Sharks Get Belfour in 1-for-3 Deal

Ed Belfour ripped his backup, complained about sharing a job that had been his for most of the 1990s, and told the Chicago Blackhawks that it would take a lot of cash to keep him past this season.

So Belfour, one of the best goaltenders in Chicago history, is now with the San Jose Sharks. And Jeff Hackett, his backup the last four seasons, has received a three-year contract extension from the Blackhawks.

Twice a winner of the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goalie, Belfour was dealt early Saturday in what Chicago General Manager Bob Pulford called “one of the most difficult trades I’ve had to make.”

“With Belfour being a free agent after this season, we had to make the deal now or else we would have gotten nothing,” Pulford said.

Arriving from San Jose are three players with undistinguished records--goalie Chris Terreri, wing Ulf Dahlen and defenseman Michal Sykora--as well as a conditional 1998 second-round draft pick.

Belfour has a record of 201-138-56 and a goals-against average of 2.65.

“We are extremely excited to acquire a goaltender of Belfour’s stature, caliber and accomplishments,” said Shark General Manager Dean Lombardi, who now must try to sign the Belfour, 31, beyond this season.

Belfour’s contract, for $2.75 million in 1996-97, expires this spring. He turned down an extension that would have paid him about $3.3 million annually. That’s a lot of money for a goalie who is 11-15-6 with a 2.69 goal-against average and .907 save percentage this season when league scoring is down.

Since Nov. 30, when he joined Glenn Hall and Tony Esposito as the only Chicago goalies to win 200 games, Belfour is 1-7-4.

Pulford called Terreri “a decent goalie,” Dahlen “a solid forward,” and Sykora “a young guy with potential.”

Terreri, 32, is 6-9-3 with a 2.79 goals-against average and a 125-139-36 record. Dahlen, 30, has 225 goals and 466 points in 655 games with four teams, including eight goals and 19 points this season. Sykora, 23, was a frequent scratch because the Sharks didn’t think he played as tough as a 6-foot-4, 230-pounder should.

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Mike Milbury, who stepped aside Friday as coach of the New York Islanders, said he had planned to do so after the season anyway, despite the prodding of new owner John Spano.

“I had to convince myself that it was the right thing to do,” Milbury said Saturday. “[Spano and I] came to a mutual conclusion, and I must say somewhat reluctantly because I really enjoy the coaching aspects of the game.”

Milbury said Friday he was leaving the bench to devote his time to his general manager’s position. Associate coach Rick Bowness moved up to head coach, and the Islanders responded with a 5-2 victory over the Hartford Whalers.