Avalanche
Avalanche sign Kariya and Selanne
TSN.ca Staff
7/3/200
The Colorado Avalanche are reuniting one of hockey's most dynamic duos from the 1990's, and they're doing it for a bargain price.
The Avalanche signed unrestricted free agents Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne Thursday, making them teammates for the second time. The two played together in Anaheim for six seasons from 1996 to 2001.
The most surprising news about the signings is how little they cost Colorado. NHL management sources have told TSN that both men agreed to one-year contracts for far less than they made last season.
Kariya has reportedly signed for an astonishing $1.2 million for the upcoming season, a huge cut from the $10 million he made in each of the last five years in Anaheim. Sources say Selanne's deal will pay him $5.8 million, down from the $6.5 million he got last year in San Jose.
Kariya apparently took the cut to ensure that the two men can play together, and to give them a chance to win the Stanley Cup. The one year deal would also make him an unrestricted free agent again next summer, as he would be a 10-year veteran making less than the NHL's average salary.
In addition, with the Avalanche paying only $7 million to the two players, Colorado has salary room to acquire a goaltender if needed, or to pay Patrick Roy should he decide to end his retirement.
With the signings, the Avalanche now have what is without question the most dynamic group of forwards in the league. Kariya and Selanne join last year's NHL points leader Peter Forsberg, Milan Hejduk, the league's only 50 goal man from last season, and Joe Sakic, who was named the NHL's MVP in 2001.
Between them, the five men have recorded seven 50 goal seasons and eleven 100 point campaigns.
Kariya, Selanne, Sakic and Forsberg also have something else in common: they're all represented by Winnipeg based agent Don Baizley.
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I WANTED VANCOUVER TO GET KARIYA