Longtime Bruin Sinden Gives Up GM Position

Harry Sinden ended his 28- season stint as general manager of the Boston Bruins on Wednesday, only a week after replacing coach Pat Burns with Mike Keenan.

The team has lost three of four games under Keenan.

Sinden, 67, who will stay on as team president, has also been a player and coach with the Bruins. In his nearly three decades as general manager, the Bruins won 10 division and five conference titles, and had 26 winning seasons.

“The respect that he has earned from people throughout the hockey world . . . is unparalleled,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said.

Sinden picked Mike O’Connell, his assistant for the last six seasons as his replacement.

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The five-year, $30-million contract recently signed by San Jose Shark captain Owen Nolan will be rejected by the NHL because of a clause that kicks in in case of a lockout, according to a broadcast report.

TSN of Canada reported that Nolan has a clause that would give him the option to extend the deal by one year at $6 million if the 2004-05 season is shortened to fewer than 40 games because of a lockout.

Shark President Greg Jamison said he has no reason to believe the contract will be invalidated and had no further comment. Nolan’s agent, Mike Barnett, was unavailable for comment.

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In Wednesday’s games:

Detroit 4, Montreal 2--Larry Murphy’s two assists made him the third NHL defenseman to top 1,200 points and Vyacheslav Kozlov scored two goals for the Red Wings at Montreal. Murphy increase his point total to 1,201. Paul Coffey of the Bruins and Ray Bourque of the Colorado Avalanche are the other defensemen among the 30 NHL players to reach that number.

New York Rangers 6, Tampa Bay 1--Theoren Fleury scored three goals, two on power plays in the Rangers’ four-goal second period, at New York.

New York Islanders 3, Florida 0--Brad Isbister and Roman Hamrlik scored on power plays at Sunrise, Fla., to back Wade Flaherty’s shutout.

Dallas 4, Columbus 0--Joe Nieuwendyk scored two goals and Ed Belfour stopped 14 shots at Dallas for his second shutout of the season.

Philadelphia 1, New Jersey 1--Paul Ranheim scored with 1:26 to play in the third period to give the undermanned Flyers a tie at East Rutherford, N.J.

Edmonton 3, Calgary 2--The Oilers scored three goals in the first period at Edmonton.

Vancouver 4, Colorado 3--Markus Naslund scored the opening goal and set up the game-winner at Vancouver.

San Jose 3, Pittsburgh 2--Jeff Friesen scored with 42.1 seconds left for the Sharks at San Jose.