There is definitely considerable interest in signing Doug Wilson away from the Blackhawks.
Six National Hockey League teams have formally notified Larry Kelly, Wilson`s agent, and said they would like to make a contract offer to the 32-year-old defenseman, who has played 12 years in Chicago and is the team`s all-time leading scorer among defensemen.
”We haven`t talked dollars with anyone, but I`ll start doing that the end of next week,” Kelly said Thursday. ”I`d expect to reach a decision by the end of July.”
Kelly said he believes he can draw a much better money deal than the one Blackhawks General Manager Bob Pulford has on the table. He will then use that leverage to try to increase Pulford`s cautious bid.
”Pulford`s always been good to us, and we`re going to keep talking,”
Kelly said.
The Hawks have the right of first refusal, which means they can match any team`s contract offer and retain rights to Wilson.
If they let Wilson go, thinking the money is too high for a player who has suffered major injuries the last two seasons, league official Gary Meagher said the Hawks will be compensated. ”The two teams would have to arrive at an agreement,” he said. ”If they can`t, the decision would go to an arbitrator.”
Kelly wouldn`t name the six teams expressing interest in Wilson. But, oddly enough, he said Pittsburgh wasn`t one of them. Penguins GM Tony Esposito, a former teammate of Wilson`s, had indicated he`d be among the bidders. But he may have backed off after talking with Wilson. ”He is by far the best player available on the (free-agent) list, but I get the impression from Doug he`s happy in Chicago,” Esposito said.