[sheeps]

http://sports.espn.g...hris&id=1607554

Tuesday, September 2, 2003

By Chris Stevenson

Special to ESPN.com

They stand on the front lines of the cold war between the NHL and its players as summer draws its last breath. They wait in the shadows or on the docks at their cottages or in a gym in their hometown or whatever it is unrestricted free agents do while waiting for the call from their agents that a team is interested in their services.

There are more of them than usual this year as more teams, with an eye towards the expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement just over a year from now, didn't make qualifying offers to a number of younger players.

Here's a look at what's out there for teams looking to plug a hole or two, ESPN.com's First and Second Waiting-in-the-Wings Teams ...

First Team
FORWARDS
Magnus Arvedson: The left winger is one of the best two-way players in the league and one of the game's best penalty killers. He's a combined plus-63 over the last three years and can play on a club's first or second line. He looks to have overcome the injury problems that plagued him three years ago. Could be the best unrestricted free agent left out there.

Ulf Dahlen: He is one of the league's strongest players along the boards and one of the best at protecting the puck. He had 17 goals in 63 games with the Dallas Stars last year. He makes a team tougher in the trenches.

Joe Nieuwendyk: The 36-year-old was slowed by a torn an oblique muscle in the playoffs, but did play 80 regular-season games last year for the Stanley Cup-winning New Jersey Devils. He had 17 goals and would be a great pickup for a team looking to improve itself in the faceoff circle. He's still one of the best on the dot.

DEFENSE
Bryan Berard: The Boston Bruins walked away from the 26-year-old's arbitration award of $2.51 million for one year, making him an unrestricted free agent to anyone who offers more than 80 percent of the award. He's the best offensive defenseman left on the market (10-28-38 last year with the B's). He topped the 20-minute mark last year and he's the guy for a team looking to boost the point on the power play.

Ken Klee: The 32-year-old is a steady, stay-at-home type on the blue line. He's coming off a season in which he led the Washington Capitals with a plus-22 rating and was second on the Caps blue line in ice time (21:48) behind Sergei Gonchar (26:34). There are rumors he could be going to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

GOAL
Felix Potvin: The Cat used up another of his NHL lives when the Los Angeles Kings decided Roman Cechmanek would be their No. 1 this year. Potvin, 32, was 17-20-3 behind an injury-riddled team last year and is just a year removed from posting a 31-win season.

Second Team
FORWARDS
Adam Oates: Despite breaking his hand last season, the 41-year-old put up 36 assists in 67 games with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and helped them reach the Stanley Cup final. His smarts and leadership can be of value to a team.

Steve Thomas: The 40-year-old showed he still has the ability to score the big goal during the Ducks' playoff run and he won't hurt you defensively (he led the Ducks last year with a plus-10 rating).

Cliff Ronning: He is like the Energizer bunny, small and seemingly tireless. The 37-year-old played 80 games for the Minnesota Wild last year and helped them to their surprising showing in the postseason. He's still got good footspeed and his 48 points put him around the top-100 in the league.

DEFENSE
Dmitry Yushkevich: The 31-year-old is still one of the league's great warriors. He can't play the number of minutes he used to, but he can still be a solid contributor in the right situation.

Boris Mironov: OK, so the well for free agent defensemen isn't that deep. Mironov was a 20-minute a game guy with the New York Rangers and managed to wind up as a plus player, which is saying something on that team. If Mironov isn't to your liking, Lyle Odelein, Murray Baron and Dave Karpa are out there as stay-at-home tough guys. For an offensive boost, Phil Housley also is available.

GOAL
Jamie Storr: He was also caught up in the Kings' crease purge. The 27-year-old wasn't offered a contract by the Kings and a change in scenery might be just what he needs to try and live up to his potential (he was the seventh pick overall in 1994 and was named to the all-rookie team in 1998).

Chris Stevenson covers the NHL for the Ottawa Sun and is a frequent contributor to ESPN.com.

[NJayDevil]

Is anyone else out there being to feel really confident that Neuwy is going to sign here?

I mean almost all the signs point that way. The only thing that does worry me is Lou hasn't put an offer down on the table. But what I really like about the whole situation is that he said he enjoys living here and really doesn't want to get up and move again.

[Rock]

NJayDevil, on Sep 2 2003, 09:20 PM, said:

Is anyone else out there being to feel really confident that Neuwy is going to sign here?

I mean almost all the signs point that way. The only thing that does worry me is Lou hasn't put an offer down on the table. But what I really like about the whole situation is that he said he enjoys living here and really doesn't want to get up and move again.

These teams are smart, they'll give Joe a offer, but it will disappear if he leaves the room, thus nullifying Lou's chance to match or better if Lou decides to. I hate when Lou plays these chicken games with other GM's, so far he has lost every one of these, that is if he ever had any intention of winning them from the onset.

[RD]

I'm worried for Joe, it just doesn't seem like there's much out there for him to grab at. At this point, I'd still love to see him in a Devils sweater, but more than anything I just want him playing for ANYONE. I know he'll probably be signed by someone (hopefully?) come opening night, but it's starting to get down to the wire with camps opening soon. *sigh*

[dallasdevil15]

I feel the same way RD! But I am getting more nervous for him the closer the season comes around. It seems like with his family, finally getting settled in NJ and how crazy that move was, it seems he wouldn't want to leave NJ. But if theres no offer there's no offer.

[Elias Sports Bureau]

Rock, on Sep 2 2003, 09:22 PM, said:

These teams are smart, they'll give Joe a offer, but it will disappear if he leaves the room, thus nullifying Lou's chance to match or better if Lou decides to. I hate when Lou plays these chicken games with other GM's, so far he has lost every one of these, that is if he ever had any intention of winning them from the onset.

We don't know what Lou has done and what he doesn't.

Just cause we or the media don't know about it doesn't mean it's not out there.

There's always tons of things we don't know that Lou does. For example, the trade that got Joe and Jamie here.

Lou said he wanted Joe back. So I would guess Joe has the Devils' offer.

[halfsharkalligatorhalfman]

i care more abotu rheumue

[dallasdevil15]

I dont have much time cause I'm heading to school but I just wanted to know that on the radio here in Dallas theres rumor Stars are making an offer to Joe to come back to Dallas because of Kirk's retirment.... Just letting you know... I have mixed feelings about this

[Nieuwy25]

Yeah, here's the article in this morning's Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Nieuwy to Stars?

Stars target center?
By Mac Engel
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

The Stars already have five centers on their roster, but it apparently has not deterred them from seeking a sixth.

There is a chance that free agent and former Stars center Joe Nieuwendyk could return.

Nieuwendyk's agent, Rich Curran, would neither confirm nor deny the Stars are one of the teams he has been speaking with regarding Nieuwendyk's services.

"I've had conversations with four different teams, and I won't say one way or the other," Curran said. "I'm not suggesting you preclude Dallas necessarily."

Curran said he believes Nieuwendyk will be with a team when NHL training camps begin around Sept. 12. The Stars begin training camp Sept. 13 in Vail, Colo.

The other teams in the mix appear to be the New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings. Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello told The Bergen Record that he is interested in bringing the soon-to-be 37-year-old Nieuwendyk back to New Jersey.

It is widely believed that any team interested in signing Nieuwendyk would do so for one season at a greatly reduced price from the $5 million he made last season.

Should the Stars add Nieuwendyk, it would mean the roster would have five other centers: Mike Modano, Jason Arnott, Niko Kapanen, Stu Barnes and Pierre Turgeon. The odd man out, however, would likely be Turgeon.

The Stars put him on waivers this summer, but no team claimed him. Should the Stars sign Nieuwendyk, Turgeon could likely be sent to the minors in an effort to get him out of Dallas.

Nieuwendyk was traded by the Stars with wing Jamie Langenbrunner to the Devils for Arnott on March 19, 2002. Last season in 80 games for the Devils, Nieuwendyk scored 17 goals and added 28 assists.

In 17 postseason games for the Stanley Cup champion Devils, Nieuwendyk scored three goals and six assists. He suffered a torn oblique muscle in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals and did not play another game.

Traded by the Flames in December 1995 to the Stars for Jarome Iginla, Nieuwendyk enjoyed seven successful seasons in Dallas. In 1999, he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs' most outstanding player while leading the Stars to their only Stanley Cup.




This sure opened my eyes early this morning!

[Triumph]

I'd be very surprised if Joe signed in Dallas. They really don't have any room on the roster for him.. they'd have to move Arnott out to wing and leave Stu Barnes as the 4th line center.. two things I don't think they want to be forced to do.

The only two teams that should be interested IMO are Toronto and New Jersey. Toronto has said they won't spend more money this offseason, and even if they do, they need a defenseman more than they need Nieuwendyk.