Hawks decide to part ways with defenseman Helenius
By Tim Sassone Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted June 29, 2003
Defenseman Sami Helenius will not be tendered a qualifying contract before Monday's deadline, Blackhawks general manager Mike Smith said Saturday.
Smith will offer contracts to center Tyler Arnason, left wing Mark Bell, defenseman Steve McCarthy, defenseman-left winger Jason Strudwick and a few selected minor-leaguers.
Offering restricted free agents qualifying contracts with the minimum raise set by the collective bargaining agreement is a formality to retain their rights ahead of the July 1 free-agent signing period.
Arnason, Bell, McCarthy and Strudwick still must agree to contracts. McCarthy earned $1.025 million while Bell made $975,000 in the final year of their rookie contracts as first-round draft picks. Arnason made $600,000 en route to earning NHL all-rookie team homors. Strudwick made $500,000.
The 29-year-old Helenius had little impact with the Hawks after being acquired from Dallas at the trade deadline in March as part of Smith's Lyle Odelein deal. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound Helenius was plus-4 with 1 assist in 15 games but didn't play up to his size physically.
"We look at him as a seventh defenseman," Smith said.
So is Strudwick, though he proved more valuable by being able to play wing as well.
Smith still is looking to add two defensemen to the roster before training camp either by trade or through free agency. He has said he will be active in the free-agent market starting Tuesday.
The Hawks apparently had no interest in defenseman Andy Delmore, who was traded from Nashville to Buffalo on Friday for a third-round draft pick. Delmore scored 18 goals last season - including 14 on the power play to lead all NHL defensemen - but was a liability defensively at minus-17 in 21 games.