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Deal could send Lindros to Oilers

 
Published July 18, 2001|Updated Sept. 10, 2005

A tentative deal has been reached that will send the rights to restricted free agent Eric Lindros to the Oilers from the Flyers, according to the New York Times News Service.

Lindros has told the Flyers he will not play for Edmonton. "I have not heard anything about this," Lindros said when reached by phone Tuesday night. "I don't think it is true."

Word among agents and NHL personnel, however, was that the Flyers were talking to the Oilers about a deal through the weekend.

Given that the Oilers could not afford to pay Doug Weight's $4-million salary and traded the center to St. Louis this summer, it's likely the deal would involve the Oilers then flipping Lindros to a third team _ perhaps Toronto, St. Louis, Detroit, Washington or the New York Rangers _ for which Lindros said he would play next season.

A 6-foot-4, 236-pound center known for a bruising style, Lindros, 28, has not played since Game 7 of the 2000 Eastern Conference final against the Devils. That was when Lindros suffered the sixth, and most frightening, concussion of his career, the result of a clean but devastating open-ice hit by Scott Stevens.

BLACKHAWKS: Left wing Bob Probert and defenseman Jaroslav Spacek re-signed. Probert, 36, appeared in 79 games last season, his seventh with the Blackhawks. Spacek, 27, played in 62 games last season with the Panthers and the Blackhawks.

BRUINS: Defenseman Bobby Allen, who helped lead Boston College to the NCAA title last year, signed a two-year contract.

CAPITALS: Jaromir Jagr is very happy with his new home. "To call a city a hockey town, you have to win," Jagr said during his first appearance in Washington since last week's trade. "To be able to do that, I don't think it's going to be a problem." He comes to Washington with two years and $20.7-million left on his contract. "I'd be very excited to sign a bigger deal, longer deal," Jagr said, smiling. "Done," Washington majority owner Ted Leonsis said immediately, drawing a laugh.

HURRICANES: Tom Barrasso, a 17-year veteran who sat out last season, signed a one-year contract. The Hurricanes want to ease the workload of goalie Arturs Irbe. The 36-year-old Barrasso won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year and the Vezina Trophy as top goaltender in 1984.

OILERS: Defenseman Alexander Lyubimov signed a three-year contract and centers Jan Benda and Greg Leeb agreed to one-year deals.

PENGUINS: Goaltender Johan Hedberg has declined to file for salary arbitration, saying he thought it would be counterproductive. Hedberg and forward Wayne Primeau were the only Penguins eligible for arbitration who did not file.

RED WINGS: Goalie Dominik Hasek remains in a Czech hospital for reasons of convenience and security, not medical necessity, Dr. Donald Weaver said. Hasek has been staying at a hospital in his hometown of Pardubice, 60 miles east of Prague. He was admitted July 5. The exact nature of Hasek's condition remains undetermined, the team's doctor said. He said Hasek's symptoms included fever, pain and swollen wrists and ankles.

RANGERS: Zdeno Ciger, who played for New Jersey and Edmonton between 1990-96, signed.

STARS: Defenseman Greg Hagwood signed a two-year contract and left wing Jon Sim and center Gavin Morgan agreed to one-year deals.

THRASHERS: Defenseman Frantisek Kaberle, a restricted free agent, agreed to a contract for next season.