THE 1997-98 NHL ALL-STAR GAME BALLOT
In a year when NHL players will participate in the Olympic Games for the first time ever, the league announced its 1998 All-Star Game will feature a unique international format, pitting North American All-Stars against World All-Stars.

The All-Star Game International Showdown will be played on Sunday, January 18th at General Motors Place in Vancouver.

Under the new international format, the top NHL players representing Canada and the United States will comprise the North American All-Star team, who will face the top NHL players from the rest of the world. The starting lineups for both clubs will be selected by All-Star fan balloting. The NHL's Operations Department, in consultation with senior NHL general managers, will select the remaining players on each squad.

NORTH AMERICA ALL-STARS

Goaltenders
Martin Brodeur, New Jersey (CAN)
Sean Burke, Carolina (CAN)
Guy Hebert, Anaheim (USA)
Mike Richter, NY Rangers (USA)
Patrick Roy, Colorado (CAN)
John Vanbiesbrouck, Florida (USA)

Defensemen
Bryan Berard, NY Islanders (USA)
Rob Blake, Los Angeles (CAN)
Ray Bourque, Boston (CAN)
Chris Chelios, Chicago (USA)
Paul Coffey, Philadelphia (CAN)
Eric Desjardins, Philadelphia (CAN)
Derian Hatcher, Dallas (USA) 
Kevin Hatcher, Pittsburgh (USA)
Brian Leetch, NY Rangers (USA)
Al MacInnis, St. Louis (CAN)
Scott Niedermayer, New Jersey (CAN)
Mathieu Schneider, Toronto (USA) 
Scott Stevens, New Jersey (CAN)
Gary Suter, Chicago (USA)
Darryl Sydor, Dallas (CAN)

Wingers
Tony Amonte, Chicago (USA)
Dino Ciccarelli, Tampa Bay (CAN)
Adam Deadmarsh, Colorado (USA)
Theoren Fleury, Calgary (CAN)
Mike Gartner, Phoenix (CAN)
Bill Guerin, New Jersey (USA)
Brett Hull, St. Louis (USA)
Paul Kariya, Anaheim (CAN)
John LeClair, Philadelphia (USA)
Scott Mellanby, Florida (CAN)
Owen Nolan, San Jose (CAN)
Mark Recchi, Montreal (CAN)
Geoff Sanderson, Carolina (CAN)
Brendan Shanahan, Detroit (CAN)
Ray Sheppard, Florida (CAN)
Keith Tkachuk, Phoenix (USA)
Rick Tocchet, Phoenix (CAN)
Pat Verbeek, Dallas (CAN)

Centers
Vincent Damphousse, Montreal (CAN)
Doug Gilmour, New Jersey (CAN)
Wayne Gretzky, NY Rangers (CAN)
Trevor Linden, Vancouver (CAN)
Eric Lindros, Philadelphia (CAN)
Mark Messier, Vancouver (CAN)
Mike Modano, Dallas (USA)
Adam Oates, Washington (CAN)
Jeremy Roenick, Phoenix (USA)
Joe Sakic, Colorado (CAN)
Doug Weight, Edmonton (USA)
Steve Yzerman, Detroit (CAN)

WORLD ALL-STARS

Goaltenders
Dominik Hasek, Buffalo (CZE)
Arturs Irbe, Vancouver (LAT)
Nikolai Khabibulin (RUS)
Olaf Kolzig, Washington (GER)
Tommy Salo, NY Islanders (SWE)
Mikhail Shtalenkov, Anaheim (RUS)

Defensemen 
Viacheslav Fetisov, Detroit (RUS)
Sergei Gonchar, Washington (RUS)
Roman Hamrlik, Tampa Bay (CZE)
Darius Kasparaitis, Pittsburgh (RUS)
Uwe Krupp, Colorado (GER)
Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit (SWE)
Jyrki Lumme, Vancouver (FIN)
Dmitri Mironov, Anaheim (RUS)
Janne Niinimaa, Philadelphia (FIN)
Teppo Numminen, Phoenix (FIN)
Sandis Ozolinsh, Colorado (LAT)
Ulf Samuelsson, NY Rangers (SWE)
Robert Svehla, Florida (SLO)
Oleg Tverdovsky, Phoenix (RUS)
Alexei Zhitnik, Buffalo (RUS)

Wingers
Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa (SWE)
Peter Bondra, Washington (SLO)
Pavel Bure, Vancouver (RUS)
Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh (CZE)
Valeri Kamensky, Colorado (RUS)
Dimitri Khristich, Boston (UKR)
Andrei Kovalenko, Edmonton (RUS)
Alexei Kovalev, NY Rangers (RUS)
Viktor Kozlov, San Jose (RUS)
Vyacheslav Kozlov, Detroit (RUS)
Jere Lehtinen, Dallas (FIN)
Alexander Mogilny, Vancouver (RUS)
Zigmund Palffy, NY Islanders (SLO)
Mikael Renberg, Tampa Bay (SWE)
Martin Rucinsky, Montreal (CZE)
Teemu Selanne, Anaheim (FIN)
Niklas Sundstrom, NY Rangers (SWE)
German Titov, Calgary (RUS)

Centers
Sergei Fedorov, Detroit (RUS)
Peter Forsberg, Colorado (SWE)
Bobby Holik, New Jersey (CZE)
Saku Koivu, Montreal (FIN)
Igor Larionov, Detroit (RUS)
Petr Nedved, Pittsburgh (CZE)
Michal Pivonka, Washington (CZE)
Robert Reichel, NY Islanders (CZE)
Jozef Stumpel, Los Angeles (SLO)
Mats Sundin, Toronto (SWE)
Alexei Yashin, Ottawa (RUS)
Alexei Zhamnov, Chicago (RUS)

GORDIE HOWE TO PLAY ONE GAME WITH IHL DETROIT VIPERS
Hockey icon Gordie Howe will apparently become the only professional hockey player to play in six decades after all. The 69-year-old Howe will come out of retirement to play one game with the Detroit Vipers of the International Hockey League. The Vipers plan to play Howe in the season opener Oct. 3 against the Kansas City Blades.

Howe nearly became the first player to play in six decades last April with Syracuse of the American Hockey League, but the Crunch aborted plans to bring him back since the team was fighting for a playoff berth.

Howe retired from the NHL in 1980 at the age of 52. His career spanned an unprecedented 32 seasons, beginning with the Detroit Red Wings in 1946. He is second all-time to Wayne Gretzky with 801 career NHL goals. Combining his years with the World Hockey Association, Howe has scored 1,071 career goals and amassed 2,589 points.

FLYERS, LINDROS UNABLE AGREE ON CONTRACT EXTENSION
Philadelphia Flyers general manager Bobby Clarke announced that Eric Lindros turned down a seven-year, $60 million contract extension. The deal would have made him the highest paid player in the NHL. "Eric still has another season on his contract and we anticipate his full participation in training camp and during the season," Clarke said. "As long as he honors his existing contractual agreements, we will continue to work toward negotiating a contract."

LEMIEUX AMONG FIVE TO BE INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME
The undeniable greatness of Mario Lemieux enabled him to have his mandatory waiting period waived as he was among five nominated inductees for the Hockey Hall of Fame Tuesday. Lemieux, who overcame Hodgkin's disease and debilitating back injuries to maintain his status as one of the finest players in NHL history, retired in May as the league's fifth all-time goal scorer. Lemieux will become the ninth player inducted in the Hall without having to wait the mandatory three years following retirement. "Although I had heard rumors that I might be inducted into the Hall of Fame this season, I was not at all prepared for it," Lemieux said. "I am so overwhelmed by the thought of entering the Hall of Fame this November, especially in light of the fact that so few have gone in without waiting the three years." Joining Lemieux at the induction ceremonies Nov. 17 in Toronto will be: Bryan Trottier, the leader of the New York Islanders' dynasty of the early 1980s; Edmonton Oilers executive Glen Sather; longtime Philadelphia Flyers broadcaster Gene Hart; and Hockey News founder Ken McKenzie.

COYOTES' GLUCKSTERN TO BUY ISLANDERS

New York Islanders owner John O. Pickett Jr. announced Thursday night that he has signed a letter of intent to sell the embattled franchise to a group headed by Phoenix Coyotes co-owner Steven M. Gluckstern. The sale to New York Sports Ventures, a newly formed company controlled by Gluckstern and Howard P. Milstein, should be completed around the end of the year and is subject to approval by the National Hockey League and its Board of Governors. As part of the deal, Gluckstern has agreed to sell his 50 percent interest in the Coyotes to co-owner Richard Burke. "Despite sadness about having to leave Arizona, the Coyotes and its extraordinary staff and my partner, Richard, my family and I look forward to the opportunity to lead the Islanders franchise into the next century on Long Island," Gluckstern said. "As New Yorkers, the chance for me and my partners to own and operate a team in our own backyard was one we simply couldn't pass up."

1997-98 NHL CALENDAR

September 13  -- First preseason games
September 27  -- Unsigned draft choices claimed in fourth or
                 subsequent rounds of Entry Draft must be returned
                 to their junior clubs
September 28  -- Waiver Draft
September 30  -- Unsigned draft choices claimed in first three
                 rounds of Entry Draft must be returned to their
                 junior clubs
October 1     -- 81st NHL regular season begins
October 3-4   -- Game ONe Japan - Anaheim vs. Vanocuver (Tokyo, Japan)
                 (Note: These dates are October 4-5 in Japan)
October 15    -- NHL All-Star Fan Balloting begins
November 17   -- Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Celebration, Toronto
December 2-3  -- Board of Governors Meeting - Palm Beach, Florida
December 15   -- NHL All-Star fan Balloting ends
December 19   -- Roster freeze in effect.  For all players on an NHL
                 roster as of midnight local time December 19th, a
                 roster freeze shall apply through midnight local
                 time December 27th, with respect to waivers, trades 
                 and any other player assignments: provided, however,
                 that players may be recalled to NHL clubs during this
                 period
December TBA  -- All-Star starters announced
December TBA  -- Remainder of All-Star Teams announced
December 25   -- World Junior Hockey Championship, Finland
                 (through January 3, 1998)
January 14-18 -- Pinnacle/NHL FANtasy, Vancouver
January 17    -- NHL All-Star Saturday, GM Place, Vancouver
January 18    -- 48th All-Star Game, GM Place, Vancouver
February TBA  -- NHL/CHL Top Prospects Game, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto
February 8-24 -- NHL Winter Break 
                 (due to Olympic Winter Games)
February 25   -- NHL season resumes
March 25      -- Trading deadline (3:00 p.m. Eastern)
April TBA     -- Lester Patrick Award Luncheon
April 19      -- End of regular season
April 22      -- Stanley Cup Playoffs begin
May 1         -- World Championships, Switzerland
                 (through May 17th)
May TBA       -- Entry Draft Drawing
June 23       -- Last possible date for completion of Stanley Cup
June 25       -- NHL Awards Television Special, Toronto
June 26       -- Expansion Draft, Buffalo
                 Top Prospect Preview, Buffalo
June 27       -- NHL Entry Draft, Buffalo
July 1        -- Eligible players transferred to free agent list

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

September 13, 1997

Florida Panthers: Re-signed free-agent center Rob Niedermayer to a three-year contract. San Jose Sharks: Returned defenseman David Bell and center Mark Smith to Kentucky of the American Hockey League; sent right wings Adam Colagiacomo and Adam Nittel to their respective junior teams.

September 11, 1997

Boston Bruins: Signed center Joel Prpic to a two-year contract. Chicago Blackhawks: Re-signed free agent center Steve Dubinsky to a one-year contract. Florida Panthers: Signed right wing Scott Mellanby to a new four-year contract. New York Rangers: Signed free agent left wing Tim Sweeney, who had been with the Boston Bruins. St. Louis Blues: Agreed to terms with defenseman Rory Fitzpatrick, right wing Chris Kenady and center Jochen Hecht. Tampa Bay Lightning: Re-signed free agent left wing Jeff Toms.

September 10, 1997

Carolina Hurricanes: Signed goaltender Trevor Kidd to a multi-year contract. Florida Panthers: Signed left wing Bill Lindsay to a new four-year contract. Montreal Canadiens: Re-signed free agent defenseman David Wilkie to a two-year contract and forward Sebastien Bordeleau to a one-year contract; agreed to terms on three-year contracts with forward Arron Asham and defenseman Brett Clark and a two-year contract with forward Alexei Lojkin . New York Islanders: Agreed to terms with free agent center-right wing Bryan Smolinski. San Jose Sharks: Signed free-agent left wing Niklas Andersson , who had been with the New York Islanders.

September 9, 1997

Mighty Ducks of Anaheim: Signed center J.F. Jomphe to a two-year contract and center Richard Park to a one-year contract. New Jersey Devils: Signed center Brendan Morrison to a multi-year contract. New York Rangers: Agreed to terms with free agent forward Alexei Kovalev. Ottawa Senators: Re-signed defenseman Stan Neckar to a one-year contract. Vancouver Canucks: Re-signed free agent right wing Scott Walker ; re-signed left wing Donald Brashear.

September 8, 1997

Buffalo Sabres: Agreed to terms with defenseman Bob Boughner on a multi-year deal. Carolina Hurricanes: Signed left wing Gary Roberts, who was acquired in a trade from Calgary on August 25th, to a multi-year contract. Detroit Red Wings: Re-signed defenseman Slava Fetisov to a one-year deal. Los Angeles Kings: Agreed to a two-year contract with a club option for a third year with restricted free agent center Josef Stumpel; agreed to a three-year contract with restricted free agent center Ian Laperriere and a one-year contract with restricted free agent defenseman Philippe Boucher. New York Islanders: Extended the contract of goaltender Tommy Salo through the 1998-1999 season. New York Rangers: Agreed to terms with defenseman Alexander Karpovtsev; named John Paddock director of professional scouting and Martin Madden, Jr. to the scouting staff. Toronto Maple Leafs: Invited free-agent forward Igor Korolev to training camp.

September 5, 1997

Dallas Stars: Signed right wing Grant Marshall to a two-year contract. Florida Panthers: Signed free agent left wing Esa Tikkanen, who had been with the New York Rangers, to a one-year contract with renewable options; re-signed goaltender Mark Fitzpatrick to a one-year contract. Los Angeles Kings: Signed goaltender Frederic Chabot to a two-year contract. Phoenix Coyotes: Signed free agent defenseman Brad Tiley to a one-year contract. San Jose Sharks: Named Cap Raeder professional scout.

September 4, 1997

Boston Bruins: Agreed to terms with free agent left wing Steve Heinze. Edmonton Oilers: Added Tom Thompson and Brad Davis to the scouting staff. New Jersey Devils: Signed goaltender Judd Lambert. New York Islanders: Agreed to terms with free agent defensemen Scott Lachance and Doug Houda. New York Rangers: Agreed to terms on new contracts with assistant coaches Dick Todd and Bill Moores. Washington Capitals: Traded defenseman Eric Charron to the Calgary Flames for future considerations.

September 3, 1997

Boston Bruins: Agreed to terms on a three-year contract with left wing Sergei Samsonov, their second first-round pick in the 1997 draft. Detroit Red Wings: Signed defenseman Jon Coleman to a two-year contract. New York Rangers: Signed free-agent goaltender Robb Stauber and forward P.J. Stock. Tampa Bay Lightning: Re-signed free agent goaltender Derek Wilkinson.

September 2, 1997

Buffalo Sabres: Named Mike Gilbert senior director of communications. Dallas Stars: Agreed to terms on a three-year contract with free agent right wing Jere Lehtinen. San Jose Sharks: Signed unrestricted free agent goaltender Kay Whitmore and center Mike Casselman; signed right wing Marko Makinen, a 1995 third-round draft pick. Tampa Bay Lightning: Re-signed center Brent Peterson. Vancouver Canucks: Promoted Steve Tambellini to senior vice president, hockey operations and Mike Penny to assistant general manager.

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