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Kubina signs 2-year deal with Lightning

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 1, 2000

TAMPA -- Crisis averted.

Pavel Kubina said he was worried that it was almost September and he still was without a contract. The Lightning defenseman called his agent Wednesday night and demanded he get a deal done. Kubina signed a two-year, $1.41-million contract Thursday that pays him $650,000 this season and $760,000 next.

"It was a nervous last couple of weeks. I didn't know what was going to happen," Kubina said. "I told my agent I want to be there in training camp. I want to be with the guys. I want to be one of the leaders in the dressing room and on the ice."

The signing means Tampa Bay starts training camp Thursday with everyone under contract.

"I think this team likes themselves as a team, and anything that chips away at that is not a good thing, and Kuby is a big part of things," general manager Rick Dudley said. "Now we have the pieces we expected to have in play, and that's big."

Three days ago, the biggest thing surrounding negotiations was the gap between the sides. The Lightning offered $650,000 for one season, a 100 percent raise. Kubina's agent, Jiri Crha, proposed deals worth between $1.1-million and $1.7-million.

After talking to Kubina -- and considering the 23-year-old is two years from arbitration -- Crha proposed the impasse-breaking deal.

"I like to play with Tampa, and I wanted to have it done and be with the guys and stuff like that," Kubina said. "I'm not playing hockey only for money. I love hockey, so I took less than what I was asking."

Kubina had eight goals and 18 assists in 69 games last season, and he tied Vincent Lecavalier with a team-high six power-play goals. Though he was minus-19, Dudley said his play improved.

"If he continues his progress, he can be a top-four defenseman in the National Hockey League," Dudley said. "He's got a big shot from the point, he has good instincts, he's as strong as an ox, and he can hit."

STILL FRIENDS: Kubina confirmed that his romance with tennis star Martina Hingis is over. "We are still good friends," he said.

TRADE TALK: Capitals left wing Peter Bondra wants to be traded, and Dudley said, "I won't say I never talked to Washington about any kind of trade, but we've never been able to come to a reasonable deal on anybody."

The 32-year-old is entering the final year of a deal that pays $3.77-million this season. He had 21 goals and 17 assists last season, down from 52 and 26 in 1997-98.

"It's not as far-fetched as (trading for Eric) Lindros," Dudley said, "but it's a very long shot right now."

ROOKIE CAMP: First-year pros and juniors report today in Hull, Quebec. They practice Saturday and Sunday, then play a four-day, round-robin tournament with the Canadiens, Senators and Panthers at Robert Guertin Arena.

Dudley said the camp lets him evaluate players without regular camp pressures. "If the first thing you do on the ice is face off against Vinny Lecavalier, that's a little intimidating," he said.

Players to watch are center Brad Richards, left wing Dmitry Afanasenkov and defenseman Kristian Kudroc, each of whom has a chance to make the team. Also participating are right wing Sheldon Keefe, first-round draft choice Nikita Alexeev and goaltender Evgeny Konstantinov.

Russian left wing Alexander Kharitonov, 24, this year's third-round draft choice, and Swiss center Thomas Ziegler, 22, the ninth-round choice, will not attend. They have played professionally in Europe for more than one year.

Both could make the team.

CHARITY GAME: Lecavalier, Dan Cloutier, Petr Svoboda, Gordie Dwyer, Fredrik Modin and Andrei Zyuzin are scheduled to play in a charity game at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Tampa Bay Skating Academy in Oldsmar.

Adults can participate through an auction of playing spots, which start at $250. Tickets are $10. Proceeds benefit the Foundation for Brain Injury Awareness.

For information, call the academy at (813) 854-4010 or Dave Beaudin at (727) 644-6787.

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