Sports: NHL briefs

NHL briefs

By Compiled from Times wires

LeClair, Flyers will keep talking

VOORHEES, N.J. -- The Philadelphia Flyers and left wing John LeClair will continue talking past a midnight Sunday deadline LeClair had set for reaching a multiyear contract agreement.

General manager Bob Clarke said Monday that he and LeClair's agent, Lewis Gross, agreed to continue negotiations.

"We're very disappointed that we have been unable to reach an agreement with John," Clarke said.

"We made what we believe is an outstanding offer, one that would rank John as one of the top five highest-paid players in the NHL."

Clarke said the sides agreed on the contract's length (four years) but not amount.

LeClair said he did not want his deadline to stand in the way of an agreement. He previously said that if the deadline was not met, he would not negotiate with the Flyers again -- ever.

"The Flyers were interested in trying to get something done," he said Monday. "I wanted to stay a Flyer, and I still do.

"I wanted to give a last chance for something to work out. I'm very optimistic. I believe we're not far apart at all."

LeClair, under contract for this season, is scheduled to make $7-million, which he was awarded in arbitration. He can be an unrestricted free agent after the season.

RICHER RETIREMENT: Stephane Richer, who abruptly retired Sunday, told the Washington Post he did not want to talk about his decision.

"I want to take a couple days to talk with my father and my family," Richer said. "This has been a tough day."

Richer informed the Washington Capitals, with whom he signed as a free agent about two weeks ago, that he was retiring after one practice with the team.

"(Richer) said his heart really hasn't been in it the last couple of seasons," general manager George McPhee said. "He realized after the first practice that he can't play anymore. I'm not going to talk him into playing; that stuff doesn't work. It was an experiment we thought would work, and it didn't."

Richer, 34, began last season with the Lightning and was traded to the St. Louis Blues on Jan. 13. He scored more than 400 goals in his 15-year career but struggled the past few seasons, frequently clashing with coaches and management.

BLUES: Defenseman Marc Bergevin will miss the next six weeks after breaking his right thumb in a fight with rookie Robert Starke on the first day of camp.

RANGERS: Back spasms forced backup goalie Kirk McLean out of practice. That is not a minor concern with Mike Richter likely out for at least the first two weeks of the regular season while recovering from knee surgery. "It's something we don't really need at this point," coach Ron Low said.

OILERS: Left wing Josh Green was expected to miss the season's first half after dislocating a shoulder during a scrimmage. Green will require surgery.