Daigle baits Sharks

Former Senator scores free-agent tryout with San Jose


By BRUCE GARRIOCH -- Ottawa Sun

The 'Can't Miss Kid' who did, is going to try and
make a comeback.

The Sun has learned Alexandre Daigle, the Senators'
much-heralded No. 1 overall selection in the 1993
draft, has agreed to a free-agent tryout with the San
Jose Sharks at training camp in September.

The 27-year-old Daigle, who walked away from hockey
two years ago, has been living in Los Angeles trying
to get an acting career and production company off the
ground, but appears to have given up hope.

Unlike the $12.5-million contract he received from
the Senators, Daigle won't be going to the Sharks with
any guarantees. Instead, he'll have to make the Sharks
and has agreed to play with the club's AHL affiliate
in Cleveland if he fails to make the parent club.

It's believed San Jose GM Dean Lombardi approved the
decision to bring Daigle in for a tryout after
discussing the matter with executives Doug Wilson, Tim
Burke and John Ferguson, who drafted Daigle for the
Senators.

'WORTH THE GAMBLE'

"My understanding is that he's been working out and
he wants to give it a try," an NHL executive said.
"The guy had a lot of talent and a lot of speed. It's
probably worth the gamble for the Sharks. It's not
going to hurt anybody.

"A lot of what happened to Daigle was the fact he
couldn't live up to the expectations that were thrown
on him by that contract he signed. This might be an
easy situation for him to go into. Nothing will be
expected."

With Vincent Damphousse, Mike Ricci and Patrick
Marleau on their roster, the Sharks aren't expecting
Daigle to be their No. 1 centre.

After being drafted by the Senators, Daigle arrived
at training camp in 1993 along with centre Alexei
Yashin with plenty of expectations placed on both of
them. However, following a decent rookie season,
Daigle couldn't live up to the billing of a No. 1
draft pick.

After nearly five frustrating seasons in Ottawa,
Daigle was finally dispatched by former Senators GM
Pierre Gauthier to the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 17,
1998 in exchange for Vaclav Prospal, Pat Falloon and a
draft pick.

Unfortunately, Gauthier made his decision to move
Daigle after giving him a two-year, $4-million
contract extension.

After the Flyers couldn't get any consistency out of
Daigle, he was dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning in
January 1999.

IN IT FOR THE MONEY

Daigle was sold to the New York Rangers that fall,
and after spending most of the 1999-2000 season with
the Rangers, he decided to hang up his skates to
pursue an acting career in California.

Daigle's production company recently organized a
party at the Montreal Grand Prix.

Nobody is quite sure what is motivating Daigle to
attempt a comeback. He told Radio-Canada during an
interview aired in January that he knew from the time
he was 16 he didn't want to play hockey professionally
and only did it "for the money."

"He could be successful, but it's going to depend on
where his head is at," the NHL executive added.

The Sun has also learned the Atlanta Thrashers have
agreed to terms with defenceman Bryan Berard, who is
also a former Senators No. 1 pick -- in 1995. He
didn't have the option on his contract picked up by
the Rangers.


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