this was an article when Stevens was awarded to Devils
STEVENS IS SENT TO DEVILS
By Dave Sell September 4, 1991
The St. Louis Blues shocked the NHL last year by signing free agent Scott Stevens to a lucrative contract. Yesterday it was the Blues who were jolted when an arbitrator gave Stevens to the New Jersey Devils as compensation for St. Louis signing Brendan Shanahan.
The Blues signed Shanahan on July 24, but the teams could not agree on compensation.
The Blues tried to remain calm and even upbeat, but this clearly was a victory for the Devils, specifically, and other management, generally. Many in management blame the Blues -- who lured Stevens away from the Washington Capitals with $5.1 million and re-signed Brett Hull for $7.1 million -- for the recent rise in player salaries. While the 22-year-old Shanahan, a right wing and center, was one of the Devils' best players and was considered to have great potential, few would have traded him for Stevens. What's more, fewer would trade Shanahan for five first-round draft picks, which is what the Blues owed Washington for signing Stevens in the first place. The Capitals used the first of those picks in June.
"I suppose on the surface, as we speak, you could look at it as punitive," Blues President Jack Quinn said at a news conference, according to the Associated Press, adding that the club will review the 14-page decision by the arbitrator, retired judge Edward Houston, and consider their options.
"We are very pleased with Judge Houston's decision," Devils General Manager Lou Lamoriello said in a statement. "It was our contention that after losing a core player like Brendan Shanahan, it was reasonable and fitting to receive a player of Scott Stevens's caliber in return. We are delighted that Judge Houston agreed with our position that Stevens was an appropriate player to award the Devils as compensation. As of now, we are extremely excited about having Scott join us in training camp following the conclusion of the Canada Cup tournament."
But it isn't clear whether Stevens, a defenseman, will report to the Devils.
"I'm not sure I'll go," he said in Toronto, according to the Associated Press. "I really don't know what I'll do. I want to talk to my lawyer. . . . I didn't think my name should have been involved. I was so thrilled that we'd be getting Shanahan. I never thought I'd be compensation."
Rick Bennett of Washington is Stevens's lawyer and he too is "shocked." Training camps open Friday, but because Stevens is playing in the Canada Cup, he would not have reported until mid-September. "We haven't made a determination on that," Bennett said of whether Stevens will report.
Shanahan (29 goals, 37 assists last season) was a Group I free agent, which includes players under 24 years of age. In that group, if the teams can't agree on compensation, an arbitrator chooses which of each team's proposals is most appropriate. In this case, the Devils wanted Stevens, while the Blues offered left wing-center Rod Brind'Amour, goalie Curtis Joseph, a 1992 third-round pick and a 1993 fourth-round pick.
"It didn't seem possible that such a big star, a proven veteran with his quality for Brendan Shanahan, though Brendan is a very solid up-and-coming player," said Calgary's Jamie Macoun, Stevens's roommate on the Canadian squad. "But no one around the Canada Cup thought that would happen."
Another Group I free agent, Edmonton's Adam Graves, yesterday signed with the New York Rangers. Still, the Shanahan-Stevens decision could well scare off teams considering signing other Group I free agents. "A chilling effect," said Bennett, who thought that it would hurt the owners in the on-going negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement because it would prompt the players to push even harder for a less-stringent compensation system.
"It clearly demonstrates that the current CBA does not work, with a capital N-O-T," Bennett said.
Capitals management was quite angry with the Blues for signing Stevens, so the decision surely brought a few smiles, even though Stevens is going to a Patrick Division rival.
"Life," Capitals General Manager David Poile said, "has a funny way of working itself out."
Honestly, I thought it would go either way and wasn't even bothered they called it a goal. I just think like someone else mentioned, as long as you arent throwing the puck in the net, call everything a goal. No ambiguity - mdw7413
Do not make a kerfuffle out of ostentatious language henceforth. - jmatchett383
While all you guys were acing your english exams in HS, I was writing line combos on my binder that were best suited for Tomas Sandstrom. And probably trading for Mario with 2nd rd picks
