5\25 From the Freep: "The Red Wings agreed Thursday to a one-year contract with center Igor 
Larionov, who has spent most of the past six seasons in Detroit, and announced the signing of 
defenseman Fredrik Olausson, who played in Switzerland last season after 14 in the NHL.
  Sources said Larionov, whose base salary was $1.65 million last season, will make a little 
more than $1 million; Olausson will make $750,000. General manager Ken Holland said Olausson 
signed last Saturday. Olausson, who will turn 35 on Oct. 5, left the NHL for Switzerland last 
summer. But he missed the NHL, Holland said, and discussed returning with Detroit assistant 
general manager Jim Nill, a former teammate in Winnipeg, where Olausson played seven-plus 
seasons.
  The Wings were interested -- interested again, actually. Holland said they tried to acquire 
Olausson from Anaheim in March 2000, but Mighty Ducks general manager Pierre Gauthier wouldn't 
part with him.
  A 6-foot-2, 198-pound Swede, Olausson scored 16 goals and 56 points in the NHL as recently 
as 1998-99, with Anaheim. Olausson isn't overly physical. But the Wings consider him solid, and 
they have no doubt he can contribute on the power play. In the best-case scenario, he would play 
on the top pair with Lidstrom. Worst-case, he serves as a reserve defenseman with a relatively 
low salary. They think he's a good gamble.
  "He's got very good skills," Holland said. "He's got a real good shot from the point. I just 
thought he fit into what we want to do."
  Holland said he has scheduled a meeting for the middle of next week with Scotty Bowman, who 
must decide whether to return for another season as coach....
  Holland said he has signed several amateur scouts, assistant trainer Piet Van Zant and 
equipment manager Paul Boyer. He said he was close to signing trainer John Wharton and will work 
on contracts for pro scouts soon."

5\23 Ken Holland has told Larry Murphy that he will not be resigned for next season. If the 40 
year old defenseman decides to retire, His Hall of Fame numbers include: Third in defensemen 
scoring (1,216 points) to Ray Bourque and Paul Coffey, second in games (1,615) to Gordie Howe.
    Pat Verbeek was also told he wouldn't be re-signed. Doug Brown is expected to follow while 
Todd Gill will likely return for next season with a pay cut and Igor Larionov is expected to be 
signed any day now. That only leaves Martin Lapointe unaccounted for among the Free Agents.

5\22 From the Freep: "Scotty Bowman will be named NHL Coach of the Year in this week's issue of 
The Sporting News, based on a vote of his peers. He also is a finalist for the NHL's Jack Adams 
Award, which goes to the coach of the year."
    Other notes....Rumors persist about Lindros coming to Detroit. Surprisingly, Steve Yzerman 
likes the idea....Igor should be resigned in a few days....Scotty's yearly decision should also 
be available soon.

5\12 Nick Lidstrom is a finalist for both the Norris and Lady Byng trophies and Scotty Bowman is 
a finalist for the Jack Adams.
    Doug Brown's Team USA beat Kris Draper's Team Canada in the Worlds.

5\3 From the A.P.: "The Detroit Red Wings informed center Igor Larionov that they would
                 not pick up the $2 million option on his contract for next season, the Detroit 
                 News reported Thursday.

                 The team will make a $200,000 buyout, payable July 1.

                 Larionov's agent, Don Baizley, said the sides are talking about a new
                 deal for next season.

                 "The Red Wings have indicated they would like to pursue something,"
                 Baizley told the newspaper, "and Igor has informed me to continue negotiations."

                 General manager Ken Holland is in Germany this week scouting the World Hockey
                 Championships. Before leaving for Germany, Holland said the Wings would be
                 interested in retaining Larionov, 40, for a smaller salary."