NHL

New-look Predators land Kariya

By wire services
Published August 6, 2005

NASHVILLE - The Predators fought for a fair labor deal for small market teams to help them compete in the NHL. They followed through with the biggest signing in the franchise's short history.

Left wing Paul Kariya signed a two-year, $9-million deal with Nashville on Friday. It his third team in three seasons.

"This is a day we've been waiting for for a long time for this franchise," general manager David Poile said.

"He had a lot of places to go. The fact (is) he chose Nashville, and I think in some regards that's got to be somewhat of a stunner that he chose here instead of going to some other bigger market where he could get more fanfare."

Kariya, 30, spent his first seven seasons with Anaheim, helping the Mighty Ducks reach the Stanley Cup finals in 2003. Then he joined former teammate Teemu Selanne in Colorado for 2003-04.

Kariya said he chose Nashville because the Predators started courting him the instant free agency opened.

CANUCKS: Center Brendan Morrison, part of one of the league's top lines the past three seasons, signed a three-year contract. Morrison, a 29-year-old restricted free agent, was Vancouver's second-leading scorer with 60 points during 2003-04.

CAPITALS: Alexander Ovechkin, the No. 1 pick in the 2004 draft, agreed to a three-year contract. The 19-year-old left wing opted out of a deal with a Russian club last month. Financial terms were not released, but his annual salary in this entry-level contract can't exceed $984,200 based on the league's new collective bargaining agreement.

MAPLE LEAFS: Free-agent forward Jason Allison signed a one-year deal. The former Kings center missed most of 2002-03 and all of 2003-04 with a neck injury and concussion. Allison, a Toronto native, didn't play anywhere last season during the lockout. Also, Tie Domi agreed to a two-year, $2.5-million deal to stay in Toronto. The 35-year-old enforcer is third in career penalty minutes with 3,406, trailing only Dave Williams (3,966) and Dale Hunter (3,565).

PENGUINS: Don't remove the owner's tag from owner-player Mario Lemieux's title yet. In an about-face brought about partly by the team drafting Canadian super prospect Sidney Crosby, the team said Lemieux's group will retain its majority ownership. William "Boots" DelBiaggio, a San Jose-based businessman who was to buy a majority stake, will instead buy a minority share.

Also, Crosby will skip the Canadian junior national team development camp next weekend to attend Pittsburgh's rookie orientation camp.

STARS: Free agent goaltender Johan Hedberg signed a one-year contract deal to back up Marty Turco.

[Last modified August 6, 2005, 01:36:22]