If it takes two to tamper, Scott Stevens says he wasn’t dancing. Curiously, the Devils’ captain also says the NHL never asked him about it.
“The Blues never contacted me, so I don’t know,” Stevens said. “This is the first I’ve heard about it, and the league never questioned me.”
However, it appears the NHL this week will find the Blues guilty of tampering with Stevens and award the Devils a first-round pick in 1999 or 2000, plus millions in cash. That pick could be the sweetener the Devils might use to land a veteran star in the next two months in order to chase the Stanley Cup.
The case stems from 1991, when the Devils were awarded Stevens as compensation for the Blues’ signing of Brendan Shanahan from New Jersey as a restricted free agent. St. Louis had already signed Stevens as a free agent from Washington – at the cost of five first-round picks – in July, 1990, and they were aghast to have miscalculated in arbitration, losing Stevens in the award.
When the Blues signed Stevens to an offer sheet July 4, 1994, the Devils screamed tampering and matched that offer sheet, worth some $15 million for four years. It was extended last year by the Devils at $4.15 million per season into 2001-02.
Meanwhile, the tampering investigation proceeded, and the league is believed to have backed the Devils’ claim.
Tampering convictions are few and far between. The most memorable cost the Rangers’ their 1978 first-rounder, which the Flyers used to pick Ken Linseman, when New York signed Fred Shero as coach.
Meanwhile, the Devils were still trying to clear their heads from the 6-0 shellacking they absorbed at the hands of the Senators at the Corel Centre Saturday.
Robbie Ftorek left the players to run their own practice yesterday, hoping they can find the missing ingredient that has seen them shut out twice in four games.
“It was Robbie’s idea,” Stevens said. “He told me, ‘You’re running practice tomorrow. You can do what you want.’ I tried to think of a few things we could work on, and it went 55 minutes.
“Maybe he wanted us to get together. Maybe he figured it would be good for the players to have fun. Kevin Dean said he’s done that before in Albany.”
They’re still atop the conference, but the signs are not good. Something different might be the answer. Or this could be the start of the stretch that forces Lou Lamoriello to make the move that he will have to if he means to chase a Stanley Cup. Funny how nicely that first-round pick would fit in.
*Devils owner John McMullen may learn today if he and Cablevision owner Charles Dolan have bought the NFL Redskins. Should their bid be successful, McMullen’s ownership of the Devils, and Dolan’s role atop the Rangers could both be in jeopardy.
Sharks visit Devils tomorrow and Devils visit Rangers Wednesday … Loss snapped Devils’ road unbeaten streak at seven (6-1-1), one short of team record.
Denis Pederson was given the day off. The alternate captain has struggled this season, first at right wing, and lately, as checking center while Bobby Carpenter is injured.
