Vernon Traded To Sharks Red Wings Complete Transaction; Mvp Goalie To Get $2.75 Million

Goaltender Mike Vernon, who led the Detroit Red Wings to their first Stanley Cup in 42 years, was traded Monday to the San Jose Sharks for two draft picks.

Vernon, the playoff MVP, signed a three-year deal with San Jose worth a reported $2.75 million annually.

He said there was some bitterness about the move from Detroit, but understood that the Red Wings were going with Chris Osgood as their No. 1 goalie and Kevin Hodson as his backup.

“I was a little disappointed in leaving, but I just have to look on to my future and go from there,” he said.

Vernon, 34, a five-time All-Star, appeared in all 20 of Detroit’s postseason games with a 16-4 record and a 1.76 goals-against average. He would have been an unrestricted free agent after the upcoming season.

The Red Wings will receive a second-round draft pick in 1999 and a conditional third-round pick next season. That selection could move to the second round if the Sharks make the playoffs next season and Vernon is responsible for at least 67 percent of the team’s regular-season point total.

MEMO: Cut in the Spokane edition