And now there are two marquee players out there who want to play for the Rangers . . . and even, The Post has learned, and though on a different level at this stage of his career, a third.
After 12 months of letting the Rangers know that he had no interest whatsoever in playing for the team, but now facing the very real prospect of not only missing a second consecutive NHL season but the 2002 Olympic Games, as well, Eric Lindros placed an unsolicited phone call to Glen Sather late last week to tell the GM that he would indeed play Broadway.
The call, The Post has learned, was followed by another on Sunday to Sather by Carl Lindros, Eric’s father and agent. That call, too, was unsolicited.
“I talked to Glen last Thursday night and Friday morning,” the multiply concussed No. 88 said last night. “I am open to playing in New York, yes.”
Lindros thus joins Jaromir Jagr, for whom Pittsburgh GM Craig Patrick is attempting to create a trade market, in wanting to come to Manhattan. As well, The Post has learned that Sather has had preliminary discussions with agent Mike Barnett aimed at bringing free agent Brett Hull, born to play the big stage, to the Garden.
Though the Rangers can obviously afford to pay both Jagr and Lindros – in addition to Hull – Sather does not have a sufficient number of player personnel assets to move to acquire both. Hence, the GM is going to have to make a choice – or, at the very least, conduct concurrent negotiations with Patrick and Flyer GM Bob Clarke.
On June 22, Clarke told Sather that he would take Petr Nedved and Pavel Brendl in exchange for Lindros. At the time, knowing that Lindros was standing firm on his rejection of the Rangers and thus knowing no deal was possible, Sather told Clarke he’d be willing to make the trade. That doesn’t mean the GM would make it, now, not when he’d want Nedved to be Jagr’s center.
At the same time, circumstances have changed in Philadelphia. Having acquired centers Jeremy Roenick and Jiri Dopita in the interim, it’s believed that Clarke now wants a puck-moving defenseman from the Rangers; specifically, Kim Johnsson. Pittsburgh, we’re told, loves Johnsson’s talent, too. Clarke is now awaiting a call from Sather.
While Clarke, who last weekend pledged that he would never trade Lindros to a Cup contender, waits to hear from Sather, Patrick is trying to create leverage in his dealings with the Rangers. The Pittsburgh GM is now telling people that there is indeed a market beyond the Hudson for Jagr, citing Los Angeles, San Jose, Boston and Washington as interested parties.
The Post, however, has learned that the Kings, Sharks and Bruins – whose GM, Mike O’Connell, we have confirmed, did phone the Penguins on No. 68 – are out of the mix. Unless Caps GM George McPhee completely guts his team, it’s difficult to imagine the Penguins sending Jagr to Washington, a team the Penguins annually whip in the playoffs like Mike Lange’s rented mule.
In addition, a source has told us that the Hurricanes, who – get this – wanted to acquire Valeri Kamensky before the Rangers bought him out, are nosing around Jagr, though they can expect no encouragement at all from No. 68, who has only two years remaining on his contract. No one knows whether St. Louis will jump in.
The Post has learned exclusively that one of the teams Lindros has stated that he would play for – the list now includes the Rangers, St. Louis, Washington, Detroit and Toronto – has been informed that No. 88 is uninsurable under an NHL policy. This means that Lindros would have to insure himself in order to return to the league.
Sather, who was unavailable to the press yesterday, is known for his patient and methodical approach to all negotiations. Now, knowing that he can get Jagr or Lindros – but not both – the GM is weighing his options.