Money For Nothing

Barry Wilner

We take a look at the NHL's most overpaid players, plus those who are earning every cent of their pay

LET'S GET ONE THING OUT OF the way immediately: All of these guys make a lot of money. Even the scrubs in the NHL are well-compensated. The NHLs minimum salary is after all a healthy $150,000. As for the stars--super, alleged, and budding--well, we should all take home this kind of pay at some point in our lives.

But who actually earns their money? And which players are vastly overpaid, providing a minimal return on the investment their teams make?

Remember that although baseball is in a wicked financial mess and the NBA is struggling at the gate and in the television ratings, the NHL still brings in less money than any of the other major sports leagues. Add in the fact that the league must deal with the weak Canadian economy and that its collective bargaining agreement expires in three years, and there are more than enough arguments for some kind of financial sanity.

"Something is going to have to be done," says Washington Capitals general manager George McPhee. "When you compare us to other sports in terms of income, some of the numbers just don't make any sense."

Here's HOCKEY DIGEST's look at the most overpaid and underpaid players in the NHL, based on their salaries at the start of this season. All listings are alphabetical

OVERPAID

GOALIES

STEPHANE FISET, LOS ANGELES, $2.1 MILLION

Fiset splits time with Jamie Storr in the Kings' crease and he can't even stay healthy long enough to win the first-string job. The king's ransom Los Angeles spends on Fiset could be more wisely put toward someone with a track record.

GUY HERBERT, ANAHEIM, $ 4.5 MILLION

Hebert seems to be burning out after so many seasons with an underachieving club that doesn't keep the puck away from its net.

CHRIS OSGOOD, DETROIT, $2.2 MILLION

Yeah, we've heard how unfair the rap on Osgood is, considering he won a Stanley Cup. But CBS news anchor Charles Osgood might have won the Cup with the powerhouse 1998 Red Wings. Besides, why does Manny Legace played so many big games for Detroit?

DEFENSEMEN

KEVIN HATCHER, CAROLINA, $3.1 MILLION

He was overpaid in Pittsburgh, Washington, and New York. So why not in Raleigh?

ALEXANDER KARPOVTSEV, CHICAGO, $1.8 MILLION

Karpovtsev hasn't done much since the mid-'90s with the Rangers, and now he can't even stay in the lineup because of his brittleness.

JYRKI LUMME, PHOENIX, $3.4 MILLION

Lumme makes more money than at least a dozen other defensemen who are far better. At least he's become a better player than he used to be.

DMITRI MIRONOV, WASHINGTON, $2.75 MILLION

Mironov has been touted in Toronto, Pittsburgh, Anaheim, and Detroit, but you

have to wonder why he moves around so much? We'll tell you why--he makes too much for what he produces, despite his potential as a point man.

TEPPO NUMMINEN, PHOENIX, $2.25 MILLION

Probably the best of the overpaid defenseman--for whatever that's worth. But Numminen's career is winding down and the Coyotes wouldn't mind dumping his salary.

OLEG TVERDOVSKY, ANAHEIM, $1.7 MILLION

Tverdovsky has been the biggest disappointment in Disneyland since they closed Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Despite the fact that he's only 24, he seems to have lost some of his offensive jump.

GLEN WESLEY, CAROLINA, $2.3 MILLION

The Carolina brain trust acquired Wesley from Boston for three first-round picks in 1994. Two of the players the Bruins nabbed with those picks, Sergei Samsonov and Kyle McLaren, panned out to be much better than the withering Wesley.

ALEXEI ZHITNIK, BUFFALO, $2.5 MILLION

His best years are well behind him, as Zhitnik has become a minus-player in a defense-oriented system.

FORWARDS

VALERI BURE, CALGARY, $1.1 MILLION

Coming off a terrific year in which he was considered underpaid, he's now sulking and wondering why he isn't in brother Pavel's financial class.

ERIC DAZE, CHICAGO, $2 MILLION

A big guy who plays small, Daze sometimes is invisible. He should be a power-play force, but isn't.

JAROME IGINLA, CALGARY, $1.5 MILLION

He's young and rich. Did he become too wealthy too soon?

VALERI KAMENSKY, N.Y. RANGERS, $6 MILLION

The most overpaid of all the Rangers' high-priced recent signings. Yet somehow the soft and injury-prone Kamensky is often on the first line.

SAKU KOIVU, MONTREAL, $3.3 MILLION

Koivu is a spark plug when he is on the ice and in form, but he never can stay healthy. Still, there isn't $3.3 million worth of talent here.

DMITRI KHRISTICH, WASHINGTON, $840,000

Not a high price tag, of course, But Khristich is more comfortable in the doghouse than in the lineup.

MARTIN RUCINSKY, MONTREAL, $2.4 MILLION

Like Koivu, Rucinsky is collecting far more than he deserves on one of the league's worst teams. The fabled Habs have fallen apart because of contracts like this.

ALEXANDER SELIVANOV, COLUMBUS, $1.7 MILLION

Selivanov's only claim to fame is being the son-in-law of Phil Esposito, which is one reason he's making so much. Pops paid the kid well when he was running the Lightning.

ALEXEI YASHIN, OTTAWA, $3.6 MILLION

Sure, a real star who has performed well throughout his career wouldn't seem to belong on this list. But after the shenanigans Yashin pulled during his contentious holdout--and with the continuing bad attitude he carries--he ranks as overpaid. And he will be vastly overpaid when he signs a new deal.

ALEXEI ZHAMNOV, CHICAGO, $3 MILLION

The Blackhawks sure know how to waste money, and Zhamnov a prime example.

UNDERPAID

GOALIES

ARTHUR IRBE, CAROLINA, $1.5 MILLION

How many nights does Irbe--despite being somewhat unorthodox and sometimes allowing soft goals--rescue the Canes? Goalies rarely are underpaid, but he is.

MIKE DUNHAM, NASHVILLE, $1.3 MILLION

Dunham has kept the Predators competitive throughout their brief history. Now that they are ready to compete for playoff positioning, he should get more bucks.

DEFENSEMEN

KEITH CARNEY, PHOENIX, $1.65 MILLION

Contenders love these stay-at-home types, and for this price tag, he's worth having around.

KENNY JONSSON, N.Y. ISLANDERS, $1.85 MILLION

Jonsson is the best player on a bad team. He is ill high demand because his salary won't break the bank.

ED JOVANOVSKI, VANCOUVER, $1.9 MILLION

Jovanovski has become the leader everyone expected him to be when Florida made him the top overall pick of the 1994 draft. He hits like a truck and has learned when to rush and when to lay back. Stardom and the really big bucks seem to be just ahead.

TOMAS KABERLE, TORONTO, $240,000

Kaberle can't be a very big tipper, but he's one of the better puck-movers on the Leafs' defense.

RICHARD MATVICHUK, DALLAS, $1.7 MILLION

Just as important to the Stars as Derian Hatcher, Sergei Zubov, and Daryl Sydor, who make a lot more money. Matvichuk is solid, hard-hitting, and diligent, if not quite the leader Hatcher is.

MARCUS RAGNARSSON, SAN JOSE, $925,000

Ragnarsson is one of the building blocks in San Jose who will take a bite out of the team's budget soon enough.

JASON WOOLLEY, BUFFALO, $950,000

The most versatile defender on a team that could use more offensive from its rearguards. With his experience and past performances, he should easily be in the seven-figure range.

FORWARDS

JASON ALLISON, BOSTON, $2.6 MILLION

Several coaches believe Allison is ready to reach superstar level. His aim has been true for a poor Boston team.

TONY AMONTE, CHICAGO, $2.9 MILLION

He's highly paid, but not nearly enough for his skills, excitement level, and leadership. He deserves to leave the Windy City behind for a contender.

MAGNUS ARVEDSON, OTTAWA, $1.1 MILLION

Arvedson might be one of Sens' cornerstones and warrants some of the money Yashin wants.

DONALD AUDETTE, ATLANTA, $2.2 MILLION

Audette scores wherever he goes, which is, of course, a critical commodity.

RADEK BONK, OTTAWA, $800,000

Bonk doesn't need Regis to be a millionaire very soon--even in Ottawa.

MARIUSZ CZERKAWSKI, N.Y. ISLANDERS, $1 MILLION

The penny-pinching days are supposedly over on Long Island. The Isles should prove it by giving Czerkawski what he deserves.

ADAM DEADMARSH, COLORADO, $1.8 MILLION

There's not much room on the payroll to pay this versatile, pesty performer what he deserves.

SHANE DOAN, PHOENIX, $800,000

Doan is really coming into his own, and the paychecks should be larger pretty soon. A big performance in the playoffs could catapult him much higher.

CHRIS DRURY, COLORADO, $640,000

Drury is one of the league's future superstars. The Avs definitely will find money for him.

RAY FERRARO, ATLANTA, $1 MILLION.

Everybody loves a solid citizen like Ray. This longtime second banana is finally a leader for the improving Thrashers. He does a lot more than he gets compensated for.

MILAN HEJDUK, COLORADO, $690,000

The Avs better open the vault for this guy, whose wicked shot rivals Joe Sakic's. Some think he will be even better than teammate Drury.

MARIAN HOSSA, OTTAWA, $700,000

Hossa has been getting huzzas for developing into a threat everywhere on the ice. He reminds some people of Peter Forsberg, minus the mean streak. Another guy the Sens must give a raise to.

BRAD ISBISTER, NY ISLANDERS, $350,000

He's a go-getter for the cheap Islanders. But with the team's new ownership, he should be one of first to prosper.

MARTIN LAPOINTE, DETROIT, $1.05 MILLION

The patron Saint of NHL role players--with a nasty side, of course.

ROBERT LANG, PITTSBURGH, $925,000

Lang gets lost outside the Mario-Jaromir spotlight, but the Penguins must understand his value. They haven't recognized it yet.

VINCENT LECAVALIER, TAMPA BAY, $975,000

A blossoming superstar, the Lightning should lock up this Vincent at the right "price"'for the next decade. Lecavalier may be the most underpaid forward in hockey.

JOHN MADDEN, NEW JERSEY, $500,000

A key component in the Devils' 2000 Stanley Cup run, Madden is a supreme penalty killer with speed and a decent touch around the net.

PATRICK MARLEAU, SAN JOSE, $925,000

The low-paid Marleau is starting to get recognition around the league for his burst and finishing touch. He's another building block for Sharks.

JEFF O'NEILL, CAROLINA, $605,000

O'Neill does too much on the ice to be paid so little by the Canes.

SHJOH PODEIN, COLORADO, $1.2 MILLION

Podein is the poster child for versatile, underpaid role players.

STEVE RUCCHIN, ANAHEIM, $2.05 MILLION

Rucchin makes Teemu Selanne and Paul Kariya better when he is their center. Although he does make nice bucks, he isn't compensated nearly as well those two. Rucchin also needs to stay healthy.

MARC SAVARD, CALGARY, $750,000

This isn't much to pay for a solid second-line center with a burst.

BRYAN SMOLINSKI, LOS ANGELES, $1.7 MILLION

A nice two-way player who has fit in very well with Kings, Smolinski still lags behind in salary.

RYAN SMYTH, EDMONTON, $675,000

Smyth must become more consistent. The promise of bigger paydays is a good motivator.

MARCO STURM, SAN JOSE, $875,000

Another speedy, underpaid European youngster, Sturm will get his due.

JOE THORNTON, BOSTON $925,000

The former No. 1 overall pick is ready to cash in, but will the Bruins ever ante up?

SCOTT WALKER, NASHVILLE, $475,000

The Predators always are competitive because of bargains like Walker.

COPYRIGHT 2001 Century Publishing
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group