Edition: U.S. / Global

HOCKEY; Ranger Players Add New Twists to Potential Lindros Trade

Published: June 24, 1992

If the Rangers' proposed trade for Eric Lindros is approved and if John Vanbiesbrouck is part of the deal with the Quebec Nordiques, Vanbiesbrouck's contract status could add yet another dimension of rancor to what has already become a complicated fiasco.

The question is whether Vanbiesbrouck is a restricted or unrestricted free agent, and no matter what the answer, it could cause problems for the Nordiques. If that were not enough, Tony Amonte, another of six Rangers rumored to be part of the pending deal, is upset, his agent says, and not sure he would be willing to report to Quebec.

The agents for Vanbiesbrouck and Amonte spoke today while an arbitrator met for the second day with executives of the Rangers, the Nordiques and the Philadelphia Flyers. The arbitrator, Larry Bertuzzi of Toronto, is trying to decide if Lindros was traded Saturday to the Rangers or the Flyers. The Nordiques say their deal is with New York, but the Flyers protested.

The Flyers say that they had a deal with the Quebec but that the Nordiques backed out of it when they got a new offer from the Rangers. The hearings are expected to conclude here on Wednesday or Thursday, and the decision is to be announced by Bertuzzi from Toronto a day or two later.

Lindros is the 19-year-old center who is projected as the next hockey superstar, with potential impact like that of Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. Although the Nordiques chose him first over all in the draft last summer, Lindros refused to report to Quebec for reasons that included language and cultural differences.

It is expected that either trade will include players, draft choices and a large sum of money. Neither team has formally identified the players involved, although it is widely speculated that the Rangers would send goalie Vanbiesbrouck and veteran defenseman James Patrick along with forwards Amonte, Sergei Nemchinov, Aleksei Kovalev and Doug Weight.

Vanbiesbrouck is either a Group 2 (restricted) or a Group 5 (unrestricted) free agent. Under Group 2, he can make a deal with any team but must remain with his former club if that club matches an outside salary offer. Under Group 5, he can go anywhere he wants with no strings attached. The criteria to become a Group 5 free agent is having played in 10 seasons as a professional and earning less than the average salary.

The union says Vanbiesbrouck fits both criteria and is Group 5. The league says he he fits neither and is Group 2. It's hockey. Go figure. Defining a Season

The reason for that dispute is that the two sides can't agree on terms of the new collective bargaining agreement that followed the 10-day player strike in April. The players contend that the average salary is $379,000 while the owners say the figure is $233,300. Vanbiesbrouck earned $375,000 last season. Further complicating his case is the fact that Vanbiesbrouck has played in at least one game in 10 seasons, but in the 1981-82 season he played in only one game. The two sides have not agreed on how many appearances constitute a season.

Once the union and management agree on precise definitions of Group 5 qualifications, it seems likely that Vanbiesbrouck would become a restricted Group 2 player. But Group 5 is not out of the question. The free-agency question wouldn't have mattered in the first place if Vanbiesbrouck and his agent had agreed to a new contract by now, but they didn't because other events interfered.

As the Lindros dispute began, the Rangers' president and general manager, Neil Smith, was on the floor of the Montreal Forum, the site of the entry draft, negotiating with Lloyd Friedland, the agent for Vanbiesbrouck. The contract was expected to be for several seasons at an average of more than $1 million per season. When the Lindros controversy began, Smith was called away and hasn't been able to complete the negotiations. Will He Report?

So, if Vanbiesbrouck is sent to Quebec, will he report?

"I can't answer that question," Friedland said today. "I'm not convinced he is in Group 2."

If Vanbiesbrouck is sent there under Group 2 status, the Nordiques would have to sign him or lose him as a free agent to the highest bidder. Marcel Aubut, the Quebec owner, has angred many teams in the league with his auction for Lindros and his treatment of the Flyers. It is not inconceivable that another team might bid up the price for Vanbiesbrouck and take him away from Aubut or force Aubut to pay more than he wants. If Vanbiesbrouck is a Group 5 free agent, no club would be able to claim his rights. Amonte Hopes to Stay

The Amonte question is different. A finalist for rookie of the year honors last season, he is under a long-term contract. He hoped to remain a Ranger for a long time, according to his agent, Richard Scimone.

Will Amonte refuse to report to Quebec?

"It's always a possibility," the agent said. "You're touching on something I don't wish to discuss. It's a business decision. Playing in Quebec has a tremendous adverse effect on your take-home income."

"He understands the Rangers' point of view, he was treated very well there and he knows in some respects that it would be an honor to be part of the famous Lindros trade," Scimone said. If the Rangers lose the arbitrations, he added, "Tony wouldn't have any problem going back to New York. It's not like it's Tony Amonte for two draft picks. But he likes New York and the way he was treated last year. He's hoping Philly gets Lindros in the trade."