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Thursday 8 October, 1998
Tanguay, Avalanche fail to reach deal
Forward Alex Tanguay is expected to rejoin the Mooseheads as early as today.
Tanguay's Boston-based agent Kent Hughes and the Colorado Avalanche were unable to reach a contract agreement by Wednesday's midnight deadline.
"I will tell you that he will be in Halifax playing on Friday night," said Hughes, who wouldn't get into the specifics of contract talks.
"Hopefully, he'll help Halifax to a Memorial Cup."
Hughes and Colorado assistant GM Francois Giguere opened negotiations last Friday, but it became apparent Tuesday that talks were not going well.
The sides negotiated into the night Wednesday.
Unsigned 18- and 19-year-old players selected in the first three rounds of the 1997 or 1998 entry drafts had to be under contract by Wednesday night to play in the National Hockey League this year.
"I don't think we were ever at a point where either side was really encouraged," Hughes said.
"Alex can't play in the NHL this year. He has to play junior hockey, so all that's really ahead of us now is, over the course of time, to sit down and look at this issue again and hopefully come to an agreement."
Colorado holds his rights, but Tanguay, who turns 19 on Nov.21, is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on June1, 2000.
He scored five goals and three assists in eight exhibition games with the Avalanche and was named to its 24-man roster this past weekend.
Tanguay, who registered a hat trick in a Sept.26 game against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Wade Belak, Milan Hejduk and Chris Drury were the rookies to crack Colorado's lineup.
The Denver media has referred to the 18-year-old from Ste-Justine as a teenage phenom.
"Alex had a tremendous training camp and improved his performance day after day," Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix said in a statement.
"We felt that for his development as a hockey player, he would be better off starting this season in the NHL but we respect his decision."
Selected 12th overall this past June, Tanguay was the first of Colorado's four first-round picks.
The Avalanche opens the regular season Saturday against the Ottawa Senators.
"That's a management decision and it takes two to get on the dance floor," Colorado coach Bob Hartley told the Rocky Mountain News. "Alex is a good kid and has been a good rookie, but negotiations are not part of my job."
Tanguay left Denver on Wednesday and spent the night in Boston. He'll likely fly into Halifax today.
Even without Tanguay, the Mooseheads have won eight straight games and are 9-1 for top spot in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Tanguay contributed 47 goals and 38 assists in just 51 games last season.
"To me, he has a chance to come here and lead a very good team to the highest point," said Halifax coach Bob Mongrain.
"All of our focus is on winning this year and I think we're off to a good start."
Halifax plays the Baie-Comeau Drakkar on Friday and the Sherbrooke Castors on Saturday.
First overall pick Vincent Lecavalier, 18, was in a similar position to Tanguay on Wednesday but his agent Bob Sauve reached a contract agreement with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The deal is said to be the richest ever for a rookie.
Financial terms were not disclosed but Lecavalier will be paid the maximum $975,000 per year in salary and receive performance and award bonuses that could increase his pay to $8 million to $15 million US over three years.
Bathurst Titan defenceman Jonathan Girard, 18, signed a contract with the Boston Bruins last month and may start the season in the NHL.
