Saturday, June 22, 2002
Cancer survivor Koivu agrees to one-year contract with Habs
The Associated Press
TORONTO — Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the team Friday.
Koivu, a restricted free agent, accepted Montreal's qualifying offer, which will pay him $3.3 million, the same amount he earned last season.
The center only played the final three regular-season games and the playoffs last season because of cancer treatments.
On Thursday night, Koivu won the Bill Masterton Trophy for his dramatic April 9 return after a season-long battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
“Both myself and the team were comfortable with a one-year deal,” Koivu said from Finland. “I wanted to get it done at the beginning of the summer so I would know I'll be there for the start of training camp.”
Koivu had 10 points in 12 playoff games as the Canadiens reached the second round of the playoffs, losing in six games to the Carolina Hurricanes.
AVALANCHE: Peter Forsberg, who missed the entire regular season because of injuries, played the last two playoff games with a broken pinkie. Forsberg was out 10 months with a variety of injuries. He returned to lead all players in scoring in this year's playoffs.
BLACKHAWKS: Captain Tony Amonte isn't expected to be back next season because of salary issues, team owner Bill Wirtz said. Amonte, 31, doesn't become an unrestricted free agent until July 1.
BRUINS: General manager Mike O'Connell, 46, signed a five-year contract extension. O'Connell took over in November 2000, succeeding Harry Sinden.
NHL DRAFT: Except for Panthers general manager Rick Dudley, who expressed intent to use Florida's No. 1 selection, the order for the rest of the first round of today's draft could be changed by trades.
Don Waddell, the GM of the Atlanta Thrashers, who choose second, wants to make a deal to add veteran talent to a promising young lineup.
Columbus Blue Jackets GM Doug MacLean said he's received numerous offers for the No. 3 pick that might prove too good to pass up. And at No. 4 are Jay Feaster and the Tampa Bay Lightning, who wouldn't mind making a deal of their own.
What this year's draft, which will have rounds 1-3 today and 4-9 Sunday, lacks in immediate-impact talent, it makes up for in intrigue. Where there is consensus is which three players are expected to go first — lanky defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, rugged winger Rick Nash and goaltender Kari Lehtonen.
Bouwmeester, who at 16 was among the youngest players to represent Canada at a World Junior Hockey Championships three years ago, is the only one considered ready to make the immediate jump to the NHL.
Nash, who has drawn comparisons to Detroit Red Wings forward Brendan Shanahan, is said to need another year in junior hockey to improve his skating ability.
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