Nhl Ready For Arbitration

Three members of the Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche, including goalie Patrick Roy, are among 24 players eligible for salary arbitration.

The list includes Group II players, who are eligible for salary arbitration, as well as players entering their option year.

Besides Roy, the Avalanche players are right wings Mike Keane and Scott Young. Others on the list are goalies Ron Hextall of Philadelphia, Bill Ranford of Boston and Ken Wregget of Pittsburgh, along with forwards Ray Sheppard of Florida and Nelson Emerson of Hartford.

All arbitration awards will be either for one or two years, at the club’s choosing. Once a Group II player elects salary arbitration, he no longer qualifies for free agency.

Players are still eligible to sign with their teams before their cases go to arbitration.

The Florida Panthers re-signed center Stu Barnes to an undisclosed multiyear contract. Barnes, 25, was the team’s sixth leading scorer last season, with 19 goals and a career-high 25 assists in 72 games. In 172 games over three seasons with Florida, he has 47 goals and 64 assists.

Czech center Robert Reichel, 25, and Flames general manager Al Coates, have agreed to a three-year contract worth $4.4 million, team spokesman Mike Burke said Monday. However, Reichel still has a three-year deal with the Frankfurt Lions.