Danton pleads guilty
Former St. Louis Blues player Mike Danton admitted Friday in East St. Louis, Mo., that he tried to hire a hit man, almost certainly bringing his NHL career to an end.
Danton pleaded guilty to a federal murder-for-hire conspiracy charge and faces seven to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced Oct. 22.
The plot unraveled when the would-be hit man turned out to be a police informant.
Danton is seeking transfer to a prison in Canada, and prosecutors and the FBI said they won’t oppose the move. U.S. District Judge William Stiehl, however, noted that Danton may not be allowed to return to the U.S.
The prison time and possible restrictions likely will spell the end of the 23-year-old’s NHL career, but lawyer Robert Haar said the plea was the best option for his client.
Danton was to have been tried in September with co-defendant Katie Wolfmeyer, 19. He and Wolfmeyer, a college student from a St. Louis suburb, faced identical conspiracy charges, with Wolfmeyer accused of trying to hire the would-be killer of Danton’s agent, David Frost.
Heatley charged in wreck
Atlanta Thrashers star Dany Heatley was indicted Friday on vehicular homicide and five other charges in the 2003 wreck that claimed the life of a teammate.
Police estimated that Heatley was driving his black Ferrari convertible between 60 and 90 mph on a curved road in a residential area when it ran into a brick pillar and iron fence on Sept. 29, 2003.
Dan Snyder, 25, died after several days in a coma, and Heatley broke his jaw and tore two ligaments in his knee. The Canadian citizen returned to play with the team in January.
Heatley’s attorney, Ed Garland, said the case does not justify a homicide charge.
Record number file for arbitration
Joe Thornton of the Boston Bruins, Zdeno Chara of the Ottawa Senators and Scott Niedermayer of the New Jersey Devils are among the record 67 NHL players who have filed for salary arbitration.
Other restricted free agents who filed by Thursday’s midnight deadline include former Spokane Chief Bryan McCabe.
Among the high-profile restricted free agents who opted not to file for arbitration are Calgary’s Jaroome Iginla and Chris Pronger of the St. Louis Blues.
The arbitration process is clouded by the NHL’s troubled labor negotiations. The league’s collective bargaining agreement with the NHLPA expires Sept. 15.
Around the league
The Florida Panthers signed defenseman Joel Kwiatkowski, who played with Washington last year, to a one-year deal. … The Colorado Avalanche rewarded goalie David Aebischer for a steady first season in place of Patrick Roy, signing him to a one-year contract. … The Anaheim Mighty Ducks agreed to terms with forward Michael Holmqvist on a one-year deal.