[Devils-list] 8221s and what not

[Devspage@aol.com]

Sorry, forgot that Microsoft Word here often replaces apostrophes and quote marks with numbers. I'll try again:

TRADE WINDS WILL BE BLOWING ON DRAFT DAY

 By JOE LAPOINTE 

c.2001 New York Times News Service 

    FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Will the Rangers trade their top draft pick — 10th overall — along with prospects and current players to Philadelphia for Eric Lindros? Will the Islanders trade the No. 2 pick overall and other assets to Ottawa for Alexei Yashin or to Buffalo for Mike Peca? Are the Rangers after Yashin and Peca as well? Or will both New York teams compete instead for Jaromir Jagr, the league’s scoring champion? 

    After that, will the Rangers and Islanders attack the free-agent market on July 1 when Joe Sakic, Jeremy Roenick, Pierre Turgeon, Rob Blake and Patrick Roy are available? And will the Devils eschew major trades and prestigious free-agent signings while choosing instead to pick shrewdly in the amateur draft, the way they often do? After all, the Devils have seven picks in the first three rounds, including two late in the first round. 

    These are among the questions and rumors swirling here as the "coolest game on earth" convenes here for the entry draft this weekend when a gathering of NHL's business leaders could spawn hockey’s version of "The Perfect Storm."
    "I think it’s going to be an exciting weekend," said Lou Lamoriello, the general manager of the Devils. "I'm looking forward to it. Sometimes, when we anticipate this, nothing happens. But I think things will happen this time. It's the first time we've got all 30 teams with no expansion draft. It's going to be very interesting."

    The first factor is the amateur draft of 18-year-olds, which begins with three rounds on Saturday and ends with six rounds on Sunday. Led by Russia's Ilya Kovalchuk, Canada's Jason Spezza and Russia's Stanislav Chistov, it could be the best group in a decade and Kovalchuk could be the first Russian ever chosen first overall. The second element is the trade talk, heavier than ever because veteran stars such as Jagr, Yashin and Doug Weight have become too expensive for their teams. And the third aspect is free agency, with Sakic, the league's most valuable player with Stanley Cup champion Colorado, leading the best bunch available yet since the collective bargaining agreement of 1995. 

    Lamoriello has the 24th pick, originally held by St. Louis, and his own slot at No. 28. Atlanta chooses first. With the Islanders following Atlanta, general manager Mike Milbury is under pressure from new ownership to improve his team quickly. His peers know this and also know Milbury often makes bold moves on draft day. So they are besieging him.
 
    "There have never been more quality players available and we certainly would be happy to take one of them," Milbury said, referring to the amateur crop. 
    
Among the serious talkers might be Glen Sather, general manager of the Rangers, who choose 10th. He is interested in Lindros, a restricted free agent who has suffered six concussions and missed last season because he refused to play for Philadelphia and the Flyers did not trade him. Few teams can afford Lindros, but four of them are the Rangers, Detroit, St. Louis and Toronto. Talks with the Maple Leafs broke off again this week, according to Bob Clarke, the Flyers general manager. "Toronto is out," Clarke said. 

    Sather has frequently expressed interest in Lindros. But when asked about Lindros on Friday, Sather said nothing had changed and that if he gets word that Lindros is interested in the Rangers he will explore it further. Lindros has said in the past he is not interested in joining the Rangers. Lindros did not return a call Friday requesting comment. 

    Don Waddell, the general manager of the Thrashers, said he is impressed with Kovalchuk as the top pick but added "We are certainly looking at all our options" and listening to all pitches. "I don’t see a chance in that until Saturday morning," Waddell said. "We’re a young organization that needs assets. It’s going to take a lot more than just one player."
 
    Spezza, who plays center for the Windsor Spitfires, said he is not concerned with the perception that his value has dropped since midseason. Referring to the possibility of playing on Long Island, he said "You hear a lot of bad things about the arena. But it’s bigger than Windsor Arena."

    Edmonton for financial reasons may trade Weight who, like Yashin, is a center and a restricted free agent. Oilers general manager Kevin Lowe might be willing to send Weight to the Islanders for the privilege of drafting Spezza. Last spring, Lowe traded defenseman Roman Hamrlik to the Islanders for Eric Brewer, Josh Green and a second-round choice. 

    Tampa picks third, Florida fourth and Anaheim fifth. Pierre Gauthier, the general manager of the Mighty Ducks, said Friday that all the availability of free agents and high-salaried stars will depress the market. "It’s a buyer’s market, you'll be surprised and shocked at some of the deals," Gauthier said. "People will be saying, 'Is that all they got for him?'" Gauthier also predicted that teams with financial assets would enjoy successful shopping sprees.