THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 24, 1995 TAG: 9506240483
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
The Hampton Roads Admirals and Portland, Maine, Pirates of the American Hockey League have signed a far-reaching working agreement that officials say will provide the Admirals with more talented players and more stability.
The agreement calls for:
The teams to sign jointly as many as eight players, most of them NHL draft choices. They would be paid by Portland if they played in the AHL and by both teams if they played in Hampton Roads. ``We would expect to get a minimum of three of those players and probably five or six,'' Admirals president Blake Cullen said. ``They would be our top players.''
Hampton Roads to have first right to all players reassigned by Portland to lower leagues. The Pirates, the top affiliate of the NHL's Washington Capitals, have in recent years farmed out players to both Hampton Roads and Wheeling, another ECHL team.
The Admirals to be granted the right to guarantee players they sign a spot in the Pirates' preseason camp, which the Admirals would use in recruiting free agents.
``There are a lot of guys trying to get AHL tryouts,'' Cullen said. ``Now we can offer that, as long as they agree to play for us if they are released by Portland.''
The agreement is the first of its kind in the ECHL, whose members have loose working agreements with teams from the AHL, IHL and NHL.
``We think we have the jump on everyone else (in the ECHL),'' Cullen said. ``We're almost afraid for other people to find out about it. In September, I think a lot of teams will be scrambling to do the same thing.''
The deal, first proposed by Hampton Roads coach John Brophy and Portland coach Barry Trots, requires both coaches to work closely in signing players.
``We have to agree (with Portland) on any players'' who are signed jointly, Cullen said.
What's in it for Portland? That's complicated, but the short answer is that it will allow the Pirates to sign potential replacement players for less than the going salary.
Because the International Hockey League has lost most of its NHL working agreements, the league is now competing more aggressively with the AHL for free agents. The Pirates would like to sign five to eight players as potential replacements for injured players or players called up by the Capitals. But with an average AHL salary of $30,000, they can't afford to sign that many.
The affiliation with Hampton Roads gives them that option at a cheaper price. Players would be signed to two-tier contracts - they would be paid about $30,000 by the Pirates if they stick in Portland or $15,000 by both teams if they play in Hampton Roads. Because of the ECHL's salary cap, half of the $15,000 salary would be paid by Portland.
``That will allow Portland to sign four players and send them to us for what it would cost them to sign one player and have him sitting in the stands, waiting in reserve,'' Cullen said. ``If one of these players sticks in Portland, that's great. If he comes to Hampton Roads, he'll play for John Brophy in a great community with great fans and continue to develop in a quality league. It's a win-win situation.''
The Admirals also win, Cullen said, because their top players won't be subject to random call-ups. Last season they lost All-ECHL players John Porco (twice), Ron Pascucci and Rick Kowalsky to IHL and AHL teams, and the call-ups blunted Hampton Roads winning streaks.
The Admirals have never refused a request from a team from a higher league for a player, including Kansas City's request for Pascucci five days before the ECHL playoffs.
``We envision the Pascuccis and Porcos being under contract'' to Portland, Cullen said. ``The only team that will be able to recall them is Portland. It will make for a more stable situation.''
The Admirals also announced three preseason games. They will play a home-and-home series with the Roanoke Express Oct. 6 at Scope and Oct. 10 in Roanoke and a single game with the Richmond Renegades in Richmond on Oct. 7. by CNB