Sunday, September 28, 2003

By Dejan Kovacevic, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

The Penguins cannot be certain until they begin negotiations with the agents for Marc-Andre Fleury how much it might cost to sign him. Talks could begin as early as tomorrow, but no more than pleasantries have been exchanged to date.

Still, a picture can be formed for what Fleury's agents might seek based on precedent for other No. 1 picks in the NHL Entry Draft, and it is one that figures to be intimidating for the cost-conscious Penguins.

Ever since the Boston Bruins made Joe Thornton the No. 1 pick in 1997, the first year of the NHL's rookie salary cap, his contract has served as the model for how performance bonuses were structured for all the No. 1s who followed. Modifications have been made based on position, and there has been slight escalation in value each year, but the model has remained intact.

The two examples which figure to have the greatest influence in the Fleury talks are those of Rick DiPietro with the New York Islanders in 2000 and Rick Nash with the Columbus Blue Jackets last year.

DiPietro's deal is relevant because he is the only goaltender besides Fleury to be drafted first. His terms called for the rookie-cap maximum $1.075 million salary over the mandatory three-year span, plus a package of incentives which could multiply that by five with little difficulty. Bonuses could be earned for each of these six requirements: 20 victories, 3.25 goals-against average, .890 save percentage, 1,800 minutes, four shutouts or a top-three finish in voting for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. He would receive $400,000 for each bonus achieved and -- this is the kicker -- a $4 million bonus if four of the six are achieved.

That would set his ceiling at $5.075 million per year.

Nash's deal is relevant, too, because it was the most recent. His rookie-cap salary was $1.185 million, and he had an incentive package that more closely resembled the Thornton model because both are forwards. Bonuses could be earned for each of the following: 20 goals, 35 assists, 60 points, .73 points per game, top three on the team in plus-minus rating or a top-five finish in Calder voting. He would receive an estimated $500,000 for achieving one of those six requirements and the full $3 million bonus for achieving just two. In his second year, the Calder requirement is replaced by one relating to ice time.

Neither DiPietro nor Nash was successful in getting his full bonus in the first year, and no No. 1 pick under the Thornton model has been able to collect his full bonus in all three years of his rookie contract.

But that knowledge likely will do little to make the Penguins less nervous about the size of the investment.

Fleury is considered by many scouts to be the best goaltending prospect in a decade, and he has shown every sign in this training camp that reaching a below-average bar such as the one mapped out in DiPietro's contract is more than plausible, if not now then soon.

Can the Penguins get creative? They probably will try, given Patrick's long-held preference for making players work to earn their next salary rather than operate on bonus clauses. They might also count on Fleury's eagerness to play in the NHL right away to influence his agents to sign the best offer made.

In all likelihood, though, the Thornton model will remain intact. Fleury's camp has projected that talks should be simple and the final product little different from those of DiPietro and Nash. There also is some leverage on their side, as the current Collective Bargaining Agreement allows Fleury to become an unrestricted free agent in May 2005 if he is not signed.

Doug MacLean, Columbus' general manager, said it is not a simple process to sign a No. 1 pick despite the Thornton model. Nash was signed on the final day before he would have to be returned to juniors.

"It's a challenge. There's no doubt about that because there are a lot of dollars involved," MacLean said after his team played Friday at Mellon Arena. "But I'm sure Pittsburgh, like we did, is thinking about development as No. 1 and what's important for the kid. They'll decide if they want to keep him based on what's important for the kid, not the money. That's the right thing to do."

Icy chips

MacLean declined to offer advice on the merits of using an 18-year-old goaltender in the NHL. The past two years, he has signed first-round picks Nash and Nikolai Zherdev with the intent of playing them immediately, but they are forwards. He did not do likewise with goaltender Pascal Leclaire in 2001. "Goaltenders are tough," MacLean said. "We saw Dan Blackburn come in at 18 a couple years ago for the Rangers, and he's going to play in Hartford this year. Fleury's a special kid. No doubt about that. But Craig is a lot smarter hockey guy than I am. I expect he'll make the right decision."

Nash was not reluctant to broach the subject: "I'm sure if he's ready to play and fits in well with Pittsburgh, then he should play. Age shouldn't matter if you're good enough to play. It shouldn't matter if he's 40 years old or 18 if he can get it done on the ice."

Thornton offered advice to Fleury when asked about him after the game Tuesday in Nova Scotia: "He should just enjoy it, every bit of it, even if he ends up going back. He'll have plenty of time in the NHL."

Plum native R.J. Umberger is in limbo with the Vancouver Canucks, who drafted him 16th overall in 2001 but are reluctant to sign him at the rookie-cap maximum. Umberger passed up his final year at Ohio State University in hopes of securing an NHL contract but is being offered less than the $825,000 the Canucks just gave Ryan Kesler, a less heralded teammate with the Buckeyes. His agent, Brian Lawton, said he will work out with the U.S. national program while waiting until June 1 to become an unrestricted free agent. Lawton went further by suggesting to the Vancouver media potential new employers: "He's from Pittsburgh, and I'm sure that they would be interested. He played at Ohio State, so I think that Columbus would take a look at him. I haven't talked to either of those teams, but I'm sure they would consider him." Umberger had 53 points in 43 games last season at Ohio State and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.

Umberger's stance could allow Ryan Malone, of Upper St. Clair, to become the first player born and trained here to reach the NHL.

The Coyotes this week signed Mike Wilson to a minor-league deal. The Arizona Republic described the team as "looking for a little more depth and grit."

Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils is one of the NHL's most accomplished goaltenders despite having worn pads that are 34 inches tall. That is 4 inches shorter than the newly imposed restrictions, which is why he went off on a few of his peers in an article he wrote for a Montreal newspaper. One of them drew special attention. "Garth Snow keeps adding pieces to his pads," Brodeur wrote. "And his shoulder pads are so big he looks like Goldorak, the robot I watched killing the bad guys on TV when I was a kid."

Looking for a Calder candidate besides Fleury? Rave reviews are coming out of St. Louis for left winger Peter Sejna, the Hobey Baker winner last year at Colorado College and a near-lock to start the season on the top line with Doug Weight.

The Penguins and Rangers were the only Atlantic Division teams not universally employing a defensive system last season, but that has changed here and in New York, where Glen Sather is demanding more discipline. The move appears to have been well received by the players, as evidenced by this response from defenseman Tom Poti when asked by a reporter to describe the change: "The system really isn't a change. It's taking the place of nothing."

Only 12 days until the puck drops between Mario Lemieux and Jason Allison.

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