Sports: Holdout Simon signs two-year deal with Caps

Holdout Simon signs two-year deal with Caps

By Compiled from Times wires

ODENTON, Md. -- Wing Chris Simon, the Capitals' leading scorer last season, signed a two-year, $4.5-million contract Monday to end a dispute that kept him out of training camp and the first three weeks of the regular season.

"It's great to have him back," team captain Adam Oates said. "If we had him in the beginning, we would have a couple more wins."

The defending Southeast Division champions are 1-3-3-1 and averaging less than three goals per game.

Simon, who has spent the past four seasons with Washington, will earn $2.25-million each of the next two seasons. The club has an option for a third year.

Simon, 28, had the best offensive totals of his eight-year career last season: 29 goals and 20 assists playing on Washington's top line. The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder also led the team with 146 penalty minutes, power-play goals (seven) and shots (201).

"If he contributes the way he did last year, having him back is nothing but a bonus," goaltender Olie Kolzig said. "He's also great in the dressing room. It just adds a little confidence to our hockey team."

Simon had been looking for a lucrative long-term deal, but the Capitals were weary of making such a commitment to a player with a history of injuries.

"There were many variables involved in completing his contract, and it took some time," general manager George McPhee said. "But we are glad to have it behind us and look forward to many productive seasons from Chris."

Coach Ron Wilson said he expected Simon to be in game shape within a week.

COYOTES: Wayne Gretzky confirmed to the Canadian Press that he asked his agent, Mike Barnett, to be the team's general manager after he and partner Steve Ellman complete their purchase but Barnett declined.

"I wish he'd have come and worked with me, but that's the way it is," Gretzky said. "At this point in time, all we can do is to try and get this thing put to bed and closed, and after that we'll sit down and see what happens."

Ellman has missed deadlines for completing his $87.5-million purchase, but it appears a stalemate in a mall redevelopment project designed to give the team a new arena will be solved soon.

"We knew it could take longer than we had hoped, but that's the way it is," Gretzky said. "You know, these things don't happen overnight, but it's going to happen."

Also, Gretzky will take part in meetings beginning in mid November to begin identifying Canada's eight core players for the 2002 Olympics.

"It's pretty easy to name eight guys," he said. "What happens is after that the makeup of the team has a lot to do with the coach. The next 12 or 13 guys are the key decisions."

FLAMES: Clark Wilm, hit in the nose by a puck during a game Saturday, was expected to be in the lineup tonight against Phoenix.

"It smashed all the cartilage underneath," Wilm said. "I might be going to see a plastic surgeon in the summer."

Wilm missed the rest of the second period for repairs -- the bottom of his nose was stitched from nostril to nostril -- but he returned for the third period wearing a visor and had cotton plugs in both nostrils.

FLYERS: Coach Craig Ramsay said wing Jody Hull will play against the Rangers tonight. Hull has not played since injuring a shoulder in the preseason.

Chris Therien, who has a back injury, practiced but left early. Keith Jones will have tests to determine the extent of his concussion, sustained in a game Saturday.

The Flyers (1-5-2) haven't won since a 6-3 victory over Vancouver on opening night.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Canadiens center Trevor Linden won for collecting eight points in three games.

Linden had a power-play goal and an assist in a 4-3 win over Buffalo on Tuesday and a 3-3 tie against the Flyers on Thursday. He collected three assists and the winning goal in a 5-3 win over Carolina on Saturday.

Lightning wing Fredrik Modin was among the players considered for the weekly award.