Chicago, Zhamnov Resolve Differences
Around the NHL
The Chicago Blackhawks are all set, from A(monte) to Z(hamnov).
Tony Amonte was one of the stars in Thursday night’s 2-1 victory over Detroit and restricted free agent Alexei Zhamnov took center stage Friday at the United Center when he ended a two-month stalemate by signing a five-year, $15 million contract plus incentives.
The deal hit a snag Thursday night when the Hawks told Zhamnov’s agent, Ron Salcer, they wouldn’t pay the 26-year-old Russian center for the seven games he missed. Salcer and Blackhawks general manager Bob Pulford met into the early hours Friday, then reached accord later in the morning.
Zhamnov, who will wear No. 26 Sunday against Los Angeles, won’t be paid for the games he missed, amounting to some $222,000 of the $2.6 million he will make in the first year. But the Hawks made minor concessions regarding incentive clauses to seal the deal.
“It’s not easy for anybody,” Zhamnov said of holding out. “But everything is done and I’m happy.”
Zhamnov had 59 points in 58 games for Winnipeg last season, missing time because of a leg stress fracture and injured back.
On the ice
The Los Angeles Kings’ injury problems continued when checking forward Barry Potomski was placed on injured reserve with a herniated disc in his back.
He is the seventh King to be put on IR in this two-week-old season.
After coming within a heartbeat of the Stanley Cup finals last year, the Pittsburgh Penguins have found themselves in an unenviable - not to mention unfamiliar - position in the basement of the NHL.
With a record of 1-5, this season has been the Penguins’ worst start since 1987, when they were 1-5-2. Their worst start before that was 1983, when they were 1-8, finishing the year with just 16 wins and the right to draft Mario Lemieux first overall.
“We didn’t play very well on opening night this year, and it hasn’t gotten much better,” Lemieux said. “We certainly have a lot of good players. They’re a lot better than we had back in the early days when I first came here. It’s a completely different team. We just have to get it together and play with some more confidence.”
The Dallas Stars signed free-agent right wing Sergei Makarov to a one-year contract.
Makarov, 38, has played six seasons in the NHL, four with Calgary and the last two with San Jose. In 420 career games, he has scored 134 goals and 384 points with 317 penalty minutes. He was named the NHL Rookie of the Year in 1989-90 with Calgary.