Former Flyer Alexandre Daigle, the top overall pick in the 1993 NHL draft, was released yesterday by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The center was one of five players cut by the Lightning. He was designated for assignment, along with defenseman Jassen Cullimore. Left wings Kyle Freadrich and Andy Bezeau and right wing Steve Walker were assigned to the IHL's Detroit Vipers.
"That's yet to be decided, but he won't be going to Detroit," a team spokesman said when asked where Daigle would land.
Lightning general manager Rick Dudley says the club hasn't given up on Daigle.
"What we want to see is a certain amount of passion for the game on a consistent basis," Dudley said. "I'm not saying that's not there. It's just not there all the time."
Daigle, 24, was only 18 when the Ottawa Senators signed him for more than $12 million in a five-year deal. He went directly from his junior club to the NHL, but failed to live up to expectations.
He was traded to the Flyers in January 1998 before being traded to Tampa Bay last January.
Dudley made Daigle available in the waiver draft Monday, but no team put in a claim.
In other news:
HAWKS: Manson penalty
The NHL suspended Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Dave Manson for one exhibition game and fined him $1,000 as a result of a match penalty against Washington Capitals forward Steve Konowalchuk Saturday.
Manson was assessed an attempting-to-injure match penalty after he crosschecked Konowalchuk at 8:41 of the second period.
ABC: Hires Davidson
John Davidson was hired as the studio analyst for ABC's NHL coverage.
Davidson, lead game analyst for Fox before the network's NHL package expired after last season, will work with John Saunders.
THRASHERS: Name captain
Winger Kelly Buchberger, who spent the last four years as captain of the Edmonton Oilers, will be the first captain for the expansion Atlanta Thrashers.
Buchberger spent 13 seasons with the Oilers, playing on three Stanley Cup teams and taking over as captain in 1995.
