EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - Mike Danton of the Blues plotted to kill his agent for at least six months and tried on at least three occasions to hire a hit man, prosecutors said Friday.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Massey confirmed for the first time that agent David Frost was Danton's intended victim. Frost had repeatedly denied reports he was the target, and did so again Friday.
"If the government wants to hang their hat there, that's up to them," Frost said. "I am absolutely positive I was not the target."
During a detention hearing Friday, Massey said the evidence in the case "is strong."
"We have multiple taped conversations where the defendant is speaking to the confidential informant, in which it is clear" that Danton was arranging a murder for hire, Massey said.
U.S. Magistrate Clifford Proud ordered Danton, who was arrested April 16, to remain jailed and set trial for July 20.
The FBI's criminal complaint said Danton was concerned that his intended target planned to go to the Blues with information that could damage his career.
Frost has said Danton was delusional and was using painkillers and sleeping pills in the hours before he allegedly tried to hire the hit man.
Danton's attorney, Bob Haar, had asked Proud to assign Danton to a hospital for psychiatric evaluation and treatment of an injured shoulder.
Danton's mother, brother and aunt sat directly behind him in the courtroom, but he did not acknowledge them. Danton has been estranged from his family for several years, and legally changed his last name from Jefferson two years ago.
"Hopefully he gets the help he needs," said Danton's mother, Sue Jefferson.
Four of Danton's teammates - Keith Tkachuk, Barret Jackman, Ryan Johnson and Bryce Salvador - also attended. They left without comment.
FLAMES-SHARKS: When San Jose traded Miikka Kiprusoff to Calgary in November, the Sharks knew they might be giving away a future star for a mere second-round draft pick.
Nobody thought the trade might haunt the Sharks six months later in the Western Conference final - not Kiprusoff, and not the goalie he couldn't unseat in San Jose.
"It's pretty strange that it worked out this way," said Evgeni Nabokov, who will lead San Jose in Game 1 of the series on Sunday. "This series isn't just about me against Kipper. It's 20 guys on both teams ... but it's kind of strange."
Kiprusoff, a Finnish goalie drafted and trained by the Sharks, backstopped the Flames all the way to their first conference final in 15 years. He set an NHL record with a 1.69 goals-against average.
Both goalies have excelled in the playoffs. Kiprusoff has posted statistics nearly identical to the regular season; Nabokov has allowed 15 goals in 11 postseason games for a 1.34 GAA and 94.9 save percentage.
"(San Jose) was a great place to play, but now I'm glad I can be here and get a chance to be a (starter)," Kiprusoff said earlier this year. "I still have a lot of friends over there."
AHL: Hamilton Bulldogs forward Alexander Perezhogin was suspended through the end of next season for a two-handed, stick-swinging attack on an opponent.
Perezhogin, whose NHL rights belong to the Canadiens, received the longest suspension on record in AHL history. He slammed his stick into Cleveland Barons defenseman Garrett Stafford's face during a playoff game April 30.
The fight began when Stafford swung his stick at Perezhogin, striking the back of his helmet. Perezhogin responded with a baseball-like swing. Stafford was suspended for six games.
