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By PETE YOUNG
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 7, 2001
The Lightning continued its expeditious offseason Monday, winnowing by two the number of unsigned players.
Restricted free agent Cory Sarich rejoined the fold, along with minor-league defenseman Mike Jones. Sarich, a 22-year-old defenseman, signed a reported three-year deal worth $2.5-million.
"It's very close to what I was expecting," Sarich said. "With us not having a lot of negotiating leverage, I'm very happy with it."
A big hitter who is considered to have good potential, Sarich, who will turn 23 on Aug. 16, had two brief stints in the minors last season. He finished with one NHL goal (the first of his career) and eight assists in 73 games and was second on the team with 104 penalty minutes.
"Late in the season Cory started to show the nastiness that will help make him a top-notch defenseman," general manager Rick Dudley said. "Last year was really his first full year in the NHL, and he started to be the player we think he can be." On the downside, the 6-foot-3, 193-pound Sarich's minus-26 rating was tied for worst on the team.
The Lightning began the offseason with 24 free agents. The signing of Jones and Sarich leaves just four unsigned. Three of them are forward Kaspars Astashenko and defensemen Mikko Kuparinen and Marek Posmyk.
The fourth is franchise-centerpiece Vinny Lecavalier.
"There's not much to report," Dudley said of negotiations with Lecavalier. "This one is taking its time. Both sides are being diligent. We're working on it."
GOODBYE, GOOSE: Dudley confirmed the Lightning had bought out the contract of defenseman Sergey Gusev.
Gusev played 16 games last season, notching a goal, 10 penalty minutes and a minus-3 rating. He played 58 games for the Lightning in three seasons.
"It seems like he was cursed with our organization, and we decided to move on," Dudley said. "Goose is a great guy, and I hope it works out for him with another organization."
ISLANDERS: The team will raise their sixth jersey to the Nassau Coliseum rafters when Bryan Trottier's No. 19 is retired Oct. 20.
Trottier, now an assistant coach with the Stanley Cup champion Avalanche, is the leading career scorer for the Islanders with 500 goals and 853 assists. With the Penguins, he added 24 goals and 47 assists.
SIGNINGS: Forward Manny Malhotra was re-signed by the Rangers and the Red Wings re-signed defenseman Mathieu Dandenault to a one-year deal. The Avalanche agreed to terms on a multiyear contract with forward Scott Parker.
-- Information from Times wires was used in this report.