Free Agency Unlikely to Be a Free-for-all

For the first time in his career, Wayne Gretzky will be free to choose where he wants to play next season.

But the NHL’s all-time scoring leader, who intended to become a free agent today after his contract expired, may find the market sluggish for a 35-year-old center who had back problems, struggled during the playoffs, earned $6.5 million last season and wants to play for a Stanley Cup contender.

The St. Louis Blues, who acquired Gretzky from the Kings in February for three players and two draft picks, initially offered him a three-year deal worth more than $21 million. After losing to Detroit in the quarterfinals, they offered two years at $12-14 million, much of that deferred. Gretzky broke off talks with the Blues last week.

Even teams such as the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Mighty Ducks, who could afford him, won’t pay him $6 million because they sell out their arenas and the gains wouldn’t justify such an expenditure. The Phoenix Coyotes (formerly the Winnipeg Jets) may see him as box-office insurance in their inaugural season, but he might not fit into an otherwise young lineup.

Clubs had until today to make qualifying offers to Group 2 players--who are past the entry-level stage but not old or experienced enough to be unrestricted free agents--and retain the right to match offers made to those players by other clubs. If those players didn’t get qualifying offers, they would become unrestricted free agents. Qualifying offers had to equal last season’s salary for those who earned above the 1995-96 league average of $892,000; for those who earned less than the average, clubs had to offer a 10% raise to retain matching rights.

“I keep hearing there’s going to be more free agents because there’s going to be a greater number who don’t get qualifying offers,” said Don Baizley, an agent based in Winnipeg.

It’s not certain greater numbers will result in greater riches. Mindful that the Blues’ hasty $18.9 million free-agent frenzy last summer didn’t win them the Cup, many general managers are likely to wait in hopes players will become impatient and reduce their demands.

“We won’t be as active as we were last summer when we signed two high-profile free agents [Bruce Driver and Ray Ferraro] and tried to sign a couple of others,” said New York Ranger GM Neil Smith, who had a league-high $32 million payroll last season. “I don’t think there will be the overpayments or overwhelming contracts thrown out there like last summer, either.”

Gretzky heads the list of unrestricted free agents, who can be signed without compensating their former club. Most are Group 3 players, who are more than 32 years old and have more than four years’ NHL experience. Others, such as Ranger defenseman Jeff Beukeboom and Chicago Blackhawk center Joe Murphy, are in Group 5 because they have 10 years’ professional experience but last season earned less than the average league salary. A few, such as veteran Winnipeg center Ed Olczyk, are unrestricted free agents after finishing termination contracts.

The most prominent names are expected to be the Rangers’ Jari Kurri, Pat Verbeek and Beukeboom, Murphy and Bernie Nicholls of Chicago, Kelly Hrudey of the Kings (who has been told the Kings won’t re-sign him) and New Jersey defenseman Phil Housley. The consensus among NHL executives is Beukeboom and Verbeek will attract the most offers.

“Beukeboom is a big strong guy and everybody likes defensemen like that,” said George McPhee, assistant GM of the Vancouver Canucks. “The question is, will he be affordable [Beukeboom earned $725,000 last season]? He’s a fifth or sixth defenseman. Verbeek can score goals and is a gritty guy so some teams will have some interest.”

Mighty Duck GM Jack Ferreira said he would “absolutely” be active in the free-agent market. He may focus on Nicholls, the 35-year-old former King who had 19 goals and 60 points in 59 games last season. “There’s no doubt we would like a center, someone to play with Paul [Kariya] and Teemu [Selanne],” Ferreira said. “The ideal thing is to get someone to play with them. I’m still not convinced [Steve] Rucchin can’t play with them.”

For Nicholls, a Brea resident, the Ducks would be an ideal destination. “I like what they’re doing with the organization,” he said. “They’re starting to build a young team and they want to go the free-agent route to get to the next level. . . . [Kariya and Selanne] would be fun to play with. You give them the puck and get out of the way.”

King General Manager Sam McMaster said potential free agent signings will be discussed during organizational meetings, which begin Tuesday. He’s eager to find a power-play quarterback--a role Housley could play--but his checkbook is closed for now. “With [Mattias] Norstrom, [Rob] Blake and [John] Slaney we may have solved it internally,” McMaster said.

Traditionally, there has been little movement among Group 2 free agents because compensation can be as high as five first-round draft picks. Only three Group 2 players got offer sheets last season and only one moved, when Shayne Corson went from Edmonton to St. Louis. “It’s not that teams don’t want players,” said Tom Laidlaw, an agent who represents 25 players. “The don’t want to be perceived as the team that’s driving the price up for everyone else around the league.’

This year’s list will be topped by Jeremy Roenick of the Blackhawks (whom Chicago has vowed to keep), Mike Modano of Dallas, Winnipeg’s Craig Janney, Toronto goalie Felix Potvin and Pittsburgh center Petr Nedved.

On the Kings, Kevin Todd was expected to be an unrestricted free agent and Norstrom, Yannic Perreault, Doug Zmolek, Slaney, Philippe Boucher, Robert Lang, Byron Dafoe, Nathan LaFayette and Tony Granato were expected to be in Group 2. Duck free agents include team captain Randy Ladouceur and center Anatoli Semenov (unrestricted) and enforcer Todd Ewen (restricted). They are expected to retain Ewen, but Semenov would be expendable if they sign a top-notch free agent center. Ladouceur, 36, played little in the last half of the season and his return is doubtful.

Times staff writer Robyn Norwood contributed to this story.

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In Demand

A look at potential unrestricted free agents who are likely to draw the most interest

* Wayne Gretzky, center, St. Louis Blues

* Jari Kurri, right wing, New York Rangers

* Phil Housley, defenseman, New Jersey Devils

* Pat Verbeek, right wing, New York Rangers

* Jeff Beukeboom, defenseman, New York Rangers

* Bernie Nicholls, center, Chicago Blackhawks

* Brent Sutter, center, Chicago Blackhawks

* Ed Olczyk, center, Phoenix Coyotes