Ex-Blazers cashing in

(From Kamloops Daily News, July 6)
Hockey’s silly season began Sunday. Erik Christensen got his piece of the pie Thursday.
Christensen, a 23-year-old who played 237 games over four seasons with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, signed a US$1.5-million, two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He will make $750,000 next season, his fourth in Pittsburgh’s organization. The native of Leduc, Alta., made $488,000 last season.
“I’m pleased. I’m glad it’s done and off my mind,” said Christensen, who was soaking up some sun in a park near Aberdeen Elementary yesterday afternoon. His Aberdeen condominium is being renovated, thus he was forced outside.
In his first three professional seasons, Christensen, the 69th pick in the NHL’s 2002 draft, was on a two-way contract. He now is riding on a one-way deal, although he said it’s not a big deal with him because he doesn’t plan on being in the minors anyway.
“I think I have established myself and have shown that I am a legitimate NHL player,” he said.
Last season, Christensen, who led the WHL in goals (54) and points (108) while with the Blazers in 2002-03, had 33 points, including 18 goals, in 61 games with the Penguins. He also scored eight shootout goals, tied for the NHL lead with Mikko Koivu of the Minnesota Wild.
“Last season,” Christensen said, “I made huge strides.”
He did that despite starting the season with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
“I really struggled in training camp,” he explained. He put up 24 points in 16 AHL games and quickly found himself back in Pittsburgh to stay.
“I was mad at myself because I didn’t play well (in camp) and give myself my best shot,” he said. “Still, it worked out in the end. I got my confidence back.”
It worked out, at least in part, because Christensen, a natural centre, adapted to playing left wing. He expects that will happen again next season, what with head coach Michel Therrien’s propensity for moving around his forwards.
“With injuries and Therrien constantly juggling lines,” Christensen said, he expects that he will “play left wing on the second line, left wing on the third line, centre on the third and fourth lines. I’m proud of the fact that I’m one of the few players who was moved around from wing to centre."
Therrien apparently likes that fact that Christensen has a good shot coming in off the wall, that he can find open ice and that he can play give-and-go with his centre.
“And he likes my speed,” Christensen added. “And I feel that I can play both wing and centre.”
Christensen recognizes, too, that the Penguins roster includes “so many” natural centres, like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal.
His ability to play the wing, however, helped him finish strong.
“I was a regular at the end of the season,” he said, “and I felt that I contributed.”
Looking ahead to next season, Christensen said, “I can’t wait to get started.”
He will be one of three ex-Blazers when camp opens, the Penguins having added defenceman Darryl Sydor to a roster that already included right-winger Mark Recchi.
Sydor, who played for the Dallas Stars last season, signed as an unrestricted free agent. Sydor, 35, got a two-year deal worth $5 million. He earned $2.128 million last season.
The Penguins re-signed Recchi, 39, to a one-year, $1.75-million deal, down from the $2.28 million he earned in 2006-07. He had 68 points, including 24 goals, last season, one in which he scored his 500th career NHL goal.
Christensen is looking forward to playing with Sydor if for no other reason than both billeted with Mary Lane while playing for the Blazers.
“We needed an established defenceman and (Sydor) is that,” Christensen said. “He’s a mean guy and he’s a good skater. And he’s won Stanley Cups.”
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Christensen, Recchi and Sydor are only three of the former Blazers who have signed new contracts this week. Among the others:
l D Brad Lukowich left the New Jersey Devils, returning to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a three-year, $4.7-million contract. The Devils paid him $1 million last season.
l D Robyn Regehr signed a five-year, $20-million contract with the Calgary Flames, who paid him $1.9 million in 2006-07.
l RW Jarome Iginla, who picked up $7 million last season, got a five-year, $35-million deal from the Flames.
l D Jason Strudwick, who joined the Rangers late last season after playing in Europe, signed a one-year, $500,000 contract with New York.
l LW Kyle Calder, who was dealt from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Detroit Red Wings last season, moved to the Los Angeles Kings for $5.5 million over two seasons. He made $2.95 million last season.
l D Micki DuPont, who had 51 points in 78 games with Wilkes-Barre-Scranton last season and was an AHL first-team all-star, signed with the St. Louis Blues yesterday. Terms haven't been disclosed but it's believed to be a two-way (NHL-AHL) deal. If he isn't with the Blues, DuPont will play for the AHL's Peoria Rivermen.
l Meanwhile, D Bryce Lampman was involved in a trade, being dealt by the Rangers to Tampa Bay for former Kelowna Rockets enforcer Mitch Fritz.