Online help: WHAT 'SCORE' IS

The National Hockey League Players Association uses a Web site and computer software called "SCORE" to help player agents secure the best possible deals for their clients. The Web site allows agents to post and share all details of their clients' contracts and negotiations with NHL teams while the software allows agents to easily find and compare players with similar skills and experiences. The following is a look at the tools available to NHL player agents through SCORE.

Note: All Web pages recreated here are fictional.

E-FILE LINK: This link on the SCORE home page brings agents to a separate page for each of his clients. From this page, the agent can select from the following pages and applications:

IN PRACTICE: HOW 'SCORE' WORKS

Star Tribune Staff Writer Chris Snow was given permission to view the NHLPA's SCORE program on an agent's computer. The agent offered this opportunity on the condition of anonymity. Although we could not reproduce any SCORE pages, we have created sample pages, using Wild defenseman Nick Schultz as a test subject and actual statistics.

Our subject: Wild defenseman Nick Schultz, a three-year NHL defenseman, recently signed a three-year contract with the Wild that will pay him as much as $3.5 million (with bonuses and incentives) over three seasons.

PLAYER PROFILE PAGE: This is a Star Tribune take on what Schultz's agent J.P. Barry (not our source) might have submitted to the NHLPA during the 2003-04 season. This usually is submitted during the season; however, we are using last season's final statistics. And consider that Schultz has since signed a three-year contract extension.

1 II-NSA refers to a Group II restricted free agent, not eligible for salary arbitration; II-ESA refers to a Group II restricted free agent who is eligible for salary arbitration.

2 The player profile page also includes an analysis of the player's current or previous contract, and an analysis of his statistics.

3 Searches can also be made based on compensation and where a player was drafted.

4 There are many more available search options, including statistics such as: goals, assists and points per game; game-winning goals; game-tying goals; shifts played; faceoffs and faceoffs win percentage; penalty minutes; minutes played; shifts and shifts per game; blocked shots and blocked shots per game; etc. There are even options to search by even strength, while shorthanded and on the power play.

SEARCH RESULTS: Only five NHL players match the search criteria at left (defensemen 18 to 25 as of July 1, 2004, who have averaged 60 or more games played with 10 or more points, 18 or more minutes per game and a plus-5 or better rating). They are: