So what's up with this latest Europe occupation of Southwest Florida's hockey players? So far, six former Florida Everblades have signed with teams overseas.

Well, it's a combination of money, opportunity and the future.

While North American hockey players do frequently end up overseas, this trend that has affected the Everblades is more chance than anything else.

"It could be coincidental that we happen to have a lot of players that were appealing to them," Blades team president and general manager Craig Brush says.

Defenseman Tyson Teplitsky became the latest to leave on Saturday, signing with Cardiff in Wales. He is the second of six Everblades extended qualifying offers to turn the team down; fellow defenseman Matt Bannan signed with a team in Germany late last week.

If that team looks familiar, it's because former goalie Phil Osaer signed with it recently. Defenseman Corey Neilson signed with teams in England, and forwards Steve Saviano and Dan Sisca are headed to Sweden and Italy, respectively.

There's a little different twist to all of them:

• Sisca, 23, is returning to a country he played in prior to coming to Florida. He also is of Italian descent.

• Saviano, 24, is headed overseas for the first time to play on a top team in Sweden's second division.

• Bannan, 25, simply couldn't pass up the money the German team offered.

• Neilson, who turns 30 next month, wanted to continue playing and help better support his family.

• For Osaer, 26, going overseas became more an option after the NHL's Florida Panthers released him. The two sides agreed to part ways if Osaer couldn't be guaranteed a spot on an American Hockey League team, a level higher than the ECHL.

• Teplitsky, an All-Star as an ECHL rookie at 24, can work on his master's degree because Cardiff has an agreement with Cardiff University and its business school to pay for their education (Osaer also plans to take advantage of the opportunity).

No doubt, money, opportunity and the future all play parts to varying degrees in a hockey player taking a European vacation.

'Show Me The Money'

Rod Tidwell's catchphrase from the movie "Jerry Maguire" is well-worn, but true nonetheless.

European teams simply can pay more money than minor-league franchises in America, especially in the ECHL where there is a salary cap.

The Everblades routinely have not disclosed financial terms of their player contracts. Bannan signed for reportedly $10,000 more than what the Everblades offered.

"European teams are offering a lot of money now," Brush says. "There's not much we can do about it. Somebody like Matt, not to take anything away from him, at our level would be earning probably half of what he could make over there.

"He's a very good player, but we wouldn't expect him to be the best defenseman on our team. He would definitely have to be that to get that kind of money."

Brush also mentioned that Bannan's age likely played a part in the decision to go overseas. At 25, Bannan may be considered too old to be an NHL prospect. So players in those situations have to try to make as much money as they can for as long as they can.

"Financially, you can really make a good living over there," says Brent McDonald, a former Everblade who played in Sweden last year.

"It's a considerably higher amount than you would make in the minors over here," he adds.

"Europe's such a good option for all of us," Osaer says. "It's a better thing financially, a lot of times it's fewer games, and it's a great life experience."

European teams also are usually accommodating to players' families and have provisions worked into players' contracts. For example, McDonald's fiancee — they're getting married next weekend in Estero — had flights to Sweden paid for. McDonald also was allowed to come home for two weeks during a break in his team's schedule.

"That's something that's typical," McDonald says of that sort of compensation.

Osaer, who also is engaged, has a similar provision in his contract.

And that free education, in the case of Osaer and Teplitsky, has quite a pull as well. Brush said Teplitsky's total package, including his contract and education, was worth more than $50,000.

One More Chance

Saviano scored 39 goals and had 83 assists in just 100 ECHL games with the Everblades. But when a guarantee of a full season in the American Hockey League wasn't forthcoming, and the chance to prove himself at a higher level overseas was, it was a no-brainer.

Well, it was after Saviano talked with McDonald.

"Money is not my main thing," Saviano says. "It's getting the opportunity where I can improve and move up the ladder over there."

"I think Europe is always a viable option to players who are talented enough to play special hockey, but maybe not talented enough to play at a higher level in North America," says Matt Loughran, director of hockey operations for the NHL's Panthers.

At 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds, Saviano is on the small side by NHL standards. But McDonald pointed out that Saviano's speed will be even more of a strength for him playing in Sweden on the bigger, Olympics-sized rinks.

"The larger ice really complemented my game with the speed and the extra room to take a defenseman wide or generate that extra speed," McDonald says.

While players head to Europe for the opportunity, they have less of one to make a mark. European teams play in the neighborhood of 40 regular-season games, roughly half of what North American teams play.

"It's less wear and tear on your body," McDonald says.

And it's a chance to enjoy some time off and do some sight-seeing.

"It's just a good life choice," says Osaer, who lobbied for Cardiff to go after Teplitsky. "Not many people get the opportunity to go to Europe and spend six, eight months."

Osaer and his fiancee, Megan Abshire, plan to take full advantage. After Osaer's season ends in April, the couple will spend the next few weeks traveling throughout Europe before coming home.

But there are pitfalls as well. The time away and distance from loved ones. The language barrier, which varies depending on the country. And some of the places may not be all that worth seeing.

"It's not all roses over there," Brush says.

"It's a really tough decision to make and it's a long ways away," says Blades defenseman Chris Lee, who says the chances are "pretty good" he will accept Florida's qualifying offer.

"It's something you have to be very open-minded about," says McDonald, 26, who will take time to weigh his playing options after his honeymoon. "It's going to be very challenging in the beginning."

The Future

At the very least, the financial considerations the six former Everblades will receive for playing in Europe will help themselves and their families in the future.

It could also help their hockey future.

Most of the players are signed to short-term contracts for as little as one year. And because many teams in Europe have limits on the number of "imports" they can have — teams in Sweden are allowed two, for example — the chances for turnover can be greater if they don't perform.

But if they do, they can continue to make a living, either by staying in Europe and earning the bigger money, or coming back to the U.S. with perhaps some teams' eyes opened.

Brian Rafalski is the best example. The All-Star defenseman for the New Jersey Devils played four seasons in Scandinavia before coming back to North America. But Loughran points out he didn't follow exactly the same path of the former Everblades.

"Rafalski, I think, is an exception to the rule," Loughran says. "He didn't like any pro offers that were made. He went there first. It's not like he played here."

Whatever happens overseas, that option of coming back and playing in the ECHL or the AHL will likely be there.

"If it comes to a situation next year, we can always come back and do it," Osaer says.

Meanwhile, Brush and the Everblades will move forward with their offseason plans. Forward Phil Aucoin accepted the team's qualifying offer, and forward Kevin Bergin and defensemen Lee and John Adams are still considering theirs.

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European vacation

Here are the members of the 2005-06 Florida Everblades who have signed with teams overseas:

• D Matt Bannan (Germany)

• D Corey Neilson (England)

• G Phil Osaer (Wales)

• F Steve Saviano (Sweden)

• F Dan Sisca (Italy)

• D Tyson Teplitsky (Wales)