The San Jose Sharks dealt two former Kentucky players last week to ensure that former Thoroughblade Nabokov would not be snapped up in Friday's NHL expansion draft.

The Sharks sent right wing Jan Caloun, a ninth-round pick in Saturday's entry draft, and future considerations to the Columbus Blue Jackets in return for future considerations.

The Sharks also dealt defenseman Andy Sutton, their seventh-round pick this year and third-rounder next year to Minnesota in exchange for the Wild's eighth-round pick next year and future considerations.

``Future considerations'' means that Columbus and Minnesota will keep hands off Nabokov in the expansion draft.

NHL teams are allowed to protect 15 or 12 players in the expansion draft. The Sharks went with the 15-player formula of nine forwards, five defensemen and one goalie (Steve Shields). Had they opted to protect Shields and Nabokov, the Sharks would have been limited to seven forwards and three defensemen.

And San Jose didn't have the depth to risk losing top skaters, according to Wayne Thomas, assistant general manager of the Sharks and GM of the T-blades.

Thus, the deal to expose, yet protect, Nabokov. A ninth-round draft pick in 1994, Nabokov is San Jose's most promising goalie to come up through its system.

Caloun, an All-Star for the T-blades while scoring 43 goals during the 1996-97 season, has played the last three seasons for IFK Helsinki. He led the Finnish Elite League with 81 points and was MVP last year, and he was on pace to lead the league again this year until slowed by a leg injury.

Caloun has played 11 NHL games for the Sharks, scoring goals on his first four shots. But his style gave him a bad rap.

``It was evident Caloun had a nose for the net,'' wrote Victor Chi of the San Jose Mercury News last week, ``but the shortcoming was that Michelle Kwan could have knocked him off the puck.''

Sutton, a 6-foot-6, 245-pounder, was plenty physical. But ``The Big Rig'' slipped on San Jose's depth chart and watched much of last season from the stands. He grew unhappy and was sent home during the playoffs at Dallas.

``I think they're both players that should play significant roles,'' Thomas said. ``(Caloun) didn't fit with us, but it doesn't mean that he didn't fit with other teams.

``He's certainly got a scoring touch. ... Jan will pay the price to score goals. He's never been a big hitter. He's not a huge man. But I think he plays physical enough to play (in the NHL).''

Drafts dope

Besides Shields, the Sharks protected forwards Vincent Damphousse, Jeff Friesen, Todd Harvey, Alexander Korolyuk, Patrick Marleau, Owen Nolan, Mike Ricci, Marco Sturm and Niklas Sundstrom, plus defensemen Gary Suter, Mike Rathje, Marcus Ragnarsson, Bryan Marchment and Shawn Heins. Defensemen Brad Stuart and Scott Hannan are exempt.

The Sharks will lose two players in the expansion draft. Two years ago, they lost Al Iafrate to the Predators. Last year, the Thrashers picked Alexei Yegorov. Thomas says the Sharks will take the best available player in the entry draft, regardless of position.

There's a light up above

Sutton played 31 games for Kentucky over three years, including three this year. His absence from the Sharks improves Heins' chances to advance.

``You'd hope so,'' Thomas said. ``That he's (paid) his dues and, hopefully, he'll get an opportunity.''

Last season, Heins played one game for San Jose and 69 for the T-blades. He earned AHL mid- and post-season All-Star honors.

Moving on up

T-blades chairman of the board and co-owner Walter Bush will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, along with players Denis Savard and Joe Mullen, Nov. 13. Bush, president of USA Hockey since 1986 and one of three vice presidents of the International Ice Hockey Federation, will be inducted into the ``builders' category.'' Bush has been involved in hockey as a player, coach, administrator and owner. He has served on USA Hockey's board of directors since 1959. He led the group that was awarded the NHL's old Minnesota North Stars, serving as team president from 1967-76. He also was instrumental in elevating women's hockey to World Championships status in 1990 and to Olympic medal status in 1998.

The Sharks have added vice president to Thomas' titles.

The ex files

Free-agent defenseman Vladimir Chebaturkin has left the New York Islanders to sign with the St. Louis Blues.

A familiar face popped on the TV screen as the New Jersey Devils celebrated their Stanley Cup victory. Harry Bricker is assistant equipment manager.

Ice chips

Start scrambling divisional alignments again. The Norfolk (formerly Hampton Roads) Admirals are ``on'' again to join the AHL next season. The Admirals twice received league approval to delay entering the league, pushing the move from 1999 to 2000 to 2001. But after hammering out an agreement Wednesday with the Chicago Blackhawks, the Ads are apparently in for 2000.

Norfolk owners Mark Garcea and Page Johnson agreed to make $20,000 in improvements to the Scope, where the team will play. Included will be new glass, boards and Zamboni, plus enlarged locker rooms. In return, the Blackhawks will send their top prospects to Norfolk.

In January 1999, the teams agreed to a five-year affiliation. That has been changed to two years, and the Hawks will have an option to add a third year.

Manchester, N.H., and Bridgeport, Conn., are scheduled to enter the league in 2001. The Manchester franchise was purchased last week by the Los Angeles Kings.

John Stevens, whose 13-year playing career came to an end in Rupp Arena on Dec. 13, 1998, when he was struck in the right eye by a shot taken by T-blade Filip Kuba, is the new coach of the Philadelphia Phantoms. The classy All-Star defenseman and Phantoms' first captain has big shoes to fill. Hall of Famer Bill Barber, whom Stevens assisted, resigned to pursue an NHL job. Barber won a Calder Cup and three Mid-Atlantic Division titles in four seasons with the Phantoms.

Hamilton Bulldogs goalie Mike Minard is winner of the US Airways Player of the Year Award, presented by the Professional Hockey Players Association for outstanding charitable community service. He earlier was named the Yanick Dupre Memorial Trophy winner as AHL Man of the Year. Minard was recognized for his work with youth groups and children's hospitals.

Mark Maloney covers the Kentucky Thoroughblades for the Herald-Leader. This article includes his opinions and observations. He can be reached at 231-3229 or by e-mail at mmaloney@herald-leader.com.

Mark Maloney

Herald-Leader staff writer

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