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NHL briefs

By Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 1, 2000

Goalie Boucher takes 2-year deal with Flyers

PHILADELPHIA -- Goalie Brian Boucher, a rookie last season who replaced starter John Vanbiesbrouck and carried the Flyers to the Eastern Conference final, signed a two-year contract Thursday to remain with the team.

Terms were not announced. Boucher was looking for a package worth $3-million after making $450,000 last season.

"Brian played such a big role in the success we had in the second half of the season and in the playoffs that he's obviously very important to us," general manager Bob Clarke said in a statement. "With his age and his relative inexperience, he couldn't afford to miss training camp, so it's nice to get the contract done."

Boucher, 23, said in a statement he was "relieved and happy" to have the contract done.

Boucher became the first rookie in 50 years to play at least 25 regular-season games and finish with a goals-against average under 2.00. He had a 20-10-3 record and 1.91 GAA, and ranked fourth in the NHL in save percentage (.918).

Boucher played five of the last six regular-season games as the Flyers came from behind to beat the Devils for the Eastern Conference title by two points. He started all 18 playoff games, going 11-7. The Flyers lost the East final to the Devils in seven games.

The Flyers since traded Vanbiesbrouck to the New York Islanders.

Clarke said this week they offered a contract to former Lightning goalie Daren Puppa, a 35-year-old unrestricted free agent who played 50 games in the past four seasons because of back, hip and groin injuries. Puppa told the Times on Tuesday that he had not received a contract offer after a physical last week but the Flyers did talk with his agent. "They were just feeling each other out, basically," Puppa said.

COYOTES: Free-agent defensemen Joel Bouchard and Dave MacIntyre signed one-year contracts. Terms were not disclosed. Bouchard, 26, had one goal and four assists in 52 games with the Nashville Predators last season. MacIntyre, 31, had 2 goals, 6 assists and 70 penalty minutes in 31 games in the Finnish Elite League last season.

PREDATORS: Goalie Marc Denis agreed to terms on a multiyear contract. The terms were not disclosed.

Denis, 23, a restricted free agent, was acquired from Colorado on June 7 in exchange for the Blue Jackets' second-round pick in the 2000 entry draft. Denis was Patrick Roy's backup with the Avalanche last season. He was 9-8-3 with a 2.54 goals-against average, a .917 save percentage and three shutouts in 23 games.

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