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Thursday Roundup Former Thrashers captain Staios signs with Oilers
Updated: Friday July 13, 2001 12:57 PM
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- The Edmonton Oilers signed free-agent defenseman Steve Staios to a multiyear contract Thursday. "Steve has very good offensive skills, and although we are primarily thinking of using him as a defenseman, he has played a lot of right wing during his six years in the NHL and we always have that option." Oilers general manager Kevin Lowe said. Staios had nine goals and 13 assists in 70 games last season for Atlanta. The 27-year-old player has 17 goals, 36 assists and 486 penalty minutes in six seasons with Boston, Vancouver and Atlanta. "It sounds like they're happy to have me and I'm certainly happy to be coming to Edmonton," said Staios, who became an unrestricted free agent July 1 when Atlanta didn't make him a qualifying offer on his $525,000 salary. "This is where I want to be." Staios will make $850,000 next season and $900,000 in 2002-03. The final year has a two-sided option: if the Oilers exercise it, the amount is $1.1 million; if Staios opts in it's for $950,000. "I'm not sure what their thinking was there," Staios said of being handed the captaincy in September but not being made a qualifying offer after a season in which he scored 9-13-22 and had 137 PIM in 70 games. "You'd have to ask them about that one. "I assumed I was going to be around for a few years and that I'd be a part of building that team, but it didn't work out like that. Still, it was a great time for me. I played a lot and got my career back on track. I'm looking forward to taking that experience to Edmonton with me." The Oilers have had their eyes on Staios for a while: Lowe talked to Thrashers general manager Waddell about making a trade for Staios at the draft last month, but the sides couldn't come to an agreement. Yesterday, they got their man without giving up a player. All Staios knows is he's back on the blue-line and playing in a hockey town after being back-page news for two seasons in baseball-crazy Atlanta, where the Braves are the big game in town. Until he knows where he fits in and with whom in head coach Craig MacTavish's defensive pairings, that's good enough for Staios. "It's very exciting to be back in a hockey city like Edmonton," Staios said. "Atlanta is a great town and the people came out for us, but it's a baseball town first and foremost. "In a city like Edmonton, there's a passion about the sport and I'm really looking forward to that because I'm passionate about the game." Robin Brownlee of SLAM! Sports contributed to this story Red Wings sign center Pavel DatsyukDETROIT (AP) -- The Detroit Red Wings signed center Pavel Datsyuk to a two-year contract Thursday. Datsyuk was drafted by the Red Wings in 1998 as their eighth pick, 171st overall. The 22-year-old was the number one center for Kazan of the Russian Elite League for the past two seasons and represented Russia in the 2001 World Championships in Germany. "Pavel's development has been a pleasant surprise," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. "He has excellent hands and is an excellent playmaker. We're happy to have him turn pro and look forward to his NHL career." Center signs multiyear deal with CoyotesSCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- The Phoenix Coyotes acquired another young player Thursday, signing center Peter Fabus to a multiyear deal. Terms were not released. The 21-year-old Fabus scored 53 points in 52 games last season with Dukla Trencin of the Slovak League, and added 10 points in 14 playoff games. His 31 regular season goals were a team-high and second in the league. "Peter is a tenacious player with touch around the net," Coyotes general manager Cliff Fletcher said. "Down the road, we feel that Peter has the potential to be a solid NHL contributor." Fabus had 20 goals and 31 points in 54 games with Dukla Trencin in 1999-00, and the Coyotes drafted him in the ninth round of the 2000 entry draft.
Ducks agree to terms with fourth-round draft pickANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- The Anaheim Mighty Ducks have agreed to terms with left wing Timo Parssinen, their fourth-round pick in last month's entry draft. Parssinen, 24, led HPK of the Finnish Elite League in goals with 18 in 54 games last season and also had 31 assists. He had 15 goals and 24 assists in 46 games for HPK in the 1998-99 season, and 25 goals and 27 assists in 53 games for the Finnish team in the 1999-2000 season.
Russian hockey player dies during training sessionSOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) -- A Russian hockey player has died during a training session of his team in Bulgaria. The state news agency BTA reported Thursday that 32-year-old Vyacheslav Bezukladnikov was training with his team, Lada Togliati, in Sandanski when he died Tuesday. He was hospitalized immediately after the team's second training session with severe liver damage, the report said. For 10 years, Bezukladnikov was the team's captain. He won the Russian championships twice and the European Cup once. He played with the Russian national hockey team at the 1995 World Championships in Italy and at the 1994 Winter Olympics.
Minnesota coach blamed in attack on ref in ManitobaBRANDON, Manitoba (AP) - A coach from Minnesota who allegedly roughed up a referee and sparked a game-ending melee at a minor hockey tournament could face charges. Sgt. Shane Corley of the Brandon Police Service said they are investigating the trouble that erupted Wednesday at the minor peewee consolation final of the Sports Excellence AAA Hockey Challenge. The Minnesota Rangers were leading the Manitoba Lightning 3-2 in the second period when a Manitoba player body-checked a Minnesota player into the boards. The hit prompted loud demands for a penalty from the Minnesota bench and Minnesota parents in the stands. The game's referee, Jeff Dietrich of Brandon, assessed a two-minute bench penalty against the Rangers. That's when David McCabe allegedly jumped over the boards and went after Dietrich. "He pushed one of my linesmen, went through him and started to come after me," Dietrich said. "He grabbed ahold of my arm and my chest and just gave me a couple of good shots, like pushed me up against the boards." Dietrich's linesmen then intervened and the coach left the ice, where he confronted tournament director Darryl Wolski and allegedly challenged him to a fight. Meanwhile, parents of players from both teams started arguing heatedly in the stands. A tournament official said he had to step in between two fathers to prevent a fight. Another Minnesota coach -- who had been thrown out of the game earlier because he offered Dietrich his eyeglasses -- threw a cup of coffee onto the ice that struck one of the linesmen. Tournament officials then decided to call the police before the situation got out of hand. The Minnesota team left the ice and the Lightning won by forfeit. Brandon police said Thursday they are continuing their investigation and it could be next week before the case can be presented to the Crown for a decision on whether to lay charges. McCabe from Oakdale, Minn., left Brandon before police had a chance to take his statement. He could not be reached for comment.
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