Bulldogs may adopt a new, second NHL parent club

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

By Garry Mckay
The Hamilton Spectator

The Hamilton Bulldogs are losing their lesser affiliation with the Tampa Bay Lightning but they may have a second National Hockey League parent club.

Andre Savard, assistant general manager of the Montreal Canadiens -- the Bulldogs' primary NHL affiliate -- says he's working to get an agreement for a secondary relationship in Hamilton.

The agreement which the Canadiens had with Tampa this past season allowed the Lightning to place four players in Hamilton.

For most of the season they had three, Eero Somervuori, Jimmie Olvestad and Alexander Svitov who was traded to Columbus in February.

Springfield Falcons become Tampa's sole AHL farm team next season.

"I expect that we will have an association with another team similar to the one we had with Tampa Bay this year," said Savard.

"It worked out well with Tampa Bay and the guys that they had in Hamilton did a good job. Their guys played and everyone was happy."

Savard wouldn't name the possible new team.

"It's not done and I don't want to say who it is in case it doesn't happen but we'll get it done," said Savard.

It wouldn't, however, be a stretch to assume it's the Chicago Blackhawks who are pulling out of Norfolk.

Meanwhile, the Canadiens have some of their own player decisions to make in Hamilton. Eric Fichaud, Benoit Gratton, Benjamin Carpentier and Patrick Traverse are all unrestricted free agents and the Habs must decided if they offer them new contracts.

They also have to decide whether to exercise their options on J. F. Damphousse, Philippe Plante, and Gordie Dwyer.

And clouding the picture is the uncertainty of what will happen in the NHL next season with a lockout or a player strike a real possibility in September.

What that will mean for the farm teams is still anybody's guess although the AHL insists it will operate next year.

"There has been a lot of talk about it in the dressing room," says Plante who was the Bulldogs' player rep this season to the Professional Hockey Players' Association (PHPA).

"I think one of the effects (among free agents) is that there will be a lot more players going to Europe next season."

"For players who are on two-way contracts, I don't think it will have that big an affect because the PHPA has assured us that there will be hockey in the AHL next season."

Savard said one thing the Habs will have to weigh in deciding which free agents to sign and whose options to pick up is how many players they will sign to entry level contracts. They are the players coming out of North American junior or college hockey or young European players. They've already inked goaltender Yann Danis, who they brought to Hamilton after his college career was done in March, so in all likelihood they have to make room in Hamilton for him.

Others who Savard thinks could find their way to Hamilton if Montreal can get them under contract include centres Cory Urquhart (Montreal QMJHL), Corey Locke (Ottawa OHL), left winger Michael Lambert (Montreal QMJHL) defenceman Mark Flood (Peterborough OHL) and right winger Andrei Kastsitsyn (Russia).

"We had a good team in Hamilton last year and this year," said Savard.

"We want to put a good product on the ice (in Hamilton) and we want to have a team that can win."

[rhabdo]

If the 2004-05 season is wiped out, why should Katsistsyn come to North America to play in the AHL? He'd know he doesn't have much chance of playing in the NHL unless a settlement is reached by, say, December.

[NWTHabsFan]

I think the uncertainty about the CBA issue will play a big factor in many European players, who will likely bank on another year of stable hockey back home versus a big uncertain world in NA, where they might only get a shot at the AHL next season. When you add the uncertainty around the NHL/Russian transfer fee issue, I think going with a one year deal with another team to add three or so players makes sense for a year.

Even if they sign Kasty, the Hamilton roster will still have open spots to fill. Just look at the final round of playoffs where the Dogs were swept, they dressed only 10 forwards and 8 D men, since Perez was suspended and two guys were injured. That is even after adding two ECHL guys to the playoff lineup in Larrivee and Thinel.