, Marc Denis, Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre, Steve
Heinze, Krzysztof Oliwa, Deron Quint, Geoff Sanderson

DALLAS: Jamie Langenbrunner, Jere Lehtinen, Brad Lukowich, Blake
Sloan, Marty Turco, Jamie Wright

DETROIT: Kris Draper, Jason Elliott, Yan Golubovsky, Vyacheslav
Kozlov, Maxim Kuznetsov, Chris Osgood, Marc Rodgers **, Toivo
Suursoo, B.J. Young

** Club retains draft choice compensation only

EDMONTON: Sean Brown, Josh Green, Mike Grier, Dan Lacouture, Georges
Laraque, Todd Marchant, Ethan Moreau, Rem Murray, Alain Nasreddine,
Brad Norton, Jason Smith, Ryan Smyth, Igor Ulanov, Doug Weight

FLORIDA: Eric Boguniecki, Dan Boyle, Dave Duerden, Rob Niedermayer,
Rocky Thompson, Ray Whitney, Peter Worrell

LOS ANGELES: Eric Belanger, Aki Berg, Philippe Boucher, Craig
Charron, Brad Chartrand, Marcel Cousineau, Jere Karalahti, Ian
Laperriere, Jan Nemecek, Jason Podollan, Bryan Smolinski, Jozef
Stumpel

MINNESOTA: Zac Bierk, Sergei Krivokrasov, Filip Kuba, Darryl
Laplante, Pavel Patera, Scott Pellerin, Andy Sutton

MONTREAL: Andrei Bashkirov, Craig Darby, Matthieu Descoteaux, Matt
Higgins, Saku Koivu, Mike McBain, Trent McCleary, Craig Rivet,
Stephane Robidas, Martin Rucinsky, Brian Savage, Sheldon Souray, Jose
Theodore, Dainius Zubrus

NASHVILLE: Sean Haggerty, Greg Johnson, Richard Lintner, Chris Mason,
Marc Moro, Kimmo Timonen, Mike Watt

NEW JERSEY: Jason Arnott, Frederic Henry, Steve Kelly, Scott
Niedermayer, Jay Pandolfo, Richard Rochefort, Rob Skrlac, Colin White

NY ISLANDERS: Zdeno Chara, Ray Giroux, Roman Hamrlik, Brad Isbister,
Kenny Jonsson, Dimitri Nabokov, Ray Schultz

NY RANGERS: Derek Armstrong, Drew Bannister, Jason Dawe, Daniel
Goneau, Eric Lacroix, Dale Purinton, David Wilkie, Johan Witehall

OTTAWA: Magnus Arvedson, Radek Bonk, Viacheslav Butsayev, Ivan
Ciernik, Andreas Dackell, John Emmons, John Gruden, Shane Hnidy,
Chris Phillips, Jason York

PHILADELPHIA: Brian Boucher, Andy Delmore, John LeClair, Eric
Lindros, Chris Therien, Steve Washburn

PHOENIX: Philippe Audet, Daniel Briere, Dan Focht, Travis Green, Eric
Healey, Trevor Letowski, Craig Mills, Mikael Renberg, Radoslav Suchy

PITTSBURGH: J-S Aubin, Matthew Barnaby, Josef Beranek, Sven
Butenschon, Rene Corbet, Chris Kelleher, Janne Laukkanen, Alexei
Morozov

ST. LOUIS: Lubos Bartecko, Derek Bekar, Michal Handzus, Brent
Johnson, Reed Low, Todd Reirden, Bryce Salvador

SAN JOSE: Christian Gosselin, Todd Harvey, Alexander Korolyuk,
Patrick Marleau, John Nabokov, Owen Nolan, Marcus Ragnarsson, Steve
Shields, Marco Sturm, Niklas Sundstrom

TAMPA BAY: Kaspars Astashenko, Dan Cloutier, Dwayne Hay, Brian
Holzinger, Ryan Johnson, Pavel Kubina, Steve Martins, Fredrik Modin,
Bryan Muir, Wayne Primeau, Todd Warriner, Andrei Zyuzin

TORONTO: Lonny Bohonos, Jonas Hoglund, Alexander Karpovtsev, Don
MacLean, Danny Markov, Alyn McCauley, Yanic Perreault, D.J. Smith,
Shawn Thornton

VANCOUVER: Donald Brashear, Brendan Morrison, Felix Potvin, Jarkko
Ruutu, Corey Schwab, Brent Sopel, Lubomir Vaic

WASHINGTON: Nolan Baumgartner, Jan Bulis, Sergei Gonchar, Matt Herr,
Ken Klee, Andrei Nikolishin, Mike Peluso, Jason Shmyr, Chris Simon,
Brendan Witt

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS - GROUP III:

Group III -- The following players have qualified for Group III Free
Agency (age 31 or older with at least four years of NHL experience)
and are therefore unrestricted Free Agents.

ANAHEIM: Ted Donato, Stu Grimson, Fredrik Olausson

ATLANTA: Johan Garpenlov, Bill Huard, Mike Stapleton

BOSTON: Marty McSorley, Don Sweeney

BUFFALO: Randy Cunneyworth, James Patrick, Rob Ray, Vladimir
Tsyplakov, Dixon Ward

CALGARY: Bobby Dollas, Darryl Shannon, Brad Werenka

CAROLINA: Paul Coffey, Mark Fitzpatrick, Gary Roberts

CHICAGO: Kevin Dean, Ed Olczyk

COLORADO: Dave Andreychuk

COLUMBUS: Dallas Drake, Lyle Odelein, Mathieu Schneider, Rick
Tabaracci

DALLAS: Shawn Chambers, Sylvain Cote, Dave Manson, Brian Skrudland

DETROIT: Brent Gilchrist, Joe Kocur, Igor Larionov, Larry Murphy

EDMONTON: Frantisek Musil, Bill Ranford, German Titov

FLORIDA: Ray Sheppard, Mikhail Shtalenkov

LOS ANGELES: Garry Galley

MINNESOTA: None.

MONTREAL: Shayne Corson

NASHVILLE: None.

NEW JERSEY: Claude Lemieux, Vladimir Malakhov, Sergei Nemchinov

NY ISLANDERS: None.

NY RANGERS: Kevin Hatcher, Kevin Stevens

OTTAWA: Tom Barrasso, Grant Ledyard, Kevin Miller, Shaun Van Allen

PHILADELPHIA: Craig Berube, Adam Burt, Jody Hull, Rick Tocchet,
Valeri Zelepukin

PHOENIX: Greg Adams, Sean Burke, Bob Essensa, Benoit Hogue

PITTSBURGH: Rob Brown, Tom Chorske, Steve Leach, Peter Popovic, Ron
Tugnutt

ST. LOUIS: Bob Bassen, Kelly Chase, Mike Eastwood, Dave Ellett, Derek
King, Rudy Poeschek, Stephane Richer

SAN JOSE: Dave Lowry, Jeff Norton, Ron Sutter

TAMPA BAY: Daren Puppa, Reid Simpson

TORONTO: Wendel Clark, Glenn Healy

VANCOUVER: Mark Messier

WASHINGTON: Craig Billington, Michal Pivonka, Rob Zettler

POTENTIAL GROUP V FREE AGENTS:

Potential Group V -- The following players: (i) have completed 10 pro
seasons or more (NHL or Minors, excluding Junior hockey), and (ii) in
the 1999-2000 season earned less than the League average salary of
$1,356,380 and (iii) received a timely qualifying offer.

These players have the right to elect once in their careers to become
unrestricted Free Agents. Should one of these players not elect to
become an unrestricted Free Agent, since his prior club has tendered
him a qualifying offer he shall remain subject to draft choice
compensation and right to match as applies to Group II Free Agents.
The players listed below have until July 15, 2000 to elect Group V
status.

ANAHEIM: Kevin Haller (Group II)

CAROLINA: Sean Hill (Group II)

DALLAS: Scott Thornton (elected Group V)

SAN JOSE: Mike Craig (elected Group V)

UNRESTICTED FREE AGENTS -- GROUP VI:

The following players qualify for unrestricted free agency, having
met the requirements for Group VI free agency. These players, whose
contracts have expired, are age 25 or older, have completed three or
more professional seasons, and (i) in the case of a player other than
a goaltender have played fewer than 80 NHL games (regular-season and
playoff), or (ii) in the case of a goaltender have played fewer than
28 NHL games (regular-season and playoff).

ANAHEIM: Tom Askey, Frank Banham, Scott Ferguson, Peter Leboutillier,
Jeremy Stevenson

ATLANTA: Bob Lachance

BOSTON: Aaron Downey, Joe Hulbig, Antti Laaksonen, Joel Prpic

BUFFALO: Craig Fisher, Scott Nichol, Domenic Pittis, Chris Taylor

CALGARY: None.

CAROLINA: Steve Bancroft, Eric Dandenault, Len Esau, Mike Rucinski,
Todd Simon

CHICAGO: Jeff Christian, Ted Crowley, Chris Herperger, Marc Lamothe,
Todd Rohloff

COLORADO: Serge Aubin, Frederic Cassivi, Michael Gaul, Sami Helenius,
Christian Matte

COLUMBUS: Barrie Moore

DALLAS: Mike Bales, Kelly Fairchild

DETROIT: None.

EDMONTON: Kevin Brown, Vladimir Vorobiev

FLORIDA: Paul Brousseau, Chad Cabana, Craig Reichert

LOS ANGELES: Rich Brennan, Allan Egeland, Dave MacIsaac, Mike
O'Neill, Marko Tuomainen

MINNESOTA: None.

MONTREAL: None.

NASHVILLE: Eric Bertrand, Paul Healey, Brent Peterson

NEW JERSEY: Steve Brule, Mike Buzak, Sylvain Cloutier, Sasha Lakovic

NY ISLANDERS: None.

NY RANGERS: Milan Hnilicka, Chris Kenady, P.J. Stock

OTTAWA: Jeff Shevalier

PHILADELPHIA: Jeff Lank, Mike Maneluk, Steve McLaren, Sean O'Brien,
Todd White

PHOENIX: Trent Cull, Sean Gagnon, Steven King, Sean McCann, Kevin
Sawyer, Brad Tiley

PITTSBURGH: Dennis Bonvie, Tyler Moss, Dan Trebil

ST. LOUIS: Sylvain Blouin, Bryan Helmer, Tyson Nash

SAN JOSE: Jon Coleman, Jarrett Deuling, Eric Landry

TAMPA BAY: Pavel Torgaev

TORONTO: Greg Andrusak, Terran Sandwith

VANCOUVER: Brian Bonin, Martin Gendron, Chris O'Sullivan

WASHINGTON: Martin Brochu, Trevor Halverson, Steve Poapst

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS:

The following players were not tendered a qualifying offer and are
therefore unrestricted Free Agents not subject to a right to match or
draft choice compensation.

* Players eligible to elect Group V Free Agency who did not receive a
qualifying offer.

ANAHEIM: Corey Hirsch, Kip Miller *, Blaine Russell, Lloyd Shaw, Tony
Tuzzolino, Chad Wagner

ATLANTA: Maxim Galanov, David Harlock, Joel Irving, Chris McAlpine

BOSTON: Marquis Mathieu, Mike Matteucci, Robbie Tallas

BUFFALO: Daniel Bienvenue, Jason Cipolla, Mark Dutiaume, Paul Kruse
*, Mike Zanutto

CALGARY: Eric Charron *, Steve Dubinsky, Stewart Malgunas *, Lee
Sorochan, John Tripp

CAROLINA: Jeff Daniels *, Gilbert Dionne *, Sergei Fedotov, Hugh
Hamilton, Dave Karpa, Andrei Kovalenko, Mike Morrone

CHICAGO: Dallas Eakins *, Derek Plante

COLORADO: Jason Bowen

COLUMBUS: Dwayne Roloson

DALLAS: Keith Aldridge, Melvin Angelstad, Frederic Bouchard, Joel
Bouchard, Matt Martin

DETROIT: David Arsenault, Alexandre Jacques

EDMONTON: Adam Copeland, Boyd Devereaux, Mike Minard, Rob Murray *,
Michel Picard *, Alexander Selivanov

FLORIDA: Alex Hicks, Andrew Long, Jeff Ware

LOS ANGELES: Dan Bylsma, Nathan Lafayette

MINNESOTA: None.

MONTREAL: Jesse Belanger *, Byron Briske, Jim Cummins, Jonathan
Delisle, Scott Lachance, Dave Morissette, Boyd Olson, Patrick Poulin

NASHVILLE: Phil Crowe, Jeff Kealty

NEW JERSEY: George Awada

NY ISLANDERS: Johan Davidsson, Jamie Rivers

NY RANGERS: Alexandre Daigle, Chris Wells

OTTAWA: Erich Goldmann, Yves Sarault, David Van Drunen

PHILADELPHIA: Chris Albert, Ryan Bast, Travis Brigley, Martin Cerven,
Matt Henderson, Jim Montgomery, Jeff Tory

PHOENIX: Sylvain Daigle, Eric Houde, Brad May, David Oliver, Shayne
Toporowski

PITTSBURGH: Pat Falloon, Valentin Morozov, Tom O'Connor, Peter
Skudra, Jean-Paul Tessier

ST. LOUIS: Jim Campbell, Dan Keczmer *, Ricard Persson, Libor
Prochazka, Darren Rumble *

SAN JOSE: Garrett Burnett, Brantt Myhres, Peter Roed, Jarrod Skalde

TAMPA BAY: Xavier Delisle, Robert Petrovicky, Andrei Skopintsev,
Timothy Thomas, Jr.

TORONTO: Jason Bonsignore, Mark Deyell, Tyler Harlton, Francis
Larivee, Ryan Pepperall, Marc Robitaille, Brian Wiseman

VANCOUVER: Chad Allan, Stewart Bodtker, Paul Ferone, Tim Keyes, Garth
Snow, Mike Valley, Harry York

WASHINGTON: Jim McKenzie *, Jeff Toms

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS:

The following players were not tendered a qualifying offer and are
therefore unrestricted Free Agents not subject to a right to match or
draft choice compensation.

* Players eligible to elect Group V Free Agency who did not receive a
qualifying offer.

NY ISLANDERS: Johan Davidsson, Jamie Rivers

Canes intent on re-signing Roberts
  By CECIL HARRIS, Staff Writer

Hill, 30, has been offered a two-year deal that would double his
annual salary to $1.5 million. He posted career highs with 13 goals,
31 assists and 44 points last season while leading the club in ice
time (24:31 a game) and hits (246).

The Canes hope Hill and Roberts will give them a chance to match a
better offer from another club, but the Canes have received no such
guarantee.

I was really hoping the Islanders were going to go after Hill it seemed he
would fit in rather well but now maybe this will give Mezei a better chane to
make the team



duff
gi

Anyone who wants to view the complete nhl list, released today, may
go to the files section to view every player who is a free agent
along with their status.

Group II-Requires compensation based on Salary.

By: Lyle Richardson
Date: 7/1/2000

Spector looks in to his crystal ball and ponders what will happen
with the players becoming free agents. In particular, those due that
become Group II, or restricted free agency. Those are the kind of
players that tend to half to hold out, will this year be different?


With the draft now behind us, fans eyes will now turn toward those
players due for free agency status. In particular, those due for
Group II, or restricted free agency. Those are players who tend to
hold out if they don't receive the type of contract offers from their
respective clubs during the summer. While other clubs can make
offers, it's a rare occurrence, as the price tag tends to be five
first round picks if it's a player of quality.

More often than not, restricted free agents who hold out for a
prolonged period of time are the ones who tend to be traded. Thus,
here's a look at those players who, by virtue of their free agent
status, could be playing elsewhere.

Eric Lindros: The Flyers made a qualifying offer of $8.3 million,
rather than risk losing their former captain for nothing. While GM
Bob Clarke says he "regrets" the bad blood between himself and the
Lindros clan in recent months, it's believed he's merely hoping for a
more positive medical report on "Big E". Based on this, he knows
there are teams interested in Lindros, notably the Kings, Leafs and
Rangers. If Lindros gets cleared to play later this summer, Clarke
will try to shop him.

Michael Peca: The Sabres captain had a sub-par season last year, due
in part to injuries. However, he's been a pillar of strength,
leadership and toughness. The Sabres should re-sign him, but if they
can't, you can bet clubs will beat a path to GM Darcy Regier's door
for this perennial Selke candidate.

Joe Sakic: With Sandis Ozolinsh dealt away during the draft, the
likelihood Sakic will be on his way out lessens, but only slightly.
While his stats dipped last season due to injury, he's still very
productive...during the regular season. In the playoffs over the past
few years, he's come nowhere near the Smythe-winning campaign he had
in 1996. It's anticipated the Av's will make a one-year offer to keep
Sakic for one more run. If not, there are teams with deep pockets out
there who'd be more than happy to pick up "Burnaby Joe's" rich
salary.

Nikolai Khabibulin: When he staged his holdout at the start of last
season, "the 'Bulin Wall" never anticipated the Coyotes would allow
him to sit out the year. The question now is, will they allow it to
happen again? With new ownership onboard, and the possibility new
Director of Hockey Operations Wayne Gretzky will hired new management
staff, it's quite likely Khabibulin will be re-signed. That being
said, there is the question of whether or not Phoenix can afford to
keep "Khabby" and captain Keith Tkachuk. If the 'Yotes choose to
stick with their captain, Khabibulin could be shopped. The Chicago
Blackhawks have been rumoured for months to be interested.

Keith Tkachuk: OK, he's not a free agent, but he's due for whopping
big raise in salary next season, to $8.3 million US. Gretzky says he
wants to retain Captain Keith, but if the money's not there, he'll
have no choice but to dump his salary. You can bet the New York
Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks are waiting impatiently to find out.

Vyacheslav (Slava) Kozlov: This guy has the talent to be so much more
than he currently is. Still, nobody'll turn their nose up at a guy
who consistently pots around 25 goals and 45-55 points. Rumours out
of Detroit have the San Jose Sharks angling to get Kozlov to boost
their second line.

Alexei Yashin: Forget the "welcome back with open arms" nonsense from
the Senators hierarchy. Owing Ottawa one more year at $3.6 million,
and given the protracted, nasty holdout he and his agent staged this
season, Yashin will be an attractive commodity this summer. However,
the Sen's hold all the cards in this one. They didn't collapse as
expected without their former captain, and had the depth of quality
talent to absorb a large number of injuries to key players in the
roster. If they have a healthier start next season, don't be
surprised if Ottawa decides to wait until well into next season
before shopping Yashin.


----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------

so basically that means they will both be gone next year, right?

<I was really hoping the Islanders were going to go after Hill it
<seemed he would fit in rather well but now maybe this will give
Mezei <a better chane to make the team

duff
gi

John: Sean Hill has signed with St Louis, but he would have been a
great fit for the Islanders.

Back to the drawing board.
*********************************************************************

<so basically that means they will both be gone next year, right?

It's not good news, because this means both can sign with another
team at any time. Considering that Rivers had a good season (IMO) and
is not one of the thirty something free agents available who are
going to demand a ton of money, I expect some team to grab him
quickly.

As far as Davidsson, we gave up Jorgen Jonsson is what was described
as a steal for the Islanders because Jonsson was going home, now that
Davidsson is a free agent will he want to stay ?

These are two moves I do not like. If the organization was not going
to keep Davidsson or Rivers, thay could have had Mike Watt or Sean
Haggerty, or Chebaturkin stay in the organization.