By Joe Starkey
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
June 4, 2002

The way former Penguins defenseman Darius Kasparaitis sees it, people who thought his game was limited to making big hits were making a big mistake.

And somebody's going to pay.

Kasparaitis, who had a productive playoff with the Colorado Avalanche, can become an unrestricted free agent July 1. He could end up tripling his $1.15 million salary, especially after leading the NHL in plus-minus rating (plus-10) and hits (112) through three playoff rounds.

Hardly any of those hits were the highlight-reel sort that Kasparaitis used to live for. He was forced to play a more conservative, team-oriented game with the Avalanche.

"I realized I didn't have to run around to be successful," Kasparaitis said Tuesday, four days after the Detroit Red Wings eliminated Colorado in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals. "I became a better player. I think I showed I can fit any style, anything you want me to do."

There figure to be plenty of suitors for Kasparaitis, who hasn't ruled out a return to the Avalanche. The New York Islanders and the Florida Panthers are two teams likely to show interest. Kasparaitis began his career with the Islanders. He keeps a home in Long Island, N.Y., and in South Florida, but he isn't limiting his options.

"I don't have a home anymore," he said. "I'd be happy to move anywhere. This country has a lot of nice cities. I would like to come back (to Colorado), because it's a great team. But I need to do what's best for me."

Any chance of a return to Pittsburgh?

"They can't afford me," Kasparaitis said, laughing.

Kasparaitis said his house in the South Hills is on the block, which is exactly where he seemed to be for much of his final three seasons with the Penguins. He took a paycut in arbitration last summer in order to set himself up for unrestricted free agency.

After that, it only was a matter of time before he was dealt. It finally happened Mar. 19 - the NHL's trade deadline - when Kasparaitis was shipped to the Avalanche for defenseman Rick Berry and forward Ville Nieminen.

He struggled initially with the change.

"The first month it was hard, because the Penguins were like a family to me," he said. "The management, the players, the reporters, I knew everyone. I probably got too comfortable. I was just going with the flow."

Slowly, Kasparaitis grew to like his new surroundings. He said there was a big difference in Colorado's dressing room -- and not just in the talent level.

"The commitment and the leadership of the players was kind of
different," he said. "The guys in Colorado, if you play bad, they'll
tell you to your face. No (kidding around). You come there to work. All the guys make the other guys accountable. That was probably the biggest difference."

"In Pittsburgh, guys came to play, but I don't think anybody - a lot
of the young guys -- felt pressure to perform. In Denver, there was
pressure even to the highest-paid player. If a (highly paid) guy wasn't playing well, a guy making $400,000 could tell him to pick it up. That's why they're a winning team."

Having a $50 million payroll no doubt helps. But it didn't get the
Avalanche past the Red Wings ($64 million), who won a Game 7 stunner
Friday by the memorable score of 7-0. Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy was pulled after allowing six goals.

Kasparaitis was paired with Rob Blake for much of the playoffs, then
with Adam Foote. He averaged 20 minutes, 45 second per game. He had
three assists, including two in Colorado's Game 5, overtime victory over the Red Wings.

He assisted on Peter Forsberg's winning goal.

Kasparaitis said even though the Avalanche were humbled in Game 7, the players went out with pride.

"Nobody went away from the media or left the room," he said. "It was
kind of cool. Everybody was sitting and waiting and ready to face the loss together, not one player by himself."

Yesterday, Kasparaitis was in Disney World with his daughter. His
Stanley Cup prediction?

"Hopefully, Carolina," he said. "But Detroit looks good. They beat us."