_ _ _ _ | | ____ __ | | ____ ___ | | ____ ___ | | ____ ___ | |/ _ / __| | |/ _ / __| | |/ _ / __| | |/ _ / __| | | (_ \__ \ | | (_ \__ \ | | (_ \__ \ | | (_ \__ \ |_|\____\___/ |_|\____\___/ |_|\____\___/ |_|\____\___/ GUIDE TO HOCKEY GUIDE TO HOCKEY GUIDE TO HOCKEY GUIDE TO HOCKEY ================================================================ Five Star - ELECTRONIC EDITION - * * * * * ================================================================ Issue 78 September 15, 1997 425,000 bytes ---------------------------------------------------------------- ********** 1997-98 SEASON PREVIEW *********** ---------------------------------------------------------------- Visit us on the web at http://www.lcshockey.com/ for all your hockey needs. Our web site provides daily news stories, stats, and more. To subscribe/unsubscribe from the LCS Hockey mailing list contact zippy@psu.edu You may access LCS Guide to Hockey on America Online at keyword "LCS Hockey". Our AOL coverage includes exclusive daily content not available on our website. -------------------------------------------------------- LCS: Guide to Hockey Season Preview -------------------------------------------------------- Sadly, the lazy days of summer are gone and yet another NHL season is upon us. That damn NHL just doesn't stop. You think the league would take a year or two off, but noooooo! It has to keep coming back for more... year, after year, after year. We'd like to just turn our backs to the league and its impending season, but we simply can't. And you know why we can't? That's right, it's because of you, our valued readers. Call it blind devotion. Call it unrequited love. Or call it a court-imposed sentence to public service that if we break we'd have to serve 12 to 18 months of hard time... whatever the reason, we do it for you. We know that if we weren't around you'd be forced to read the usual garbage written by such rags as The Hockey News, ESPNet, and the like. But because of us, you don't have to read their senseless trash. You can read our senseless trash. Together we can make a difference. This issue kicks off our fourth year of NHL coverage. Along the way we've learned a lot. But luckily for us, we're not that bright and we usually forget everything over the summer. That way each season seems brand new. It helps keep things fresh. We have managed to retain one small bit of information, tho'. Each season must be opened up with a Season Preview. That's, like, a rule or somethin'. So with that in mind, we've thrown together the following example of a Season Preview. It contains assorted feature articles and individual team reports for your reading enjoyment, all compiled in hopes of forecasting the events of the upcoming season. As usual, when considering where teams will finish, two things weighed heavily in the decision making process: pills and booze. After long "deliberation", here's a quick rundown of how we think the 1997-98 NHL season will unfold. For a complete explanation of why teams were picked where they were, please read the individual team reports elsewhere in the issue. EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division: The Flyers are still the class of the division, but the Washington Capitals are on the rise. (number in parenthesis is playoff spot) 1. Philadelphia Flyers (1) 2. Washington Capitals (3) 3. New Jersey Devils (4) 4. New York Rangers (6) 5. Florida Panthers (8) 6. New York Islanders 7. Tampa Bay Lightning Northeast Division: Without Ted Nolan to keep the team together, the Sabres will suck. Picking Carolina first might be strong, but Gary Roberts will make them a winner. 1. Carolina Hurricanes (2) 2. Pittsburgh Penguins (5) 3. Montreal Canadiens (7) 4. Ottawa Senators 5. Buffalo Sabres 6. Boston Bruins WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division: Dallas will again run away with things. Detroit is on the slide. St. Louis could surprise some people. 1. Dallas Stars (2) 2. Phoenix Coyotes (3) 3. Detroit Red Wings (4) 4. St. Louis Blues (5) 5. Chicago Blackhawks 6. Toronto Maple Leafs Pacific Division: Colorado is still the best team in the league. The big news is that Anaheim will plummet without Ron Wilson to lead the way. 1. Colorado Avalanche (1) 2. Vancouver Canucks (6) 3. Edmonton Oilers (7) 4. San Jose Sharks (8) 5. Calgary Flames 6. Los Angeles Kings 7. Anaheim Mighty Ducks Now's where we each usually make our Stanley Cup Finals predictions. So, like, here they are... Michael Dell, editor-in-chief: Colorado will beat Dallas in the Western Conference Finals and Philadelphia will beat New Jersey in the East. That means for the third straight year I'm predicting Colorado to beat Philadelphia for the Stanley Cup. There's nothing quite like tradition. Zippy, Wonder Chimp: Jim Iovino, Ace Reporter: Matthew Secosky, Chimp B: Before we go, there's one final prediction we'd like to make for the coming season. An advanced race of space goats will descend on Earth and enslave all its inhabitants... except for the goats, of course, who will all be given positions of power. One final note, the first issue of the new season will be Tuesday, October 7. But daily coverage on America Online will kick off on October 1. Thank you. ------------------------------------------------------------ Free agents remain unsigned, confuse fantasy hockey leagues ------------------------------------------------------------ By Jim Iovino The following article on the remaining free agents and holdouts is a public service announcement for those of you, our valued readers, who are involved in fantasy hockey leagues across the world. Should you pick a free agent even though they haven’t signed yet? Hopefully this article will help. Enjoy. Paul Kariya The standoff in Anaheim wasn’t supposed to extend this long. Disney’s got lots of money, right? Why don’t they just fork over the money to Paul Kariya, their Mightiest Duck? Not too many people are sure why Kariya’s not signed, but it’s safe to say everyone, including the head honchos in the NHL offices, are concerned. Kariya, you see, is supposed to be the main attraction when the Ducks open their season against the Vancouver Canucks in Japan. But without Kariya, the game won’t mean as much to the curious Japanese fans that will attend. The Ducks’ initial offer to Kariya was made back in the month of July. It was a five-year, $25 million offer. Kariya is thought to be asking for a substantial amount more -- somewhere in the $7 million per year range. Anaheim is waiting for a counter-proposal from Kariya’s agent, who doesn’t even feel the low Ducks’ first offer deserves a response. This holdout could go on for a while. But then again, the team might be waiting to see what happens in Pittsburgh with Jaromir Jagr, Detroit with Sergei Fedorov and Philadelphia with Eric Lindros. Sergei Fedorov Does he want traded or not? No one’s really sure. Fedorov has made it very clear, however, that if he re- signs with the Red Wings, he doesn’t want to play defense. He also wants more of a hand in the offensive game plan. Coach Scotty Bowman agrees. He said he will not use Fedorov as a defenseman. But is that enough to keep Fedorov in Detroit? Well, they suppose some more money will help. Fedorov supposedly wants about $6 million a year, but as in the case of Kariya, Fedorov will probably hold out to see what the market value of players of his caliber levels out at. Mike Barnett, Fedorov’s agent, might meet with Red Wing general manager Ken Holland when Detroit travels to Pittsburgh for a game on Tuesday to discuss the contract situation. Mike Modano and Darien Hatcher Both Modano and Hatcher are holding out of the Dallas Stars’ training camp, and there’s no word on new deals being imminent. Last word had Hatcher turning down an offer of $2.2 million per season and Modano declining a three-year, $10.2 million deal. The Stars are hoping to get something done with Hatcher in the near future, while Modano, who wants about $4 million a year, is looking to get a deal signed with about two exhibition games left before the regular season starts. In any case, the negotiations are going well enough that both players should be in uniform when the real season begins. Daniel Alfredsson The Ottawa Senators don’t have a good track record when negotiating with their own players. Daniel Alfredsson knows that, as well. The gutsy, two-way Ottawa star rejected the Sens’ $14.3 million, five-year offer, and is believed to be looking for something around $19 million for five years. Alfredsson told a Swedish newspaper this past weekend that, besides liking meatballs, he’s willing to sit out the whole season if that is what it will take for him to get the right contract from the Senators. That’s not good news for Ottawa fans, who are hoping that last season’s playoff berth is a sign of good things to come. Perhaps the Senators just don’t know what to do with themselves if they don’t have someone holding out for a contract of some sort. Luckily Alfredsson is holding out. The player who drew the next shortest straw was Phil Von Stefenelli, and no one would really even care about him sitting out. Except for Phil’s mom, of course...Hi Mrs. Von Stefenelli! Oleg Tverdovsky The Tverdovsky situation just doesn’t look good. And that could spell trouble for those who picked him as their top defenseman in their hockey pools. Tverdovsky is looking for a big contract for about $2 million per season. The Phoenix Coyotes don’t seem willing to give it to him. There’s even been talk of a possible trade coming soon. One possible city Tverdovsky could end up in is Vancouver, where Bret Hedican is also in a contract standoff. If a trade isn’t engineered, Tverdovsky’s holdout could be a long one. Petr Nedved It seems every year Petr Nedved demands more money. This year is no exception. But unlike past years, the Pittsburgh Penguins are finally getting tired of his antics. The Pens offered Nedved "Tony Amonte money", but Nedved feels he’s worth more. The Pens offered Nedved about $15 million for five years, but Nedved wants $3 million or $ 4 million more. Nedved even when as far as demanding a trade, but the Pens say that’s not going to happen. So Nedved now says he’ll play this season in the Czech Elite League. Kudos to the Pens on this one. Nedved has to prove himself before commanding that much money in the league. Alexander Mogilny Who knows when Mogilny’s gonna sign. Right now he’s living it up at his Malibu beach house and doesn’t appear to want to come back for training camp. If he signs, it will probably be right before the season starts. Of course, if Mark Messier finds out what beach house is his, Mogilny might be scrambling to pack his things and catch the next available flight to Vancouver before the Moose gets through the front door. Sergei Gonchar Gonchar’s in Russia right now, and his agent is hinting that his client would like a trade if nothing is worked out soon. Gonchar’s price tag is a little cheaper than Tverdovsky’s, so the Caps might be able to handle his contract. Michael Peca Mike Peca is desperately needed in Buffalo, but the Sabres don’t appear to be in any hurry to sign him. They better step their efforts up soon, because the Rangers seem to be ready to sign him to a front-loaded offer that the small-market Sabres wouldn’t be able to match. John LeClair LeClair isn’t a free agent, but he’s holding out until the Flyers renegotiate his current five-year, $7 million deal. The big man is in the third year of his current contract. The two sides seem to be at a stalemate. GM Bobby Clarke said he won’t renegotiate until LeClair reports to camp. By the way, Bobby Clarke seems to be really serious. LeClair wants something in the range of $4 million per season. -------------------------------------------------------- I Heard Things -------------------------------------------------------- by Jim Iovino LeClair wants more than goals The Philadelphia Flyers have had a rough time of late with free agents and contract negotiations. First, there was the Eric Lindros contract talks, which haven’t gone as well as either side had hoped. Then there was the Chris Gratton mess, with three teams confused as to where the young centerman was going to end up. And just when general manager Bobby Clarke thought things had calmed down, word comes in that John LeClair is unhappy with his current contract and wants to re-negotiate. So much for a peaceful training camp. By current league standards, LeClair, a back-to-back 50-goal scorer, is grossly underpaid. His five-year, $7 million contract is miniscule to recent deals like Joe Sakic’s three-year, $21 million contract and the imminent signings of Lindros, Paul Kariya and Sergei Fedorov. LeClair feels he should be paid at least in the $4-million range. But what’s troubling to see is that LeClair signed his current contract just two seasons ago and has three years left on it. At the time of his signing, LeClair chose a long contract to cover himself in case of a significant injury. If he wanted to, LeClair could have signed a shorter deal and tried his luck on the free agent market a few years later when salaries would escalate even more. But he chose the safe route. He secured his future while sacrificing his free agent status for five more years. Now LeClair feels he’s underpaid. And he is. There’s no doubt about that. But just because he’s underpaid doesn’t mean he should back out of his current contract with the Flyers. He signed the contract and has an obligation to play. If he doesn’t like it, he shouldn’t sign any more long-term contracts in the future. The Flyers feel they made a substantial offer to LeClair -- they said they’d double the money he’s being paid now for the rest of the contract. But LeClair wants more. Clarke is very aggrivated by LeClair’s attitude in the situation, and from the sounds of it, the attitude of a lot of players in the league. "People call us (hockey managements) dummies for giving guys with contracts more money, and I guess we are, but offering to double the value of the last three years of his contract wasn't enough for him," Clarke said. "There's nothing in there about being allowed to re-negotiate after a certain time. Like I said, we don't have to do anything for him, but still, we were ready to double the value the contract. We told his agent that if he walks out, that's the end of it. He walked out and we won't talk." Theo Fleury: The Book Ok, so there are a slew of jokes I can think of about this next story. Theo Fleury is the subject of a book. And no, it’s not a short story. Fleury’s new book, which should hit the shelves next month, is called FURY: Inside the life of Theoren Fleury. The book was written by Andrew Malcolm and will be published by McClelland and Stewart. Sorry, there are no "short" excerpts of the book to share at this time. And no, there was no mentioning of the book being available in small print. Trouble in paradise Due to a contract holdout, Alexander Mogilny is still not in the Vancouver Canucks training camp. But is the Russian star worried about it? Not a chance. The man who was once scared to fly in airplanes is living the good life with his family at their Malibu beach house. In a phone interview with the Vancouver Sun, Mogilny didn’t seem worried about his contract status. He also didn’t seem too interested in coming back to the NHL anytime soon. He’s enjoying the fun and sun with his wife, new baby and dog too much to care about hockey. "I’m collecting my unemployment checks and food coupons," Mogilny quipped during the interview with the Sun. "That’s all I do now." Hedican hassling over new deal While Mogilny is maxing and relaxing in Malibu without a care in the world, the same couldn’t be said of his teammate, Bret Hedican. The speedy Canuck defenseman is also at a contract impasse with Vancouver. However, Hedican and his agent, Brian Lawton are stressing over the situation because Hedican wants to be paid in accordance with the other defensemen on the team. The Canucks are supposedly offering something in the $800,000 range, but Hedican wants somewhere around $1 million. Lawton said he believes that the Canucks are trying to trade Hedican. One possible destination: Phoenix, in a package for disgruntled defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky. Roenick despises shiny Nike skates Jeremy Roenick’s days as a Nike poster boy are finished. Roenick terminated his skate endorsement contract with Nike because he just didn’t feel comfortable wearing their skates. The skates must have been pretty darn uncomfortable because Roenick’s deal with Nike was worth at least six figures. Apparently Roenick never felt right in Nike skates, but the company put pressure on him to wear them last season, especially during the playoffs. But Roenick didn’t give in to The Man and continued to wear his old Bauers. Roenick said he’d rather be comfortable on the ice and be able to help his team the most instead of worrying about wearing a certain brand of awkward-fitting skates and receiving a phat paycheck to do so. "I just found it very hard to get into their skates," Roenick said. "There's no question I tried. I went through five or six pairs. It's better off. If I can't wear them, I'm not going to try and fool anybody just because of the money." Sabres could trade LaFontaine If the Buffalo Sabres and Pat LaFontaine don’t come to an agreement on the center taking the ice in Buffalo this season, the outcome could be a trade. One possible destination is Toronto, who is looking for a second-line center to play behind Mats Sundin. If the Leafs work it out right, they could acquire LaFontaine, who is a risk because of his series of concussions, and re-work his contract so they wouldn’t have to pay him a lot in case he suffers an injury again. The Sabres have a chance to lose another center, as well. Mike Peca is still a restricted free agent. The Rangers have been interested in Peca due to the loss of Mark Messier. Peca would not command a lot in compensation because of his low salary last season, and the Rangers have the cash to front-load the deal, making it nearly impossible for the cash-strapped to match the offer. Gonchar still holding out in Washington Washington Capital defenseman Sergei Gonchar isn’t in first-year coach Ron Wilson’s training camp. He’s in Russia waiting for the right offer on a new contract. The restricted free agent isn’t optimistic a deal with the Capitals will be reached, however, so his agent has requested a trade. Gonchar made $400,000 last season, but is seeking a deal that would pay him somewhere between $1.5 and $2 million a year. Gonchar’s agent said the Capitals best offer would still make his client the lowest-paid defenseman on the team. Despite suffering several injuries, Gonchar scored 13 goals in 57 games last season. He tallied 15 goals in 78 games during the 1995-96 season. Although Gonchar might be seeking a trade, the Capitals aren’t. General manager George McPhee said a trade isn’t going to happen. Kovalev back...but for how long? Alexei Kovalev is signed, sealed and delivered to the New York Rangers training camp. But how long he’ll stay there is anyone’s guess. The man voted "Most Likely to be Traded" by his senior class has already been involved in trade rumors this season. Kovalev appears to be completely over a knee injury that ruined his season last year, and because he looks fully recovered the rumors are once again flying. Reports have Kovalev being possible trade bait in the Rangers efforts to land a big-name player to replace Mark Messier -- most notably Sergei Fedorov, Pavel Bure, or maybe even Mike Peca. Who picked Nikolishin in their hockey pools? The injury bug must love hanging out in Washington. After an injury-plagued 1996-97 season, the Capitals have already suffered their first setback of 1997-98. Andrei Nikolishin tore ligaments in his knee at the beginning of the summer and most likely won’t see NHL action until mid-season. _____________________________________________________ CREDITS Michael Dell........................Editor-in-Chief Zippy the Wonder Chimp.................Computer Boy Jim Iovino.............................Ace Reporter Matthew Secosky.............................Chimp B Dan Hurwitz.............Force for Cultural Hegemony John Kreiser.....................Featured Columnist David A. Feete......................Featured Writer Viktor Malakoff...............Anaheim Correspondent Matt Brown.....................Boston Correspondent Patrick S. Law................Buffalo Correspondent Tony Wong.....................Calgary Correspondent Dan Glovier...................Chicago Correspondent Matt Gitchell................Colorado Correspondent Jim Panenka....................Dallas Correspondent Dino Cacciola.................Detroit Correspondent Simon D. Lewis...............Edmonton Correspondent Eric A. Seiden................Florida Correspondent Steve Gallichio..............Hartford Correspondent Matt Moore................Los Angeles Correspondent Jacques Robert...............Montreal Correspondent David Ibrahim..............New Jersey Correspondent David Strauss...............Islanders Correspondent Alex Frias....................Rangers Correspondent The Nosebleeders..............Ottawa Correspondents Eric Meyer...............Philadelphia Correspondent Jeff Brown....................Phoenix Correspondent Joe Ashkar..................St. Louis Correspondent Mark Spiegel.................San Jose Correspondent Troy Ely....................Tampa Bay Correspondent Jonah Sigel...................Toronto Correspondent Carol Schram................Vancouver Correspondent Jason Sheehan..............Washington Correspondent Tricia McMillan...................AHL Correspondent ---------------------------------------------------- LCS Guide to Hockey, Issue 78, Sept. 15 - Oct. 8, 1997 Email address: sportif@oak.westol.com Good ol' postal address: 632 Hempfield Street, Greensburg, PA 15601. Web Site: http://www.lcshockey.com/ open 24 hours a day. AOL Keyword: "LCS" or "LCS Hockey", exclusive coverage. ------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------- NHL ROUND-UP -------------------------------------------------------- by Zippy, Wonder Chimp 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. -------------------------------------------------------- Carolina hockey: Who will watch? -------------------------------------------------------- By Jim Iovino The team formerly known as the Hartford Whalers, now called the Carolina Hurricanes, have one too many starting goalies on their roster. That’s a problem. The Hurricanes, who moved to Carolina from Hartford due to a lack of fan support and significant losses of funds, don’t have many fans at their new (temporary) home in Greensboro, North Carolina. That, too, is a problem. But management hopes that by the start of the regular season at least one of the two problems will be corrected. The goaltending situation seems to be the easier one to fix. Because of the Andrew Cassels trade with Calgary that brought Gary Roberts and Trevor Kidd to Carolina, the Hurricanes are left with two No. 1 goalies in camp. Sean Burke is the returning starter, but he becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season and will command a lot of money. The Hurricanes know they won’t be able to keep him, so they’re trying to trade him now to the highest bidder. Kidd has been the Calgary Flames’ starting keeper off and on during the past couple seasons. But the heir apparent to Mike Vernon never lived up to the expectations Flames fans had of him, so they shipped him to Carolina where he gets a second chance to earn the starting nod. Rumors have circulated for some time about Burke being shipped to the Philadelphia Flyers, a team desperately in need of a strong money goalie. However, the longer the Flyers wait on Burke, the less likely it will be that they’ll acquire him. The Flyers could play rent-a-goalie this season by making an offer to the Edmonton Oilers for Curtis Joseph, who is an unrestricted free agent after the year, then go after hometown goalie Mike Richter, who will also be a free agent, during the off-season. In any case, the Hurricanes do have a goaltending problem. But it’s a problem that can easily be corrected. The other problem, attendance, might be a lot harder to overcome. If the NHL hasn’t figured it out by now, the Carolinas aren’t exactly known for having strong appetites for hockey action. Put Keith Primeau in a 1997 Ford Thunderbird and sent him out onto an oval racetrack at 100 m.p.h. and people will love him. Stick him on ice and...well, people won’t know what to do. Hockey is really unfamiliar territory for people in the area. Actually, ice itself is seldom seen, except in glasses of Country Time lemonade. It's going to be interesting to see if sports fans will like hockey as much as they love their racin' and football. At last count, the Hurricanes had sold 3,000 season tickets for their first of two seasons in Greensboro before moving to their permanent home in Raleigh in 1999. That’s right, 3,000 season tickets sold for the Greensboro Coliseum, which holds 21,500. The Hurricanes season ticket drive has been stuck at 3,000 since early July. The Hurricanes better hope that hockey will sell itself in North Carolina, because if it doesn’t, the team will be hard-pressed to find enough cash to keep the team competitive. Does this sound familiar? It’s basically the same situation the team faced in Hartford -- only there the season ticket base was about 13,000. The Hurricanes are by no means the same team that took the ice at the Mall in Hartford. There were some key additions added to the roster over the off-season that could make an impact this year. The other player picked up in the Trevor Kidd trade was Gary Roberts. Roberts is a risky acquisition due to his year of retirement following several neck surgeries, but if he can stay healthy, he is a potential 50-goal scorer. Fifty-goal scorers don’t come around too often. At the moment Roberts is penciled in at left wing on the first line with Big Keith Primeau at center and Sami Kapanen on right wing. While Roberts and Primeau will be counted on for most of the scoring, Kapanen will be needed to do his job in his own end, and only then think offensively. The trade of Cassels to Calgary paves the way for Jeff O’Neill to take over the second line centering duties. Only problem with that is no one knows if O’Neill is ready to do it. The former first-round pick scored just 30 points last season and was a -24. That’s not good, but the 21-year-old showed a lot of promise -- promise that might or might not turn into more this season. O’Neill will be flanked by Geoff Sanderson on the left side and probably Nelson Emerson on the right. The remaining forwards are somewhat small and average at best. They lack the scoring punch needed to contribute night in and night out, but seem to be aware of their own end and tend to take care of it. Veteran right winger Steve Leach was acquired from St. Louis for defenseman Alexander Godynyuk. His offense and defense should be a welcome addition. Pylon Troy Mallette was invited to camp, as well. The Canes look pretty good defensively, which is very encouraging if they want to have a competitive season. With the trade for tough guy Enrico Ciccone over the off-season, the blue line appears solid. The power-play specialist, Jeff Brown, says he’s completely recovered from back surgery that kept him out of action practically all of last season. With Brown in place to provide offense, the rest of the defensive unit can concentrate on playing within their reach. Curtis Leschyshyn, Glen Wesley and Steve Chiasson are all capable veterans who would find a place on any team’s roster. Kevin Haller, who was acquired from Philadelphia in the Paul Coffey fiasco, has some problems and should be used sparingly. Youngster Nolan Pratt could see some action with the big club this season. So with a solid defense, a crowd of No. 1 goalies in net and Roberts bringing his leadership and goals to a young offense, the Hurricanes have a good chance of finishing high in the standings. The Canes have an especially good shot since they’re playing in the very weak Northeast Division. The action should be exciting down south, but one question still remains. Will anyone in North Carolina care to watch? -------------------------------------------------------- The Moose is Loose on the West Coast -------------------------------------------------------- by Carol Schram, Vancouver Correspondent September is a great time to be a hockey fan. Ever since the Vancouver Canucks took their unlikely ride to Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Final in 1994, their best month has been September, while October has been one of the worst. After coming so close to winning it all in ’94, hopes were high to go just one game better the following season. The reality of the 1994 owners’ lockout postponed those expectations for a full three months, then the season turned into a fairly forgettable .500 effort with a very mediocre playoff performance. In the summer of 1995, hockey fans were excited about the soon-to-be-completed new General Motors Place; then, Pat Quinn reinforced his desire to build the strongest possible team when he acquired nifty Russian star Alex Mogilny for a bunch of unproven young prospects. Once holdout captain Trevor Linden was signed, that was supposed to be the year the Canucks took their offense to the next level. Instead, while Mogilny met expectations, Pavel Bure blew out his knee 13 games into the season and rumors of strife and conflict swirled around players and coaching staff alike. After months of speculation, Pat Quinn fired his taciturn coach, Rick Ley, and stepped behind the bench himself. Nevertheless, even the master was unable to overcome questionable netminding from both his goaltenders as the Canucks fell in the first round of the playoffs to the eventual champions, the Colorado Avalanche. So, in the summer of 1996, Quinn addressed the dissension in the dressing room by hiring a young, articulate "players’ coach", Tom Renney. Changing the mood was supposed to fix the vibe in the Vancouver dressing room and once again, come training camp, fans were cautiously optimistic about the fresh start. Once again, it didn’t take long for the vision to unravel. Injuries were a big factor, and no Renney speeches or slogans could cover up for a porous defense and shaky goaltending. A few big-margin losses quickly drained away all the promised team-spirit, so in-fighting and finger-pointing became the team traditions in a year where the Canucks failed to make the playoffs for the first time this decade. On July 28, 1997, Pat Quinn pulled his annual summer public relations maneuver when he announced the signing of six-time Stanley Cup winner and unrestricted free agent center Mark Messier from the New York Rangers. Just three years ago, through that emotional Stanley Cup Final, Messier had been the sworn enemy. He had bullied the Canucks like a big kid on the playground through all his years with the dynasty in Edmonton. But every ounce of bitterness was forgotten the minute he slipped on his new Killer Kanuck jersey. Every Vancouver hockey fan expressed nothing short of awestruck gratitude that Quinn had managed to land this most-prized catch of the summer for as many as five seasons. Granted, as Messier enters this contract at age thirty-six, his 100-point years are probably behind him: he last accomplished that feat back in 1991-92, his first year with the Rangers. Nonetheless, his 84 points with the Rangers last season would have put him first on the Canucks in goals scored, assists, and total points. Plus, the Canucks’ long-term need for a first-line center is very well documented. Pat Quinn has tried to draft one in Petr Nedved (1990), Mike Peca (1992) and Josh Holden (1996), just to name a few. Trevor Linden was converted from right wing to the middle to help fill this gap several years ago, and while some will still disagree, he now plays the position with comfortable ease. But he isn’t a Sakic, a Forsberg, a Fedorov, or a Gretzky -- even the Great One was courted to fill the hole last summer when he was a free agent, but a last-minute power play by Canuck management killed negotiations and sent the Great One packing for the Big Apple. Last fall, after Cliff Ronning was lost to free agency, Linden was hurt and second-liner Mike Ridley was constantly on the bubble with his mysterious back and leg ailment. The Canucks’ need for a quality pivot became so glaringly obvious that Alex Mogilny essentially offered himself up as trade bait if that’s what it would take for the Canucks to fill that void. His words got twisted around into something more like "Get me a center or trade me", and that misconception still haunts both Mogilny and the Canucks as the Russian sits out through training camp waiting for a new deal. This summer, with the memory of the failed Gretzky deal still fresh, Pat Quinn and Orca Bay ownership stopped at nothing to bring home the prize. It has been widely assumed that Messier and the Rangers were bonded together till the end of the player’s career, so when the free agent first revealed that he would be interested in entertaining offers from other teams, Quinn wasted no time. In a matter of days, he and then-Orca Bay President John Chapple were on the plane to the Messier family compound in Hilton Head, S.C., where they announced their intention to stay until a deal was done. Quinn had already extracted a promise from Messier’s father-agent, Doug, that all bargaining would be in good faith and that the family objective was not to glean the richest possible offer, then take it back to the Rangers to be matched or bettered. Quinn remained in Hilton Head for a few days, talking hockey and philosophy with the Messiers, then returned to Vancouver to attend to other business. John Chapple stayed behind, extracted one more dinner invitation from the family, and re-affirmed ownership’s commitment to bringing a winner to Vancouver. Within a few more days, the Messiers were on Orca Bay owner John McCaw’s yacht in San Francisco Bay. After dealing with the big corporations that have owned the New York Rangers during Messier’s tenure, this personal touch likely had a strong positive influence. On Saturday, July 26, on that boat, a contract was hastily scribbled and signed by both parties. On Monday, the Canucks held one of the most celebratory news conferences in their history, introducing their new prize to fans and media alike. The press conference was carried live on the local noon news and, nationally, on Canada’s Sports Network, TSN. Sports fans in Vancouver are modest sorts. They like a little entertainment for their dollar, but they don’t expect too much from their teams. The Canuck squads of 1994 and 1982, which made the Stanley Cup finals, are dear to everyone’s heart. The CFL Lions have won two Grey Cups in the past two decades in a nine-team league but don’t get treated too differently from year to year whether they are winning or losing. The NBA Grizzlies have easily recorded their league’s worst-ever record over their first two years, yet fans still come out in droves to enjoy the evening and cheer on these incredibly unsuccessful players. Heck, Vancouverites are so starved for championships that many still remember with great fondness when the Vancouver Whitecaps took the North American Soccer League title back in the late 1970s! At Messier’s introductory press conference, you could hear the sound of jaws dropping all over British Columbia when Messier announced that he was here -- not only because he liked Pat Quinn’s philosophy and wanted to end his career back in Canada, but also because he thought the Canucks had the tools to win a Stanley Cup! Such words have probably never been uttered by a Canuck player before. The party line is "we will try our best but there are a lot of good players and good teams out there and you never know what can happen." The only other show close to this level of self-confidence was Pavel Bure. At his first-ever press conference, the young Russian knew almost no English, but quickly stated his intent to score 50 NHL goals. He became the first Canuck to accomplish that feat, so maybe there is something to be said for this type of positive thinking. Mark Messier is a champion, and he thinks like a champion. Much has been made of his "leadership", but with Messier, it’s more than just hype. He’s got the Conn Smythe Trophy -- from the Oilers’ first win in 1984 -- two Hart Trophies, from the Oilers in 1990 and the Rangers in 1992, and six Stanley Cup rings, more than any other active player, to prove that he wants to win, and he knows how. That desire was obvious the day he arrived in Vancouver, and it was obvious again at the start of training camp when he talked about how the day was nothing to get too excited about, but was a chance to begin the journey that would, eventually, lead to the Stanley Cup. Before he even steps on the ice, Messier’s influence has been felt in a number of ways by the Canucks. The day he was signed, his old coach Glen Sather said he would "whip those Russians into shape". He hasn’t had a chance to work on holdout Alex Mogilny yet, but Messier has already taken a strong interest in the Pavel Bure mystery. After two lackluster, injury-filled seasons, Bure is looking for some sort of fresh start, firing his agent and reportedly asking for a trade. Instead of using the "Don’t let the door hit ya on the way out" philosophy, Messier has gotten himself quite involved in the situation. At first, he spoke only of Bure’s talent and refused to comment further until he had spoken personally to the player himself. He got that opportunity on the first day of camp, when the Canucks coaching staff put the two together on a line with Markus Naslund, and Messier spoke immediately of the good chemistry between the three and how he hoped they could stay together. This past week, he has made no bones about his opinion that Bure is one of the most talented players in the league. Indications are that he wants the Russian Rocket to stay and play on his right side. During training camp at Whistler, Messier and his brother Paul had dinner one night with Bure and his new agent Mike Gillis, and afterward Messier said, "Sometimes you can feel that chemistry right away and I’ve assured Pavel that it’s going to be fun and the best way to have fun is to win." New York sports fans were outraged when Rangers management chose to let Messier, a proven winner, get away -- especially after quickly re-signing New York Knicks’ veteran Patrick Ewing this summer, although he has yet to bring home a championship. Whether or not this is after-the-fact revisionism, there are rumors that the MSG group was not 100 percent sad to see Messier go due to the wide extent of his influence with the team. The Canucks are hoping that this type of influence is exactly what they need to get themselves turned around, and Operation Bure could quickly prove, one way or the other, whether or not John McCaw’s money was well-spent. At the Canucks’ training-camp-ending "Blue and Silver" intrasquad game at Whistler on Sept. 13, Messier played only one period with Bure and Naslund before pulling himself out of the game with a sore groin. While the line failed to score, his absence was noticeable through the rest of the contest and disappointed many of the 700 or so fans that squeezed into the Meadow Park Sports Centre to see the Canucks’ latest acquisition. Some might say that Messier is taking advantage of his status by making such a move, but the player himself said that, since his groins and lower back were a bit stiff, he thought it better to rest them than risk making the situation worse. According to Messier, this type of soreness has happened at other camps in the past, so hopefully it is not a sign of ongoing wear on his battle-weary body. With his record, one has to assume that Messier is the kind of player who knows when to take it easy and when to go hard -- remember when he had a cut on his chin stitched while standing on the bench during last year’s playoffs? I’d even hazard a guess that Messier didn’t feel like participating in the scrimmage at all yesterday and would have been within his rights to take the whole day off, but he suited up and gave the fans their money’s worth in one period -- all for the good of the team, without sacrificing any future benefit as the season wears on. September is a great time to be a hockey fan. No games lost, no injuries sustained, all the youngsters full of enthusiasm and promise at the thought of grabbing a spot on the big squad. Canuck fans have fallen in love with September over the past few years, since once the season starts it’s been all downhill from there. This year, we’ve got the Nagano Olympics to look forward to, a new-style All Star Game hosted right here in Vancouver, and the first-ever NHL league games in Japan to start the season. Right now, though, there is nothing causing more excitement in this hockey-mad town than the prospect of a five-year love affair with the Man they call Moose -- or Messiah. -------------------------------------------------------- Is there life after Lemieux? -------------------------------------------------------- By Jim Iovino For the people of Pittsburgh, this is not 1997. It’s the year 1 A.L. After Lemieux. With the start of training camp, reality is starting to set in. Mario Lemieux, the city’s hockey hero, won’t take the ice anymore. And he’s not just sitting out one season with an injury -- Super Mario’s career is officially over. When times are tough, the Penguins can’t look to Lemieux. When the team needs a miracle, No. 66’s name won’t be called. Life after Lemieux will definitely put a strain on even the most enthusiastic hockey fans in Pittsburgh -- on the ice and in their pocketbooks. Lemieux left many memories on the Civic Arena ice that fans will remember forever. But he also left behind inflated ticket prices that were used to pay his salary. Lemieux is gone, but the expensive seats still remain. Will Pens fans still shell out huge sums of cash to watch a watered down Penguin squad? Owner Howard Baldwin is hoping so. Despite Lemieux’s absence, ticket prices remain high. The best seats in the house, sections A and B, have a $75 price tag. Section C will command $65 while section D is $50 a pop. If the Penguins have a mediocre season, there will more than likely be a lot of empty seats in the Igloo. But Baldwin and the rest of the Penguin organization are counting on one man to make sure that doesn’t happen -- Jaromir Jagr. Jagr is being touted as the next great one in Pittsburgh. There’s little doubt that the wild and crazy Czech is one of the most exciting players in the game today, but there are questions as to whether he can lead a franchise like Lemieux did. The 1997-98 season, or for those in Pittsburgh, 1 A.L., will be the year of judgement for Pens fans. Jagr has a daunting task ahead of him. Gone are the Penguins glory days of the early ‘90s. The offense, which used to be the most powerful in the league, is now one-dimensional. With Ron Francis getting up in years, Jagr is the focal point. He can be sure teams are going to key in on him like teams keyed in on Lemieux early in his career. Without capable linemates, it will be hard for Jagr to do much offensively. Lemieux constantly complained about the amount of infractions that weren’t called when he had the puck. Jagr will now find much of the same -- the hooking, the holding, the tackling -- unless the league calls a tighter game. Whatever... Petr Nedved isn’t helping Jagr’s cause much by holding out of camp. The restricted free agent turned down a hefty three-year deal that is worth somewhere in the $15 million range and asked to be traded. The Penguins denied his request. The offer, which the Penguins said was their final one, is around the same amount of money that Tony Amonte and Adam Oates just signed for. Nedved and his agent, Tony Kondel, obviously feel he is worth more to a team than either one of those players. Amonte, by the way, finished near the top in MVP voting last season. This isn’t the first time Nedved has had problems working out a deal. Last season he didn’t sign until a few hours before the season opener. Some LCS Hockey advice to Nedved: Quityerbitchin’. That’s right. Sign another damn one-year deal for whatever the Pens give you, then go out and prove yourself. If you become the All-World player you think you are, go out next year and sign a big-ass long-term contract with whoever you want. So you played behind Mario Lemieux last year...big deal. No matter who you played behind, you still didn’t average a point a game. Quit whining, get into camp and prove you’re a team player. If Tony Amonte had the kind of talent surrounding him that you’ve had the past two seasons, he’d score a hell of a lot more than you. You, my friend, are no Tony Amonte. Thank you. The Penguins also seem to be tired of Nedved’s contract demands. "We're just not going to throw money improperly at people," general manager Craig Patrick said. "They've got to earn it. When they sit in this dressing room, the players around them have to realize they're being paid proper value for what they contribute to the team. We're not going to get disjointed because somebody's not going to be happy with their (contract)." Amen to that, brother Patrick. But back to the Pens offense. How bad have things gotten? Bad enough for the Pens to offer Rob Brown a tryout. You remember Rob Brown, don’t you? Played on Lemieux’s line for a season or two in the late ‘80s, scored a bunch of goals, then fell off the face of the earth. Well, Dauntaun Robbie Brown is back. And he actually made it through the rookie camp and is practicing with the big guys. Brown has always been able to score, but teams just haven’t been able to overlook his lack of defensive abilities and his terrible skating. Is the Penguins offense really that bad that Rob Brown can make the team? While the talent of the Penguin offense has decreased significantly since the team’s Cup years, the defense has been hit even harder. Last season the Pens’ defense was one of the worst in the league, and although a healthy Chris Tamer and Neil Wilkinson should help, it will once again be very suspect. The Penguins gave up 280 goals last season. Only the Boston Bruins gave up more (300). Patrick is trying anything in order to improve the defense without spending big money (which the Penguins apparently have little of). Over the off-season he signed minor leaguer Brad Werenka, traded for the rights to Jiri Slegr and even invited former Pen Grant Jennings to camp. Jennings, who spent last season with Quebec (IHL), failed to make it past rookie camp and was cut. That could be considered a good sign for the Penguins defense... The goaltending situation in Pittsburgh is also in turmoil. Tom Barrasso, who was all but locked out of the Civic Arena last season, is attempting a comeback from shoulder surgery/paranoia/insert something here. While Tommy B has had some problems the past few years, there’s no question that he used to be one of the top goalies in the league. Now the question is whether he wants to be one of the best again. Kenny Wregget’s still there and is his usual self. How can you not like Kenny? He never complains and is always there when needed. He’s just a fun-lovin’ goalie who does his job. And his name is Kenny, which is an added bonus... Despite the happy-go-lucky Wregget, there is much concern in the ‘Burgh. Without their leader, the Pens could fall into a tailspin that is too hard to pull out of. And if they do, will the fans still come and watch despite not being able to see one of the game’s greatest players of all time? And if they don’t come and watch, will the team be able to afford to stay in Pittsburgh? So many questions, and only 82 games to answer them in. Such is life in the year 1 A.L. -------------------------------------------------------- Changes threaten to dull Sabres' edge -------------------------------------------------------- By Patrick S. Law, Buffalo Correspondent Coming off of perhaps the greatest season in Sabres hockey since their Stanley Cup finals appearance in 1975, the Sabres made changes this off-season on a grand scale. While there is no truth to the rumor that the new Sabres’ motto is "We can't stand prosperity", many of the moves have been criticized on both a local and national level. Infighting amongst the different factions of ownership and upper management have created a turmoil that is far from settled. Add player sniping and an unusual influx of players from the past into management and you get quite the strange brew. So let us examine the events that have transpired since the Philadelphia Flyers eliminated the Sabres in five games from the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Coming up on the annual National Hockey League awards ceremony, things seemed to be settled on the Sabres front. General Manager John Muckler was terminated by Sabres President Larry Quinn. Quinn cited the deteriorating relationship Muckler had with both coach Ted Nolan and himself. Quinn then made statements that Nolan was his coach and he would be "strongly recommended" to the new general manager. Many took Muckler's termination and the statements to mean that Nolan had won the ultimate power struggle within the organization. Unfortunately, the power struggles were really just beginning. The Sabres then cleaned up the awards ceremony by taking home most of the major hardware. Dominik Hasek received both the Vezina Trophy (Best Goaltender) and the Hart Trophy (League Most Valuable Player), Michael Peca took home the Selke Trophy (Best Defensive Forward) and Ted Nolan won the Jack Adams Trophy (Coach of the Year). All was looking great for the Sabres until a mysterious shift in attitude toward coach Nolan took place. Quinn suddenly backed off of his original statements and began to publicly question how good a coach Ted Nolan really was. Citing poor puck retrieval (puck retrieval?) and a poor power play, he began to reveal the reservations the organization seemed to have about Nolan. Nolan kept the stance that he was the Sabres coach until told otherwise, but he also became very public with his displeasure at the slow rate of negotiations. Quinn told the press that the hiring "process" was ongoing. Eventually it became clear that he was uncomfortable with Nolan and wanted his own man to coach the team. Unfortunately, he never came forth and revealed this -- instead he covered it up with innuendo and half-truths. The next big event was the naming of the Sabres new general manager. The position was filled by ex-Islander assistant G.M. Darcy Regier, who beat out candidates Terry O'Reilly and Sherry Bassin for the job. Quinn cited Regier's work for the Islanders during their recent rebuilding era and the fact that ex-Isles GM Bill Torrey highly recommended him. Apparently Regier's forte is developing and identifying young talent, a pair of traits that seem to fit the Sabres plans. Regier was clearly non-committal on the Nolan situation and the Buffalo press honed in on the growing battle lines between Quinn and Nolan. The controversy dragged out for well over a month with players such as Matthew Barnaby and Rob Ray siding with Nolan, and Dominik Hasek strictly in the opposite corner. Also, an ever increasing tension between the majority owners, the Knox family, and principal shareholder John Rigas came to light. Rigas was (and still is!) a Nolan man and the Knoxes were in Quinn's fold. The ensuing power struggle threw the Sabres over the edge and into chaos. Hasek made statements to the press about his lack of respect for his coach and that the team would be better off without him. Barnaby and Ray came to Nolan's defense. Barbs were traded and the press and public continually blasted the Sabres. The eventual outcome was Ted Nolan's departure after a half-hearted one-year contract offer which he termed "insulting". Regier then cited the "process", which has become the organization's new mantra, in his search for a new coach. The search became a long drawn out affair with seemingly a new candidate daily. Names like Craig Ramsey, Mike Keenan and Terry O'Reilly came to light early; Ron Wilson seemed to be a late entry along with perennial runner-up Don Lever. Finally, the Sabres settled on former Sabre winger and Panther assistant Lindy Ruff as their new head coach. Ruff then brought in Mike Ramsey to replace Paul Theriault as assistant coach and Don Lever was retained as associate coach. Ruff's initial press conference was a disaster, shaking the already shocked Buffalo fans into near panic. Season tickets were canceled in droves and the talk show switchboards were jammed with anti-Sabre sentiments. In fact, in many informal polls Larry Quinn was named almost unanimously as the most hated man in Buffalo. He appears to have been chosen to take the brunt of the criticism and he may just deserve it. The Sabres tried to quell the rising animosity by finally bringing a hero from the past into the organization. Gilbert Perrault was brought in as a public relations liaison in a move long overdue. They then started a marketing blitz based upon players from the past. A dramatic turn from the past few years campaigns of "New Team, New Colors, New Attitude!", many fans viewed this as simply a step back into mediocrity. In fact some skeptics asked derisively that since all the old players were back, why couldn't they bring the blue and gold uniforms back also? The Sabres may have done some long term damage to their image with the current events. It appears they may have seriously underestimated the reactions they would receive. Now there are serious rumors flying about that the team will be sold to John Rigas by December and that the Knox family cannot financially handle the burden of the team due to the loss of revenue the situation is causing. The lack of fiscal ability finally filtered down and cost the Sabres the services of defenseman Garry Galley. Galley bolted for a three-year multi-million dollar offer from the Los Angeles Kings. It cannot be construed as a good sign when a veteran leader bolts for a team that has absolutely no chance to win. Also, the Sabres have run into serious problems coming up with feasible offers for Michael Peca and Alexei Zhitnik, and both are considering holding out from camp. There are now strong indications that Peca may receive an offer sheet from either the Blackhawks or Rangers that the Sabres would be hard pressed to match. The worst situation of all revolves around all-star center Pat Lafontaine. Lafontaine wants to return to the club and says that he has received medical clearance from two highly respected doctors. The club is dragging its feet on this and will not let him skate with the team until team doctors clear him. Unfortunately, rumors persist that the club simply cannot afford to pay Lafontaine and keep its young stars such as Peca and Zhitnik. Naturally, as Lafontaine is one of the clubs most popular and respected players, fans are in an uproar over this "mistreatment" of their star. You can then top it all of with an open feud between the majority of the team's players and goaltender Dominik Hasek. Apparently many players who were pro-Ted Nolan have taken great offense to Hasek's stand against him. Barnaby was even quoted as saying there is a running bet on who would take the first run at Hasek in camp. When questioned by the local press, Barnaby refused to back off of his statements. It is a feud between two of the most popular players on the team and it may be this that finally tears the team completely apart. On the bright side last year's number one pick Eric Rasmussen (C,6'2", 215, University of Minnesota) came to terms and is being given a legitimate shot to make the team. Young kids like defenseman Jay McKee and Corey Sarich are expected to bolster the defense along with Darren Van Oene and Curtis Brown and Wayne Primeau at forward. The youth movement is in full swing and all indications are that it could be highly successful. Add this to a young exciting team that seemed to arrive far ahead of schedule and there is some cause for optimism in Buffalo. The real victims here are the fans of the Sabres. They are victims of an organization with absolutely no sense of loyalty or tact. Name another franchise that would fire its radio play-by-play man by issuing a press release before notifying him. Apparently this would happen only in Buffalo. A young exciting team with a charismatic, popular coach and some rising stars were jetting toward something special. The fans could feel it and it seems that the current events have just served to derail a train loaded with precious cargo. It remains to be seen if the Sabres organization has made wise choices or has just slipped back into mediocrity or worse. The organization has a serious credibility problem not only locally, but nationally. Frankly, the management is an embarrassment to the City of Buffalo and the Sabre's fans. Only one thing can right this train and that’s winning. Maybe the Sabres became winners too early? Coach Nolan and his team may have upset carefully laid plans and it may have cost him his job? The pressure is all on Lindy Ruff, Darcy Regier and Larry Quinn -- win now or pay the consequences and face the wrath of the Sabres fans. If this wrath turns into empty seats it may mean more than the end of their jobs, but the existence of the Sabres in Buffalo. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Reach for the Stars ---------------------------------------------------------------- Dallas looking for repeat regular season, much better postseason By Jim Iovino "Will the real Dallas Stars please stand up?" That question will be on the minds of a lot of hockey followers this season. Are the Dallas Stars the same team that surprisingly finished with the second-best record during the regular season last year and set a new franchise mark for points in a regular season with 104? Or are the Dallas Stars the team that took a bow and exited the playoffs after just one round by dropping a seven-game set to the Edmonton Oilers? The Stars tried to avoid the question altogether by altering team chemistry during the off-season. Dallas improved their strength and size on the blue line with Shawn Chambers and signed a different starting goalie, Eddie Belfour. And, at least on paper, the Stars look to be an even better team this season than they were a year ago. Dallas surprised everyone at the beginning of last season by winning seven of its first eight games. But contrary to popular opinion, the Stars didn’t flop after starting out strong. They kept up their winning ways throughout the regular season and went into the playoffs seeded second in the Western Conference behind the Colorado Avalanche. But the playoffs were a nightmare for Dallas. The surprise team of the regular season was surprised itself by the shocking Edmonton Oilers. The Stars, with all of their leadership and guile, had their playoff run cut ruthlessly short by a group of youngsters that didn’t know they were supposed to lose. Call it choking, call it overconfidence, call it what you will -- the Dallas Stars were out of the playoffs. During the off-season, management wisely decided that a major overhaul wouldn’t be necessary, but they were able to tinker with the team, making little additions here and cutting a few players loose there. The key to the off-season moves was the fact that Dallas’ top performers remained intact. While Andy Moog wasn’t to blame for any of the playoff losses last year, the Stars felt it was time to go in a different direction -- a younger direction. Moog, 37, was replaced in goal by Belfour, who is nine years younger and a lot richer. The Stars also let backup goalie Arturs Irbe go to the Vancouver Canucks, leaving the goalie duties to Belfour and the inexperienced Roman Turek. Belfour, who was an unrestricted free agent this off-season, left San Jose for a three-year, $10.5 million contract in Dallas. The contract Belfour signed was less than what the Sharks offered to retain his services, but Belfour chose a chance to win the Stanley Cup over the extra money in San Jose. Despite being a two- time Vezina Trophy winner, Belfour has gone Cup-less in his career. His one finals appearance was against the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992. Belfour had a sub-par 1996-97 season due to several factors -- an early-season tiff with the Chicago Blackhawks coaching staff, the subsequent trade to the Sharks and a nagging back injury. The Eagle won just 14 times in 46 appearances, but still had a respectable 2.91 GAA and a .901 save percentage. Helping Belfour out on defense in Dallas will be the newly acquired Shawn Chambers, who spent the past two and a half seasons with the New Jersey Devils. Chambers, who was a +17 with the Devils last season, takes over for Grant Ledyard on the blue line. Ledyard fled Dallas through free agency to Vancouver. Chambers fits well with the mobile Stars defense that includes team captain Derian Hatcher, Sergei Zubov, Darryl Sydor, Richard Matvichuk, Craig Ludwig and Mike Lalor. One rookie who could crack the Stars blue line is Sergey Gusev, a 22-year-old who spent last year in Michigan (IHL). Gusev has a knack for moving the puck and reading the play. Ironically, I also have a knack for reading plays. My best reading is Othello. Damn, he’s fly. Hatcher really came on last season as one of the league’s best defensive defensemen. Hatcher led a Stars defense that allowed the third fewest goals in the league last year (198). New Jersey was first with 182; Detroit followed with 197. Not only did Hatcher’s defense improve, but his attitude did, as well. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound defenseman stepped up as a team leader last season, proving the "C" on his jersey wasn’t too much of a burden for a 25- year-old blueliner. Now that’s not to say Derian went all wussy like his brother Kevin. Don’t worry, Hatcher’s still got the mean streak in him, but now he’s just more controlled...controlled like a snarling, frothing RABID DOG LOCKED UP IN A CAGE!!! Ahem... Hatcher’s going to have to hold in all of that pent-up, off-season aggression a little while longer, however. The big man is currently in a contract dispute with the Stars. Hatcher, a restricted free agent, recently turned down an offer of $2.2 million a year, but GM Bob Gainey said he is optimistic about working something out in the near future. The same can’t be said for the team’s superstar center, Mike Modano. Mikey Mo is also holding out as a restricted free agent. The Stars latest offer to Modano was a three-year, $10.2 million deal. Modano, who believes he’s worth every bit as much to the Stars as Joe Sakic is to Colorado, is looking for at least $4 million a season. Sakic is averaging $7 million a year after signing his new deal earlier in the summer. Don’t fret Dallas fans. Your man should be in camp by the start of the season. He’s hoping to get things done with two exhibition games to go in training camp, so there’s still a lot of time. And besides, a man of Modano’s stature doesn’t really need to work on much during camp. Modano was the one who led the Stars throughout the tremendous regular season last year, scoring 83 points (35 goals) in 80 games. He also improved his defensive game to fit in with coach Ken Hitchcock’s trapping defense. Modano was a +43 last season while playing on a line with Jere Lehtinen and Greg Adams. The line combined for 72 goals. Like the Stars’ defense, the offense has a lot of veteran depth. Joey Nieuwendyk, Guy Carbonneau, Bob Bassen and Jaime Langenbrunner are the remaining centers, Pat Verbeek, Dave Reid and Benoit Hogue are reliable wingers while a host of others fill out the rest of the lineup. But it’s this same host of centers and wings who couldn’t find the back of the net in three overtime losses to the Oilers in the playoffs. While some of the credit has to go to Oiler goalie Curtis Joseph, who made some incredible saves, the veteran Stars offense just didn’t produce enough during the entire series. Verbeek, in particular, was a major disappointment. After scoring 41 goals the year before, the former Whale netted just 17 last season and only one in the postseason. Stars management added another veteran forward to the roster over the off-season. Bob Errey, who has bounced back and fourth from Detroit to San Jose during the past few years, signed on for this season with Dallas. Errey will take Brent Gilchrist’s spot in the lineup. Gilchrist took the free agent route to Detroit. Tough guy Bill Huard must have liked what he saw of the Oilers during the playoffs last year because he signed on with them as a free agent this year. Rookie Patrick Cote will be looking to take over his role. Cote racked up 237 penalty minutes in 58 games for Michigan last season. So it seems everyone is in place in the Dallas Stars lineup -- barring any extended contract holdouts. And it looks like the Stars will make another run at the best overall record in the league, only this time it won’t be a surprise. But as the Stars found out last season, the regular season means nothing come playoff time. The seven-game loss to the Oilers left a lasting impression on Dallas, and they’re bound to make sure the same thing won’t happen this season. Will the real Dallas Stars stand up? You can count on it. -------------------------------------------------------- Remembering Camille Henry -------------------------------------------------------- By John Kreiser, Featured Writer Few players in NHL history did more with less physical ability than Camille Henry. Maybe that's why memories of him stand out so vividly. It's not that Henry, who died Sept. 11 at age 64, wasn't tough. Anybody who could play in the NHL while making Theo Fleury look like Eric Lindros had to be tough. And it wasn't that he couldn't play. He had 24 goals as a rookie in 1953-54, good enough to win the Calder Trophy, and broke the 20-goal mark eight times as a New York Ranger back in the days when 20 goals actually meant something. It's just that he was so, well, small -- small enough that he spent much of his career battling injuries and the notion that he was too brittle to play in the NHL. There's an old gag line in appraising a player: "He's small but he's slow." That was Henry as a 20-year-old in 1953. He might have weighed 140 pounds after a big meal (one writer of the era called him "the slight, muscleless rookie"), but unlike other small, swift players, he had little skating speed. What Henry did have was the knack of knowing where the puck would be -- and how to get there at the right time. He could stickhandle and shoot with anyone in the NHL, and developed into one of the greatest tip-in artists of all time. "I know the big guys are going to push me around," he once said. "I'm a little guy and little guys always get pushed. But I've got something that the big guys don't have. I've got elusiveness. They don't hurt me that much because they don't get much of me." The elusiveness earned Henry his nickname: "Camille The Eel." He needed it, too: Despite his size, Henry was not a perimeter player. Most of his goals came from in front of the net, where he was a master of converting rebounds and redirecting shots past unwary goaltenders. Henry was a power-play specialist as a rookie, scoring 20 of his 24 goals with the man advantage. His transition to a real hockey player was painful: Henry battled through a couple of broken arms and a return to the minors. At one point, the Rangers even put him on waivers -- and no one claimed him. Luckily for both parties, the Rangers had assigned him to Providence of the AHL, where they had decided to train in 1956. Henry kept scoring goals against the big club, finally forcing GM Muzz Patrick to give him another chance. After tearing up the AHL, he was with the Rangers by midseason -- this time to stay. By 1957-58, the Rangers, doormats for most of the previous 16 years, were in second place and Henry was their leading goal-scorer, connecting 32 times while earning the Lady Byng Trophy. He kept on scoring, notching a career-best 37 goals in 1962-63 (despite missing 10 games) and adding 29 more in 1963-64. He was one of the few players on some lamentable early '60s teams who was worth watching. Henry appeared in a couple of All-Star games and even became captain in 1964 when Andy Bathgate was traded; he turned over the "C" to Bob Nevin a year or so later when the Rangers, seeking more size, dealt him to Chicago for Doug Robinson, a big forward who washed out a couple of years later. Henry lasted in the NHL until 1970, but never had the kind of success he enjoyed in New York. He finished his Ranger career with 256 goals, still fifth on the team's all-time list, and is 11th in points with 478. The last time that most New York hockey fans saw of Henry was in 1972-73, when he coached the ill-fated New York Raiders of the World Hockey Association. The Raiders were a bunch of misfits who represented the worst that expansion had to offer. They took the money and ran -- right over Henry, who had hoped that he could parlay his love of hockey and a good showing in the WHA into an NHL job -- maybe even with the Rangers. But with the Raiders, the inmates ran the asylum -- and there was nothing he could do about it. The franchise moved to New Jersey the following season, leaving a heartbroken Henry in its wake. By 1976, only six of those Raiders were still playing hockey -- and Henry was being diagnosed as a diabetic. The last two decades of Henry's life were hard. He had surgery to re-fuse some vertebrae in his back, an operation originally performed during his NHL career. He worked for a while as a skating instructor, then as a security guard, while his health kept deteriorating due to the diabetes that eventually killed him. He lived most of his last years in poverty. When Henry received $85,000 last year from the Players Association pension fund surplus awarded by a court judgement, his reaction was that "Now I can have steak again." Unfortunately, he didn't have long to enjoy the money. He entered a Quebec hospital on July 22 and never got out. "He did not have an easy retirement," noted former Montreal great Jean Beliveau, once a teammate of Henry in senior hockey in Quebec. "Then, just when he started to have a good time, he left us. He was never able to take advantage of it." No one would mistake Henry for a great player. But it's hard to think of a Ranger who loved hockey more or played the game with more heart. Those of us who grew up watching No. 21 slither between a couple of defensemen for another tip-in will miss him. -------------------------------------------------------- NHL aims to market game internationally in Olympics -------------------------------------------------------- by Chris Foreman The NHL, a league which has had extreme difficulties promoting itself outside of Canada, hopes to market itself to the world when the 1998 Winter Olympic Games commence in Nagano, Japan. Showcasing one of its most attractive aspects, its international appeal, the NHL will suspend regular season games from February 8 through February 24 to allow players to participate. With professional football and baseball out of season, hockey has the opportunity to use the world as its stage to exploit its game and draw interest to the remainder of its regular season and playoffs. But, perhaps more important, to be in the position to explode at the launch of the new millennium. A strong showing in the ratings could quickly elevate the NHL into a more prominent status in the United States. In the fourth year of a five-year national television contract with Fox and ESPN, the league could borrow a technique from hundreds of its players and place itself in a tremendous position for a fat, new agreement. Hockey in the 1990s is, in a word, diverse. Competition for Guy, Mario and Wayne comes from names like Petr, Sergei and Teppo. The NBA has become an international gold mine, despite countries having a relatively new exposure to the game. Slowly, basketball is catching up in popularity around the world like it is in the United States, but as the 1994 Summer Games elucidated, the rest of the world has miles to come to stand on equal ground. Hockey already has well-developed ties to countries in the former Soviet Union and Europe. Many of the league’s top stars are foreign to North America, and therefore foreign to much of the nation. Reciprocally, many of the American and Canadian stars are foreign to the rest of the world. This is the NHL s chance to introduce hockey to the world and finally seize some of the national and international spotlight. The NHL will introduce the Japanese to its game with a tease designed to whet their appetites for the tournament. The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and the Vancouver Canucks will ring in the new season with a two-game series at Yoyogi Arena in Tokyo October 3 and 4. -------------------------------------------------------- We are women, watch us score -------------------------------------------------------- By Chris Foreman Representation for ice hockey in Nagano will not only feature players who are professional, but also female. For the first time since the sport debuted as a medal game in 1924, women from six nations will compete for gold. In addition to the host Japanese, the United States, Finland, China and Sweden look to upend the favored Canadian squad. Canada’s international reign includes victories in all four of the World Women’s Championship tournaments. In each of the finals, they’ve defeated an improving American roster, including a 4-3 overtime victory this past April. The anticipation on both sides is such that they believe they’ll meet for the fifth straight time February 17 to decide whose necks will be decorated with a gold medal. However, the new rivals won’t have to wait that long to evaluate their chances. They’ll take the ice eight times prior to the Olympics. There is also a strong possibility for a ninth clash as part of the NHL All-Star Weekend Festivities. Unconfirmed as of publication, the Americans and the Canadians would play an exhibition game January 17, the eve of the league’s mid-winter classic. Preparation for the international tournament is already underway. Canada opened its camp Sept. 5 in Calgary, looking to add just eight players to the list of 20 who represented them in the Worlds. United States hopefuls convened in the ironic setting of Lake Placid, N.Y. August 21-26 to vie for one of the 24 roster spots. -------------------------------------------------------- LCS Hockey Pool Help -------------------------------------------------------- by Matthew Secosky, Hockey Pool Expert Section I: So You're in a Hockey Pool. Being in a Hockey Pool is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, it is a common and treatable condition that afflicts young and old alike during the fall, winter, and early spring months. Many individuals initially express fear and anxiety upon learning of their condition, but within a few weeks these feelings gradually subside and are replaced by optimism and an alcohol-induced "warm, fuzzy feeling". In other cases, feelings of mind-numbing euphoria, depression, and even deep-seated self-pity have been reported. While being in a Hockey Pool is not easy, also remember it is a manageable condition. With a proper diet and exercise regime, many individuals in Hockey Pools have gone on to lead healthy, productive and rewarding lives! Section II: Coping with Your Hockey Pool. Do not think of your being in a Hockey Pool as a problem, but rather as a unique opportunity! And in order to make the most of your opportunity, there are 14 steps you can easily take to ensure success. * Find people living in the past - Get in a hockey pool with people with haven't paid attention to hockey since 1992. While they're drafting Zarley Zalapski and Kevin Stevens, you'll be scorin' Paul Kariya and Ziggy Palffy. Give it a try, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. * Draft High - Just because you don't draft high, doesn't mean YOU don't have to be. * Draft best player available - Don't just take a high scoring forward in the first round because you feel some kind of nagging compulsion to do so. Make sure you take the best player. Once Kariya, Lindros and Jagr are gone, you might as well take a top goaltender like Brodeur or a premier defenseman like Leetch or Ozolinsh. You'll be glad you did. * Draft cutest player available - Hey ladies, we all know winning isn't worth a damn it if ya don't look good. So why not throw caution to the wind and draft that hunk-a-burnin-love between the pipes. Felix Potvin is soooooo dreamy. And that Mike Modano is Da' Bomb I hear. * Be well-rounded - All thru school, it was stressed time and time again that you should strive to become a "well-rounded" individual. Being well-rounded would garner the respect of your peers they said. Of course, no one bought into such gibberish. We all knew it meant being called a geek and being given 'super wedgies' in gym class. So now why I am telling you to be well-rounded? Well, I don't know. Just make sure you have enough starters in your lineup before taking backups. I mean don't go nutty and draft six defensemen in a row if you haven't picked any forwards yet is all i'm sayin'. Just remember, having an offense led by Michal Pivonka is not something to be proud of. * Think with your head, not your heart - Emotion has no part in the Hockey Pool. Don't let your thought process be compromised because you feel compelled to pick your favorite player. Alright. Bernie Nicholls is cool and all i'll admit. But SNAP OUT OF IT LAD! Consider the Hockey Pool a war. If you blindly go back to rescue a fallen comrade, you will more than likely be cut down in a hail of machine gun fire. Sure it's noble and all, but at that point you'll be of no use to anyone. * Hoard Goaltenders - Load up on starting goaltenders. When Grant Fuhr blows out a knee midway the season and someone needs a replacement, you'll have all the leverage when negotiating a trade. * Get Defensemen early - In today's NHL there are precious few defensemen who will put up the huge offensive numbers coveted in the Hockey Pool. Get at least 2-3 solid defensemen early in the draft so that you don't get stuck with Todd Gill and Darren Van Impe. * Second Year Players - Alot of guides will tell you avoid second year players because they may experience a "sophomore slump". But I say go for it. Sure second year players may be more prone to a let down, but often the upside is worth the risk. Passing up on Janne Niinimaa or Bryan Berard would just be silly. * Think for Yourself - Don't get caught up in patterns. If the five people before you draft forwards, look for a goalie or defenseman. Chances are you'll get a better player. There's no need to take the 12th best forward when the 6th best goalie is still available. * Screw your friends - You might like your friends a whole bunch, but in a Hockey Pool all bets are off. Does a stranded bud need a ride? Does an under-aged aquaintance need help scorin' some smokes and a six-pack for the weekend? If so, Lady Luck has definitely looked your way my friend. Now is the time to deal. With a little practice and some smooth talk, you too will be able to grab Wayne Gretzky for Slava Fetisov. * The Age factor - As players age, their skills decline and they become more injury prone. Hence, older stars like Tocchet, Clark, and Andreychuck have seen better days. Choosing such players offers little in upside potential. Gretzky, Messier, Coffey, Bourque, Gartner, etc. are still viable picks, but as with so many things in life moderation is the key. * Bend the truth - A little white lie never hurt anyone, so telling others that Peter Forsberg hacked off a finger while pruning his shrubs can only help to further your cause. Other good ploys are to exclaim "I heard that so and so is refusing to play until he gets a new contract" or "I heard Player X is being traded to San Jose". Being resourceful is no crime. * Live on the edge - Got a few picks left in the 17th round? Hell, why not take a chance on a youngster like Ottawa's Chris Phillips who might break thru. It will be a much more memorable experience than watching Bobby Dollas claw his way to get you twenty-some points. Section III: Who Do I Turn to for Help? The good news is that there is a large group of dedicated, talented professionals who will be more than happy to assist you in your time of need. Below is a partial listing of top ten performers in your area. * Jaromir Jagr, PIT - Most dominating player in the game. Had 36 goals in first 41 games last year before a groin injury slowed him down. Won Art Ross in 1994-95 and will do it again. * Eric Lindros, PHI - Lindros has a career average of 1.47 points per game but the problem is he misses a significant amount of time to injury. A healthy Lindros would rule the league. * Paul Kariya, ANA - Had an amazing second half with 32 goals and 60 points in 41 games. Times that by two and you have 64 goals and 120 points over a whole season. The only knocks on Kariya are his small size and the lack of talent on the Ducks. As of this writing he remains unsigned. * Martin Brodeur, NJD - Led league with 1.88 GAA and 10 shutouts. Scored a goal in the playoffs. Has all the stats a Hockey Pool addict could crave. * Patrick Roy, COL - One of the all-time greats. A can't miss pick. * Brian Leetch, NYR - Best offensive defenseman in the league today. A guaranteed 80 points from the blueline and not a defensive liability (+31). * Sandis Ozolinsh, COL - Led defensemen in goals (23) and was second in scoring with 68 points. Will continue to improve and should approach 75 points this season. * John LeClair, PHI - Back-to-back 50 goal campaigns. Has the size and scoring skill of Lindros but without the mean-streak. Played in all 82 games; led league with a +44. Easy 50+ goals, 100 points. Warning: May hold out for mad cash. * Joe Sakic, COL - Will look to deliver on his new contract. Combines pin-point passing, a deadly accurate slap shot, and the best wrist shot in the league. Had a few injuries last year, but will be back in 40 goal, 110 point form. * Dominik Hasek, BUF - The wacky goalie with an attitude. One of the best in the business, but after last seasons playoffs his desire has been questioned. Last seasons Hart and Vezina winner. It remains to be seen if Buffalo can continue to overachieve without coach Ted Nolan in command. *For a more in-depth listing check out Issue 77's Player Rating Extravaganza. Section IV: Is There Anything I Should Watch Out For? Yes. There are often many symptoms that will remain dormant for years before emerging to wreak havoc on an unsuspecting host. They should be watched carefully. * Chris Gratton, PHI - Broke through with 30 goals, 62 points, and 200 PIM. Playing in Philly will only improve those numbers. Power forward in the making. * Saku Koivu, MON - Was on his way to a great year last season, but a knee injury made him miss two months of the season. Ended up with 56 points in 50 games. An amazing skater, quick as the wind, and an offensive catalyst. This should be his year. * Robert Reichel, NYI - A previous 40-goal man, he averaged 1.58 points per game when paired with Palffy in New York. * Sergei Berezin, TOR - Had 25 goals in his first season with the Leafs. A natural goal-scorer who should be on a line with Sundin. Could score 40 goals someday. * Alexei Kovalev, NYR - Has a new knee. A new contract. And a chance to play with Gretzky on the top line. Consistency is his only problem. * Roman Hamrlik, TAM - If he played on a quality team he would be one of the top offensive blueliners in the league. Only had 40 points last year after an outstanding 65 in 1995-96. With talent thin on the Lightning, he will probably have to settle for a repeat of last years performance. If he gets traded, watch out. * Robert Svehla, FLO - An offensive D-man in Florida? You better believe it. Svehla had 45 points last year and 57 in '95-96. If the Panthers had some scorers up front, he'd be a perennial 60-point threat. * Vaclav Prospal, PHI - Had 15 points in 18 regular season games and had an outstanding playoff performance before breaking his arm. Should play the whole season and battle for the Calder trophy. * Alexei Morozov, PIT - Said to be the best player in the world not currently in the NHL. Could be an impact player if the Pens ever decide to sign him. Section V: Questions? You can never be 100% sure, but knowing is half the battle. Yo Joe. * Gary Roberts, CAR - Returning from a 1996 neck injury, he brings heart, grit and determination to a needy Carolina team. Has all the skills to net 40 goals if he can make it through 82 games. * Pavel Bure, VAN - Bure may have eaten some of that tainted Hudson's ground beef because he's just acting crazy. One minute he wants traded, the next he says he wants to stay. The good news is Messier will beat some sense into him. If he can overcome numerous injuries that have limited him to 49 goals over the last three seasons, he could return to 50 goal form. * Alexander Mogilny, VAN - Talent-a-plenty, but he's apparently living up life in Malibu and is in no hurry to return. And even if he does, will he put forth enough effort to score 50 goals again? * Pat Verbeek, DAL - Verbeek has scored 40 goals four times in his career, so chances are he will rebound from last season's dismal 17. While production should be up, don't expect more than 30-33 goals. * Jeff Brown, CAR - Spinal Fusion surgery sounds neat, but it won't do wonders for his game. If healthy, 45-55 points tops. * Gary Suter, CHI - After 67 points in '95-96, his production fell to just 28 last year. A sign of things to come? A random off-year? He should be available in later rounds and could payoff big with a 45/55-point year. * Pat LaFontaine, BUF - Has been cleared by his doctors to play but the Sabres people don't seem so convinced. Buffalo may not want to take the chance of letting him face further injury, so a trade is not out of the question. Could score 80-90 points or get knocked out for good in first game. Your call. * Jeremy Roenick - Injuries have kept him from top form the last three years but he is still a warrior on the ice. Can throw body checks with the best of them. Playing with Tkachuk he will have every opportunity to play like the J.R. we grew to know and love. DID YOU LIKE THIS COLUMN? IF SO, BE SURE TO READ WEEKLY INSTALLMENTS OF HOCKEY POOL HELP ON THE LCS HOCKEY WEB EXTRA. WWW.LCSHOCKEY.COM. ================================================================= TEAM REPORTS ================================================================= EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION ----------------------------------------------------------------- FLORIDA PANTHERS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Doug MacLean Roster: C - Kirk Muller, Rob Niedermayer, Dave Gagner, Steve Washburn, Chris Wells. LW - Johan Garpenlov, Dave Lowry, Bill Lindsay, Radek Dvorak, David Nemirovsky. RW - Scott Mellanby, Ray Sheppard, Jody Hull, Tom Fitzgerald. D - Robert Svehla, Gord Murphy, Ed Jovanovski, Paul Laus, Terry Carkner, Rhett Warrener, Dallas Eakins. G - John Vanbiesbrouck, Mark Fitzpatrick. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: XX/XX - Re-signed unrestricted free-agent Kirk Muller. 07/04 - Signed unrestricted free-agent center Dave Gagner (Calgary) to a three-year contract; re-signed defenseman Terry Carkner to a three-year contract; bought out the final year of center Martin Straka's contract, making him a free agent. 07/07 - Signed free agent center Dallas Eakins (NY Rangers). 07/29 - Named Joe Cirella assistant coach. 08/01 - Re-signed defenseman Paul Laus to a four-year contract; signed defenseman Trevor Doyle. 08/28 - Signed a one-year affiliation agreement with Fort Wayne of the International Hockey League. 09/05 - 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. 09/10 - Signed left wing Bill Lindsay to a new four-year contract. 09/11 - Signed right wing Scott Mellanby to a new four-year contract. 09/13 - Re-signed free-agent center Rob Niedermayer to a three-year contract. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 35-28-9 HOME 21-12-8 ROAD 14-16-11 POINTS: 89 (7th) GOALS SCORED: 221 (21st) GOALS AGAINST: 201 (4th) POWER PLAY: 14.2% (21st) PENALTY KILLING: 85.5% (7th) Pre-season Game Results: 9/13 Boston W 2-1 @Charlotte 9/14 Boston L 4-2 TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief CATS MAY NOT LAND ON FEET The Florida Panthers were the darlings of the NHL when they made their surprise run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1995. Last season they got off to a hot start and then faded down the stretch before barely showing up in the first round of the playoffs against the New York Rangers. Now the team has to try and regroup to find its winning ways before it falls completely out of the playoff picture. And it's going to have to do it without former captain Brian Skrudland. OFFENSE: Skrudland and Hough Will Be Missed He didn't score many goals or make any flashy plays, but Brian Skrudland was the heart and soul of the Florida Panthers. When the captain wasn't in the lineup, the Panthers were hardly the same club. Well, now the Panthers are going to find out what it's like to play an entire season without him. Skrudland elected to leave town this summer, accepting a lucrative free- agent deal with the New York Rangers. Skrudland wasn't the only vet to split, tho'. Mike Hough also grabbed the free-agent cash and signed with the Islanders. It's easy to underestimate the loss of Skrudland and Hough. After all, they were just two old, slow guys that didn't score. They shouldn't be hard to replace, right? Normally that would be the case, but this situation is different. Not only were they the club's top pair of penalty-killers, Skrudland and Hough were also two of the original Florida Panthers. The gave this team its identity through their hard work and defensive approach to the game. The Panthers can find people to fill their roster spots, but they'll never find people to replace what Skrudland and Hough represented. They were the Florida Panthers. They'll be missed. Looking to fill the void somewhat will be Esa Tikkanen, who was signed away from the Rangers. It was Tikkanen that scored the overtime goal that knocked the Panthers out of the playoffs last season. Now the 32-year-old Finnish winger will be trying to help the Cats with his timely scoring and abrasive nature. The Panthers also signed center Dave Gagner out of Calgary. Gagner scored 27 goals and 60 points last season for the Flames and has scored 30 or more goals six times in his career. He should help the meager Florida attack. But at 33, he's definitely on the downside of his career, so how much he'll help is open for debate. Florida's top line will once again feature Rob Niedermayer at center with Scott Mellanby and Johan Garpenlov on his wings. The trio has a bit of everything. Niedermayer supplies speed, Mellanby muscle, and Garpenlov is the playmaker. Gagner should be centering a second line with sniper Ray Sheppard on his right side. Sheppard led Florida in scoring last season with 29 goals and 60 points. He's just a natural goal-scorer. He'll get his goals no matter who he's playing with, but having Gagner in the middle is a definite bonus. Gagner's arrival means that Kirk Muller could shift from center to his natural position of left wing. A second line of Gagner, Muller, and Sheppard should do quite nicely, thank you very much. The third line will be centered by the great Tom Fitzgerald. One of the game's best role players, Fitzgerald is an excellent penalty killer and a prototypical third line center. Bill Lindsay, Fitzgerald's partner on the penalty kill, should be back on Fitzgerald's left side at even-strength, as well. Lindsay has good speed and never takes a shift off. He finishes all his checks and will do anything to annoy the opposition. Speaking of annoying, Tikkanen would be a perfect fit on the right side of this line. That leaves veterans Dave Lowry and Jody Hull, along with youngster Radek Dvorak, to fill in where needed. Chris Wells, David Nemirovsky, and Steve Washburn should also see some playing time. Florida has never had a great offense, but when you look at their roster this season, things don't look that bad. They may not be able to ring up goals with the Avalanche, but the Panthers' top three lines appear solid. DEFENSE: Svehla Leads the Way The great, but unknown, Robert Svehla will once again head up the very capable Florida defense. Svehla, one of the most complete blueliners in the league, teams up with veteran tough guy Terry Carkner to give the Cats a steady top pairing. This could be the year that Svehla emerges as the serious Norris Trophy candidate he is. He's just that good. Florida's second pair will probably be made up of Rhett Warrener and Gord Murphy. Both men are extremely mobile and move the puck well. Murphy has the better offensive skills, including a gun from the point, but Warrener has quickly established himself as a very good defensive defenseman. He also isn't scared to play physical. There was even a time last season when coach Doug MacLean said that Warrener was his team's best defenseman. That's strong considering Svehla was around. While Warrener's stock has been on the rise, Ed Jovanovski's has been in a constant free fall since his impressive 1995-96 rookie campaign. Eddie Jo was absolutely brutal last season, making bad decisions all over the ice and seeing his playing time cut back dramatically. The Panthers are hoping it was just a sophomore slump. They need Jovanovski to be at his hard-hitting best in order for them to make some noise in the postseason. One guy who always hits hard is Paul Laus. Often written off as just a thug, Laus is quite the capable defenseman. But he could play like Larry Robinson and still have it get lost in the shadow of the league-leading 39 fighting majors he earned last season. To put that total in perspective, Tie Domi was second in the league with 26 fights. Laus is a great guy to have around. The top six is solid, but the Panthers could use a bit more depth on the blue line. They traded Per Gustafsson, who was generally the seventh defenseman last year, to Toronto for a prospect. He will be replaced by journeyman Dallas Eakins, who was also signed away from the Rangers. But defense shouldn't be a major concern, especially if Jovanovski returns to form. GOALTENDING: Same Old, Same Old John Vanbiesbrouck and Mark Fitzpatrick will once again return as the goaltending tandem. The duo has been in there for every step of the Panthers' four-year history and will be good to go in this their fifth season together. They're really the perfect combination. Vanbiesbrouck is as good as it gets as a number one and Fitzpatrick wholeheartedly accepts his role as the backup. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * John Vanbiesbrouck gives the Panthers a chance to win every game they play. * Robert Svehla is a major talent on defense. * The addition of Gagner gives the club a legitimate second line. TROUBLE * It will be tough to adjust to life without Skrudland and Hough. * The offense isn't getting any younger. * Ed Jovanovski needs to prove himself. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: The Panthers lost a great deal of their identity when Brian Skrudland and Mike Hough left town. That leadership void will be hard to fill. On paper, the roster looks deeper and more talented than it has been in the past. But how the club reacts to not having Skrudland and Hough around will determine the club's fortunes. PREDICTION: Fifth place in the Atlantic and in the playoffs. The Panthers could collapse in the wake of losing their veteran leaders, but guys like Mellanby, Lowry, Fitzgerald, and Vanbiesbrouck won't let that happen. They may not be Cup contenders, but the Panthers should still have enough to sneak into the playoffs. ----------------------------------------------------------------- NEW JERSEY DEVILS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Jacques Lemaire Roster: C - Doug Gilmour, Bobby Holik, Bob Carpenter*, Denis Pederson, Peter Zezel. LW - Dave Andreychuk, Steve Thomas, Valeri Zelepukin, Brian Rolston*, Jay Pandolfo, Patrik Elias. RW - Bill Guerin*, John MacLean, Randy McKay*, Reid Simpson. D - Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, Ken Daneyko, Lyle Odelein, Kevin Dean, Vlastimil Kroupa. G - Martin Brodeur, Mike Dunham. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: 06/26 - Signed free agent forward John Madden. 08/22 - Acquired defenseman Vlastimil Kroupa from the San Jose Sharks for a third-round pick in the 1998 draft. 08/24 - Signed free agent goaltender Mike Dunham. 09/04 - Signed goaltender Judd Lambert. 09/09 - Signed center Brendan Morrison to a multi-year contract. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 45-23-14 HOME 23-9-9 ROAD 22-14-5 POINTS: 104 (3rd) GOALS SCORED: 231 (16th) GOALS AGAINST: 182 (1st) POWER PLAY: 13.9% (22nd) PENALTY KILLING: 88.1% (1st) Pre-season Game Results: 9/14 Washington W 4-1 @Albany TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief EL DIABLO STILL MUY, MUY BUENO? The New Jersey Devils should have been in the Stanley Cup Finals last season. There's no doubt they had the best team in the Eastern Conference. But sometimes the best team doesn't win. Running into a hot goaltender, especially one named Mike Richter, is enough to derail even the strongest of squads. Now the Devils have to try and regroup for another Cup run. But does this aging group of vets still have it in 'em? OFFENSE: Gilmour May Not Be the Answer When Doug Gilmour was acquired from Toronto before the trading deadline last season, he was expected to be the star center the Devils have always lacked. He proved to be just that over the first few weeks following the trade, energizing the New Jersey offense with his crafty playmaking and scrappy nature. Then came the playoffs. Instead of elevating his level of play, Gilmour completely disappeared, failing to score a single goal and registering just four assists in ten playoff outings. That's not good. To make matters worse, the Devils couldn't sign Gilmour to a new contract in time to avoid an arbitration hearing. And nothing builds resentment quite like an arbitration hearing. Basically, the club's representatives go in and say everything bad they can think of about the player in order to lower his value. The Devils went in offering about $2.5 million for next season. Gilmour was asking for an astronomical $4.5 million. The arbitrator decided on $3.55, which is still quite the hefty paycheck for the 34-year-old center. So now GM Lou Lamoriello hates having to pay Gilmour so much money and Gilmour hates Lamoriello for all the nasty things the club said about him. Mix in Gilmour's becoming an unrestricted free agent after the season, and a trade could be in the works. The only hitch is what team is going to want a small, aging center with such a steep price tag? There won't be many takers. The Devils have more contract problems with right winger Bill Guerin. Long expected to develop into a Brendan Shanahan clone, Guerin has rarely backed up his potential with numbers. He did record a career-high 29 goals last season, but his 47 points won't exactly win any scoring titles. He was also one of only a few Devils to finish south of the equator with a -2. The days of Guerin being a young prospect are over. He's 27 years old and has been in the league for five seasons. The Devils have shown great patience while waiting for him to become a star, but eventually the patience is going to run out. Considering the club's approach to signing him, maybe it already has. Guerin is so frustrated with contract talks that he said he wouldn't mind a trade. That leaves the Devils with a tough decision. They've invested a great deal of time in trying to develop Guerin into a premier power forward. It would be brutal to cut him loose now and watch him become a star somewhere else. Dave Andreychuk and John MacLean are coming off tremendous seasons. Andreychuk finished third in team scoring with 27 goals and 61 points in 82 games. He was worth far more than just points, tho', as he also led the team in plus-minus with a +38. MacLean was just as valuable, posting 29 goals and 54 points. He also came through with six big game-winners. The duo gave the Devils the kind of veteran leadership that every team needs. But how much longer can they be productive? Both are extremely slow and have started showing their advanced age. Counting on them to come through like they did last year could be a mistake. One veteran who disappointed last season was Steve Thomas. It appears the days of Stumpy being a 40-goal scorer are long gone, as he could muster no more than 15 goals and 34 points in 57 games. He still may have his scoring touch in him somewhere, but expecting him to rebound with 30 goals this season is a bit much. The biggest surprise for El Diablo last season was the scoring from Bobby Holik. The former center of the Crash line received an expanded offensive role and responded with 23 goals and 62 points. But that's pretty much his ceiling. The only other source of offensive talent is center Brian Rolston. The kid loves to shoot the puck, unfortunately not much ever seems to happen when he does. Rolston was second on the team with 237 shots, but all those pucks to the net only translated into 18 goals and 45 points. Bobby Carpenter was re-signed over the summer and will be back to anchor a checking line. Peter Zezel should also be back to help in that regard. Randy McKay will continue to be the best checking winger in hockey and Reid Simpson is around to throw punches. The Devils will also be hoping that Petr Sykora, 1995- 96's rookie sensation, can recover from a sophomore slump that totally removed him from the equation last season. A return to form for Sykora would be a major shot in the arm for the offense. And look for guys like Denis Pederson, Patrik Elias, and Jay Pandolfo to see more ice in order to rest some of the vets. On the whole, New Jersey's offense is old, slow, and not very talented. There isn't a 30-goal scorer among the lot. But the forwards don't have to be skilled to play the Devils strict defensive system. Don't look for a change in style anytime soon. DEFENSE: Help Wanted The Devils had the best blue-line corps in all of hockey last season, with Scott Stevens, Ken Daneyko, Scott Niedermayer, Lyle Odelein, Dave Ellett, and Shawn Chambers filling out the top six spots. Well, two-thirds of that group are gone. Ellett opted to sign with the Bruins and rejoin former coach Pat Burns and Chambers bolted for the Lone Star State to help the Stars challenge the Avalanche for Western Conference supremacy. The departures mean two openings that need to be filled. Kevin Dean can easily step in and fill one of them. He played 28 games last season and was often paired with Stevens, so his transition to the regular lineup shouldn't be too hard. Finding that sixth defenseman could be a bit trickier. Vlastimil Kroupa was acquired from the Sharks this summer and has plenty of skill. But if the 22-year-old Czech couldn't crack the San Jose roster, what kind of chance does he have of thriving in New Jersey? GOALTENDING: All Brodeur All the Time Goaltending was the source of quite a bit of controversy last season in New Jersey. Backup Mike Dunham needed to play in 25 games in order to remain a restricted free agent after the season, otherwise he'd be free to sign with the highest bidder. So in order to get Dunham his required minimum of appearances, coach Jacques Lemaire often pulled Martin Brodeur late in games just so Dunham could mop up the final few seconds. This practice didn't go over well with either netminder, especially after Lemaire yanked Brodeur in the final seconds of a shutout just to weasel Dunham into one more game. That move cost Brodeur what would have been his 11th shutout of the season and put a severe strain on his relationship with the coach. Dunham wasn't real happy either and filed a grievance with the league following the season, requesting that he be made an unrestricted free agent on the grounds that the Devils didn't act in good faith. However, the league arbitrator sided with the Devils and Dunham remains their property. They still have yet to sign him to a new contract, tho'. And considering how he was treated, Dunham may not be too eager to sign on the dotted line. As long as Brodeur is healthy, the Devils will be rock solid in net. He can go 70+ games standing on his head. But going into a season without a reliable backup could spell trouble. Especially to a team like the Devils that rely on defense and goaltending to win games. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * Martin Brodeur is dominant in goal. * The top four defensemen are still rock solid. * Strict defensive style is hard to play against. TROUBLE * Scoring up front will be hard to find. * Depth on defense could be lacking. * Backup goaltending situation has to be addressed. 1997-98 Outlook: The Devils were poised for a serious Cup run last year and blew it. Now they're a year older and a year slower. And it's not easy playing such a disciplined defensive game all season long. It definitely takes its toll. Considering the age of the team's key players, they may not have another 82- game grind in 'em. And losing Chambers and Ellett will hurt the defense. Unless this team gets an influx of young talent from somewhere, the Devils won't be serious contenders. They'll still win their share of games, but a Cup will be out of reach. PREDICTION: Third in the Atlantic. ----------------------------------------------------------------- NEW YORK ISLANDERS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Rick Bowness Roster: C - Robert Reichel, Travis Green*, Bryan Smolinski, Claude Lapointe, Sergei Nemchinov. LW - Mike Hough, Paul Kruse, Ken Belanger, Jim Storm. RW - Zigmund Palffy, Mariusz Czerkawski*, Dan Plante, Steve Webb, Todd Bertuzzi, Mick Vukota. D - Scott Lachance, Bryan Berard, Dennis Vaske, Richard Pilon, Bryan McCabe, Kenny Jonsson, John Namestnikov. G - Eric Fichaud, Wade Flaherty, Tommy Salo. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: 07/01 - Signed free agent left wings Mike Hough (Florida), Jim Storm (Dallas), and goaltender Wade Flaherty (San Jose); signed center Sergei Nemchinov (Vancouver) to a three-year, $4 million contract. 07/02 - Signed free agent center Claude Lapointe; renewed their affiliation with Utah of the International Hockey League. 08/14 - Announced that goaltender Tommy Salo was awarded a one-year, $750,000 contract by an arbitrator. 08/19 - Named Brad McCrimmon assistant coach. 08/25 - Acquired right wing Mariusz Czerkawski from the Edmonton Oilers for left wing Dan Lacouture. 09/04 - Agreed to terms with free-agent defensemen Scott Lachance and Doug Houda. 09/08 - Extended the contract of goaltender Tommy Salo through the 1998-1999 season. 09/10 - Agreed to terms with free-agent center/right wing Bryan Smolinski. 09/12 - Agreed to terms with free-agent defenseman Kenny Jonsson. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 29-41-12 HOME 19-18-4 ROAD 10-23-8 POINTS: 70 (22nd) GOALS SCORED: 240 (12th) GOALS AGAINST: 250 (18th) POWER PLAY: 13.9% (22nd) PENALTY KILLING: 83.4% (14th) Pre-season Game Results: 9/13 at Carolina L 4-1 TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief FISHERMEN COULD CATCH PLAYOFF INVITATION The New York Islanders have missed the playoffs the past three years. With GM Mike Milbury running the show, that trend should change in the very near future. Milbury turned the coaching duties over to Rick Bowness near the end of last season and has been concentrating solely on building the Isles into a playoff contender. They already have the best young defense in hockey and one of the game's best goal-scorers up front, but there still needs to be some work done before this club plays hockey in late April. OFFENSE: And a Man Named Ziggy Shall Lead Them He's only been in the league for three seasons, but Ziggy Palffy has already established himself as one of the league's most dangerous goal-scorers. The 25-year-old right winger from Slovakia has piled up 91 goals over the past two years, including a career high 48 last season. At only 5'10", 183 pounds, Palffy can't exactly dominate a game physically, but he's as sneaky as all outdoors. A lot of times he just seems to come out of nowhere to score goals. He has the uncanny ability to slip away from the defense, get forgotten, and then burst into the open at just the right moment. A magical stickhandler, Palffy can also weave his way through the tightest of defenses or simply put on a show for all the kids back at the orphanage. Ziggy's a true superstar. The problem the Islanders had was trying to find someone to play with their young star. Milbury addressed that issue near the end of last season when he acquired Robert Reichel from Calgary. Reichel and Palffy immediately hit it off and forged a tremendous rapport on the ice. The duo went nuts during the first few weeks following the trade, and teamed up with left winger Bryan Smolinski to give the Isles an extremely potent top line. Reichel finished with five goals and 19 points in his 12 games as an Isle. He has amazing puck skills and is a two-time 40-goal scorer (1992-93, 1993-94), so those numbers weren't a fluke. The only drawback to having Reichel and Palffy together is that they may not be big enough, or mean enough, to compete against the rest of the Atlantic Division. Smolinski will hit and go to the net, but he isn't exactly going to deter opponents from beating up on his talented linemates. However, he does have a big shot and can finish the plays created by Reichel and Palffy. How this trio fares when things get rough will go a long way to determining how successful the Islanders are this season. Travis Green, provided he gets re-signed, will be back to center the second line. Green has posted 40+ assists in each of the past two seasons and is excellent on the man-advantage, where he led the club last season with 10 power-play goals. He'll likely have newcomer Mariusz Czerkawski on his right side. Czerkawski, acquired from Edmonton in an off-season trade, had 26 goals and 47 points for the Oilers last season. He has great individual skills, but is pretty much a one-dimensional player. He should at least be able to help put the puck in the net, tho', and that's all the Isles are expecting from him. The third line this season will be anchored by veteran Sergei Nemchinov. Signed as a free agent from Vancouver, Nemchinov is quite familiar to Islander fans for the years he spent with the New York Rangers. He's an excellent defensive center that has enough talent to also chip in with the offense. His strict, no- nonsense approach to the game earned him the nickname "Sarge" during his Ranger days. Milbury added some more veteran leadership by signing 34-year-old winger Mike Hough from Florida. Hough is a superb penalty-killer and checking-line winger. Both Hough and Nemchinov should be excellent additions to the young Islander squad. One guy who the Islanders will be counting on to make an impact is right winger Todd Bertuzzi. The 1993 first-round draft choice has stumbled through his first two seasons in the NHL, even getting demoted to the minors for a time last year. Bertuzzi, 22, has the size (6'3", 224) and temperament to be a dominating power forward, but his intensity and work ethic has run hot and cold to this point his career. This will be his third year in the league, tho', which is when a lot of young players tend to make their move. If he can show up every night, Bertuzzi has the potential to be an impact player. The rest of the Islander offense is made up of checking role players such as Claude Lapointe, Randy Wood, Dan Plante, Paul Kruse, Steve Webb, and Ken Belanger. Not a whole lot of talent there. If the Islanders are going to score, the top line of Reichel, Palffy, and Smolinski is going to have to do it. DEFENSE: Youth Has Been Served The Islanders' blue line is really starting to gel. They have a great mix of youth and experience. The club's top four defensemen of Bryan Berard, Bryan McCabe, Kenny Jonsson, and Scott Lachance are all 25 or younger, while veterans Dennis Vaske, Rich Pilon, and Doug Houda are around to add experience. Berard, 20, certainly delivered the goods in his first season, scoring eight goals and 48 points in claiming NHL Rookie of the Year honors. He's a major talent that could one day be a point- per-game defenseman. Look for him to be in the 15-goal, 60-point range this season. While Berard gets most of the attention, McCabe is the real leader of this team. The brash, young blueliner was recently named the team's captain, becoming the youngest captain in franchise history and the youngest current captain in the league at just 22 years of age. McCabe has become a leader on the team through his hard work and aggressive play, which led to 165 penalty minutes and nine fighting majors last season. He's a steady stay-at-home defender that moves the puck extremely well and plays in all situations. He has never missed a game during his two-year career and recorded career highs in goals (8), assists (20), and points (28) last season. But the fact that the team had enough confidence in him to stitch the "C" on his sweater is really all you need to know about McCabe. Jonsson is the typical Swedish player. He's a smooth skater, intelligent with the puck, and possesses good overall skills. He still needs to become more physical in his own zone, but it's hard to find a more talented 23-year-old defender. At 25, Lachance is the old man of the front four. He's never put up the scoring numbers, but Lachance has developed into a reliable defensive defenseman. He represented the Isles at the All-Star Game last season when Ziggy had to bow out with an injury. Now that Vaske seems to be recovered from post-concussion syndrome, he'll regain his status as a major component of the blue line thanks to his quiet, dependable style. Pilon adds muscle and grit to the group, collecting 179 minutes and six fights in just 52 games last season. His big problem is staying healthy. Pilon has never played more than 65 games in a season (1991-92) and has appeared in 28 or fewer contests in three of the past four campaigns. The Isles also signed Zdeno Chara over the summer. Chara is a 6'8", 230-pound behemoth that will definitely add size if he makes the squad. GOALTENDING: Number One Still Up for Grabs The goaltending picture is still unclear. Eric Fichaud and Tommy Salo split the number one duties last season, with Salo coming on strong late, but neither one has established himself as the clear cut favorite. Milbury doesn't really like Salo, and let it be known during a recent arbitration hearing won by the GM. Among other things, Milbury said that Salo was the worst-conditioned athlete on the team. Yet he turned around and extended the Swedish netminder's contract for another season, so the guy can't be all bad. When the Isles acquired Fichaud in April of 1995 from Toronto, they expected the former 1994 first-round pick (16th overall) of the Leafs to be their man in net for years to come. But Fichaud has progressed slower than expected. So much so that the Isles drafted top goaltending prospect Roberto Luongo in the first round of the Draft. That selection couldn't have made Fichaud sleep any easier at night. The situation in net was clouded a bit more by the signing of former Shark Wade Flaherty. Most consider his signing to be a wake up call for Salo. Whether he answers it still needs to be seen. But whoever is in net, whether it's Salo, Fichaud, or Flaherty, goaltending will be a weakness for the Isles. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * Ziggy is a bad man. * Reichel's chemistry with Palffy could give the team a potent top line. * The defense is young and deep. TROUBLE * Not a whole lot of scoring up front. * Not a whole lot of anything up front. * Goaltending is a big concern. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: New York is gradually improving. The defense is set, but the offense and goaltending still need help. There just isn't enough scoring depth up front to take the load off Palffy and there isn't anyone in net who's going to steal games. It'll be close, but they still might need one more year. At least the club scrapped the lame fish stick logo and will be going back to the old school Islander crest. They still may not be a playoff team, but at least their uniforms will no longer inspire laughter from man, woman, and child alike. PREDICTION: Sixth in the Atlantic and out of the playoffs. ----------------------------------------------------------------- NEW YORK RANGERS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Colin Campbell Roster: C - Wayne Gretzky, Mike Eastwood, Brian Skrudland, Chris Ferraro, Christian Dube. LW - Adam Graves, Kevin Stevens, Niklas Sundstrom, Darren Langdon, Bill Berg, Mike Peluso. RW - Russ Courtnall*, Alexei Kovalev, Pat Flatley*, Mike Keane, Shane Churla, Ryan VandenBussche*. D - Brian Leetch, Ulf Samuelsson, Jeff Beukeboom, Bruce Driver, Doug Lidster, Alexander Karpovstev, Eric Cairns, Jeff Finley. G - Mike Richter, Rob Stauber. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: 07/07 - Signed free agent center Brian Skrudland (Florida) to a three-year, $5 million contract; signed free agent right wing Mike Keane (Colorado) to a four-year contract. 08/05 - Agreed to terms with free-agent forward Darren Langdon. 08/06 - Agreed to terms with left wing Mike Peluso; signed center Joe Sakic to an offer sheet. 08/08 - Traded their fourth-round draft pick in the 1998 Entry Draft to the Carolina Hurricanes for goaltender Jason Muzzatti. 08/12 - Agreed to terms with defenseman Doug Lidster. 08/14 - Named Craig MacTavish assistant coach. 08/19 - Signed defenseman Dale Purinton. 08/20 - Agreed to terms with defenseman Alexei Vasiliev. 08/21 - Signed forward Johan Lindbom. 08/25 - Signed defenseman Jeff Brown. 08/26 - Agreed to terms with free-agent defenseman Brent Thompson. 08/27 - Signed left wing Pierre Sevigny. 08/28 - Acquired left wing Kevin Stevens from the Los Angeles Kings for left wing Luc Robitaille. 09/02 - Agreed to terms with forwards Sylvain Blouin and Ken Gernander. 09/03 - Signed free-agent goaltender Robb Stauber and forward P.J. Stock. 09/04 - Agreed to terms on new contracts with assistant coaches Dick Todd and Bill Moores. 09/08 - Agreed to terms with defenseman Alexander Karpovtsev; named John Paddock director of professional scouting and Martin Madden, Jr. to the scouting staff. 09/09 - Agreed to terms with free-agent forward Alexei Kovalev. 09/11 - Signed free-agent left wing Tim Sweeney, who had been with the Boston Bruins. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 38-34-10 HOME 21-14-6 ROAD 17-20-4 POINTS: 86 (8th) GOALS SCORED: 258 (4th) GOALS AGAINST: 231 (10th) POWER PLAY: 22.0% (1st) PENALTY KILLING: 79.9% (25th) Pre-season Game Results: 9/14 at Montreal L 4-2 TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief RANGERS LOOKING FOR HELP It's been a rough off-season for the Rangers. First Mark Messier bails on them, and then their bid to land Joe Sakic comes up empty. The Blueshirts are still scrambling to recover. There's been rumors of them taking a run at restricted free agents Sergei Fedorov, Mike Modano, or Paul Kariya, or even swinging a trade with Buffalo for Pat LaFontaine. No one knows exactly what deal will be made. But make no mistake, GM Neil Smith will do something. OFFENSE: No More Messier Messier's departure obviously creates an enormous void on the New York roster. His status as the best leader in hockey has to come into question since he did rabbit on his teammates, but there is still a leadership void that has to be addressed. Luckily, the club had signed free agents Mike Keane and Brian Skrudland shortly before Messier left town. Replacing Messier's intangibles will be hard, but Keane and Skrudland are a pretty good place to start. Both guys are former captains that have won Stanley Cups. They'll bring a definite presence to the room. While Keane and Skrudland can pick up the leadership slack, the Rangers still have to find someone to make up for the 30 or 40 goals Messier scored. Until a big name can get traded for or signed, most of that missing offense will have to be supplied by Alexei Kovalev. The Rangers have showed unbelievable patience in waiting for this guy to become a superstar, now's the time for him to say thank you. Kovalev missed most of last season with a knee injury, but should be good to go at the start of the season. He is easily one of the most skilled players in the league and needs to assert himself on the scoresheet. A 40-goal season from Kovalev is almost a necessity. Of course, the Rangers will still have Wayne Gretzky around to carry most of the load. A 30-goal effort from the Great One to go along with his usual assist-per-game would be a nice bonus. Gretzky spent most of last season centering Nicklas Sundstrom and Luc Robitaille. Sundstrom is only 22, but has already cemented himself as one of the game's best defensive forwards. As for Robitaille, he was traded back to L.A. to acquire good ol' Kevin Stevens. Artie, as Stevens is known to his friends, was once a member of the vaunted "Option Line" in Pittsburgh with Mark Recchi and LCS hero, and the idol of millions from eight to eighty, Johnny Cullen. From there he went on to post four straight 40-goal seasons, including back-to-back 50-goal efforts in 1991-92 and 1992-93, and help lead the Penguins to two consecutive Stanley Cups. During the first few years of the 90s, Stevens was the premier power forward in the game. Recently he's bounced around with Boston and Los Angeles without doing a whole lot of anything, but he still has all the tools to regain his once lofty perch among the NHL's elite. He has one of the best shot releases in all of hockey. Put him on a line with Gretzky and he'll just sit and grin, and the goals will roll right in. Messier spent most of his time last season centering Adam Graves and Esa Tikkanen. Well, Tikkanen also left over the summer, signing with the Florida Panthers. Graves could play the middle, but when he does it's usually in a checking role, or he could stay on the wing. But if he stays on the wing, then the Rangers definitely have to go get a second-line center from somewhere. Mike Eastwood could fill in, but he is by no means a scorer. He is a good checking center, tho'. Russ Courtnall can play the right side on the second line and add speed to complement Graves' grit. The club's been experimenting at camp with a checking line of Skrudland between Keane and Bill Berg. And of course Sundstrom can also play the middle. So if it's one thing the Rangers don't need, it's a defensive center, since they're pretty much stacked with candidates for that job in Eastwood, Skrudland, Graves, and Sundstrom. What they do need is a center that can score. Pat LaFontaine, we're looking in your direction... Toughness up front will be provided by Shane Churla, Darren Langdon, and perhaps Ryan Vandenbussche, who scored a scary knockout over Nick Kypreos during exhibition play. The club also acquired Mike Peluso from St. Louis for future considerations to add yet another physical presence. At least the Blueshirts won't get pushed around. What they need, tho', is someone to punch the puck in the net. There is some potential talent in Chris and Peter Ferraro, Daniel Goneau, Vladimir Vorobiev, Christian Dube, and Marc Savard, but most of them are on the small side. Although, Savard may win himself a spot on the roster thanks to a strong camp. DEFENSE:Leetch Leads Solid Group While the forward ranks could still use one or two scorers, the blue line is solid. Brian Leetch and Jeff Beukeboom make up the club's top pair and are as good as it gets. They've been playing together forever and compliment each other perfectly. Leetch has all the offensive skills and Beukeboom is the perfect stay-at- home guy that is also just flat out mean. The second pair features Ulf Samuelsson and Alexander Karpovtsev. Samuelsson has taken a beating over his 13-year career, but he still comes to play every night. Karpovtsev isn't as well known, be he's a damn fine defenseman in his own right. He's got great size, plays physical, and can also handle one of the points on the second power-play unit. Veterans Bruce Driver and Doug Lidster make up the third pair. Both are mobile skaters with good skills. Driver usually mans the point with Leetch on the first power play. The club lost Dallas Eakins to free agency, but signed Jeff Finley and Brent Thompson to help add depth. Big 6'6" Eric Cairns is also still around. GOALTENDING: Healy Split The Rangers suffered another significant free-agent loss when backup goaltender Glenn Healy skipped town for Toronto. That means Mike Richter might have to go more than the 61 games he played last season. The club acquired former Whale Jason Muzzatti to serve as Richter's apprentice. Muzzatti flops around more than a chimp on ether. He's not exactly a lock to hold the job. Former 1994 first-rounder Dan Cloutier could challenge him. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * The club still has a strong core with Gretzky, Graves, Leetch, and Richter. * Keane and Skrudland are excellent leaders and penalty-killers. * The blue line is rock solid one through six. TROUBLE * Team desperately needs a second-line center that can score. * Losing Messier could have an adverse effect on the team's morale. * Healy's departure puts the goaltending situation into some question. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: As long as the Rangers can find a scoring center to anchor the second line, they'll be just fine. There's still plenty of character veterans on the team, the defense is excellent, they're packed solid with toughness, and Richter is a superstar in net. Plus, Stevens and Kovalev could have big comeback years. PREDICTION: Fourth in the Atlantic and once again in the playoffs. ----------------------------------------------------------------- PHILADELPHIA FLYERS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Wayne Cashman Roster: C - Eric Lindros, Rod Brind'Amour, Chris Gratton, Joel Otto, Vaclav Prospal, Daniel Lacroix. LW - John LeClair, Dan Kordic, Shjon Podein, Colin Forbes, John Druce. RW - Dainius Zubrus, Pat Falloon, Trent Klatt, Scott Daniels. D - Eric Desjardins, Janne Niinimaa, Luke Richardson, Paul Coffey, Petr Svoboda, Chris Therien, Kjell Samuelsson, Chris Joseph. G - Ron Hextall, Garth Snow. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: 07/07 - Named Wayne Cashman head coach. 07/10 - Signed free-agent defenseman Jamie Heward (Toronto) to a one-year contract; signed center Martin Cerven. 07/14 - Signed free-agent defenseman Luke Richardson (Edmonton). 07/17 - Re-signed right wing Brett Bruininks to a one-year contract. 08/06 - Named Paul Holmgren director of player personnel. 08/20 - Signed center Chris Gratton to a five-year, $16.5 million contract. Acquired first-round picks in the next four NHL Drafts, given in compensation to Tampa Bay, for right wing Mikael Renberg and defenseman Karl Dykhuis. 08/25 - Announced the retirement of center Dale Hawerchuk. 09/12 - Re-signed free-agent defenseman Chris Therien to a multi-year contract. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 45-24-13 HOME 23-12-6 ROAD 22-12-7 POINTS: 103 (4th) GOALS SCORED: 274 (3rd) GOALS AGAINST: 217 (8th) POWER PLAY: 14.6% (18th) PENALTY KILLING: 85.7% (6th) Pre-season Game Results: 9/13 at Pittsburgh W 3-1 TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief LINDROS AND CREW ON A MISSION Eric Lindros came close to his dream last season only to get swept by the Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Finals. Now that he has that taste of the Finals, it's going to be tough to keep him from returning this year. And as if the strength of Lindros' sheer will wasn't enough, GM Bobby Clarke went out and bolstered both the offense and the defense through the free agent market. The Flyers still need help in goal, and Wayne Cashman will be making his NHL coaching debut, but the club is still the best in the East. It seems like only a matter of time before Lindros and the boys hoist the Cup. OFFENSE: Gratton Creates Possibilities The big news out of Philadelphia this summer was the acquisition of restricted free agent center Chris Gratton from the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Flyers forked over some major scratch, including a $9-million signing bonus, and eventually had to give up Mikael Renberg and Karl Dykhuis to seal the deal, but GM Bobby Clarke is quite happy to call Gratton a Flyer. Last season the 6'4", 220- pounder led the Tampa Bay Lightning in scoring, establishing career highs in goals (30), assists (32), points (62), power-play goals (9), and game-winners (4). He also spent his share of time in the box, leading the Lightning with a career-high 201 minutes in penalties, including five fighting majors. Gratton is the complete power forward. And at just 22 years of age, he's only going to get better. His size and strength will just add to the already intimidating Flyer roster. Gratton's arrival also gives new Flyer head coach Wayne Cashman plenty of options up front. Gratton could be used at right wing on the top line with Lindros and John LeClair to create an even bigger version of the Legion of Doom. Or he could be used to center the second line, with Rod Brind'Amour sliding over to the right side. Or a third option, and one that has been rumored heavily, is Brind'Amour getting traded to Carolina for Sean Burke in order to sure up the Flyers' obvious weakness in goal. But if the Flyers trade Brind'Amour, they're nuts. The guy is just too good to trade. He's the perfect second-line center. Losing Brind'Amour, even to get a legitimate number-one netminder, would be disastrous to this club. The Flyers have another burgeoning young talent at center in the form of Vaclav Prospal. The 22-year-old Czech joined the club late last season and posted 15 points in 18 games of action. He followed that up with four more points in the first round of the playoffs before he broke his wrist in practice and missed the rest of the postseason. The kid definitely has what it takes to make an impact. He's got good size (6'2", 185), has incredible hands, and sees the whole ice surface. Prospal could develop into a big-time playmaker. His space on the roster is cemented, now he just has to find a position to play. Whether he's at center or left wing, Prospal will likely end up on the second line with Brind'Amour and perhaps 19-year-old Dainius Zubrus, who is clearly ready for regular playing time. Or if Zubrus plays with Lindros and LeClair, like he did for parts of the playoffs, that would mean Gratton would drop to the second line with Brind'Amour and Prospal, giving the Flyers three centers on one line. It might seem like a problem having so many centers, but it really isn't that big a deal. Moving from wing to center is tough, but moving from the middle to the wing is a piece of cake. Or, if you prefer pie, a piece of pie. Once you've played center you can pretty much play anywhere. And wing is just plain simple. In most systems, the wing's primary responsibility on defense is to eliminate the point man. It doesn't get any easier than that. Gratton definitely has the size to play wing and Brind'Amour actually spent a lot of time on wing last season when Dale Hawerchuk was healthy, so they should both be able to make the transition with ease. After considering all the options, don't be surprised to see Zubrus with Lindros and LeClair, and Prospal centering Brind'Amour and Gratton on the second line. While the top two units are open to interpretation, the bottom two are all but set in stone. Joel Otto will anchor the third line with Trent Klatt and Shjon Podein on his wings. This trio is without a doubt the best third line in hockey. They're excellent defensively, hit everything that moves, and can chip in some big goals. Klatt did play on the second line a bit last season, but he's more at home with Otto and Podein. The fourth unit will once again be the Dan Line of center Dan Lacroix and wingers Dan Kordic and Scott Daniels. This group won't score many goals, but they'll cause plenty of trouble and will dish out punishment. Last season they combined for 610 minutes in penalties and 60 fighting majors. Aw, that's nice work. Pat Falloon will probably still be around to tease with his tantalizing talent, but he'll have trouble finding ice time now that Zubrus and Prospal have emerged. John Druce will be back to fill in on the fourth or third lines when needed, but one guy who won't return is Dale Hawerchuk. The legendary scorer decided to hang up his skates this summer due to an arthritic hip that just wasn't getting any better. Hawerchuk goes into the record books with 518 goals and 1,409 points in 1,188 career games. Mr. Hawerchuk, the Hall of Fame awaits. The Flyer offense doesn't have any weaknesses. They're young, strong, deep, and talented. The top two units will produce plenty of goals and the third and fourth lines know their roles and excel at them. The only concern the club has is that LeClair is currently holding out of camp looking to renegotiate a contract that will pay him about $1.5 million in each of the next two seasons. Considering all the money getting tossed around these days, including the enormous amounts of cash the Flyers heaped on Gratton, LeClair is painfully underpaid. But Clarke has said that the club won't even begin talking with LeClair until he reports to camp. And LeClair doesn't appear ready to report anytime soon. Now it's a matter of who blinks first. As great as the Flyers are, they can't afford to have LeClair's holdout drag on into the season. DEFENSE: Richardson Secures Blue Line The Flyer defense was solid last season, but not spectacular. Sensing the group could use a boost, Bobby Clarke went out and signed Luke Richardson, the prized defensemen of this year's free-agent crop. Richardson, 28, is the definition of a defensive defenseman. He's big (6'4", 210), strong, and loves to hit. He'll do all the little things that won't show up on the scoresheet but will make the team successful. Richardson will be a tremendous addition. While Richardson is great, he'll probably still be only the number three man in town. Eric Desjardins will return as the club's number one defenseman, and is just one of the most complete defenders in the game. The club's second best defenseman is Finnish import Janne Niinimaa. The 22-year-old had an impressive rookie campaign last season, claiming the LCS Rookie of the Year Award, and is without doubt the most complete young defenseman in hockey... sorry, Bryan Berard. Desjardins' normal partner is the bruising Chris Therein, who enjoyed a marvelous postseason. Therien's physical presence goes well with Desjardins' all-around greatness. Niinimaa began last season playing with Paul Coffey, but was paired with Petr Svoboda throughout the playoffs. Svoboda's mobility and veteran experience makes him a valuable member of the squad. Coffey spent the latter part of last season playing with Karl Dykhuis as the team's third defensive pairing. Now that Dykhuis is gone, Coffey could get paired with Richardson or the ageless Kjell Samuelsson. It's hard to believe, but Samuelsson is still playing. He's listed as 39, but that's a Jack Benny 39. This guy is old. When he walks past a graveyard, people chase him with shovels. He's also slow. Yes, old and slow... quite the combination. But the Flyers still think he can contribute, mostly on the penalty kill. The club also signed Chris Joseph to add depth. Joseph isn't much in the way of playing smart defense. He is, however, a good skater with a canon slap shot. It's just too bad he never hits the net with it. The Flyer defense will be stacked. Not only will they be great at even-strength, but Coffey and Niinimaa give them two excellent point men on the power play and Desjardins, Richardson, Therien, and Samuelsson are all exceptional penalty-killers. GOALTENDING: Goaltending? What? Where? The Flyers goaltending, um, how should we put this... blows. Ron Hextall is terrible and Garth Snow is an absolute joke. This is the only area of the team that needs improvement. There is no chance in hell that the Flyers will win a Stanley Cup with a tandem of Hextall and Snow. Something definitely has to be done. Sean Burke and Felix Potvin are the names heard most often, but it'll be hard acquiring a big-name goaltender without giving up Brind'Amour. At least there's no real rush. Hextall and Snow are good enough to start the schedule and win some regular season games, but someone else has to be stopping pucks by the time the playoffs roll around if the Flyers want to drink from the Cup. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * Gratton makes the lineup even more fearsome. * Eric Lindros is the best center in the NHL and John LeClair is the best left winger. * Richardson brings grit and depth to the blue line. TROUBLE * Goaltending. * Goaltending. * Goaltending. 1997-98 Outlook: The Flyers have a new coach, a new power forward, and a new banger on the blue line. Now they just need a new goaltender. Even without a switch in net, this club is still deep enough and talented enough to run away with the East. But there won't be a Cup in their future until the goaltending gets upgraded. PREDICTION: First place in the Atlantic Division and first in the East. ----------------------------------------------------------------- TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Terry Crisp Roster: C - Brian Bradley, Daymond Langkow, Jeff Toms, Allen Egeland. LW - Paul Ysebaert, Rob Zamuner, Vladimir Vujtek, Jason Weimer, Patrick Poulin, Brent Peterson. RW - Dino Ciccarelli, Mikael Renberg, Alexander Selivanov, Mikael Andersson. D - Roman Hamrlik, Cory Cross, Dave Shaw, Karl Dykhuis, Igor Ulanov, Jeff Norton, Yves Racine. G - Daren Puppa, Corey Schwab. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: 07/15 - Signed defenseman Pavel Kubina, and centers Eduard Pershin and Vadim Yepanchintsev. 08/04 - Re-signed left wing Patrick Poulin. 08/20 - Announced they would not match the five-year, $16.5 million offer by the Philadelphia Flyers to center Chris Gratton; traded first-round picks in the next four NHL Drafts, received in compensation from Philadelphia, back to the Flyers for right wing Mikael Renberg and defenseman Karl Dykhuis. 08/26 - Signed forward Louie DeBrusk and defenseman Viktor Ignatjev; re-signed forward Paul Brousseau. 09/02 - Re-signed center Brent Peterson. 09/03 - Re-signed free-agent goaltender Derek Wilkinson. 09/11 - Re-signed free-agent left wing Jeff Toms. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 32-40-10 HOME 15-18-8 ROAD 17-22-2 POINTS: 74 (20th) GOALS SCORED: 217 (22nd) GOALS AGAINST: 247 (17th) POWER PLAY: 13.8% (24th) PENALTY KILLING: 84.7% (8th) Pre-season Game Results: None. TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief TAMPA BAY FULL OF WOE After making the postseason for the first time in 1995-96, the men with lightning bolts on their pants had a predictable slide last season and missed the playoffs. The problems were due mainly to injuries to Vezina nominee Daren Puppa and all-time leading scorer Brian Bradley. Things didn't get any better this summer. It's been a troubling off-season for the Tampa Bay Lightning. First, they lost Chris Gratton, supposedly the cornerstone of their offense for years to come, to free agency. GM Phil Esposito should be commended for snaring Mikael Renberg and Karl Dykhuis away from the Flyers in the process, but it still stings to lose such a promising young talent as Gratton. But the pain of losing Gratton pales in comparison to the news the team received recently when it was announced that Johnny Cullen, LCS hero and the idol of millions from eight to eighty, did not have his cancer cured by off-season chemotherapy treatments. Cullen will now be forced to undergo a bone marrow transplant and has only a 50-percent chance of survival. How the team copes with their teammates plight could go a long way to determining where they finish this season. One thing's for sure, he'll never be far from their thoughts. OFFENSE: Bradley's Health Key Tampa Bay's offense this season can be summed up in one phrase: Bradley to Renberg. If Bradley can remain healthy for the full season, and Renberg can rediscover the scoring touch he had with the Flyers before his hernia surgery a year ago, the Bolts could have quite the potent scoring duo. Bradley is one of the most underrated players in the league. He's got all the skills to act as a playmaker or the main scorer. Team him with Renberg, who's a natural goal scorer, and there could be some fireworks. There better be, because the Bolts don't have much in the way of support. Dino Ciccarelli is coming off an impressive 35-goal, 60-point season, but the 37-year-old will be hard pressed to match those numbers this season. He was involved in a messy contract dispute with management, but things got worked out and he'll be back to help pace the offense, especially on the man-advantage where he led the club with 12 power-play goals last season. After Bradley, Renberg, and Ciccarelli, the offense is void of any real scoring talent. With Cullen out and Shawn Burr having been traded to San Jose for a draft pick, Tampa's going to need to get more production out of youngsters Jason Wiemer, Daymond Langkow, and Jeff Toms. Wiemer was a first-round pick (8th overall) back in 1994, but has yet to back up that promise with goals. He has just 19 in his three-year NHL career, including nine last season. He does play a physical brand of hockey and has taken on a leadership role with the team, but Wiemer is going to have to make the jump to the 20-goal range for the Lightning to have success this season. Langkow's production will definitely rise. The 21-year-old had a nice rookie season last year for Tampa, creating plenty of excitement with his explosive skating and exceptional puck skills. He could be a point-a-game guy within the next couple years. Toms stepped in late last season and filled in at center for Bradley at times, even though he was previously a left winger. He opened up plenty of eyes with his quick hands and lengthy stride. He could be an important contributor. Patrick Poulin was once considered a top scoring prospect when he first broke in with the Whale, but those days are solid gone. He has found his niche with the Lightning, however, acting as a checking winger and penalty killer. Paul Ysebaert struggled through an injury-plagued campaign last year, but still sports the "C" on his sweater and can spark the team with his inspired play. The Bolts lost tough guy Rudy Poeschek to St. Louis via free agency, but replaced him by signing Louie Debrusk from Edmonton. The one wild card up front is Alexander "Knuckles" Selivanov. He has the potential to be a 30-goal, 60-point guy that also plays an agitating, physical game. Unfortunately, he didn't do much of anything last season, posting just 15 goals and 33 points. But Knuckles is an LCS cult hero for a reason. He'll bounce back. The club's best defensive player, and perhaps one of the five best in the game today, is gritty, gutty Rob Zamuner. The scrappy left winger is a tireless worker that does whatever he can to help his team win. Zamuner is the ultimate team player. He also showed some offensive potential last season, recording career highs in goals (17), assists (33), and points (50). DEFENSE: Oh, That Hamrlik... How well Tampa plays on defense hinges entirely on the performance of Roman Hamrlik. If the young Czech Hammer is swingin' like he can, meaning scoring big goals and dishing out hits, then Tampa will be in pretty good shape. He has the talent to be a legitimate impact player. Unfortunately, he seldom plays with the intensity to inspire his teammates. Hell, he seldom plays with any intensity at all. Hamrlik's just a head case. He could be a dominant player in this league, but apparently he doesn't want it bad enough. His constant feuding with coach Terry Crisp could have Hamrlik leaving town. And maybe a change of scenery is exactly what he needs. Tampa lost Bill Houlder to free agency, but signed Yves Racine from Calgary to take his place. Racine, 28, is a mobile blueliner that moves the puck extremely well. He can also handle the point on the power play if called upon. But those duties, at least on the top unit, will likely be handled by Hamrlik and Jeff Norton. Acquired before the trade deadline last season, Norton is a silky-smooth skater with tremendous offensive skills. He should be a boon to the Lightning power play, which ranked 24th overall last season. Dykhuis may not have been needed in Philly, but he'll be a welcomed addition to the Lightning blue line. He's a decent skater with enough talent to play the point and can play a physical game. His decision making with the puck often came under fire in Philly, where he was brutalized by the fans and media for every mistake he made. He should have an easier time of it in Tampa. Corey Cross continues to mature as a defenseman. He still needs to learn to use his 6'5" frame to punish the opposition a bit more, but he's a pretty dependable guy that is just now finding his stride. Igor Ulanov is the agitator along the line that is always willing to throw a big hit or use the stick. The Mad Russian can get under anyone's skin. Journeyman Jamie Huscroft is also still around to add some experience and toughness. GOALTENDING: The Return of Puppa The Bolts were crippled last season when Daren Puppa had to undergo back surgery just one game into the season. He tried to return late in the year, but the comeback was a bit premature and it wasn't long before he was back on the shelf. The good news is that Puppa should be back to 100% in time for the start of the 1997-98 campaign. Esposito was so sure of Puppa's status that he sent last season's number one, Rick Tabaracci, back to Calgary for a draft pick. Corey Schwab will likely be the backup, with Derek Wilkinson providing some slight competition. But the backup really doesn't matter. This is Puppa's team. If he isn't in net, the Lightning don't have a chance to make a postseason return. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * Daren Puppa and Brian Bradley should be healthy. * Mikael Renberg gives them a proven scorer from the wing. * Rob Zamuner is one of the premier defensive forwards in hockey. TROUBLE * Not a whole lot of talent up front. * Roman Hamrlik is nuts. * Team's thoughts could be elsewhere. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: The Lightning really don't have a playoff team. If Puppa is his old self in net, Hamrlik plays up to potential, and Bradley and Renberg strike a goal-scoring chemistry, the team might be competitive. There's also the factor of Cullen's illness. It could either act as an inspiration or it will weigh heavy on their hearts. But even Cullen's bravery might not be enough to save this team. PREDICTION: Seventh in the Atlantic and out of the playoffs. ----------------------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON CAPITALS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Doug Wilson Roster: C - Adam Oates, Michael Pivonka, Andrei Nikolishin, Dale Hunter, Mike Eagles. LW- Steve Konowalchuk, Joe Juneau, Yogi Svejkovsky, Kevin Kaminski, Chris Simon, Richard Zednik. RW - Peter Bondra, Kelly Miller, Todd Krygier, Craig Berube, Pat Peake. D - Mark Tinordi, Phil Housley, Calle Johansson, Sergei Gonchar*, Sylvain Cote, Joe Reekie, Brendan Witt. G - Bill Ranford, Olaf Kolzig. Injuries: None. Transactions: XX/XX - Signed free agent centers Kevin Kaminski and Andrei Nikolishin. 08/15 - Named Bryan Trottier head coach at Portland of the American Hockey League. 08/21 - Signed center Adam Oates. 09/03 - Traded defenseman Eric Charron to the Calgary Flames for future considerations. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 33-40-9 HOME 19-17-5 ROAD 14-23-4 POINTS: 75 (18th) GOALS SCORED: 214 (25th) GOALS AGAINST: 231 (10th) POWER PLAY: 15.8% (12th) PENALTY KILLING: 84.7% (8th) Pre-season Game Results: 9/14 New Jersey L 4-1 @Albany TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief CAPITAL CHANGES COULD MEAN CUP CONTENTION The Washington Capitals missed the playoffs last season for the first time in 14 years. The team was usually a first-round casualty, but missing the post-season party altogether was a bit too much for owner Abe Pollin to swallow. He made some changes. Gone were GM David Poile and head coach Jim Schoenfeld. Ironically, Poile's dismissal came only weeks after he finally made the deal to acquire Adam Oates, the big-name center the franchise has been lacking since its inception in 1974. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late. Taking over for Poile is George McPhee. The rookie GM got his career off on the right foot by hiring former Anaheim Mighty Ducks coach Ron Wilson to be the new Capitals bench boss. With this new duo leading the charge, the underachieving Capitals could finally reach their full potential. OFFENSE: Oates + Bondra = Goals o' Plenty The Washington Capitals have always had problems scoring goals. Well, that concern could be a thing of the past now that Adam Oates (22-60-82) is in the fold. Oates, who signed a new three- year deal with the club this summer, is the game's premier setup man. He first gained fame setting the table for Brett Hull in St. Louis, then moved to Boston to work some magic with Cam Neely. Now he's got another superstar sniper to finish his passes in Peter Bondra (46-31-77). Bondra could be the most lethal goal-scorer in the NHL. Over the past three seasons, the Slovakian speedster has racked up 132 goals in 191 games, good for a .69 goals-per-game average. That's second to only Jaromir Jagr's 141 goals and .73 average. Meanwhile, Oates has had similar success in the assist department. Only Ron Francis (1.00), Peter Forsberg (.92), and Wayne Gretzky (.90) have averaged more assists per game than Oates (.85) the past three seasons. Combining Oates and Bondra on the same line will be a sure cure for any offensive woes. This duo will absolutely terrorize the NHL this season. With Oates distributing the puck, it wouldn't be out of the question to see Bondra break the 70-goal barrier. That's just how good they are. Not only will the twosome dominate at even-strength and on the power play, but they'll probably also be the Caps' top penalty-killers, as well. One thing's for sure, Oates will definitely be the club's top faceoff man. He's the best in the business when it comes to taking draws. Chris Simon would be the obvious choice to play the left side with Bondra and Oates. The monster left winger was acquired last season from Colorado and went on a tear in his first few weeks as a Cap, even earning a feature story in Sports Illustrated. But it was all downhill from there. Simon's chronic bad back started to act up and the scoring dried up. The big guy ended the season with a mere nine goals and 22 points in 42 games. A lot of people around the league think he's just a fighter, but Simon can do much more than just knock people unconscious. For such a big man (6'3", 220), Simon skates fairly well and has good hands around the net. If he could just stay healthy, Simon could be a major force. His brawn would be a perfect compliment to Bondra's speed and Oates' smarts. No doubt about it, that trio has the potential to be the best line in hockey. And the top line is going to have to produce, because there really isn't a whole lot of scoring from two to four. Bondra (46), Oates (22), and Rick Tocchet (21) were the team's only 20- goal scorers last season, and most of Oates' and Tocchet's goals came with Boston. The picture will be even more bleak this season now that Tocchet has left via free agency to Phoenix. There just isn't another 30-goal scorer to take his place. Andrei Nikolishin (9-19-28) has talent, but he pretty much sucked last season. He has a lot to prove. Michal Pivonka (7-16-23) used to be Bondra's personal center and a reliable point producer, that is he was until he had an embarrassing 23-point campaign last season. Coach Wilson plans to change Pivonka's role and use him mainly as a checking center to go up against the opposition's best line. That leaves Joe Juneau (15-27-42) as the only other skilled guy up front. Juneau is a remarkable skater and passer, but he's never quite made the jump from being just another skilled player to being a star. He just doesn't seem tough enough to make such a move. But maybe having Oates around will make Juneau remember the glory days of his rookie season in Boston when he posted 102 points. The rest of the Washington offense is made up of some gritty role players. Leading the way is captain Dale Hunter (14-32-46), who briefly considered retirement before deciding to come back for an 18th NHL season. Steve Konowalchuk (17-25-42) is a good checking winger with plenty of speed and tenacity, but should score more than he does. Kelly Miller (10-14-24), Todd Krygier (5-11-16), and Mike Eagles (1-7-8) round out the group of veteran grinders. The feisty Kevin Kaminski (1-2-3, 130 pim) is still around to cause trouble and big bad Craig Berube (4-3-7, 218 pim) will help Simon bust heads. There could be some offensive help on the way in the form of three youngsters. Andrew Brunette (4-7-11) is a 24-year-old left winger that has the hands to be a legitimate playmaker. The only thing holding him back is his skating, which is still minor- league. One guy who doesn't have any problems getting around the ice is Richard Zednik (2-1-3). The 21-year-old Slovak can really motor. He needs to get a little stronger, but could create excitement if given the chance. Rounding out the trio is 21- year-old Czech winger Jaroslav "Yogi" Svejkovsky (7-3-10). Of the three, Yogi is the one that will probably get the best chance to make an impact this season. He opened up a lot of eyes by torching the Buffalo Sabres for four goals in a game late last season. He's a brilliant stickhandler that could really make his presence known on the scoresheet. If Zednik and Svejkovsky make the club, the Washington offense will be fun to watch. DEFENSE: Same As It Ever Was Now that the New Jersey defense has taken some hits, the Capitals send out the best group of blueliners in the league. Washington's defense has a little bit of everything. Mark Tinordi (2-6-8) and Joe Reekie (1-8-9) are two of the best defensive defensemen in the game. The biggest problem they've had is staying healthy. The two combined for only 121 games last season. Tinordi's always had difficulty staying in the lineup. He's never played a full season during his 10-year career and has only played more than 69 games once, that being in 1995-96 when he suited up for 71 contests. The Caps need Tinordi in the lineup to play their best. He's a devastating hitter that always keeps the opposition honest. There's a noticeable drop off in intensity when he isn't around. At the other end of the spectrum from Tinordi and Reekie is the offensive-minded Phil Housley (11-29-40). The 33-year-old vet can still put up the points, but he's pretty much a one- dimensional player. After a rather uneventful first season in Washington, the jury remains out on whether or not he's tough enough to compete in the Atlantic Division. The good news is that Wilson, unlike Schoenfeld, will be more inclined to turn Housley loose and let him do his thing. So that could mean a jump in production. Between the extremes of Housley and Reekie, the Caps also boast three quality all-around defenders in Sylvain Cote (6-18-24), Calle Johansson (6-11-17), and Sergei Gonchar (13-17-30). All three move the puck extremely well and can join the play late. Gonchar has some big-time potential. With his heavy wrist shot and ability to read plays, a 20-goal season wouldn't be out of the question. He just has to assert himself more in the offensive zone. He also has to sign a contract. At the time of this writing, Gonchar is the Caps' only unsigned free agent. When everyone is healthy he doesn't get much playing time, but 22-year-old Brendan Witt (3-2-5) is a fiery competitor that likes to stir things up. He had 10 fighting majors in his 44 games last season. Ken Klee (3-8-11) also adds to the blue line depth, filling in wherever needed and being versatile enough to take a few shifts as a forward when called upon. Eric Charron was traded this off-season to Calgary for future considerations. His departure could mean an opening for either Patrick Boileau or Nolan Baumgartner. But barring a trade or an injury, neither one will likely crack the top six. GOALTENDING: Ranford to the Rescue LCS said all along that Jim Carey wasn't the real deal. In the past, we've also been quick to sing the praises of Bill Ranford. So we'd look pretty stupid if Ranford comes in and sucks it up as bad as Carey. Luckily for us, that won't happen. Ranford is the man. The guy's a winner. He's still the only goaltender in the history of the planet to win a Stanley Cup, a Canada Cup, and a World Championship. He hasn't looked like his old self lately, but that's due mostly to the shell shock of playing behind the ridiculous defenses in Boston and Edmonton the last five or six years. Spending a full season behind the Capitals will seem like paradise. He does give up the occasion soft goal, but there isn't a goaltender in the NHL that makes more big saves than Ranford. He's at his best when the game's on the line. He's also exceptional come playoff time, which is a welcome change of pace for Washington netminders. Backing up Ranford will be Olaf Kolzig (8-15-4, 2.59, .906). At 6'3", 225 pounds, Kolzig's size is the perfect compliment to Ranford's raw athleticism and reflexes. The ideal goaltending situation is to have guys with two distinct styles. That way if you have to make a switch midstream, it forces the opposition to make some adjustments. The Caps should have that workin' with Ranford and Kolzig. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * Adam Oates and Peter Bondra will be the league's best scoring duo. * Defense is deep and talented. * Ron Wilson is a great coach. TROUBLE * Still lack scoring depth. * Injury curse may not be over. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: The Capitals have always had a hard- working, gritty team. The only thing that kept Washington from being a major force the past two seasons has been injuries. That bad luck can't last forever. Expect to see the improved health translate into wins. There's also the Ron Wilson factor. The guy could be the best coach in hockey. What he did the past two seasons in Anaheim with a roster that would make most IHL fans cringe is truly amazing. He'll also be a breath of fresh air coming in after Jim Schoenfeld. Schoeny's a great guy and all, but he isn't exactly a player's best friend. Usually when a new coach comes in and inherits an underachieving, injury-riddled squad, the inevitable turnaround garners serious coach-of-the-year talk. So start polishing up the trophy for Wilson. Prediction: The Caps could easily win the Eastern Conference, but a second place finish in the Atlantic is probably the safer bet. Either way, they'll be back in the playoffs and causing plenty of trouble. ================================================================ ================================================================= TEAM REPORTS ================================================================= EASTERN CONFERENCE NORTHEASTERN DIVISION ----------------------------------------------------------------- BOSTON BRUINS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Pat Burns Roster: C - Anson Carter, Dimitri Khristich, Joe Thornton, Ted Donato, Trent McCleary*. LW - Ken Baumgartner, Rob Dimaio, Sergei Samsonov, Mike Sullivan*, Jason Allison. RW - Steve Heinze, Jeff Odgers, Landon Wilson, Jean-Yves Roy. D - Ray Bourque, Don Sweeney, Dave Ellet, Kyle McLaren, Jon Rolhoff, Dean Chynoweth, Dean Malkoc*, Mattias Timander. G - Jim Carey, Rob Tallas. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: XX/XX - Acquired wing Mike Sullivan from the Calgary Flames for a 1998 7th-round draft pick. 07/01 - Signed free agent left wing Ken Baumgartner (Anaheim) to a three-year contract. 07/02 - Signed free agent defenseman Dave Ellet (New Jersey) to a three-year contract. 07/11 - Re-signed defenseman Dean Chynoweth to a two-year contract. 07/15 - Re-signed center Ted Donato to a one-year contract. 07/17 - Signed winger Antti Laaksonen to a two-year contract. 08/04 - Agreed to terms with center Joe Thornton, the No. 1 pick in the 1997 draft, on a three-year contract. 08/26 - Re-signed free agent goaltender Rob Tallas to a one-year contract. 08/29 - Traded center Jozef Stumpel, right wing Sandy Moger and a 1998 fourth-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Kings for left wing Dimitri Khristich and goaltender Byron Dafoe. 09/03 - Agreed to terms on a three-year contract with left wing Sergei Samsonov, their second first-round pick in the 1997 draft. 09/04 - Agreed to terms with free-agent left wing Steve Heinze. 09/11 - Signed center Joel Prpic to a two-year contract. Standings; 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 26-47-9 HOME 14-20-7 ROAD 12-27-2 POINTS: 61 (26th) GOALS SCORED: 234 (15th) GOALS AGAINST: 300 (26th) POWER PLAY: 14.8% (16th) PENALTY KILLING: 81.8% (21st) Pre-season Game Results: 9/14 at Florida W 4-2 TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief BEAR SEASON NOW OPEN The best thing the Bruins did this off-season was fire coach Steve Kasper. It was just about a year and a half too late. The minute that guy benched Cam Neely in Toronto he should have been beaten severely about the head and shoulders and dumped out in the middle of a lake. Replacing Kasper behind the bench is former Montreal and Toronto coach Pat Burns. Known as a disciplinarian, Burns has won everywhere he's coached with a strict defensive game, but he may not have the patience to deal with the young Bruins. Because make no mistake about it, the Bruins are in for a long season. OFFENSE: Mud A few weeks ago the Boston braintrust, and that term is used loosely, traded the talented Jozef Stumpel, along with right winger Sandy Moger, to Los Angeles in exchange for Dimitri Khristich and goaltender Byron Dafoe. Exactly what the Bruins were thinking when they made this trade is still not known, however, there are reports of grain alcohol being involved. Why the Bruins would trade Stumpel is a mystery. The 25-year-old Czech center is coming off the best season of his career and watched his scoring total jump by 22 points. But I guess there is that old saying among GMs, "Always trade talented young players the season after they have a 22-point jump in scoring, that way you don't have to suffer through all those annoying years of superstardom." The saddest thing about trading Stumpel is he was really starting to form a chemistry at the end of last season with some of the young wingers on the team, especially Landon Wilson. With Stumpel setting him up, Wilson could have become an impact player this season. The former Colorado Avalanche product has great size and loves to work the boards and crash the net. And if he's given room, Wilson also has enough skills to pull off the individual effort. His skating still needs to improve a bit, but Wilson is one of only two cool Bruins. The other is Anson Carter. Acquired from Washington in the Adam Oates trade, Carter posted eight goals and 13 points in 19 games with the Bruins. His speed and hard work quickly made him a fan favorite, and he played in all situations, even becoming one of the club's top penalty-killers. With Wilson and Carter on board, at least the team has two LCS cult heroes to keep things interesting. The Bruins just don't have a whole lot of proven commodities on offense. Jason Allison, who also came over in the Oates trade, has some offensive talent, but his skating is labored. Jean-Yves Roy has no problem motoring all over the ice and is a natural goal-scorer, but his overall game could use some work. Ted Donato scored 25 goals last season and Steve Heinze had 17 in his first 30 games before Darius Kasparaitis knocked him out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, but neither one has really ever been known as a front-line scorer. Khristich is pretty much the only proven scorer on the team. He led the Kings last season with 19 goals and 56 points. He can play either center or wing, but is probably better as a flanker. He's tremendous around the net at finding garbage. To be at his best, tho', he needs a playmaker to set him up for the tap-ins at the posts. The Bruins really don't have such a player. You know who does? The Kings. His name is Jozef Stumpel. The Bruins are pinning most of their hopes this season to first- overall pick Joe Thornton. He's a big center with enough skills to maybe one day carry the club, but there's not a lot of talent around to help his adjustment to the NHL. Don't expect him to just stroll in and light it up. Actually, the Bruins' other first-round pick this summer, Sergei Samsonov, may be more of an immediate scoring threat. Samsonov is a little guy, but he's an excellent skater that can create some excitement. The big question with him will be if he can take a full season of NHL punishment. He could either be a star or the next Dmitri Kvartalnov. Bruins that won't be returning this season are Clayton Beddoes, Kevin Sawyer, Tim Sweeney, and Sheldon Kennedy. The first three all left through free agency, Kennedy, on the other hand, was released. The Bruins were given all sorts of credit for sticking by Kennedy during his personal problems last season and then just when the kid starts to get his life together they cut him. Hey, that's just more class from the Bruin organization. Nice job... ya weasels. DEFENSE: Mud Ray Bourque and Dave Ellett give the Bruins a solid top two defenders along the blue line. Ellett, signed from New Jersey over the summer, is a quality veteran that can provide some leadership and man the point on the power play. And Bourque is, well, Bourque. After that, tho', things get ugly. Kyle McLaren had the usual sophomore slump last season and also suffered through some injury woes. If the 20-year-old can regain the form that made him a rookie standout in 1995-96, it'll go a long way to strengthening the meager defense. The only other defender with any skill is Swiss defender Anders Myrvold. The former Avalanche farm hand is a star in AHL circles with the Hershey Bears and has the talent and skating ability to make some plays. The only problem is he can get victimized in his own zone and doesn't always make the smart play. He's almost like a poor man's Sandis Ozolinsh. The rest of the defense is made up of guys like Jon Rohloff, Dean Chynoweth, Barry Richter, and Dean Malkoc. Bob Beers won't return, he elected to retire over the summer. Considering the current state of the Bruins, that's not a bad idea. GOALTENDING: Little Better Than Mud The Bruins will be hoping that Jim Carey can return to his old Vezina form with some help from former Bruin great Gerry Cheevers. The only thing is that Carey wasn't all that great to begin with. If he could regain his composure in net and play strong on his angles, he might be able to hold onto his number one job. But with the state of the Bruin team in front of him, the opposition shouldn't have much trouble working the puck side to side in order to exploit Carey's lack of foot speed and agility. If Carey gets carved up, Byron Dafoe will have no problem taking control as the number one. Both netminders are products of the Washington organization, but Dafoe's quickness and speed might make it easier for him to survive the barrage of shots coming from Bruin opponents. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * Carter and Wilson are cool. * Thornton and Samsonov give hope for the future. * Burns will turn things around... eventually. TROUBLE * The offense is mud. * The defense is mud. * The front office is mud. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: Pat Burns is a good coach, but he can only do so much. This club finished last season with a record of 10-28-3 over its final 41 games and 2-10-0 over its final 12. Unless Joe Thornton plays like Mario Lemieux, this team is going to have a painful year. PREDICTION: Sixth in the Northeast, last in the East, and last overall. ----------------------------------------------------------------- BUFFALO SABRES ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Lindy Ruff Roster: C - Michael Peca*, Derek Plante, Brian Holzinger, Pat Lafontaine**, Wayne Primeau. LW - Randy Burridge, Miroslav Satan, Michal Grosek, Brad May. RW - Donald Audette, Jason Dawe, Matthew Barnaby, Dixon Ward, Rob Ray. D - Alexei Zhitnik*, Darryl Shannon, Jay McKee, Mike Wilson, Bob Boughner, Richard Smehlik. G - Dominik Hasek, Steve Shields, Andrei Trefilov. * - Unsigned free agent. ** - Awaiting medical clearance from Sabres. Injuries: None. Transactions: 07/21 - Named Lindy Ruff coach and signed him to a multi-year contract. 07/24 - Named Mike Ramsey an assistant coach. 07/29 - Announced Don Lever will return to the team in the role of associate coach. 08/05 - Agreed to terms on a multi-year contract with restricted free-agent right wing Dixon Ward. 08/08 - Re-signed two restricted free agents: center Derek Plante and defenseman Darryl Shannon. 08/10 - Signed center Patrice Tardif and defenseman Mike Hurlbut. 08/12 - Named Brian McCutcheon head coach at Rochester of the American Hockey League. 08/14 - Signed free-agent goaltender Michael Bales. 08/25 - Signed forward Erik Rasmussen, their first-round draft pick in 1996, to a contract. 09/02 - Named Mike Gilbert senior director of communications. 09/08 - Agreed to terms with defenseman Bob Boughner on a multi-year deal. 09/12 - Re-signed free-agent left wing Michal Grosek to a multi-year contract. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 40-30-12 HOME 24-11-6 ROAD 16-19-6 POINTS: 92 (6th) GOALS SCORED: 237 (13th) GOALS AGAINST: 208 (6th) POWER PLAY: 13.2% (26th) PENALTY KILLING: 83.8% (13th) Pre-season Game Results: None. TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief TEAM TURMOIL The Buffalo Sabres are stupid. How else can you explain firing GM John Muckler and Coach-of-the-Year Ted Nolan after the duo helped guide an average group of muckers and grinders to the Northeast Division crown and a second-round playoff appearance? Stupid might be too generous. Nolan was a god to most every player on the roster. There wasn't anything the rag-tag group of Sabres wouldn't do for their coach. He turned what should have been a below .500 hockey team into a division winner by instilling them with the values of hard work, dedication, and team work. The Sabres didn't have the talent to compete with the best in the NHL. But thanks to Nolan, they were perhaps the best "team" in every sense of the word. Everyone in the city and on the team loved Nolan... except for Dominik Hasek. It was no secret that the coach and superstar netminder had a strained relationship. So much so, that after the season it was almost a question that either Hasek or Nolan would have to leave town. The Dominator didn't try very hard to hide his enthusiasm when new GM Darcy Regier replaced Nolan with former Sabre player Lindy Ruff. He even said something along the lines that he had no respect for Nolan as a coach or a person. That's strong. Needless to say, those comments didn't go over too well with the rest of the team, especially Matthew Barnaby. The silver-toothed wonder responded by saying he'd run Hasek during training camp. The two have reportedly talked things over, but it's no secret most of the Sabres see Hasek being responsible for Nolan getting fired. The success of this club was due entirely to coaching and team chemistry. Now both are gone. The team is also showing its stupidity in its handling of injured captain Pat LaFontaine. Patty is looking to make a comeback after missing most of last season with post-concussion syndrome, but the club didn't even invite him to training camp. They also haven't even gotten the proper paperwork in order to allow LaFontaine to return. The club says they just want to make sure he has medical clearance to play, but if LaFontaine doesn't skate for the club this season the Sabres are only responsible for a small fraction of his $4-million contract. Now there are trade rumors circulating that could have LaFontaine ending up with the Rangers. The Sabres are in trouble. OFFENSE: Not Much of It If LaFontaine doesn't return, the Sabres are going to struggle scoring goals. They usually win games with defense and goaltending, but with team chemistry shot to hell, it might take a few more goals to win games this season. Last year's leading scorer was the super-skilled Derek Plante, who paced the attack with 27 goals and 53 points. Plante is a fun guy to watch play. He's an explosive skater, can stickhandle like a champ, and owns both a quick wrister and a heavy slap shot. But if he wants to be known as a major scoring threat, he's going to have to produce away from home. Of his 27 goals last season, only three came away from the confines of Marine Midland Arena. Any punk can score at home. The great ones do it in the other team's barn. Brian Holzinger was second on the team with 22 goals and 51 points. Holzinger has developed into a good all-around center, playing strong in his own end and killing penalties. But when it comes to being a defensive center, no one in the league is better than Selke winner Mike Peca. He's not very big, but Peca's a good skater that works hard on every shift and finishes all his checks. He isn't scared to get in the opposition's face. He can also chip in 20 goals, so that's pretty much the complete package. Buffalo's most gifted goal-scorer is Donald Audette. The 28- year-old Quebec native is just a natural at putting the puck in the net. He had 28 goals last season in 73 games, but he could get 35 to 40 in the right situation. Unfortunately, Buffalo isn't the right situation. Winger Jason Dawe has a good shot and used it to collect 22 goals, but that's pretty much his limit. The guy who has the most upside on offense is winger Miroslav Satan. The former Oiler came over in a trade last season and had eight goals and 10 points in 12 games. He's not much of a skater, but he goes to the net well and knows how to beat a goaltender. The real heart and soul of this team, tho', are its three tough guys: Barnaby, Brad May, and Rob Ray. They may not score much, although Barnaby does have the talent to be a 20-goal, 60-point guy, but the trio sure does keep the opposition honest. And when the Sabres need a spark, expect one of these three to provide it with either a stiff check or a timely fight. DEFENSE: Not Good... The Sabre blue line was fairly weak last season, often getting bailed out by Hasek's greatness in net. Well, things are going to be even worse this season now that veteran leader Garry Galley left via free agency to Los Angeles. There's probably no doubt that if Nolan stayed, Galley would still be in Buffalo. He was a fixture at the point on the Buffalo power play and logged tons of ice time in all three situations. More importantly, he wore an "A" and was a vocal guy in the room. He's going to be hard to replace. The top pair last season was made up of Alexei Zhitnik and Richard Smehlik. Zhitnik used to be seen as a bright young offensive talent, but he's been a pretty big disappointment to this stage of his career. He only posted seven goals and 35 points last season and isn't getting any smarter with the puck or his positioning. Smehlik is a good steady guy that teams up with Zhitnik at even-strength, while short-handed, and on the power play. Expect to see more of the same this season. Galley's normal partner last season was Bob Boughner. He's not much in the way of skating or scoring, but Boughner is a big tough guy that can help clear the front of the net. Darryl Shannon plays a pretty good overall game and has enough talent to put up more than the four goals and 23 points he had last season. Now that Galley's gone he might get more of an opportunity to supply some scoring. The other two main contributors to the blue line are youngsters Jay McKee and Mike Wilson. Both are tall, rangy guys that can play physical when needed. They're going to have to step it up this season. GOALTENDING: Dominator's Domain His teammates may not like him, but Hasek is still one of the most dominating players in the game. On any given night, he can get two points all by himself. And he just might have to considering the state of this club. The backup duties will likely be handled by Steve Shields, who supplanted Andrei Trefilov with a tremendous showing in the postseason against the Senators and Flyers. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * Hasek can steal games by himself. * Barnaby, May, and Ray give the club heart. * Peca is one of the game's premier defensive forwards. TROUBLE * Team chemistry is shot to hell. * No superstar scorers in sight on offense. * Galley's departure weakens the already shallow defense. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: The Sabres are a mess. Coming to terms with LaFontaine would go a long way to winning the fans back, but even that might not be enough to gain forgiveness for firing Nolan. This club is in store for a terrible season. And ownership and management will deserve every loss they get. PREDICTION: Fifth in the Northeast and out of the playoffs. ----------------------------------------------------------------- CAROLINA HURRICANES ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Paul Maurice Roster: C - Keith Primeau, Jeff O'Neill, Kent Manderville, Steve Martins. LW - Gary Roberts, Geoff Sanderson, Paul Ranheim, Sami Kapanen, Stu Grimson, Jeff Daniels. RW - Steven Rice, Kevin Dineen, Robert Kron, Nelson Emerson, Stephen Leach, Chris Murray. D - Glen Wesley, Jeff Brown, Adam Burt, Steve Chiasson, Kevin Haller, Curtis Leschyshyn, Enrico Ciccone, Marek Malik. G - Trevor Kidd, Sean Burke, Mike Fountain, Pat Jablonski. Injuries: None. Transactions: XX/XX - Signed free-agent defenseman Adam Burt and left wing Jeff Daniels. 07/24 - Signed forward Bates Battaglia to a multi-year contract. 07/25 - Acquired defenseman Enrico Ciccone from the Chicago Blackhawks for defenseman Ryan Risidore and a 1998 fifth-round draft pick. 08/08 - Acquired the New York Rangers fourth-round draft pick in the 1998 Entry Draft in exchange for goaltender Jason Muzzatti. 08/10 - Signed goaltender Pat Jablonski to a multi-year contract. 08/14 - Signed Group VI free-agent goaltender Mike Fountain to a multi-year contract. 08/25 - Acquired left wing Gary Roberts and goaltender Trevor Kidd from the Calgary Flames in exchange for center Andrew Cassels and goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere. 08/28 - Re-signed forward Steve Martins; signed right wing Ethan Philpott; signed right wing Brent Fedyk to a free-agent tryout. 09/08 - Signed left wing Gary Roberts, who was acquired in a trade from Calgary on Aug. 25, to a multi-year contract. 09/10 - Signed goaltender Trevor Kidd to a multi-year contract. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 32-29-11 HOME 23-15-3 ROAD 9-24-8 POINTS: 75 (19th) GOALS SCORED: 226 (19th) GOALS AGAINST: 256 (19th) POWER PLAY: 18.1% (4th) PENALTY KILLING: 84.6% (10th) Pre-season Game Results: 9/13 NY Islanders W 4-1 TEAM PREVIEW by Jim Iovino, Ace Reporter SAVE THE HURRICANES? Yes, reality has set in around the offices of LCS Hockey. Leggy supermodel Elle MacPherson is most definitely blocking out our calls. Sources on the inside say she still thinks Zippy's kinda cute, but feels we didn't do enough in our quest to keep the Whale in Hartford. Now the Whale have relocated to Carolina, where they will battle Dick Trickle and Ricky Rudd for local airtime on the 11 o'clock news. Will the Whale ever get respect? Probably not, but hey, a foolish little hockey magazine can dream, can't it? The Whale have a new name, a new arena, new uniforms and less fans. They've got a new leader on the ice and in the clubhouse. And they've got two starting goaltenders. All we need is Dickie the Whale and we've got a party on our hands. OFFENSE: Roberts Adds Goals, Leadership Gary Roberts returns to the National Hockey League after a one-year retirement as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes. Roberts, a former 50-goal scorer, came to the Hurricanes along with Trevor Kidd in a trade that sent Andrew Cassels and minor league goalie J.S. Guigere to the Calgary Flames. If healthy, Roberts adds an instant goal-scoring threat to the Carolina attack. But, more importantly, Roberts adds a tremendous locker room attitude and a great sense of leadership to the team. However, all of this is relative to Roberts' neck. For Roberts to do his thing on the ice, he's going to have to create havoc in front of the net. And if he's going to stand in front of the net, he's going to have to expect to take a sever beating around the head and shoulders from the opposing defense. If Roberts is still skating by the midway point of the season, Roberts' comeback will be considered a success. Here's hoping Roberts, an LCS Hockey hero, comes back to the NHL in a big way this season. Speaking of big, it looks like Roberts will be on the top line with the one, the only, Big Keith Primeau. Primeau could finally live up to his potential on a line with Roberts. With Primeau banging in the corners and along the boards, digging out the puck and throwing it in front to Roberts, he could easily surpass his 1996-97 totals of 26 goals and 51 points in 75 games. If his stats don't improve while on a line with a player of Roberts' caliber, the potential everyone has talked about will never show up. The remaining member of the first line should be LCS Hockey's little buddy, Sami Kapanen. Kapanen's a cool guy. He's not the biggest player in the league, he's not the fastest, or the most skilled, but he shows up every night and gives it his all. Last season Kapanen was first on the team in plus/minus with a +6, proving that he's good at both ends of the ice. Kapanen's also got some offensive skills just waiting to bust out. If he sticks on the first line, this could definitely be the season we see Sami step into the spotlight. The trading of Cassels paved the way for Jeff O'Neill to slide into the second-line center position. The Hurricanes have placed a lot of pressure on O'Neill, but they also have a lot of confidence that he can produce. The former No. 1 draft pick has to prove himself this year, not that he can play at the NHL level, but that he can play at a consistent level during an 82-game season. The one remaining sniper on the Hurricane roster is Geoff Sanderson. Sanderson has one of the best shots in the league, and he uses it a lot. But just when you think Sanderson's gonna bust out and turn into one of the league's premier snipers, he does something to prove you wrong. Sanderson is streaky. He'll go a week or two without a goal and then bang, he'll light the lamp in three or four straight games. Having Roberts as a role model should do wonders for Sanderson this year. Other than the forwards mentioned above, there's not much else scoring punch. Nelson Emerson is penciled in on the right side on the second line, but he has to improve dramatically on last season to keep the spot. Emerson struggled through the 96-97 season, scoring just nine goals in 66 games. He was also a -24. Kevin Dineen, who was the heart and soul of the Whalers, is once again with the team to add his leadership abilities and the occasional goal. Steve Leach was acquired during the off-season for Alexander Godynyuk. He's a 12-year vet who should help stabilize both ends of the ice and add even more leadership. Chris Murray turned some heads at the end of last season after coming over from the Canadiens. The Whalers are hoping for even more of his inspired play this year. Of course, Stu Grimson will be there to take care of any punks who go after Roberts' neck or anyone else's body parts on the team. DEFENSE: Brown is the Key The Hurricane defense is a strong point this season. All of the top defenseman could probably find a job on any team in the league. Jeff Brown is a big question mark due to missing virtually all of last season following back surgery. If healthy, he'll quarterback the power play from the point. And if that happens, the rest of the defense can concentrate on being their steady selves and not worry about providing a lot of offense. Curtis Leschyshyn, Steve Chiasson and Glen Wesley are solid in both ends of the ice. You know what you'll get from them. You also know what you'll get from Adam Burt: at least three spin-o-rama attempts per season. Enrico Ciccone was acquired over the off-season to add muscle on the blue line. Last season he racked up 233 penalty minutes in 66 games with the Blackhawks. Kevin Haller has experience, but is very shaky at times in his own end. His mental lapses usually end up in a goal. Jason McBain and Nolan Pratt have a shot at seeing some ice time, but unless a veteran is traded they won't be regulars anytime soon. GOALTENDING: Crowded in the Crease There's a problem in the Hurricane goal crease, but it's a good problem. The Hurricanes have too many starting goalies. Sean Burke is the incumbent, Trevor Kidd is the new challenger. Only one can start, so before long one's got to go. And that one will be Burke. Burke is in the final year of his contract and will become an unrestricted free agent after the season. Rumors have swirled since last season as the where Burke will end up. Most of the rumors had him heading to Philly, but those have seemed to die down as of late. Kidd was supposed to be the next Mike Vernon in Calgary, but that obviously didn't happen. He never found the consistency needed to play on a regular basis, but a lot of that had to do with the bad defenses in front of him in Calgary. Kidd gets a fresh start in Carolina, but not until Burke is moved. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * Roberts is back in the league.yee-haw!!! * Numerous defensemen with experience. * Burke could bring one or two good players in trade. TROUBLE * No one wants to show up to watch them play. * Hurricanes need scoring depth up front. * Team name synonymous with natural disasters that kill people. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: In the weak Northeast Division, the Hurricanes have as good a shot as any to take first place. If Roberts holds up, things should be all good. If not.well, let's not think about that. PREDICTION: First in the Northeast and in the playoffs. ----------------------------------------------------------------- MONTREAL CANADIENS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Alain Vigneault Roster: C - Vincent Damphousse, Saku Koivu, Marc Bureau, Darcy Tucker, Sebastien Bordeleau. LW - Shayne Corson, Martin Rucinsky, Benoit Brunet, Scott Thornton, Brian Savage. RW - Mark Recchi, Stephane Richer, Turner Stevenson, Valeri Bure. D - Vladimir Malakhov, Jassen Cullimore, Stephane Quintal, Patrice Brisebois, Peter Popovic, David Wilkie, Dave Manson. G - Andy Moog, Jocelyn Thibault, Jose Theodore. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: 07/17 - Signed free-agent goaltender Andy Moog (Dallas) to a two-year contract. 08/04 - Signed left wing Brian Savage and defenseman Jassen Cullimore to one-year contracts; signed defenseman Craig Rivet to a two-year contract. 08/28 - Re-signed free-agent forwards Scott Thornton and Valeri Bure to one-year contracts. 09/10 - 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. 09/12 - Agreed to terms on a one-year contract with free-agent forward Vincent Damphousse. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 31-36-15 HOME 17-17-7 ROAD 14-19-8 POINTS: 77 (17th) GOALS SCORED: 249 (9th) GOALS AGAINST: 276 (23rd) POWER PLAY: 15.7% (13th) PENALTY KILLING: 79.5% (26th) Pre-season Game Results: 9/13 Toronto T 5-5 9/14 NY Rangers W 4-2 TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief THE HABS OR HAB NOTS? The Montreal Canadiens will be entering the 1997-98 season with another new head coach. This time it will be 36-year-old Alain Vigneault in the spotlight. Vigneault is the youngest head coach in the history of the Canadiens. And coaching in Montreal is hardly the ideal gig for a rookie NHL coach. How he handles the rabid Montreal media will be more important than anything he does with Xs and Os. Good luck. OFFENSE: Koivu Comin' on Strong The Canadiens are an excellent skating team that still has plenty of scoring punch, despite throwing away Pierre Turgeon last season. The top line at the start of last season featured the electrifying Saku Koivu between Mark Recchi and Brian Savage. Koivu is about to become a major superstar in this league. He's already one of the game's most exciting players, owning a complete arsenal of offensive skills. The only catch is that at just 5'9", 179 pounds, Koivu may not be big enough to be the team's number one center. It's tough imagining Koivu leading the Canadiens deep into the playoffs past such physical powerhouses as Philadelphia and New Jersey, especially with the current state of the NHL being what it is, with clutching, grabbing, and interference being at an all time high. It would be nice if the Canadiens still had Turgeon around to at least draw some of the opposition's checkers. As it is, Koivu just may not be strong enough to absorb a full season of abuse all by his lonesome. Recchi had a bit of a renaissance last season, scoring 34 goals and 80 points in 82 games. While those numbers were decent, Recchi hasn't averaged a point-per-game in three years. As for Savage, he had another torrid start to last season only to falter after the first few weeks. Savage had 16 goals and 45 points in his first 45 games last season, only to close with seven goals and 15 points over his final 35 contests. If they could somehow hypnotize Savage into thinking every month was October, he'd be an All-Star. Things could change this season as Savage broke his right hand in an exhibition game and could be out for a month. So maybe if he gets a late jump on the season his scoring will last a little longer into the schedule. Vincent Damphousse led the Canadiens in scoring last season with 27 goals and 81 points. After a momentary holdout at the start of training camp, Damphousse was rewarded with a hefty new contract worth $3.2 million a year and will be good to go as the club's second line center. He's really at his best when he's playing the left wing, but Vinnie is better than anything else the Habs have to offer at center so he does what he can for the team. The Canadiens have several talented wingers that could fill out the second and third lines, and even skate with the first unit if the Koivu-Recchi-Savage trio doesn't get reunited. Shayne Corson came over last season for Pierre Turgeon and was just terrible. He was acquired to add size and toughness to a rather small group of forwards, but things didn't quite go as planned. Corson was often banged up and had only six goals and 21 points in 47 games with the Habs. In an attempt to change his fortunes this season, Corson worked like a champ over the summer to get into tremendous shape. He showed up to camp at 199 pounds and had the lowest percentage of body fat of anyone on the team. Of course, Barney Fife used to have the lowest percentage of body fat of anyone in Mayberry, but Aunt Bea could still whoop his ass. Anyway, Corson needs to be an impact player and take on a leadership role with the club. Another six-goal effort just won't cut it. Stephane Richer is still in Montreal, despite not exactly enjoying himself last season. Richer had 22 goals and 46 points a year ago. That's not bad for some average Joe that just fell off the turnip truck, but Richer is too talented to hang around in the 20-goal, low-rent district. Martin Rucinsky is another guy that can do more than the 28 goals and 55 points he notched last season. He needs to be up near a point-per-game. If Benoit Brunet could ever stay healthy, he has the skills and experience to come through with some big plays in key situations. But the guy just never stays healthy. He's missed 99 games over the past two seasons. That's, like, a lot or somethin'. Valeri Bure is also a guy that can find his way on the scoresheet. While not quite as explosive as his big brother, Valeri can still motor. Unfortunately, all that speed only added up to 14 goals last year. He can do better. Marc Bureau and Scott Thornton are decent checking centers. Bureau is more defensively sound while Thornton plays an aggressive, physical game. Thornton also played the left wing at times on a Crash Line of sorts with Darcy Tucker in the middle and big Turner Stevenson on the right side. The Canadiens could get a shot of fresh blood in Sebastien Bordeleau. The 22-year-old center appeared in 28 games last season and scored two goals and 11 points while playing a pretty solid defensive game. His mannerisms on the ice and the way he played the game reminded more than a few people of former Hab Guy Carbonneau. The team has also been impressed with this summer's top Draft pick Jason Ward during the early stages of training camp. He could be a quality power forward in the future, but his making the team this season is still a bit of a longshot. Overall, the Montreal offense isn't that bad. The team could still use more size and toughness up front, but the top two lines could be packed solid with guys who can skate and find the net. However, coach Vigneault is hoping to instill a more defensive system and cut back on the goals-against. That could be a tough adjustment for some of these guys. Richer, we're looking in your direction... DEFENSE: No Name Defense Not Bad The Canadiens lack that one big-name defender to carry the load. Oh, if only Chris Chelios, Eric Desjardins, and Mathieu Schneider were still around, all would be right with the world. But it's impossible to go back in time and change bad trades. So the Habs have to go with what they got. And what they've got is a rather average group of blueliners. Patrice Brisebois, Vladimir Malakhov, and David Wilkie are all mobile guys that can move the puck. Brisebois has the potential to be a great all-around defender, but he's struggled with his confidence in the past and with the pressure put on by the Montreal media. You can play great for weeks and then make one mistake and get saddled with a nickname like Patrice "Breeze by". That's just not right. Speaking of potential, Malakhov could have won a few Norris Trophies by now if he would ever show up and play every night. There's nothing the 29-year-old Russian can't do on the ice. Except, you know, play consistently. Montreal gets toughness on the back line from Dave Manson and Stephane Quintal. Both guys also have enough talent to help with the offense or even man a point on the power play. Jassen Cullimore isn't quite as aggressive as Manson, but he's a big hitter when he sets his mind to it. The 6'5", 220-pounder saw the first regular playing time of his career last season and should get better the more he plays. Youngsters Eric Rivet and Brad Brown could also get a shot this season. But if you're looking for Montreal's best defensive defenseman, look no further than Peter Popovic. That's right, Peter Popovic. No one ever talks about the guy, but the 6'6", 235-pound Swede is an absolute brick in his own zone. Popovic's enormous reach makes him extremely difficult to beat one-on-one and he's excellent in front of the net. He doesn't get much glory, he just plays defense. And there's nothing wrong with that. GOALTENDING: Moog the Mentor The only real personnel move the Canadiens made over the off- season was signing free agent veteran Andy Moog to help solidify their goaltending situation. The club is hoping that Moog can help 22-year-old starter Jocelyn Thibault down the road to superstardom. Moog has seen it all in his 17-year NHL career. If Thibault can't learn from him, there's a problem. If Thibault were to falter, Jose Theodore will once again be waiting in the wings. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * Koivu leads a talented offense. * Moog should settle Thibault down and take pressure off the young netminder. * Having a new coach could spark the club. TROUBLE * The offense is still somewhat small and one-dimensional. * The defense lacks a big-name guy. * Having a rookie coach in the hockey hotbed of Montreal could be asking for trouble. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: How Vigneault handles the media and any controversies that arise will determine how this team fares. If he can keep things relatively sane, the Canadiens have a strong skating team that could make some noise in the East. They still need to get bigger and stronger up front, but Moog should cure the goaltending problems the club had last season. PREDICTION: Third in the Northeast and a spot in the playoffs. ----------------------------------------------------------------- OTTAWA SENATORS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Jacques Martin Roster: C - Alexei Yashin, Radek Bonk, Shaun Van Allen, Bruce Gardiner, Sergei Zholtok. LW - Shawn McEachern, Tom Chorske, Randy Cunneyworth, Dennis Vial, Denny Lambert, Derek Armstrong. RW - Daniel Alfredsson*, Alexandre Daigle, Andreas Dackell, Phil Crowe, Mike Prokopec. D - Wade Redden, Igor Krachuk, Sean Hill, Stanislav Neckar, Frank Musil, Lance Pitlick, Jason York, Wade Redden, Janne Laukkanen, Christer Olsson*. G - Damian Rhodes, Ron Tugnutt, Jani Hurme. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: 07/03 - Signed forward Ivan Ciernik to a multi-year contract and forward Marc Labelle to a one-year contract; signed 1997 first-round draft pick Marian Hossa. 07/17 - Signed free-agent center Clayton Beddoes (Boston) to a one-year contract. 07/28 - Re-signed left wing Denny Lambert to a one-year contract. 07/29 - Signed defenseman Jason York to a multi-year contract. 07/31 - Signed defenseman Justin Hocking and right wing Mike Prokopec to one-year contracts and defenseman Erich Goldmann to a multi-year contract. 08/01 - Re-signed free-agent right wing Phil Crowe to a one-year contract and defenseman Janne Laukkanen to a multi-year contract. 08/12 - Agreed to terms on a multi-year contract with left wing Mike Maneluk. 08/26 - Signed defensemen Lance Pitlick to a new multi-year contract. 08/27 - Traded defenseman Steve Duchesne to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for defenseman Igor Kravchuk. 08/29 - Signed defenseman Chris Phillips, their 1996 first-round pick, to a multi-year contract. 09/09 - Re-signed defenseman Stan Neckar to a one-year contract. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 31-36-15 HOME 16-17-8 ROAD 15-19-7 POINTS: 77 (16th) GOALS SCORED: 226 (19th) GOALS AGAINST: 234 (12th) POWER PLAY: 16.7% (11th) PENALTY KILLING: 81.9% (20th) Pre-season Game Results: 9/13 Buffalo T 3-3 @Hamilton TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief SENATORS BACK FOR MORE The Ottawa Senators did a whole mess of Earth shakin' last season, making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Their record of 31-36-15 earned them the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference and set franchise highs for wins, ties, and points (77). The secret to their success was improved defensive play. Under the guidance of coach Jacques Martin, the Senators allowed a mere 234 goals, by far the lowest total in their five-year existence. But making the playoffs is the easy part. Returning to the postseason can be tricky. OFFENSE: Alfredsson AWOL Just when you think GM Pierre Gauthier is a genius, he goes and does something stupid. For example, Gauthier has yet to re-sign restricted free agent Daniel Alfredsson. Forget that Alexei Yashin may have led the club in scoring last season, Alfredsson is Ottawa's best player. He's probably even among the top five most complete players in the NHL. Alfredsson is simply amazing. Yet Gauthier continues to drag his feet in trying to sign the Swedish superstar. Alfredsson isn't even asking to get paid as much as Yashin, who rakes in $2.9 million a year. Alfie is seeking a deal worth about $2.5 million. That is an absolute bargain by today's standards. And considering that Alfredsson only made an average of $350,000 Canadian in each of his first two seasons in the league, without once asking to renegotiate is completely unfair deal, the Senators should be bending over backwards to accommodate him. But they aren't. And Alfredsson remains in Sweden. If he doesn't get signed, any hopes of the Senators returning to the playoffs get tossed out the window... then once they hit the ground they get kicked, stomped, and urinated on. While Gauthier apparently doesn't think having Alfredsson unsigned disturbs team unity, he is trying to unite the team by forcing everyone to wear a jersey number lower than 35. This is actually a pretty cool idea. Because really, do we need Radek Bonk skatin' around out there with number 76? That's not good for anybody. The only guy who should be wearin' 76 is Ben Franklin. Bonk will be sporting number 14 this season. Which, oddly enough, is also the number of goals he's scored in his four-year career. Oh, that's not true, he's actually scored 24 goals in his four-year career, including five last season. Whoa, slow down there, Radek! Don't want to burn out too soon. To say Bonk has been a bust since he was drafted third overall in 1994 is an understatement. The guy's been brutal. Hell, he only scored five more goals than Ben Franklin last season! Bonk has become a pretty good defensive center and is good on faceoffs, but stuff like that only gets mentioned when a guy isn't scoring. Alexandre Daigle seemed like he was ready to finally bust through last season, scoring 19 goals in his first 43 games. But he cooled off down the stretch, knocking home just seven over his final 39 contests. The 26 goals were still a career high, but after the start he had that total was a disappointment. By the time the playoffs rolled around, Daigle had his ice time cut significantly and was only skating with a fourth line. Even though his playing time was butchered, Daigle still managed to go pointless with a -5 in seven playoff games. Hey, that's hard to do. He said that most of the problems were due to fatigue. He came to camp last season in great shape, but quit working out the second half of the season because he got tired. He once again hit the weights hard this off-season, but has vowed to continue working out the entire schedule. Hopefully that will keep him scoring the whole season. And Daigle needs a big effort, because he's entering the final year of his contract. Daigle was also forced to scrap his number 91 and will be wearing number 9 this season. Ya know, Maurice Richard wore number 9. Maybe the change will do him good. After Alfredsson, Yashin, Daigle, and Bonk, the Senators don't have much in the way of talent up front. Shawn McEachern has blazing speed and a rocket slap shot, but he just never scores as much as he should. What good is having a full tank of gas if you never take the car out of the garage? Sergei Zholtok has a goal-scorer's touch and could be a 20-goal guy if given the chance. Andreas Dackell had a nice rookie season and displayed the potential to be a solid two-way threat. That's about it, tho', in the way of scoring. Captain Randy Cunneyworth is an emotional leader and a fiery competitor. It's not often that a checking role player wears the "C", but Cunneyworth wears it well. Bruce Gardiner had a nice rookie season himself last year and is a good checking center. If Dennis Vial is healthy, he'll provide toughness. Vial led the league with 30 fighting majors in 1995-96, but was limited to just 11 games last season because of injury. DEFENSE: Crowded The Senator defense took some serious lumps early last season when both Stan Neckar and Sean Hill went out with season-ending knee injuries just five games into the schedule. Their absences meant the remaining guys had to really pick it up. And pick it up they did. With Steve Duchesne leading the way, a group of no- names band together to supply the Senators with the best defense in their history. However, Duchesne and his 19 goals won't be back this season. Gauthier traded him to St. Louis for Igor Kravchuk. See this goes back to that whole just-when-you-think-he's-a-genius-he- does-something-stupid thing. It has to be just a question of money, because otherwise trading Duchesne for Kravchuk is insane. Without Duchesne the Senators never would have made the playoffs last season, and it's doubtful they'll make it this year, either. He was just incredible for the club. Replacing him will be impossible. But the Senators do have to move on. At least Neckar and Hill will be back. Neckar is a tremendous physical specimen that can log enormous amounts of ice time. He was on his way to becoming one of the best young defensive defensemen in the game before his knee injury. Likewise, Hill is also an important member of the blue line. He has excellent offensive skills and can play in all situations. Having Neckar and Hill return will be a big help. But it will cause a bit of a log jam. Now the club will have eight guys used to being regulars. That could mean a trade might be in the works. One guy who definitely won't get moved is Wade Redden. He may not have won rookie of the year like Bryan Berard, but Redden played a steady, dependable game well beyond his years. He also chipped in with six goals and 30 points. That's nice work. Janne Laukkanen impressed everyone last season with his inspired play. People knew he was an excellent skater with skill, but his toughness and overall defensive game were pleasant surprises. Radim Bicanek and Jason York are also two skilled guys that played well at both ends of the rink. And Lance Pitlick doesn't get much attention, but he's a rough and tumble guy that can throw some big hits. The team also has to save a spot for rookie Chris Phillips. The first overall choice in the 1996 Draft, Phillips held out last season with a contract dispute but finally came to terms with the club this summer on an incentive-filled, multi-year deal. He's expected to be able to step right in and be one of the top six. Phillips and Redden give the Senators two quality young defenders to build around. GOALTENDING: Sometimes You Feel Like a Tugnutt... LCS hero and former Nordique legend Ronnie Tugnutt emerged as Ottawa's number one goaltender down the stretch last season and played some of the best hockey of his life. Damian Rhodes will be back to challenge Tugnutt for the number one spot this season, and will likely win out over the long haul. But both should see plenty of playing time this season. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * Alfredsson, Yashin, and Daigle give the club three talented young stars. * The defense isn't made up of a lot of household names, but it is deep. * Tugnutt is cool. TROUBLE * Not much scoring on offense. * The club will miss Duchesne. * Alfredsson's contract dispute needs to get resolved. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: Obviously if Alfredsson doesn't get signed this club is beat. But hopefully things will get worked out. Even if Alfie is back, the Sens are going to have a hard time making the playoffs. Losing Duchesne is killer and the club didn't do much of anything to improve its offense. With clubs like Washington and Carolina on the rise in the East, Ottawa can't afford to stand pat. PREDICTION: Fourth in the Northeast and outside looking in come playoff time. ----------------------------------------------------------------- PITTSBURGH PENGUINS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Kevin Constantine Roster: C - Ron Francis, Petr Nedved*, Stu Barnes, Alex Hicks, Ed Olczyk. LW - Joe Dziedzic, Garry Valk, Josef Beranek*, Dave Roche, Roman Oksiuta. RW - Jaromir Jagr, Greg Johnson, Ed Olczyk, Alek Stojanov. D - Darius Kasparaitis, Kevin Hatcher, Chris Tamer, Fredrik Olausson, Jason Woolley*, Francois Leroux, Neil Wilkinson, Ian Moran, Jiri Slegr. G - Tom Barrasso, Ken Wregget, Patrick Lalime*. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: XX/XX - Announced the retirement of center Mario Lemieux and right wing Joey Mullen; released defenseman Craig Muni. 07/20 - Signed center Martin Straka. 08/02 - Signed free-agent defenseman Ian Moran. 08/12 - Acquired defenseman Jiri Slegr from the Edmonton Oilers for a 1998 third-round draft pick. 08/19 - Reached agreement with the Vancouver Canucks to place their players with Syracuse of the American Hockey League. 08/26 - Announced they will place an American Hockey League franchise in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Penn., starting in October 1999. 09/10 - Signed free agent right wing Joe Dziedzic. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 38-36-8 HOME 25-11-5 ROAD 13-15-3 POINTS: 84 (10th) GOALS SCORED: 285 (1st) GOALS AGAINST: 280 (25th) POWER PLAY: 21.9% (2nd) PENALTY KILLING: 81.1% (23rd) Pre-season Game Results: 9/13 Phildelphia L 3-1 TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief IS THERE LIFE AFTER MARIO? 1997-98 will give the Pittsburgh Penguins their first taste of life without Mario Lemieux. But really, how lucky are the fans in Pittsburgh? How many other franchises in history have had a legendary star like Lemieux retire and then still had a player of Jaromir Jagr's caliber ready to step in and carry the team? Folks in Pittsburgh are living a charmed life. Lemieux's absence may be grabbing all the headlines, but the arrival of new coach Kevin Constantine could have the biggest impact on the club. Constantine has the reputation for being a strict coach that demands hard work from his players and he's also famous for running some of the best practices in the business. All will be welcome traits in Pittsburgh, where the team is famous for its "country club" atmosphere. It was routine to see Jagr, Petr Nedved, and other skilled players show up for practices without wearing helmets or shoulder pads. A message got sent early on in training camp when Constantine sent Jagr off the ice during his first practice to get his helmet. Jagr respected his new coach's wishes and was eager to comply. So far there's been nothing but praise for Constantine. He's been lauded by veterans and rookies alike for his teaching and communication skills. It seems like the Penguins have found the right man to lead them into the post-Lemieux era. OFFENSE: Jagr and Not Much Else Due mostly to the brilliance of Lemieux, the Pittsburgh offense has always been known as one of the most dangerous scoring units in the league. However, times have changed. There isn't a whole lot of scoring depth on the Pittsburgh roster. Obviously, Jagr is the most dominating offensive player in the league, scoring 41 goals in his first 44 games last season before a groin injury stole the second half of the season from him. There was some growing concern that the injury might be something Jagr would just have to play through for the rest of his career, but a summer's worth of rest has reportedly done wonders. Jagr is back to full strength and looking forward to leading the offensive charge. As usual, Jagr will get help from his good buddy, the great Ron Francis. He may be 34, but Francis is still a serious point producer and defensive presence. He remains one of the best two- way centers in hockey. He's also a leader that sets a perfect example for young players to emulate. There is no question he will take over the captaincy in Lemieux's absence. The only other legitimate scoring threat up front is Petr Nedved. Currently an unrestricted free agent, Nedved is involved in quite the messy contract dispute with GM Craig Patrick. The Penguins have offered Nedved a deal extremely close to Tony Amonte's recent contract, something in the neighborhood of $15 million over four years. Well, apparently that's not enough for Petey. He's reportedly seeking a deal of around $18 million over four years. His agent even went as far as to say that he's a better player than Amonte. Uh, yeah, okay... what color is the sky in that little world of yours, Petey? Nedved can score goals with Amonte, but the Chicago winger is a leader and such an overall better player that the comparison is laughable. Nedved has threatened to play this season in the Czech Elite league if the Penguins don't come through with the bread. Our advice is let him. Have fun trying to make $15 million in the Czech Elite league. The Penguins were hoping to have Russian right winger Alexei Morozov in the mix this season to help pick up some of the scoring slack, but the club has yet to sign him to a contract. Morozov is said to be the best forward in the world outside of the NHL and could make an immediate impact. It seemed all but decided that Morozov would spend this season back in Russia, but lately there has been some talk that he still might get signed before the start of the regular season. If Nedved doesn't get signed, the club has to get Morozov in town. The club is also hoping to get some offensive spark out of this summer's first-round pick, Robert Dome. The young Czech winger showed up to training camp in the best shape of his life and has been working extremely hard to make the team. Dome goes about 6', 205, and is a powerful skater that protects the puck well. Whether or not he'll make the team pretty much depends on his work in the defensive zone. And, hey, get a load of this! The Penguins have invited Downtown Robbie Brown to camp! Yes, the loveable fan favorite that once scored 49 goals and 115 points playing the right wing for Lemieux in 1988-89 is back looking to earn a spot with the club. Brown reported to camp in tremendous shape and has been working on his defensive game, something that was practically unheard of during his first stint with the team. Brown has been a pleasant surprise at camp. Not only has Constantine been impressed with Brown's natural offensive skills and instincts, but he has also said that Brownie hasn't made a mistake defensively in his first three scrimmages or his lone exhibition appearance. It would be great to see Brown back in the 'Burgh. And his chances of making the squad increase the longer Nedved holds out and Morozov remains in Russia. After all, the Pens are going to need somebody who can score. The club made another reach by signing former L.A. King Robert Lang. The lanky Czech winger has all sorts of talent and can score some of the prettiest goals you'll ever see, but he's going to have to prove that he can play at both ends of the rink to make the roster. The rest of the offense is headlined by small, skilled guys like Stu Barnes, Greg Johnson, and Martin Straka. All three can score, but they're also defensively-impaired. Ed Olczyk will return to add some veteran leadership. Alex Hicks, Garry Valk, and Ian Moran are all pretty good role players, with Moran able to shift back and play defense when needed. Young guys Joe Dziedzic and Dave Roche will be looking to supply muscle. Josef Beranek seemed like he'd be able to contribute some goals this season, but it doesn't look like that club has any intentions of re-signing him. The Pittsburgh offense is nowhere near as potent as it used to be. There's been some talk that Constantine will transform the club into a patient defensive team, instead of the normal run- and-gun system they've used in the past. The only problem is the club really doesn't have the personnel to employ an all-out defensive system. Look for the club to try and ride Jagr and Francis for offense and then just try to keep it conservative with the other units. DEFENSE: It's Not That Bad When it's considered on a man-by-man basis, the Pittsburgh defense isn't bad at all. They caught a lot of grief last season, but the club's defensive woes were due mainly to the pathetic play of the forwards and not the actual blueliners. Pittsburgh mixed up the pairings a bit last season, but one of its most successful combinations was Darius Kasparaitis and Kevin Hatcher. Kasparaitis was incredible when he first arrived from the Islanders, but his aggressive, hard-hitting style eventually led to a series of injuries that made him basically a non-factor down the stretch. When he's healthy, Kaspar gives the team a much needed shot of emotion. Hatcher got off to an excellent start last season, scoring 10 goals and 36 points and recording a +16 in his first 45 games. However, as the season went on, Hatcher's play dropped off dramatically. Over his final 35 games, Hatcher played at a -5 and posted only five goals and 18 points. And for a guy that used to wear the "C" earlier in his career, Hatcher never once displayed a modicum of leadership. He needs to step it up. Anything less than a 20-goal season should be a disappointment for Hatcher. The club's second pairing often featured Chris Tamer and Neil Wilkinson. At least it did when they were healthy. Both guys were plagued by injuries and were forced to have off-season abdominal surgery. Tamer's loss last season was especially devastating, since he had established himself as one of the best young defensive defensemen in the game the previous year. The team needs him, not to mention Wilkinson, to be at full strength. They are two guys relied upon to provide a physical presence in front of the net. Both should be good to go when the season starts. Offensive specialists Fredrik Olausson and Jason Woolley were often paired together and used to help jumpstart the attack. Olausson, tho', surprised many with his defensive game and quickly emerged as the club's best all-around defender. Woolley wasn't so lucky. As the season wore on he began to get exploited more and more defensively. He's currently an unsigned free agent and Patrick is in no hurry to give into his salary demands. With each passing day it gets more unlikely that he'll be back with the Penguins. Looking to take Woolley's spot will be Czech defender Jiri Slegr. The former Edmonton Oiler and Vancouver Canuck played in Europe last season, but has enough size and skill to make an impact. Rookies Stefan Bergkvist (6'3", 216) and Sven Butenschon (6'5", 210) are also in the hunt for jobs and would add plenty of size. If you recall, Bergkvist appeared to be on his way to becoming a regular last season until he was forced to have a tumor removed from his right ear. After the surgery Bergkvist suffered problems with his balance, had the right side of his face temporarily paralyzed, and became permanently deaf in his right ear. Happily, Bergkvist has fought his way back and, aside from the deafness in his right ear, is close to being fully recovered. It wouldn't be surprising to see both these guys on the opening day roster. GOALTENDING: Barrasso Is Back Yes, Tommy Barrasso is back with the Penguins and will be the starting goaltender. It was thought that Barrasso might just be getting showcased for a possible trade, but he recently told the media he has a no-trade clause in his contract and isn't planning on going anywhere. That's right, Barrasso is talking to the media! He also said he didn't come back to just be average. He fully expects to be the star netminder he once was. Having a healthy Barrasso around to move the puck would be a great advantage to the Pittsburgh defense. With Barrasso's return, goaltending is once again an area of strength for the Arctic Birds. Ken Wregget will continue to act as the number two man, or maybe more accurately, option 1A. Patrick Lalime, last year's rookie phenom, remains unsigned. The Penguins offered him a two-way contract that would pay him just $60,000 if he played in the minors. That's pretty much a slap in the face. Needless to say, Lalime and his agent politely declined. The Penguins also have former number one pick Craig Hillier continuing to develop. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * Jagr is the most dominating offensive player in the game. * Barrasso's return could make a difference. * Constantine is the right guy to lead this team into the future. TROUBLE * If Nedved doesn't sign and Morozov stays in Russia, there won't be much scoring up front. * The health of Tamer and Wilkinson is still somewhat questionable. * The defense could use one more proven horse. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: Believe it or not, Pittsburgh will actually be a better team this season with Constantine than they were last year with Mario. They may not score as many goals, but they'll be a better overall team. Jagr will carry the offense, and both the defense and goaltending should be fairly strong. Plus the Northeast Division is as weak as it gets. PREDICTION: Second in the Northeast and in the playoffs. ================================================================= ================================================================= TEAM REPORTS ================================================================= WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION ----------------------------------------------------------------- CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Craig Hartsburg Roster: C - Alexei Zhamnov, Kevin Miller, Jeff Shantz, Brent Sutter, Steve Dubinsky. LW - Bob Probert, Jim Cummins, Ethan Moreau, Dave Chyzowski, Jean-Yves Leroux. RW - Tony Amonte, Eric Daze, Darin Kimble, Sergei Krivokrasov, Ulf Dahlen. D - Chris Chelios, Gary Suter, Eric Weinrich, Cam Russell, Keith Carney, Enrico Ciccone, Michal Sykora. G - Jeff Hackett, Chris Terreri. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: XX/XX - Announced the retirement of Denis Savard. 07/03 - Announced senior vice president Bob Pulford is stepping down as general manager; named Bob Murray general manager. 07/25 - Traded defenseman Enrico Ciccone to the Carolina Hurricanes for defenseman Ryan Risidore and a 1998 fifth-round draft pick; traded forward Murray Craven to the San Jose Sharks for left wing Petri Varis and a sixth-round draft pick in 1998. 07/29 - Signed Group II free-agent right wing Tony Amonte to a five-year contract. 08/04 - Re-signed restricted free-agents right wing Jim Cummins and defenseman Eric Weinrich. 08/06 - Signed center Todd White and left wing Petri Varis. 08/15 - Announced the retirement of defenseman Steve Smith. 08/15 - Announced that arbitrator John Sands ruled that the Philadelphia Flyers made a valid offer sheet to Tampa Bay Lightning center Chris Gratton, nullifying a trade between the Chicago Blackhawks and Lightning. 08/27 - Signed forward Brian Felsner and right wing Nathan Perrott; re-signed goaltender Jimmy Waite. 09/11 - Re-signed free-agent center Steve Dubinsky to a one-year contract. 09/12 - Re-signed free-agent defenseman Michal Sykora to a multi-year contract; reassigned center Alfie Turcotte to Indianapolis of the International Hockey League; returned goaltender Lars Weibel to Lugano of the Swedish Elite League; sent forwards Brett Gibson, Tom Kostopoulos, Larry Paleczny and Geoff Peters and defensemen Jerad Smith, Chris Twerdun and Mike Vellinga to their respective junior teams. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 34-35-13 HOME 16-21-4 ROAD 18-14-9 POINTS: 81 (14th) GOALS SCORED: 223 (20th) GOALS AGAINST: 210 (7th) POWER PLAY: 14.8% (16th) PENALTY KILLING: 84.2% (11th) Pre-season Game Results: 9/13 Dallas L 5-2 TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief HAWKS STILL NEED HELP Last season witnessed the departure of two Chicago Blackhawk icons, with both Jeremy Roenick and Ed Belfour getting traded to new teams. Chris Chelios was still around, but the team desperately needed someone else to step forward and take on a leadership role. Enter Tony Amonte. The speedy right winger enjoyed a breakthrough season, recording a career high 41 goals and 77 points in carrying the club on his back to a 28th straight playoff appearance. As great as Amonte is, it's going to take a lot more to get the Hawks back to the status of Cup contender. OFFENSE: Amonte All Alone The Hawks' offense is so bad, that they're not even a one-line team. They're a one-man team. If Amonte doesn't score, there's a good chance this team's getting shut out. Alexei Zhamnov is the club's number one center and has some serious skills. He just doesn't always work hard enough to display them. Zhamnov can score 30 goals, but his main job is to get the puck to Amonte. As long as he's doin' that, he's earning his keep. Chicago struggled trying to find a left winger to play with Amonte and Zhamnov. Ulf Dahlen, who was acquired from San Jose along with Chris Terreri and Michal Sykora in the Belfour trade, was most often filling out the top line, but it seems his days as a dangerous goal-scorer are solid gone. The 30-year-old Swede notched just 14 last season and hasn't broken 20 in three years. He also doesn't exactly fit in with the old school ideal of what a Blackhawk player should be. Back in the day, the Hawks were known as an aggressive, mean, forechecking club. They were the hardest team in the league to play against and a trip to Chicago Stadium was not for the faint of heart. The Hawks just don't have that kind of team anymore. And guys like Zhamnov and Dahlen are the reason why. Dahlen has accumulated a mere 194 penalty minutes over his 10-year career. That's not a Chicago Blackhawk, that's a Cub Scout. GM Bob Pulford attempted to address Chicago's need for more toughness and grit up front by taking a run at restricted free agent Chris Gratton this off-season. Pulford thought he had worked out a deal that would have reportedly sent Ethan Moreau, Keith Carney, and Steve Dubinsky to the Lightning Bolts for the young center. But the league ruled that Gratton had actually signed an offer sheet with the Flyers before Chicago's deal was made. The ruling meant that Gratton ended up in Philly, Mikael Renberg and Karl Dykhuis went to the warmth of Tampa, and the Hawks got left out in the cold. Aside from the disappointment of not getting Gratton, the team now has to deal with having Carney and Moreau knowing that they would have been traded. Knowing that a team doesn't want you, or at least could live without you, won't help team chemistry any. Moreau is actually one of the few Blackhawks that plays the old Chicago style. He's a big, bruising winger that likes to mix it up along the boards. He often played last season with Eric Daze and Murray Craven on the second line. Daze suffered through the typical sophomore slump, posting 22 goals and 41 points, falling eight goals and 12 points from his totals the previous year. He's one of the few Hawks with any goal-scoring talent at all, so he needs to pick it up. As for Craven, the club traded him to San Jose this summer for Petri Varis and a sixth-round pick in 1998. Craven's scoring has diminished greatly over the past few seasons, but he was still a valuable defensive center. Varis is a 27-year-old left winger from Finland with decent size (6'1", 200). He's never played a game in the NHL, but the club must think he'll be able to contribute if they gave up Craven to get him. Another Hawk that won't be returning is Denis Savard. He only appeared in 64 games last season, but Savard was still a dynamic skater that could provide the team with a spark from the bench. With Craven and Savard gone, the team is going to need someone to step up at center. Jeff Shantz can fill the role on a checking line, but he can't be expected to score more than 40 points at the most. At 35, Brent Sutter is still around to provide defense and leadership, but injuries limited him to just 39 games last season. Chicago's offense is really in sad shape. It needs help at all three positions, but center is a glaring weakness. It looks like it'll be Amonte or nothing again this season. DEFENSE: Chelios in Charge Chris Chelios is the best defenseman on the planet. As long as he keeps playing his 35 to 40 minutes a night, the Chicago defense will be just fine. Which reminds me of a song... "There's an old guy in the neighborhood, he lives on the blue line and it's understood... that he's there just to take good care of the Hawks and me... like he's one of the family. Chelios in Charge of our days and our nights. Chelios in Charge of our wrongs and our rights. And I need, Chelios in charge of me..." One more time! "There's an old guy in the neighborhood, he lives on the blue line and it's understood... that he's there just to take good care of the Hawks and me... like he's one of the family. Chelios in Charge of our days and our nights. Chelios in Charge of our wrongs and our rights. And I need" Bring it home now! "Chelios in charge of me..." Hey, remember the time when Buddy Lembeck and Chelios were trying to impress Gwen, so they pretended to be rich. Aw, that was great, that was fun. But I digress. One guy who needs to come through this season is Gary Suter. After scoring 20 goals and 67 points in 1995-96, Suter had only seven goals and 28 points last season. That's just embarrassing. Almost as embarrassing as the time Buddy and Chelios got busted for trying to throw a toga party while the Powells were away for the weekend. It's surprising that the Hawks were willing to trade Keith Carney in the proposed Gratton deal. Carney has developed into quite the dependable blueliner under the tutelage of Chelios. When it comes to just playing defense, he's ahead of Suter on the depth chart. But after the top three of Chelios, Carney, and Suter, there's not much to get excited about. Eric Weinrich is a good mobile defender, Cam Russell adds toughness, and Sykora brings size, but the group could use some new blood. Steve Smith won't be back. He decided to retire this summer after suffering through his share of injuries the past few seasons. GOALTENDING: He Ain't No Belfour Jeff Hackett is a good goaltender that may have been more popular with his teammates and more friendly to the fans and media, but he just isn't in the same class as Ed Belfour. He'll get his wins, but it's doubtful he'll be able to make this team better than they should be or lead them deep into the postseason. The backup chores will likely be handled by Chris Terreri, who's one of the best in the business when it comes to riding shotgun. Jimmy Waite was also re-signed over the summer to provide some insurance. Chicago's goaltending won't be superstar caliber, but all three guys are decent. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * Amonte is the real deal up front. * Chelios is the best defenseman on the planet. * This writeup featured the first ever "Charles in Charge" references in LCS history. TROUBLE * Amonte and Zhamnov are the only proven point producers on offense. * Team needs serious help in the middle. * The club is losing its identity as a fierce, rough and tumble squad. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: Chicago is a team with more weaknesses than strengths. If Hackett can provide stability in net, which he should, and Amonte and Chelios control the game when they're out there, which they should, then the team will be competitive. The power play will also be a major factor. Last season they finished tied for 16th in the league. That's just not good enough, especially when the power play features the likes of Amonte, Zhamnov, Chelios, and Suter. If the power play produces, then the team should stay in playoff contention. But this club is nowhere near being a Cup contender. Our advice would be to dump all the stiffs and just stockpile old school, Chicago-style players. The Hawks need to get back to basics and remember who they are before they lose their identity forever. PREDICTION: Fifth in the Central. They could sneak in as the eighth seed or they could slip out of the playoffs altogether. That 28-year playoff streak will be in serious jeopardy. ----------------------------------------------------------------- DALLAS STARS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Kevin Hitchcock Roster: C - Mike Modano*, Todd Harvey, Guy Carbonneau, Joe Nieuwendyk, Bob Bassen. LW - Dave Reid, Greg Adams, Benoit Hogue, Chris Tancill. RW - Pat Verbeek, Jamie Langenbrunner, Jere Lehtinen, Grant Marshall, Bob Errey. D - Derian Hatcher*, Craig Ludwig, Darryl Sydor, Richard Matvichuk, Sergei Zubov, Shawn Chambers. G - Ed Belfour, Roman Turek. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: XX/XX - Announced the retirement of Neal Broten; signed free agent defenseman Darryl Sydor, center Guy Carbonneau, and defensemen Dan Keczmer and Craig Ludwig; released defenseman Mike Lalor. 07/02 - Signed free agent goaltender Ed Belfour (San Jose) to a three-year contract. 07/03 - Signed unrestricted free-agent defenseman Shawn Chambers (New Jersey) to a three-year contract with an option for a fourth. 07/17 - Signed free-agent winger Bob Errey (San Jose) to a three-year contract. 07/25 - Re-signed free-agent left wing Benoit Hogue to a one-year contract; signed free-agent forward Tony Hrkac to a two-year contract and forwards Chris Tancill and Kevin Sawyer to one-year contracts. 08/14 - Signed left wing Jason Botterill and defenseman Frederic Bouchard to three-year contracts. 09/02 - Agreed to terms on a three-year contract with free-agent right wing Jere Lehtinen. 09/05 - Signed right wing Grant Marshall to a two-year contract. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 48-26-8 HOME 25-13-3 ROAD 23-13-5 POINTS: 104 (2nd) GOALS SCORED: 252 (8th) GOALS AGAINST: 198 (3rd) POWER PLAY: 14.6% (18th) PENALTY KILLING: 83.4% (14th) Pre-season Game Results: 9/13 at Chicago W 5-2 9/14 at St. Louis W 4-1 TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief STARS STILL ON THE RISE 1996-97 saw the Dallas Stars emerge as one of the NHL's elite teams. The club's 48-26-8 record was second to only the mighty Colorado Avalanche. However, all the regular season success rang hollow when the team got bounced in the first round by the upstart Edmonton Oilers. Now the Stars are back with something to prove. And thanks to some off-season moves by GM Bob Gainey, they're better than ever. OFFENSE: Modano the Man The Stars finished tied for sixth in scoring last season with 252 goals. Yet most of the scoring was done by committee, with 10 different players recording at least 10 goals. While balanced scoring is nice and all, every great team leads a go-to guy up front. For Dallas, that man is Mike Modano. Mikey Mo is a special talent. He led the Stars with 35 goals and 83 points last season, a full 30 points ahead of his next closest teammate. But everyone knew Modano could put on a clinic with the puck. The big news was how he tightened up his game on defense, finishing at a team high +43 and earning his first ever Selke nomination. Modano's commitment to defense and hard work away from the puck spread through the roster. His play elevated the team to new heights and made the Stars serious Cup contenders. But now the Dallas management is going to have to reward him with a hefty new contract. Modano remains an unsigned restricted free agent. They're not going to let him leave town, but the contract needs to get settled before the start of the season. A prolonged holdout would be extremely detrimental to the cause. Joe Nieuwendyk is also a potent weapon in the Dallas attack, connecting for 30 goals and 51 points in 66 games last season. Nieuwendyk is still one of the best in the league when it comes to working the front of the net. There aren't many better at getting deflections or finding rebounds. He can also bring it from the outside with a heavy wrister, lemme tell ya. Veterans Pat Verbeek, Greg Adams, and Benoit Hogue were disappointing last year, but still give the Stars three experienced veterans up front. Verbeek was brought in before last season to bolster the offense, but responded with a disappointing 17 goals and 53 points. The Stars are going to need more from him if they expect to go deep into the playoffs. Adams was a consistent scorer when he was in the lineup, often skating the left side for Modano. But a variety of injuries held him to just 50 games. That's really the same old story for Adams. He hasn't played a full season in the league since 1987- 88. Counting on him to be in the lineup each night would be a mistake. Hogue is a three-time 30-goal scorer that seems to have lost his scoring touch. He hasn't been able to reach the 20-goal plateau in any of the past three seasons. He still has great wheels, tho', and keeps the defense honest with his speed. Jere Lehtinen could be on the verge of stardom. The Finnish winger teamed with Modano most of last season and followed in his defensive footsteps, even joining him as a Selke nominee. Lehtinen will be entering his third season and has the look of a player who is ready to break through. His 16 goals and 43 points last season don't tell the whole story. He has the talent to be a 30-goal scorer. Lehtinen is one to watch. The Stars will also be looking for more production out of second- year man Jamie Langenbrunner. The 22-year-old product of Duluth, Minnesota, posted 13 goals and 39 points in his rookie season a year ago. He should see more ice this time around. Dallas lost a key defensive member of the squad to free agency when Brent Gilchrist bolted for Detroit. Gilchrist's grit and tenacity will definitely be missed. The club signed Bob Errey to try and fill some of the void, but the Stars should still be okay in the checking department with Guy Carbonneau and Bob Bassen returning. Todd Harvey is also coming back to provide some spunk. Neal Broten won't be returning, as he finally decided to hang up the skates. Bill Huard and Mike Kennedy were also free agent casualties, signing with Edmonton and Toronto, respectively. Looking at the Dallas roster, there really isn't a whole lot of talent up front. But this club doesn't rely on its offense to win games. As long as Modano and Nieuwendyk are around to provide the timely goals, the Stars will be okay. DEFENSE: Hatcher's House The same excellent Dallas defense from a year ago will remain intact, save for one exception. Grant Ledyard was an unrestricted free agent and signed with the Canucks. He'll hardly be missed, tho', as Gainey went out and signed Shawn Chambers from the New Jersey Devils. Chambers isn't the physical presence Ledyard is, but he's a far superior skater and puckhandler. He really has top notch offensive skills. He'll be able to step right in and help jump start the counterattack or anchor one of the points on the power play. Plus he's won a Stanley Cup. Anyone with a ring is a welcome addition to a team close to contention. However, the Dallas blue line still belongs to Derian Hatcher. The 25-year-old has established himself as one of the league's elite defensemen, even earning a spot on our list of top rated defensemen last issue. Hatcher is a dominant force in his own zone and the leader of this club. But like Modano, he still needs to be signed to a new contract. That's not a good situation to be in, having to sign your top forward and top defenseman. While Hatcher is a bright young defensive defenseman, Craig Ludwig has pretty much defined the term over his 15-year career. The 36-year-old veteran will be back for another go, oversized shin pads and all. Maturing in the shadows of Hatcher and Ludwig, Richard Matvichuk is quietly developing into a steady, dependable blueliner in his own right. He is somewhat injury prone, having missed 25 games last season and 68 over the past three years, but is a valuable member of the team when healthy. Veterans Dan Keczmer and Mike Lalor are also around to add to the defensive depth. When more than safe defensive plays are needed, the Stars also have guys capable of creating offense from the line. Along with Chambers, who was mentioned earlier, Sergei Zubov and Darryl Sydor are also superb at headmanning the puck or carrying the play themselves. Zubov is one of the game's best skaters and owns a bomb from the point. Now he just has to learn to use it more. He was seventh on the team with 133 shots. That's the lowest total of any of the league's top scoring defensemen. Zubov finished with 13 goals and 43 points last season, but he has the potential to be a 20-goal scorer every year if he'd just shoot the puck more. Surprisingly, Sydor actually scored more points than Zubov last season, recording a career high 48. He's always had the talent to be a decent point producer and is finally starting to deliver. The Dallas blue line just has everything. It's got a standout leader in Hatcher, offensive talent in Zubov, Chambers, and Sydor, and guys that do all the dirty work in Ludwig and Matvichuk. Hard to get better than that. GOALTENDING: Eagle Takes Up Nest The reason the Dallas Stars weren't serious Cup contenders last season, even though they had the great record, was goaltending. Andy Moog just wasn't going to lead this team to the promised land. Gainey realized it a little late, but he addressed the problem this off-season when he signed the great Eddie Belfour. Belfour is coming off a subpar season that saw him get bounced around from Chicago to San Jose while also suffering through knee and back injuries. But don't worry, the guy is still one of the best in the game. He's the superstar goaltender this team needs to challenge Colorado in the West. Belfour took less money to sign with the Stars because he wanted a chance to get back to the Finals. The only reason he's coming to Dallas is to win, and win now. Both members of last year's goaltending tandem, Moog and Arturs Irbe, find themselves on new teams. Moog signed with the Canadiens and Irbe caught on with the Canucks. That leaves rookie Roman Turek to back up Belfour. Turek isn't some naive kid just off the turnip truck, tho'. He's a 27-year-old veteran of international competition and the Czech elite league. He got his feet wet with Dallas last season, earning a 3-1-0 record and posting a 2.05 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage. Turek has great size (6'3", 200) and looms large in net. He plays a standup style and looks a bit like Sean Burke between the pipes. As long as he keeps his game simple, he should be able to handle the backup gig. There won't be much pressure on Turek. This team is Belfour's. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * Modano is a true superstar up front. * Hatcher is the cornerstone of a deep and talented blue line. * Belfour gives the team the goaltending it's lacked in the past. TROUBLE * Scoring pool is still a bit shallow on offense. * Losing Gilchrist could hurt. * Modano and Hatcher's contract disputes could be a distraction. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: As long as Modano and Hatcher get signed, Dallas will run away with the Central Division. Belfour is the final piece of the puzzle. You can reserve the Stars' place in the Western Conference Finals right now. PREDICTION: First in the Central. ----------------------------------------------------------------- DETROIT RED WINGS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Scotty Bowman Roster: C - Sergei Fedorov*, Steve Yzerman, Igor Larionov, Kris Draper. LW - Brendan Shanahan, Vyacheslav Kozlov*, Martin Lapointe, Tim Taylor, Tomas Holmstrom, Mike Knuble. RW - Doug Brown, Mathieu Dandenault, Darren McCarty, Kirk Maltby, Joey Kocur, Brent Gilchrist. D - Nicklas Lidstrom, Bob Rouse, Slava Fetisov, Larry Murphy, Jamie Pushor, Brian Glynn, Aaron Ward, Anders Eriksson. G - Chris Osgood, Kevin Hodson. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: XX/XX - Re-signed free-agent defenseman Bob Rouse. 07/02 - Signed free agent right wing Martin Lapointe to a four-year contract. 07/08 - Signed free agent wing Brent Gilchrist (Dallas) to a three-year contract. 07/18 - Agreed with head coach Scotty Bowman on a two-year contract extension; promoted Ken Holland to general manager; announced assistant coaches Dave Lewis and Barry Smith will return for two more years. 08/01 - Re-signed free-agent center Igor Larionov to a three-year contract. 08/15 - Re-signed free-agent forward Joe Kocur to a one-year contract. 08/18 - Traded goaltender Mike Vernon to the San Jose Sharks for a 1998 third-round and 1999 second-round draft pick. 09/03 - Signed defenseman Jon Coleman to a two-year contract. 09/08 - Re-signed defenseman Slava Fetisov to a one-year deal. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 38-26-18 HOME 20-12-9 ROAD 18-14-9 POINTS: 94 (5th) GOALS SCORED: 253 (6th) GOALS AGAINST: 197 (2nd) POWER PLAY: 17.9% (7th) PENALTY KILLING: 86.7% (4th) Pre-season Game Results: None. TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief NO CHANCE OF A REPEAT The Detroit Red Wings probably had the worst off-season of any Stanley Cup champion in history. The limousine crash that severely injured Vladimir Konstantinov and team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov drained all the emotion from the team's triumph. Then playoff MVP Mike Vernon was sent packing to San Jose. To top it all off, Sergei Fedorov remains an unsigned restricted free agent and is requesting a trade. This isn't how things were supposed to go. OFFENSE: Fedorov Creates Doubt With Fedorov's status being uncertain, it's kind of hard to say what the offense will be like this season. But he's not the only member of the Russian Five holding out. Winger Slava Kozlov is also still waiting on a new deal. That leaves Igor Larionov as the lone Russian up front. Larionov is a tremendous playmaker and a true legend in Russian hockey, but how much longer can he be productive? He'll turn 37 years old this season and his numbers appear to be on the decline. It's hard to imagine Larionov being a major source of offense. Steve Yzerman is still the club's heart and soul. Detroit is going to be in a tough situation this season, but if anyone is capable of steering the ship through troubled waters its Yzerman. Now that Messier bailed on the Rangers, Stevie Y is the best captain in hockey. With Fedorov out, Yzerman and Larionov are the only guys capable of creating chances by themselves. The rest of the offense is made up of physical wingers and checkers. Brendan "I harpooned the Whale in the back" Shanahan tops the list. Shanny led the Wings in scoring last season with 47 goals and 88 points. He played with either Larionov or Yzerman last season, so at least his game shouldn't be disrupted too much by Fedorov's disappearance. Darren McCarty and Martin Lapointe give the club two more power forwards. People are going to be expecting big things from McCarty after he broke out the funk for that unbelievable goal in Game Four of the Finals. But if you're waiting for a similar display this season you better pack a lunch. Lapointe really blossomed into a wonderful role player last season. Pound-for-pound, he could be the strongest guy in the NHL. Joey Kocur will also be back for another season of beating up people. The club has four quality defensive checkers in Kris Draper, Doug Brown, Kirk Maltby, and Brent Gilchrist. Signed from Dallas over the off-season, Gilchrist is an excellent defensive forward that works hard every shift and can also take on some leadership responsibilities. Not only will he make the Wings a better team, his departure weakens the rival Stars. That's a nice combination. DEFENSE: Doesn't Look Good Even when Konstantinov was in there, the Detroit blue line was a weak area. Now that he's unable to play, the team is in some serious trouble. Nicklas Lidstrom is the number one guy and can carry a hefty workload, but he's the only premier blueliner among the lot. Larry Murphy is 36, Slava Fetisov is 39, and Bob Rouse is 33. They all return from the summer a year older and probably another step slower. Aaron Ward and Jamie Pushor are good young guys, but neither one is a front line defender. At least not yet, anyway. The club reportedly isn't looking to make a deal for a defenseman, which means they'll have to promote from within. The best prospect they have is Anders Eriksson. The 22-year-old Swede has great size (6'3", 220), is a decent skater, and can move the puck. He should be a regular this season. GOALTENDING: Osgood's Show Now that Vernon is gone, the number one job belongs to Chris Osgood. There's no doubt he can handle the gig during the regular season. After all, he's pretty much been the starter the past two seasons. The question will be if he can lead this team deep into the playoffs. Kevin Hodson will be the backup. The duo is serviceable, but hardly spectacular. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * Yzerman is the best captain in hockey. * Shanahan is still a main attraction on left wing. * Nicklas Lidstrom is a quality guy. TROUBLE * Fedorov situation is a mess. * The defense is old and shallow. * Konstantinov will be impossible to replace. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: Scotty Bowman made a big mistake when he decided to come back and coach one more season. He should have went out on top. This team will still be a good veteran squad, but there's not much hope for a repeat of postseason glory. Just securing a spot in the playoffs is going to be hard enough. PREDICTION: Third in the Central and a playoff spot. ----------------------------------------------------------------- PHOENIX COYOTES ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Jim Schoenfeld Roster: C - Jeremy Roenick, Cliff Ronning, Craig Janney, Mike Stapleton, Bob Corkum. LW - Keith Tkachuk, Darrin Shannon, Jim McKenzie, Jocelyn Lemieux. RW - Mike Gartner, Rick Tocchet, Shane Doan, Dallas Drake. D - Teppo Numminen, Oleg Tverdosky*, Norm Maciver, Jim Johnson, Jay More, Murray Baron, Gerald Diduck, Deron Quint. G - Nikolai Khabibulin, Darcy Wakaluk, Parris Duffus. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: XX/XX - Traded defenseman Kevin Dahl to the Calgary Flames for future considerations; re-signed free-agent center Jocelyn Lemieux. 07/02 - Re-signed forward Mike Stapleton to a two-year contract. 07/03 - Announced that goaltending coach Pete Peeters will not return to the club next season. 07/08 - Signed unrestricted free-agent right wing Rick Tocchet (Washington) to a three-year contract. 07/23 - Signed defenseman Dan Focht, their first-round pick in the 1996 draft, to a three-year contract. 07/31 - Re-signed free-agent left wing Jim McKenzie to a one-year contract; signed right wing Darin Kimble and center/right wing Scott Levins to multi-year contracts. 08/01 - Named Gord Roberts assistant coach. 08/04 - Signed free-agent left wing Jeff Christian (Pittsburgh) to a one-year contract. 08/06 - Signed right wing Martin Simard to a one-year contract. 08/13 - Signed center Trevor Letowski to a multi-year contract. 08/18 - Signed free-agent defenseman John Slaney (Los Angeles) to a one-year contract. 09/05 - Signed free-agent defenseman Brad Tiley to a one-year contract. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 38-37-7 HOME 15-19-7 ROAD 23-18-0 POINTS: 83 (11th) GOALS SCORED: 240 (12th) GOALS AGAINST: 243 (15th) POWER PLAY: 18.1% (4th) PENALTY KILLING: 85.9% (5th) Pre-season Game Results: 9/14 at Calgary W 7-6 TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief NEW COYOTE LEADING THE PACK The Coyotes had a decent first season in the desert. The club finished above .500 at 38-37-7, ended up fifth in the Western Conference, and went seven games in the first round before getting edged by the Ducks. That still wasn't enough to save coach Don Hay's job. Hay's first year behind the bench was his last. GM Bobby Smith didn't feel he was the right man to lead the team to a championship, so he replaced him with former Washington coach Jim Schoenfeld. Promising a fast-paced, aggressive style, Schoenfeld's no-nonsense approach should be just what this talented yet underachieving team needs. OFFENSE: Tkachuk and Roenick Remain Core Phoenix doesn't have a whole lot to write home about on offense, but they do have two great players in Keith Tkachuk and Jeremy Roenick. Tkachuk led the league last season with 52 goals and is one of the game's most dominating players. He should be a lock for similar production this year. Roenick, on the other hand, is somewhat questionable. Over the last few seasons, good ol' JR has hardly resembled the consistent 50-goal, 100-point threat he was back in the day with the Blackhawks. He stumbled through most of last season, recording a mere 29 goals and 69 points in 72 games. The good news is that he did seem to get better as the year went along and he was a major factor in the playoff loss to Anaheim. The Coyotes were getting blown out of the water by Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne until Roenick was assigned to shadow Kariya. Roenick put the clamps on 'im and the Coyotes took command of the series, owning a 3-2 lead heading to Game Six in Phoenix. That's when Roenick suffered yet another knee injury and was forced out of action. Without his tormenter around, Kariya sprung free and scored the OT winner to force a Game Seven that the Ducks eventually won. Had Roenick stayed healthy, the Coyotes would have devoured the water fowl. At least the injury didn't require surgery and Roenick is already back to full strength. He could be in store for a big season. Once a great player, always a great player. In hopes of offering Tkachuk and Roenick some offensive support, the club signed free agent Rick Tocchet over the summer. Once known as the premier power forward in the league, Tocchet has missed 83 games over the past four seasons due to a chronic bad back. At 33, the condition isn't going to go away over night. If he can somehow stay healthy, Tocchet will be good for 30 goals the hard way. Saying that Tocchet is slow might be an insult to slow skaters everywhere, but his game isn't about speed. He just barges his way to the net and creates havoc in front, setting screens, collecting rebounds, and knocking pucks out of the air. It's these qualities that make him such a dangerous presence on the power play. Teaming him up with Tkachuk on the man-advantage will spell all sorts of trouble for opposing netminders. And even if he doesn't score, Tocchet can still have an enormous impact on the club. He was a former captain in Philadelphia and has won a Stanley Cup while a member of the Penguins. He's a leader in the room that knows what it takes to win. And he's the ultimate team player. If someone messes with one of his teammates, rest assured Tocchet will be the first one to drop the gloves and dish out some beatings. The only other goal-scorer on the roster is 38-year-old Mike Gartner. The guy's just a freak of nature. Every year people write him off as being too old, and every year he scores 30 goals. Last season he bagged 32, giving him 17 30-goal seasons in his remarkable 18-year career. So Gartner is about as dependable as it gets. He also has a major milestone on the horizon, entering the 1997-98 season just four goals shy of 700 for his career. Wayne Gretzky (862), Gordie Howe (801), Marcel Dionne (731), and Phil Esposito (713) are the only four players in NHL history to score 700 goals. Phoenix's big area of concern on offense is at center. After Roenick, the club's next two centers are Craig Janney and Cliff Ronning. Janney used to be good, like, in 1989. He had only 15 goals and 53 points last season while playing his usual soft overall game. Ronning certainly doesn't add any muscle. At 5'8", 165, he's barely big enough to ride the bumper cars. And that 5'8" is a bit generous. Lil Theo Fleury once said he could eat an apple off Ronning's head. Cliffy isn't much of a defender, but he can spark the team with his skating and playmaking skills. If they can just survive at even-strength, Janney and Ronning could make an impact on the power play. The checking assignments in the middle will be given to Bob Corkum and Mike Stapleton. Corkum is more of a grinder along the boards while Stapleton uses his speed to pressure the opposition. Both are good role players to have around. Speaking of role players, the Coyotes have one of the best in the league in Darrin Shannon. A few years back, Shannon seemed destined to become a power forward that could bag 25-30 goals a year. The scoring numbers never materialized, but he has emerged as an excellent checking winger. Few players in the league hit as hard or as often as Shannon. He works like a champ along the boards and in the corners, doing whatever is needed to help the team win. Schoenfeld should love this guy. The Coyotes suffered a major free agent loss when Kris King left town to sign with the Maple Leafs. King was a leader on the team and the type of hard-nosed winger every club needs. He was also very involved with the community, being one of the driving forces behind the Goals for Kids charity. It'll be tough to replace the intangibles he brought to the club. DEFENSE:Oleg More Fun than a Barrel of Snakes Oleg Tverdovsky finally started to deliver on the offensive potential that made him the second-overall pick at the 1994 Draft, finishing fourth among NHL defensemen in scoring with 10 goals and 55 points. Oleg appeared in all 82 games and logged enormous amounts of ice time, usually playing the full two minutes on the power play as well as killing penalties and being on the top pairing at even-strength. He just did everything for the Coyotes. Now he wants his contract to show it. Tverdovsky is currently an unsigned restricted free agent. The Coyotes have to get this guy signed. He's the only defenseman on the team that can produce big-time points from the line. Not having him around would be a devastating blow to the offense. Tverdovsky's regular defensive partner is LCS hero Teppo Numminen. Numminen the Great, by his standards, had kind of a weak season a year ago, posting just two goals and 27 points. Teppo isn't really known for his scoring, steady defense is his claim to fame, but he's more than capable of chipping in with about eight goals and 40 points. He'll need to pick up the scoring a bit this season. If Norm Maciver could stay in the lineup, he should help Tverdovsky in the scoring department. But he's proven to be quite fragile the last few years. Youngster Deron Quint also has the skills to make the scoresheet. He only played in 27 games last season, but should see an expanded role this time around. The rest of the defense is made up of Murray Baron, Gerald Diduck, Jim Johnson, and Jay More. None are Norris material, but they're all pretty decent defensively and can play a physical game. As long as Tverdovsky gets signed, the defense won't be that bad. GOALTENDING:Khabby, Khabby, Khabby The plan last season was to split the goaltending chores between veteran Darcy Wakaluk and LCS cult hero Nikolai Khabibulin. Well, that plan got scrapped when Wakaluk got injured after the first few months of the season. Khabibulin immediately stepped up and seized control, using the opportunity to prove himself a true goaltending superstar. Khabby started the final 49 games of the season and showed the ability to dominate games with his acrobatic style, posting seven shutouts along the way, including a string of three straight blankings. Khabby is a bad man. And according to world renowned art critic, Jerry Fairish, Khabby also has the best goalie mask in the league. "The paint job is simple, yet complex," said Fairish. "It works on so many levels. It gives a profound insight into the human condition. I liked it so much I painted my dog just like it." It's worth mentioning that Mr. Fairish is the only world renowned art critic that is almost continually wacky on the junk. Anyway, now that Khabby has cemented his status as an elite netminder, Wakaluk will return to his familiar role as a backup. He may not like it, but as the old saying goes, "Who cares?" GEE, THAT'S SWELL * Tkachuk and Roenick give the club two superstars on offense. * Khabibulin is a star in net. * Schoenfeld is known to get the most out of his players. TROUBLE * Tverdovsky holdout could be a distraction. * Club needs to get bigger and stronger at center. * Tocchet's injury problems could keep him from making a big impact. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: If Janney and Ronning can hold their own at center, the Coyotes could be in store for a strong season. With Tkachuk, Roenick, Tverdovsky, and Khabibulin, the Coyotes have at least one superstar at all three positions. Schoenfeld should be able to light a fire under the squad and get the most out of them. With Detroit due for a slide, Phoenix could move up the ladder in the Central. PREDICTION: Second in the Central and in the playoffs. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ST. LOUIS BLUES ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Joel Quenneville Roster: C - Pierre Turgeon, Darren Turcotte, Harry York, Craig Conroy, Robert Petrovicky. LW - Geoff Courtnall, Tony Twist, Scott Pellerin, Pavol Demitra, Terry Yake. RW - Brett Hull, Joe Murphy, Jim Campbell, Rudy Poescheck. D - Al MacInnis, Chris Pronger, Steve Duchesne, Marc Bergevin, Ricard Persson, Chris McAlpine, Alexander Godynyuk, Jamie Rivers. G - Grant Fuhr, Jamie McLennan. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: XX/XX - Announced the retirement of Craig MacTavish. 07/01 - Released goaltender Jon Casey, defenseman Trent Yawney, left wing Sergio Momesso and right wing Rob Pearson. 07/02 - Fired assistant general manager Bob Berry. 07/08 - Signed free agent right wing Rudy Poeschek (Tampa Bay) to a three-year contract. 07/25 - Acquired center Darren Turcotte from the San Jose Sharks for forward Stephane Matteau. 08/04 - Re-signed center Pierre Turgeon to a one-year contract. 08/12 - Re-signed free agent center Craig Conroy; signed forwards Terry Yake, Blair Atcheynum and Bruce Ramsay. 08/27 - Acquired defenseman Steve Duchesne from the Ottawa Senators for defenseman Igor Kravchuk. 08/29 - Agreed to terms with right wing Shayne Toporowski. 09/11 - Agreed to terms with defenseman Rory Fitzpatrick, right wing Chris Kenady and center Jochen Hecht. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 36-35-11 HOME 17-20-4 ROAD 19-15-7 POINTS: 83 (12th) GOALS SCORED: 236 (14th) GOALS AGAINST: 239 (14th) POWER PLAY: 15.3% (15th) PENALTY KILLING: 83.4% (14th) Pre-season Game Results: 9/14 Dallas L 4-1 TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief BLUES SINGING NEW TUNE Now that the Dark Ages of Mike Keenan have passed, the St. Louis Blues can go about trying to rebuild from the wreckage. Coach Joel Quenneville and new GM Larry Pleau have a lot of work ahead of them, but the Blues just might surprise a few people this season. OFFENSE: Happy Hull Of course, the most important member of the St. Louis Blues remains Brett Hull. There have been some wacky trade rumors circulating this summer, but don't believe the hype. Hull will wear the blue note. If he were to leave town, fans would probably burn the Kiel Center. Part of the trade speculation was fueled by Hull's becoming an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Both sides are currently trying to iron out a contract extension worth about $5 million a season. With Keenan no longer around to cause Hull grief, the superstar sniper could be in store for his first 50-goal season since 1993-94. Pierre Turgeon will once again be acting as Hull's setup man. Turgeon is known more for his bullet wrist shot than his passing, but he can make some plays. It took the duo a while to warm up last season after Turgeon came over from Montreal, but once they did they got hot in a hurry. Geoff Courtnall also had a weak season salvaged somewhat by moving up to play on their left side. For a few weeks there, the Hull-Turgeon-Courtnall line was the best in hockey. If they can rekindle that magic, the Blues will have a fearsome top scoring line. The club traded Stephane Matteau to San Jose this summer in exchange for Darren Turcotte. The 29-year-old Turcotte still has plenty of speed and should give the club a second line center that can score, something it lacked last season. How much he'll score is somewhat questionable, but he should be good for between 20 and 30 goals. Jim Campbell, last year's rookie sensation, will be skating the right side on the second line. Campbell found a home in St. Louis after never getting a chance with the Canadiens or Ducks. His 23 goals in 68 games last season were no joke. He's got some skills. He could crack 30. Joe Murphy will likely round out the second line and could be the key to the entire St. Louis season. With Murphy's speed and shot, he should be 30 goals in the bank every year. Unfortunately, his work ethic is rarely on a level with his talent. He had just 20 goals and 45 points last season. That's simply not enough for a player of his caliber. Campbell was the most heralded rookie last year, but good ol' Harry York had a nice initial season, as well. While Campbell's stock in trade is scoring goals, York's all about working hard and finishing his checks. He's not the fastest skater in the world, but he's extremely sturdy on his blades. When he hits, it's usually the other guy that goes flying. He still has some learning to do about playing center in the NHL, but he has the makeup to be a great checking line center. The rest of the spots on offense are pretty much wide open. And there are plenty of jobs available, with Craig MacTavish having retired, Mike Peluso and Steve Leach traded, and Sergio Momesso and Rob Pearson released. Scott Pellerin and Craig Conroy should have jobs locked up thanks to their work towards the end of last season. The duo teamed up to be one of the club's top penalty- killing pairs and should be back in similar roles. The club could get some scoring help in the forms of Robert Petrovicky and Pavol Demitra. Both are extremely skilled players that could put up some points if given a chance. The only problem is that they're both on the small side and aren't exactly known for their defense. And of course Tony Twist will be back to bust heads. And let the issue be settled right now, Tony Twist is the best fighter in hockey. Hull, Turgeon, Courtnall, Campbell, Turcotte, and Murphy give the Blues a lot of talent in the top six forwards. There's six potential 30-goal guys right there. Will all of them get 30? Well, no. But the potential is there. Combine that with some capable checkers in York, Conroy, and Pellerin, and the Blues could have some success. DEFENSE: Top Heavy Larry Pleau didn't waste any time in making his first outright steal as a GM, trading the steady but unspectacular Igor Kravchuk to Ottawa for Steve Duchesne. The 32-year-old Duchesne will be making his second tour of duty with the Blues (1993-95) and should give the club another scoring threat from the blue line. Duchesne had 19 goals with the Senators last season and has gone over 20 three times in his career. He can log lots of ice time and play in all situations. His heavy shot and pinpoint passing make him one of the best power-play quarterbacks in the game. His presence will also take some of the heat off Al MacInnis. Teams won't be able to just drape all over MacInnis when Duchesne is out at the other point. With Duchesne on board, MacInnis could also be spared some ice time in order to keep his 34-year- old body fresh for the playoffs. Chris Pronger's ice time won't drop. The 23-year-old is probably strong enough to go a full 60 if needed. Pronger has developed into one of the game's most dominating defenseman, logging more ice time than any other skater in the league, with the possible exception of Chris Chelios. And he's done it all while under the burden known as the guy who cost the city Brendan Shanahan. Keenan doesn't deserve much praise for anything he did in St. Louis, but he did stick with Pronger during the tough times after the trade and he gave him all the ice time he could handle. Now that the early growing pains are over, all that experience on the ice is paying off. Pronger, MacInnis, and Duchesne give the Blues an impressive top three defenders. But the blue line is top heavy, without much depth after the big three. Marc Bergevin is a good, steady veteran that can adequately fill the four hole. After that, it's pretty much anybody's guess. Ricard Persson, Libor Zabransky, Chris McAlpine, Rory Fitzpatrick, and Jamie Rivers will all be vying for the final slots. GOALTENDING: Fuhr's Lonesome St. Louis' goaltending will be in good hands as long as Grant Fuhr stays healthy. The 35-year-old is the ironhorse of goaltending, appearing in 152 games the past two seasons. All the work hasn't dulled his skills any. Fuhr is as agile and quick as the day he entered the league way back in 1981. Part of the reason why he has to play so much, tho', is that St. Louis hasn't had a good backup since Guy Hebert left in 1993-94. Jon Casey had the gig recently, but he got cut loose this off-season. That leaves the job up for grabs between former Islander Jamie McLennan and Rich Parent, who helped lead the Detroit Vipers to an IHL championship. Money is on Parent to win out. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * A lot of potential in the top six forwards. * Pronger, MacInnis, and Duchesne are three of the best defensemen in the game. * Keenan's gone and Quenneville's in charge. TROUBLE * Murphy and Courtnall are chronic underachievers. * Defense lacks depth. * If Fuhr gets hurt they're done. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: The Blues need to get some production from Murphy and Courtnall to be successful. If they come through, the offense should be in good shape. The power play should be scary with MacInnis and Duchesne at the points and Hull and Turgeon down low. As long as Fuhr stays healthy, the Blues could be a factor. PREDICTION: Fourth in the Central and in the playoffs. But depending on what happens with Fedorov in Detroit, they could sneak up to third or even second. ----------------------------------------------------------------- TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Mike Murphy Roster: C - Steve Sullivan, Jamie Baker, Darby Hendrickson, Brandon Convery, Jason Podollan. LW - Sergei Berezin, Wendel Clark, Derek King, Kris King, Todd Warriner, Mark Kolesar. RW - Mats Sundin, Tie Domi, Fredrik Modin, Mike Craig, Mike Kennedy, Mike Johnson, Kelly Chase. D - Matt Martin, Jamie Macoun, Dimitri Yushkevich, Mathieu Schneider, Per Gustafsson, Craig Wolanin, David Cooper. G - Felix Potvin, Glenn Healy, Marcel Cousineau. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: 07/03 - Signed unrestricted free-agent forwards Derek King (Carolina) and Mike Kennedy (Dallas). 07/07 - Signed free agent left wing Kris King (Phoenix) to a four-year contract. 07/08 - Signed free agent goaltender Glenn Healy (NY Rangers) to a three-year contract. 07/21 - Re-signed restricted free-agent Sergei Berezin to a multi-year contract. 08/01 - Signed center Kevyn Adams; signed defenseman Mattias Ohlund to an offer sheet. 08/12 - Signed defensemen Matt Martin, Rob Zettler and left wing Todd Warriner to one-year contracts. 08/20 - Named Ken Dryden general manager; Bill Watters assistant to the president and general manager of the St. John's Maple Leafs of the American Hockey League; Anders Hedberg assistant general manager and director of player development as well as assistant general manager at St. John's; Mike Smith associate general manager and Al MacAdam head coach of St. John's. 08/21 - Agreed to terms on a multi-year contract with right winger Tie Domi. 09/08 - Invited free-agent forward Igor Korolev to training camp. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 30-44-8 HOME 18-20-3 ROAD 12-24-5 POINTS: 68 (23rd) GOALS SCORED: 230 (17th) GOALS AGAINST: 273 (22nd) POWER PLAY: 15.5% (14th) PENALTY KILLING: 82.0% (19th) Pre-season Game Results: 9/13 at Montreal T 5-5 TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief LET THE REBUILDING BEGIN Head Coach Mike Murphy said he has three goals for the upcoming season. The first is to cut the goals allowed by 50. The second is to be a .500 club. And the third is to make the playoffs. Well, zero out of three ain't bad. The Leafs finished dead last in the Central Division last season with a record of 30-44-8, ending up 13 points out of a playoff spot. They also gave up 273 goals, which tied them for 22nd worst in the league. So why so much optimism from Mr. Murphy? Let's investigate. OFFENSE: This Could Be Exciting Stuff The Maple Leaf offense will be one of two extremes. At one end there will be lots of young talent, and at the other a bunch of old guys and thugs. Let's start with the talent. Leading the skill parade is center Mats Sundin. The Big Swede has emerged as one of the league's most dominant offensive performers. His effortless stride and overpowering wrist shot helped him pile up 41 goals and 94 points last season, good for seventh place in league scoring. He's the kind of player you can build a team around. Sundin's left winger for a large portion of last season was rookie Sergei Berezin. The 25-year-old earned a spot on the NHL's All-Rookie Team with his 25 goals and 41 points in 73 games. Berezin is just fun to watch play. He's fast, creative with the puck, and is capable of making a highlight reel whenever he takes the ice. He could be a weapon. If Berezin doesn't lift fans out of their seats, there's a good chance little Steve Sullivan will. Acquired from New Jersey in the Doug Gilmour trade, Sullivan is an exciting playmaker that darts all over the rink. He posted five goals and 16 points in his 21 games as a Leaf last season and should build from there. There's no question he has the talent to be a scorer in this league, but at only 5'9", 155 pounds, he may not have the size. The only way to find out is to play him. The Leafs will give him every chance possible to show his stuff. LCS is hopin' he comes through. Sundin, Berezin, and Sullivan should create plenty of excitement in Toronto. And they're going to have to get it done, because there's not much help around them. The club hopes that youngsters like Todd Warriner, Brandon Convery, and Darby Hendrickson can step up and create some offense. All three can really motor. While they could provide added flash, the Leafs are hoping fellow youngsters Fredrik Modin and Mike Johnson can develop into serviceable power forwards. Toronto dipped into the free-agent market to sign 30-year-old Derek King, who scored 26 goals for the Whale last year. King has a great shot, but he's never really scored as much as he should. At least he'll be a veteran presence up front. Speaking of veteran presence, Wendel Clark definitely brings that to the mix. Clark's wrist shot is good for 30 goals if he can stay healthy, which is never an easy task for Wendel. The club also signed Kris King from Phoenix to provide even more leadership. King has been a captain in the past and is a great role player to have around. He loves to check, will drop the gloves, and gives it his all on every shift. He'll be a good role model for the youngsters. And as if Clark and King weren't enough of a physical deterrent, the Leafs also have Tie Domi and Kelly Chase on the payroll. At least no one will be taking liberties with the young talent. DEFENSE: Schneider the Key Without a doubt, Toronto's best defenseman is Mathieu Schneider. He's a fabulous skater, moves the puck like a champ, has a big shot, and isn't scared to mix it up a little bit. Toronto's defense was crippled last season when Schneider missed all but 26 games with a torn abdominal muscle. The injury required surgery but he should be good to go when the puck drops October 1. The Leafs need him to be in the lineup to have any chance at success. Schneider will man one of the points on the power play with the other being anchored by newcomer Per Gustafsson. The 27-year-old Swede was acquired from Florida this summer and has the skills to be a threat from the line. The only other blueliner with any offensive talent is Russian Dimitri Yushkevich. He's a good skater that likes to hit, but the four goals and 14 points he put up last year were pretty lame. He can do more. The pure defensive end of things will be handled by Jamie Macoun and Craig Wolanin. Both are veteran stay-at-home guys that are good at what they do. Matt Martin is also a pretty reliable guy. And Jason Smith, who was brought over in the Gilmour trade along with Sullivan, is a big strapping lad that can hit and handle the rough stuff in front of the net. GOALTENDING: Healy Provides Relief Felix Potvin got off to a miserable start last season, but by the end of the year he was back to his normal self. Truth be told, he actually had one of the best seasons of any goaltender when you consider the factors involved. The Cat led the NHL in appearances (74) and minutes played (2,471). He also faced an average of 34.2 shots per game, the most of any goaltender. That's quite the workload. One reason he had to play so much was that the club didn't have a whole lot of confidence in rookie backup Marcel Cousineau. The club addressed that problem over the off-season by signing perhaps the preeminent backup in the league, Glenn Healy. That means Cousineau is beat. With Healy on board, Potvin can cut back to about 55 games. That added rest should pay off in the long run. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * Sundin is one of the game's true offensive superstars. * Berezin and Sullivan should provide excitement. * Club is strong in net with Potvin and Healy. TROUBLE * Young forwards will be susceptible defensively. * Schneider is the only real good defenseman on the team. * Toronto isn't exactly the easiest city to play in while undergoing a rebuilding process. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: After that quick examination of the Maple Leaf squad, now do you see why coach Murphy is so enthusiastic? That's okay, neither do we. The Leafs have some good young talent that should be fun to watch, and new GM Ken Dryden will keep the team improving, but there's still a long way to go. PREDICTION: Sixth in the Central and out of the playoffs. ================================================================ ================================================================= TEAM REPORTS ================================================================= WESTERN CONFERENCE PACIFIC DIVISION ----------------------------------------------------------------- ANAHEIM MIGHTY DUCKS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Pierre Page Roster: C - Steve Rucchin, Kevin Todd, J.F. Jomphe, Sean Pronger*, Espen Knutsen, Mark Janssens, Richard Park. LW - Paul Kariya*, Ted Drury, Shawn Antoski, Brian Bellows*, Mike Leclerc. RW - Teemu Selanne, Tomas Sandstrom, Peter LeBoutillier, Warren Rychel. D - Dmitri Mironov, Dave Karpa*, Bobby Dollas, Dan Trebil, Darren Van Impe, Jason Marshall, J.J. Daigneault, Ruslan Salei. G - Guy Hebert, Mikhail Shtalenkov. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: 07/15 - Agreed to terms with center Espen Knutsen. 07/17 - Named Don Hay an assistant coach. 07/31 - Re-signed unrestricted free-agent defenseman J.J. Daigneault to a three-year contract. 08/01 - Signed free-agent right wing Tomas Sandstrom (Detroit) to a two-year contract. 08/04 - Re-signed center Ted Drury, right wing Craigh Reichert and left wings Jeremy Stevenson and Bob Wren to two-year contracts. 08/05 - Reached an agreement with the Calgary Flames concerning compensation should Anaheim hire Pierre Page as head coach. 08/09 - Named Pierre Page head coach. 08/10 - Re-signed goaltender Guy Hebert to a two-year contract and defenseman Dmitri Mironov to a one-year contract; signed free-agent right wing Jeff Nielsen. 08/13 - Signed right winger Igor Nikulin to a two-year contract and goaltender Blaine Russell to a three-year entry-level contract. 08/25 - Signed defenseman Mike Crowley to a two-year contract. 08/29 - Re-signed free-agent defenseman Darren Van Impe to a two-year contract. 09/09 - Signed center J.F. Jomphe to a two-year contract and center Richard Park to a one-year contract. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 36-33-13 HOME 23-12-6 ROAD 13-21-7 POINTS: 85 (9th) GOALS SCORED: 245 (10th) GOALS AGAINST: 233 (11th) POWER PLAY: 16.8% (9th) PENALTY KILLING: 81.5% (22nd) Pre-season Game Results: 9/14 at Edmonton L 4-1 TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief NO WILSON, NO WIN The Anaheim Mighty Ducks shot themselves in the webbed-foot this off-season by firing head coach Ron Wilson. Aside from the greatness of Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne, this team is terrible. Yet thanks to the coaching genius of Wilson, the Ducks were able to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history last season and actually advanced to the second round. This is a classic case of not knowing what you had until it's gone. The Ducks will be mud without Wilson. Taking over behind the bench is Pierre Page, who coached the Calgary Flames a year ago. It's tough to argue Page's knowledge of the game or ability to evaluate talent. He was one of the men responsible for building the Quebec Nordiques into the Colorado powerhouse they are today. Unfortunately, his coaching rarely receives similar accolades. Page is often criticized for failing to communicate with his star players. His ongoing feud with Theo Fleury is the main reason he was fired in Calgary and a similar rift with Joe Sakic doomed him in Quebec. At one point during his days with the Nordiques, Sakic became so enraged with Page that he stood up on the bench during a game and shouted at him. Now I don't know if you, our valued readers, know anything about Joe Sakic, but he's a quiet guy and generally considered to be one of the nicest people in hockey. He's not exactly known for such public displays of anger. But somehow, someway, Page was able to get on his bad side. It's this past history that makes Page's hiring so puzzling. Because if it's one thing the Ducks need, it's a coach that can get along with superstars. If Page can't make Kariya and Selanne happy, the Ducks are in serious trouble. OFFENSE: One Line Wonder The Ducks' top line of Kariya, Selanne, and Steve Rucchin is one of the best in the game. Obviously Kariya and Selanne are world- class players, but Rucchin is actually the key to the line. It may not seem like it, but trying to find someone to play between two superstars can be quite the daunting task. The reason Rucchin has been able to do so well in the role is that he hasn't changed his game any to try and emulate his talented wingers. Rucchin keeps things simple. He knows he can't make the kind of plays they do, so he just gives them the puck as soon as possible and then goes to the net. He's also strong defensively and will win his share of draws. Rucchin's just a good player. While the top line is all good, the rest of the Anaheim roster is pretty pathetic. Jari Kurri jumped ship over the summer and signed with the Colorado Avalanche. Kurri was an important member of the club last season, centering the second line and killing penalties with Selanne. It's going to be difficult trying to replace his veteran presence. Another vet that won't be back is Brian Bellows. He was forced to vacate his current place of residence and asked that he never return. The club signed Tomas Sandstrom to a contract this off-season and is hoping that winning the Stanley Cup last year with Detroit will light a fire under the Swedish winger. Sandstrom has five 30-goal seasons in his career, but he had just 18 goals last season while splitting the campaign with Pittsburgh and Detroit. To be honest, he hasn't looked like his old self since Hartford's Steve Rice devastated him with an open-ice check during the second half of the 1995-96 season. That hit just seemed to knock the talent right out of him. There's also hype that Sandstrom is a gritty winger that's tough to play against, almost to the point of being dirty. Well, that may have been true when he first came into the league, but nowadays that perception is just a myth. Don't buy into it. The club is hoping that rookie Espen Knutsen will be able to handle centering the second line. Knutsen, a rookie out of Norway, is a crafty playmaker with lots of skill. And with a name like Espen Knutsen, he's an LCS cult hero waiting to happen. Sandstrom is a lock to play on one of Knutsen's wings, but the other spot is wide open. Finnish rookie Antii Aalto is a grinding type player and has been skating in that spot at camp. The rest of the Anaheim offense is made by the likes of Joe Sacco, J.F Jomphe, Ted Drury, Warren Rychel, Sean Pronger, Richard Park, and Mark Janssens. That's not good. Tough guy Ken Baumgartner left to sign with Boston, but Shawn Antoski should be healthy enough this season to provide the required acts of barbarism. DEFENSE: Not Good As sad as the forward ranks are, the defense is even worse. How bad is it? Well, the club's top two defenders, J.J. Daigneault and Dmitri Mironov, were acquired last season from Pittsburgh. Anytime defensemen brought over from Pittsburgh can step in and be the top two guys on your team, you might be a red neck. Bobby Dollas is a nice, steady defender, but he's the only one. Dan Trebil got called up at the end of last season and played fairly well, but his skating deficiencies will show up over an 82-game schedule. Darren Van Impe has some potential, Dave Karpa plays bigger than his size, and Jason Marshall gained some valuable experience last season, but on the whole the blue line is extremely weak. GOALTENDING: Hebert Still Number One Guy Hebert took a huge step forward last season and emerged as one of the game's better netminders. He played so well, in fact, that the club was probably guilty of overplaying him down the stretch, to the point that Hebert suffered from dehydration and exhaustion during the final few weeks of the season. The goal this year will be to pace Hebert a bit more and give backup Mikhail Shtalenkov about 30 starts. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * The top line is great. * Hebert is an excellent goaltender. * Espen Knutsen is cool. TROUBLE * Wilson should have never been fired. * Page might not be the right guy for the job. * The team's overall depth is dreadful. 1996-97 OUTLOOK: The fact that Kariya is still an unsigned restricted free agent is grabbing most of the headlines around Anaheim at the moment. But don't worry, Kariya will get signed. It's not like Disney doesn't have the money. But whether or not he'll like playing for Page is a totally different story. Losing Wilson at this stage in the franchise's development is brutal. The results will show in the standings. PREDICTION: Seventh in the Pacific and out of the playoffs. ----------------------------------------------------------------- CALGARY FLAMES ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Brian Sutter Roster: C - Andrew Cassels, Michael Nylander, Cory Stillman*, Aaron Gavey. RW - Theoren Fleury, Jarome Iginla, Ron Stern, Ed Ward, Sandy McCarthy. LW - Jonas Hoglund, Marty McInnis*, German Titov, Todd Hlushko, Hnat Domenichelli. D - James Patrick, Tommy Albelin, Joel Bouchard, Todd Simpson*, Cale Hulse, Zarley Zalapski, Chris O'Sullivan, Eric Charron. G - Dwayne Roloson, Rick Tabaracci, Jean-Sebastien Giguere. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: XX/XX - Released defenseman Glen Featherstone; Signed free agent defenseman Joel Bouchard, centers Adam Gavey and Eric Landry, and goaltender Dwayne Roloson. Signed free agent center Jim Dowd (NY Islanders). 07/03 - Named Brian Sutter head coach. 07/21 - Named Rick Preston assistant coach. 08/05 - Reached an agreement with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks concerning compensation should Anaheim hire Pierre Page as head coach. 08/18 - Named Steve Smith assistant coach. 08/25 - Traded left wing Gary Roberts and goaltender Trevor Kidd to the Carolina Hurricanes for center Andrew Cassels and goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere. 09/03 - Acquired defenseman Eric Charron from the Washington Capitals for future considerations. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 32-41-9 HOME 21-18-2 ROAD 11-23-7 POINTS: 73 (21st) GOALS SCORED: 214 (25th) GOALS AGAINST: 239 (14th) POWER PLAY: 16.9% (8th) PENALTY KILLING: 83.2% (17th) Pre-season Game Results: 9/14 Phoenix L 7-6 (OT) TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief SUTTER WILL STOKE FLAMES If you listen closely you can probably hear lil Theo Fleury skippin' around singing, "Ding, dong, Page is dead!" Theo had a terrible time trying to coexist with former Flames coach Pierre Page. Now that Page is gone, and Brian Sutter is in his place, Fleury and the Flames could be set for a jump in play. Sutter is known as one of the strictest coaches to ever stand behind an NHL bench. The guy is mean. But he's also a winner. As long as he's in charge, every member of the Flames will know their role and they'll all play harder than any other time during their career. Because if they don't, they'll have to answer to Sutter. And nobody wants that. OFFENSE: Pressure on Fleury Aside from the hiring of Sutter, the other big news out of Calgary this off-season was the trading of the legendary Gary Roberts along with goaltender Trevor Kidd to Carolina for center Andrew Cassels and goaltender Jean-Sebastian Giguere. The Flames knew Roberts, who retired before the 1996-97 season because of a neck injury, was intending to make a comeback, but he had said he didn't want to return to the young Calgary squad and there was some doubt about how successful his comeback would be. So the team did what it had to do and got what it could for the former All-World power forward. Cassels gives the club a quality front-line pivot that can set up goals and also play reasonably well defensively. He's a tremendous passer with great instincts. He has the potential to be a 20-goal, 80-point man for the Flames. The guy who will benefit the most from having Cassels around is Fleury. The little fella had only 29 goals last season. Most of his goal-scoring woes could be directly traced back to his relationship with Page. The coach wanted to take pressure off Fleury by telling anyone who would listen that Theo didn't have to carry the team. Well, Fleury thrives on the pressure of being the go-to guy. He should be fired up this season to show that he's still capable of getting the job done. Having Cassels around to feed him sweet lead passes on the wing should only make the task that much easier. The club also hopes to have another crafty playmaker in the lineup with Michael Nylander expected to return to action after missing all of last season. Nylander's got mad skills. He's always had the talent to be a point-per-game guy, but has never quite reached that level of excellence. He should still be good for at least 60 points. That's 60 points the club didn't have last season. The other main weapons up front are German Titov, Jarome Iginla, and Jonus Hoglund. Titov is an extremely versatile player that can be used at center or on the wing. He's good with the puck, can cycle down deep, and is solid defensively. Iginla and Hoglund both had exceptional rookie campaigns for the Flames a year ago. Iginla is a power guy that loves working the boards and going to the net. Meanwhile, Hoglund is more of a skilled player that has a rifle shot. Both youngsters should weigh heavily in the attack this season. The offense might also get a boost from Hnat Domenichelli, who was acquired last season from Carolina. Domenichelli is a small but skilled player that skated on a line with Iginla in junior and could be looking to discover that old chemistry. Marty McInnis came over at the trade deadline last season and had three goals and seven points with the Flames. He's a quick skater and, like Titov, can play a lot of different roles. He should bolster Calgary's special teams, where his speed makes him a great penalty-killer and he's had past experience manning the point on the power play. The club will be hoping for improved contributions from Cory Stillman and Ed Ward. Stillman, 24, was another guy that had major issues with Page. He's even gone on record as saying that if Page was back this season he wouldn't have reported. So Stillman should feel like he has a new lease on life. Ward, 28, is a moose on the wing. He's got great size (6'3", 205) and a canon slap shot, but hasn't really been able to translate those tools into goals. Last season he spent a lot of time centering a checking unit with tough guys Sandy McCarthy and Ronnie Stern. And when it comes to tough guys, it just doesn't get any better than McCarthy and Stern. Three forwards that won't be back are Dave Gagner, Mike Sullivan, and Corey Millen. Gagner, who was second on the team in scoring last season with 27 goals and 60 points, was an unrestricted free agent and signed with Florida. He'll be missed, but he really didn't belong on this team. This club is all about youth and doesn't need a 33-year-old hanging around cashing big paychecks. Millen, 33, was a quick little forward that really didn't score enough to warrant keeping him around. He's playing in Europe this season. Sullivan was pretty much the same story. The Flames would rather give his playing time to someone younger, so he was traded to Boston for a seventh-round Draft choice. Feisty checking winger Todd Hlushko also may not be able to return after missing the final few months of last season with post-concussion syndrome. He's currently trying to get medical clearance to return to action. DEFENSE:Returning Vets Bolster Blue Line Zarley Zalapski only played two games last year before getting knocked out with a season-ending knee injury. Likewise, James Patrick was only around for 19 games because of injury. That meant that the Flames were forced to play, at one time or another, five rookies in their regular rotation. While youngsters Chris O'Sullivan, Jamie Allison, and Cale Hulse all played fairly well when given the opportunity, it seems the club found two defensive fixtures in Todd Simpson and Joel Bouchard. Simpson played all 82 games and led the team with 208 penalty minutes, with 85 of those minutes coming in fights. He played an extremely physical game and soon earned a reputation around the league as somewhat of a cheap player, due in large part to a knee on Peter Forsberg that injured the Colorado superstar. Dirty or not, Simpson gives the Flames a presence that every team would love to have along its blue line. While Simpson provides toughness, Bouchard brings skill. He had only four goals and nine points, but the 23-year-old Quebec native is a tremendous skater that can move the puck. His numbers should increase this season. The club lost Yves Racine to free agency and waived Glen Featherstone, but neither one will be missed that much. Eric Charron was acquired from Washington for future considerations to help add depth. While playing so many rookies was hard on the team last season, all the experience they earned should pay major dividends this year. With Zalapski and Patrick returning, and veteran Tommy Albelin also in place, the youngsters can settle into their roles and simply play their game. That should make the defense better from top to bottom. GOALTENDING: Tabby Back in Town Rick Tabaracci didn't stay gone long. The club traded the acrobatic fan favorite to Tampa Bay last season only to reacquire him from the Bolts this summer. With Kidd being traded to Carolina, the starting job is all Tabaracci's. Dwayne Roloson will return as the backup. Between the two of 'em, the Flames shouldn't have problems in goal. They'll also give Giguere time to mature in the minors so that he can develop into the goaltender of the future. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * Page is solid gone. * Sutter is a great coach. * Fleury will be on a mission. TROUBLE * Club is still young. * Fleury is the only reliable goal-scorer up front. * Defense could probably use one more veteran. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: Talent isn't really as important as it used to be in today's NHL. The overall skill level is so watered down, that even mediocre teams like the Flames can remain competitive as long as they have a strong leader. Sutter definitely gives the Flames leadership. And just having Page leave town should make the club better. Nothing can spark a young team like a change in coaches. That combined with playing in the weak Pacific Division should keep the Flames close to playoff contention all season long. PREDICTION: Fifth in the Pacific and just shy of the postseason. ----------------------------------------------------------------- COLORADO AVALANCHE ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Marc Crawford Roster: C - Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Mike Ricci, Stephane Yelle. LW - Valeri Kamensky, Yves Sarault, Rene Corbet, Eric Lacroix. RW - Claude Lemieux, Adam Deadmarsh, Keith Jones, Scott Young. D - Sandis Ozolinsh, Sylvain Lefebvre, Uwe Krupp, Adam Foote, Alexei Gusarov, Jon Klemm, Brent Severyn, Aaron Miller, Eric Messier. G - Patrick Roy, Craig Billington. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: XX/XX - Signed free agent right wings Rene Corbet and Keith Jones and left wing Eric Lacroix. 07/01 - Signed defenseman Jon Klemm to a three-year contract. Signed goaltender Craig Billington to a one-year contract. 07/11 - Signed free-agent right wing Jari Kurri (Anaheim) to a one-year deal. 08/13 - Matched a three-year, $21 million offer sheet tendered to Group II free agent center Joe Sakic by the New York Rangers. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 49-24-9 HOME 26-10-5 ROAD 23-14-4 POINTS: 107 (1st) GOALS SCORED: 277 (2nd) GOALS AGAINST: 205 (5th) POWER PLAY: 20.6% (3rd) PENALTY KILLING: 87.6% (2nd) Pre-season Game Results: None. TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief JUST GIVE 'EM THE CUP They may not have won the Stanley Cup last year, but the Colorado Avalanche is still the best team in the NHL. The only thing that stopped them from repeating as champs was a parade of injuries that diminished team chemistry and left them unable to match Detroit's intensity come playoff time. Things will be different this year. The off-season was almost a disastrous one when Neil Smith and the New York Rangers blindsided GM Pierre Lacroix with their massive contract offer to Joe Sakic. But luckily the club was able to scrape together the $17 million to re-sign their captain and ensure itself of another chance at glory. Sakic will be leading the deepest and most talented team in hockey. And they're hellbent on reclaiming what's rightfully theirs. OFFENSE: Stacked While he managed to match the offer to Sakic, Lacroix couldn't prevent Mike Keane from signing with the Rangers. Keane will obviously be missed. His strict work ethic and attention to defense made him a leader on and off the ice. But Lacroix couldn't rationalize paying a veteran checking winger, no matter how valuable to the team's morale, $2 million a season. It was a tough decision, but one that had to be made. In an attempt to fill some of Keane's void, Lacroix did sign the great Jari Kurri. A five-time Cup winner, Kurri's bounced around the last few seasons with Los Angeles, New York, and Anaheim, being used mostly as a center in a checking role. He'll see similar work this season, killing penalties and being used in defensive situations, although he could be used at times on the wing. Perhaps skating with Sakic could rekindle his fabled scoring touch. There has been some talk that Colorado will be forced to trade a few veterans in order to pare the payroll a bit. The names heard most often are Scott Young and Mike Ricci. Young is a swell player, but his ice time was cut back dramatically at the end of last season and he could be moved without much trouble, perhaps to Carolina for a mid-round draft choice. Ricci, on the other hand, would be much harder to replace. He may not score as much as he should, but he's still great on faceoffs and a fiery competitor during the postseason. Valeri Kamensky's name has also been mentioned once or twice as a possible trade candidate, but he's just too damn good to trade. Aside from guys who could get moved, Adam Deadmarsh is the other wild card that's effecting how the lineup will look this season. Deadmarsh played like a hero during his time at center when Sakic and Peter Forsberg were out with injuries last season. But when the two superstars returned, Deadmarsh was either dropped to the third line or placed back on wing and he didn't respond too well, all but disappearing during the playoffs. The Avs can't afford to have Deadmarsh along for the ride. He needs to be an impact player. Depending on where coach Marc Crawford uses Deadmarsh, there are a few possibilities for how the lineup will look. The first line is golden with Peter Forsberg centering Kamensky and Claude Lemieux. It just doesn't get any better than that. Sakic anchored the second line last season with Keith Jones on his right side and Ricci on his left. By playing Ricci on the wing, that allowed Deadmarsh to center the third line with the likes of Rene Corbet and Young. Of course, Ricci could be dropped to the third line and Deadmarsh could play the wing with Sakic. That's probably where he should be playing, since he could become a big-time goal-scorer feeding off Sakic. However, any combinations involving Ricci and Jones have to be put on hold for a little bit, since both still aren't healthy enough to take part in training camp. Jones is still recovering from the knee injury he sustained in the playoffs and Ricci is on the mend following off-season shoulder surgery. The fourth line was always centered by the vastly underrated Stephane Yelle and featured Keane on right wing and the hard- hitting Eric Lacroix on left. Yelle and Keane were practically inseparable on the ice, also forging the team's top penalty- killing unit. Keane's approach to the game definitely wore off on his 23-year-old apprentice, as Yelle is easily the best young checking center in the NHL. Kurri could replace Keane on this unit or he could center the third line. Crawford has all sorts of options with his forward ranks. The one weakness the team really hasn't addressed over the off-season was the need for a fighter. Brent Severyn, who saw time at both wing and defense, tried to fit the bill last season by dropping the gloves 23 times. But he can't do it alone. And he doesn't really play enough to be a deterrent. Deadmarsh will fight, but the club needs him on the ice. The team invited a few young tough guys to camp, but look for a proven puncher to be acquired at some point. Stu Grimson has been mentioned. Whether they have a fighter or not up front, Colorado's offense is stacked. Coming off the disappointments of the injuries last season, Forsberg and Sakic are both due for enormous seasons. They'll both be over 100 points. Count on it. Led by their two stars, the Avalanche will lead the league in goals this season. DEFENSE: Stacked The Colorado defense is as deep and talented as the forward ranks. Sandis Ozolinsh is the game's most dangerous offensive defenseman. He led all blueliners with 23 goals last season, and that included a cold spell that saw him get just eight over his final 35 contests. If there's a defenseman in the game capable of netting 30, it's Ozolinsh. He skated last season with the unspectacular, yet reliable, Jon Klemm. The two work well together. Ozolinsh knows Klemm will hang back and take care of business, so that frees him to gamble on offense. The club's top defensive pairing is Adam Foote and Alexei Gusarov. Foote is the best young defensive defenseman in hockey and one of the most aggressive players alive. If he was any more aggressive he'd explode. Meanwhile, Gusarov is a wily Russian veteran that's seen it all in his 33 years. His cool, under- control style is the perfect compliment to Foote's red-hot intensity. There may not be a better pair in the league. The third pairing features the almost unbeatable Sylvain Lefebvre and the gigantic Uwe Krupp. The duo wasn't together much at the end of the season because of an elbow injury and a bad back that sidelined Krupp. That gave rookie Aaron Miller a chance to step in and show what he can do. And he showed plenty. Miller's got great size and plays a steady, patient game. He'll only get better with time. He's ready to be one of the top six right now. Which means Krupp could get traded to save money or to acquire the physical presence the team needs. Depth will be provided by youngsters Eric Messier and Wade Belak. Messier was called up during the playoffs and acquitted himself quite well, playing a solid all around game. Belak still needs to prove he can handle NHL caliber opposition, but he's a big, tough defender that can throw. GOALTEDNING: Take a Guess... Two words: Patrick Roy. There was some speculation that young Marc Denis, the club's first-round pick in 1995, could back up Roy this season, but Crawford squelched those rumors when camp opened by saying that veteran Craig Billington will once again be the backup no matter how impressive Denis looks. Crawford wants Denis to see a lot of action, and that just wouldn't happen if he was playing behind Roy. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * Sakic and Forsberg give the club the best 1-2 center combination in hockey and pace a stacked offense. * Ozolinsh and Foote headline a great defense. * Roy is Roy. TROUBLE * Team could still use some toughness. * Financial constraints could mean some vets get moved. * Um, that's all... 1997-98 OUTLOOK: The Colorado Avalanche never really had their whole team together for a single game last season. Lemieux missed the first few months recovering from abdominal surgery, then Forsberg went out with a deep thigh bruise, followed by Sakic and his serious calf laceration, Krupp and his elbow and back woes, and finally Jones and his postseason knee injury. Barring a recurrence of such catastrophic events, the Avalanche will easily be the best team in the NHL. Their toughest competition will come from the Dallas Stars. The two teams should meet in a titanic Western Conference Finals matchup. Get your tickets now. PREDICTION: First in the Pacific, first in the West, first overall, and a second Stanley Cup. ----------------------------------------------------------------- EDMONTON OILERS ---------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Ron Low Roster: C - Doug Weight, Jason Arnott, Todd Marchant, Mats Lindgren, Steve Kelly. LW - Ryan Smyth, Bill Huard, Dean McAmmond, Rem Murray*, Barrie Moore. RW - Andrei Kovalenko, Mike Grier, Kelly Buchberger, Brantt Myhres. D - Kevin Lowe, Bryan Marchment, Boris Mironov, Drew Bannister, Daniel McGillis*, Greg de Vries*, Craig Millar, Bryan Muir. G - Curtis Joseph, Bob Essensa*. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: 07/02 - Named Ted Green assistant coach. 07/03 - Signed unrestricted free-agent left wing Bill Huard (Dallas) to a multi-year contract; signed free-agent left wing Doug Friedman. 07/04 - Agreed to terms on a multi-year contract with left wing Mike Watt. 07/11 - Re-signed left wing Andrei Kovalenko to a multi-year contract. 07/23 - Agreed to terms on one-year contracts with defenseman Scott Ferguson and center Scott Fraser. 07/29 - Signed goaltender Steve Passmore to a multi-year contract. 08/08 - Agreed to terms with goaltender Jean-Francois Labbe on a multi-year contract. 08/10 - Signed forward Boyd Devereaux, their first-round draft pick in 1996, to a multi-year contract. 08/12 - Traded defenseman Jiri Slegr to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 1998 third-round draft pick. 08/15 - Signed defenseman Matthieu Descoteaux, their first-round draft pick in 1996, to a multi-year contract. 08/18 - Signed defenseman Kevin Lowe to a multi-year contract. 08/25 - Traded right wing Mariusz Czerkawski to the New York Islanders for left wing Dan Lacouture. 09/05 - Signed defenseman Boris Mironov to a multi-year contract. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 36-37-9 HOME 21-16-4 ROAD 15-21-5 POINTS: 81 (13th) GOALS SCORED: 252 (8th) GOALS AGAINST: 247 (17th) POWER PLAY: 18.0% (6th) PENALTY KILLING: 82.5% (18th) Pre-season Game Results: None. TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief LAST HURRAH? Just when it seems the Edmonton Oilers are close to regaining their place among the league powers, owner Peter Pocklington is once again threatening to sell the team to a U.S. owner. Pocklington is giving local investors first crack at shelling out the $70 million (US) purchasing price. Word is that a local group is preparing a deal and will be contacting Pocklington around Tuesday, September 16. If he doesn't receive a valid offer by the end of that week, Pocklington will start accepting bids from groups south of the border. Houston is reported to be interested. OFFENSE: Run and Gun Provided the impending sell of the team doesn't create too much of a distraction, the Edmonton offense should have no problem supplying goals. The club finished tied for seventh in scoring last season and employ an exciting, wide-open brand of hockey. There's no such thing as a neutral zone trap in Edmonton. This team is all about speed. The top line will likely feature playmaker extraordinaire Doug Weight centering speedster Todd Marchant and the Little Tank Andrei Kovalenko. Weight is simply one of the best passers in the game and could be near an assist-per-game pace this season. Kovalenko had a wonderful first year in Edmonton, recording a career high 32 goals. He's a powerful skater built low to the ground, hence the name Little Tank, that can finish around the net. As for Marchant, he can just flat out fly. Few who witnessed it will ever forget the amazing burst of speed he put on to blow around the Dallas defense and score the Game Seven OT- winner to eliminate the Stars in last season's playoffs. Marchant spent most of last year playing on the third line and killing penalties. It wasn't until the playoffs that he got promoted to the top unit. His postseason performance should have been good enough to retain his spot this season. Jason Arnott will center a second line with last season's scoring sensation, Ryan Smyth. In just his second year, Smyth exploded for a team high 39 goals. He also tied Brendan Shanahan for the league lead with 20 power-play goals. It'll be tough to match those numbers this season, but he should be good for at least 30. Captain Kelly Buchberger played the right side on this line last season and always brings a hard-working, check-throwing presence to the mix. Although this line might not remain in tact for long, since there have been some Arnott-to-Chicago trade rumors floating around. That's something to keep an eye on. Youngsters Rem Murray, Mike Grier, Steve Kelly, Mats Lindgren, and Joe Hulbig will fill out the bottom two lines. Former first- rounder Jason Bonsignore is also looking to make the club after three pretty disappointing seasons in junior. He's still only 21, but Bonsignore has to make his move soon. Swiss right winger Michael Riesen, this year's first-rounder, came to camp and is good enough to play in the NHL right now, but has decided to return to Switzerland this year in order to earn his high school diploma. Which, oddly enough, is exactly what I did in my senior year. They don't even know what the hell Algebra is in Switzerland. It was sweet. DEFENSE: Life Without Luke As expected, the Oil lost Luke Richardson to free agency over the summer. That leaves quite the void along the Edmonton blue line. Kevin Lowe will be back to provide his veteran leadership, but most of the playing time will fall to the club's youthful core of defenders, headed up by potential offensive star Boris Mironov. Mironov has all the tools to be a serious threat from the blue line. He got off to a hot start last season with five goals and 27 points in his first 41 games before a shoulder injury limited him to just one goal and five points in 14 games during the second half of the campaign. Mironov needs to step forward and become a leader this season. Dan McGillis had a tremendous postseason and could develop into a Richardson style stay-at-home standout, although he does have enough skill to move the puck and even anchor a point on the power play. McGillis is definitely a keeper. Greg de Vries is cut from a similar cloth and should see a dramatic increase in playing time, perhaps getting paired with Drew Bannister. Bryan Marchment will be back to his old tricks after suffering a scary injury during last year's playoffs when he fell head-first into an open bench door. Marchment isn't exactly the kind of guy who's likely to be effected by such an event, and should be back to his aggressive, hard-hitting ways. GOALTENDING: CuJo in Command The Edmonton defense doesn't have to be great as long as Curtis Joseph remains in net. CuJo's glove can cover up for most any defensive mistake made by the youngsters in front of him. There have been some trade rumors involving Joseph, but hopefully that's just jive. If Joseph leaves town, the Oilers are scrap. While Joseph remains the main man, at least for the time being, Bob Essensa will not return as his backup. The club will either go with one of two AHL standouts, Steve Passmore or J.F. Labbe. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * The Oilers are one of the few teams left that play a fast- paced, skating game. * Weight is a great playmaker in the middle. * Joseph gives them a chance to win every time out. TROUBLE * Team's impending sell could be a major distraction. * Club is still extremely young. * The youthful defense could be especially susceptible. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: The Oilers are an exciting young squad. Unfortunately, until the ownership problems get settled, it's kind of hard to pick where they're going to finish. If the club is sold to a local group and stay in Edmonton, and Arnott and Joseph don't get traded, the Oil will be a force. However, if they do get sold to a U.S. owner, all bets are off. PREDICTION: Third in the Pacific and back in the playoffs. ----------------------------------------------------------------- LOS ANGELES KINGS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Larry Robinson Roster: C - Josef Stumpel, Ray Ferraro, Roman Vopat, Ian LaPerriere, Yanic Perreault. LW - Luc Robitaille, Steve McKenna, Vladimir Tsyplakov, Matt Johnson, Jeff Shevalier*, Craig Johnson, Dan Bylsma. RW - Sandy Moger, Glen Murray*, Brad Smyth, Vitali Yachemenev, Pavel Rosa. D - Garry Galley, Doug Zmolek, Rob Blake, Aki Berg, Sean O'Donnell, Mattias Norstrom, Philippe Boucher, Steven Finn, Jan Vopat. G - Stephane Fiset, Jamie Storr. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: 06/30 - Signed left wing Sean O'Brien to a one-year contract. 07/05 - Signed free agent defenseman Garry Galley (Buffalo) to a three-year contract. 07/18 - Named Bill O'Flaherty director of player personnel; agreed to terms on a two-year contract with defenseman Mark Visheau. 07/21 - Re-signed left wing Dan Bylsma to a one-year contract. 07/24 - Re-signed left wing Vladimir Tsyplakov to a two-year contract. 07/25 - Re-signed free-agent goaltender Byron Dafoe to a two-year contract. 07/29 - Re-signed forward Glen Murray to a two-year contract and re-signed defenseman Jaroslav Modry to a one-year contract. 07/30 - Signed center Roman Vopat to a three-year contract. 08/01 - Signed center Chris Taylor to a one-year contract. 08/06 - Re-signed restricted free-agent center Yanic Perreault. 08/15 - Agreed to terms with restricted free-agent defenseman Sean O'Donnell on a one-year contract. 08/28 - Traded left wing Kevin Stevens to the New York Rangers for left wing Luc Robitaille. 08/29 - Acquired center Jozef Stumpel, right wing Sandy Moger and a 1998 fourth-round draft pick from the Boston Bruins for left wing Dimitri Khristich and goaltender Byron Dafoe. 09/05 - Signed goaltender Frederic Chabot to a two-year contract. 09/08 - 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. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 28-43-11 HOME 18-16-7 ROAD 10-27-4 POINTS: 67 (24th) GOALS SCORED: 214 (25th) GOALS AGAINST: 268 (20th) POWER PLAY: 13.6% (25th) PENALTY KILLING: 87.2% (3rd) Pre-season Game Results: 9/14 San Jose W 4-3 @San Diego TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief LUCKY LUC BACK IN LA LA LAND Somebody give Dave Taylor a pat on the back. The new GM of the Kings has had a busy off-season, making several moves that should bode well for his team this season. The most important of which was the trading of Kevin Stevens to New York in exchange for former King and fan favorite Luc Robitaille. Lucky Luc may not score as much as he used to, but having him back in Los Angeles should create plenty of excitement in town and help generate some support for the Kings during this time of rebuilding. OFFENSE: Stumpel to Luc... Yeehaw! Once Taylor had Robitaille back in the fold, he needed to find a center to create scoring chances for him. With that in mind, he sent last year's leading scorer, Dimitri Khristich, along with goaltender Byron Dafoe to Boston in exchange for the talented Jozef Stumpel and winger Sandy Moger. Stumpel is a star on the rise. He enjoyed a breakthrough season last year in Boston, recording career highs in goals (21), assists (55), and points (76). Stumpel's an unbelievable stickhandler and a gifted passer that should have no problem acting as Robitaille's setup man. This duo could be lethal. If Stumpel and Robitaille falter, the Kings are in trouble. The only other proven scorer up front is Ray Ferraro, and he's coming off his worst season in six years. Moger and Glen Murray could develop into respectable power forwards, but both have a long way to go. Moger has a nice shot, but his skating is labored. He also seems to brake a limb every season. Murray, on the other hand, has all the tools. His wrist shot is heavy, his stride is powerful, and he's capable of the individual effort. Aside from a nasty habit of missing the net on his best chances, Murray's biggest problem is confidence. If he could play up to his potential on a nightly basis, he could make an impact. Vitali Yachmenev seemed like he'd be a future 30-goal scorer for the club when he broke in with 19 goals and 53 points during his rookie season of 1995-96. Unfortunately, his production dropped last season to 10 goals and 32 points in 65 games. He was used as a penalty killer last season and did earn his keep in that respect. But the Kings sure could use some more scoring out of him. The only other offensive contributors up front are Vladimir Tsyplakov, Kai Nurminen, and Yanic Perreault. All three have cool names, but they only combined for 41 goals last season. Each one needs to bag at least 20 this time around. Ian Laperriere doesn't score much, but he's an aggressive checker that likes to stir things up. And when things get rough, Matt Johnson is about as big of a goon as there is in the league. Despite playing just 52 games, Johnson led the Kings with 194 penalty minutes and 17 fighting majors. He also became public enemy number one in San Jose for a cheap shot on Shark tough guy Andrei Nazarov. The feud between Johnson and Nazarov could develop into a blood bath. DEFENSE: Wha's Up, Blake? The key to the Los Angeles blue line is Rob Blake. When healthy, he's one of the best defensemen in the NHL. It's just that the guy is never healthy. His chronic groin problems limited him to 62 games last season, but even when he played he was nowhere near full strength. And it showed in his plus-minus where he finished at a team worst -28. If Blake isn't at full strength, the Kings are beat. Taylor did his part to try and improve the defense by signing free agent Garry Galley away from Buffalo. Galley is an experienced, mobile defender that moves the puck extremely well. He should help a King power play that finished 25th in the league last season. He's also a leader in the room. Don't be surprised to see him wear an "A". The Kings do have two other blueliners with talent in Mattias Norstrom and Philippe Boucher. Norstrom is mobile skater and a pretty good all-around defensemen. He could be one of the most underrated guys in the league. But if he wants to get more attention, he has to score more than the one goal he potted last season. With Norstrom's skills, he could easily chip in eight to ten a year. Boucher lit the lamp seven times last season in 60 games and could move into the 10-15 goal neighborhood this year. He has an absolute bomb from the point. Sean O'Donnell had five goals and 17 points last season, but scoring really isn't his bag. He's known more for his physical game. O'Donnell is always eager to drop the gloves and stand up for his mates. He had ten fights and 144 penalty minutes in his 55 games. Doug Zmolek posted similar numbers, punching his way to 12 fighting majors and 116 penalty minutes in 57 games. The club is hoping that former first-rounder Aki Berg continues to develop into the steady defender he showed signs of becoming last season. He's starting to progress quite nicely. He also is another King with a cool name. It's impossible to say it without sounding like Ernie of Sesame Street fame. Go ahead and try... Aki Berg, Aki Berg, Aki Berg. GOALTENDING: Fiset First Rate The Kings will be solid in net as long as Stephane Fiset stays healthy. The former second-round pick of the Quebec Nordiques (1987) proved that he's more than capable of providing the Kings with excellent starting goaltending during his time between the pipes last season. A variety of injuries kept him from reaching his full potential, tho', and his season was cut short by an abdominal injury. Fiset had surgery over the summer to repair the damage and is already back to 100%. The departure of Dafoe means that Jamie Storr will be Fiset's backup this season. Storr was selected by the Kings in the first round of the 1994 Draft and opened some eyes with three very strong showings at the end of last season. He should be capable of handling the gig. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * Robitaille is back in town. * Stumpel is a good young talent. * Fiset is a legitimate number one netminder. TROUBLE * The club barely has enough offensive talent to fill one line, let alone four. * Blake has a slight injury problem. * The club is still wearing the lame black and silver uniforms and not the pimp smooth purple and yellow threads of days gone by. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: Robitaille and Stumpel should create some excitement, and Fiset will be fun to watch in net, but the Kings are still a mess. Unless they somehow find two more lines of NHL talent, it could be a long season in L.A. At least Dave Taylor has shown he has what it takes to get this team back on track. It'll take a while, tho'. PREDICTION: Sixth in the Pacific and out of the playoffs. ----------------------------------------------------------------- SAN JOSE SHARKS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Darryl Sutter Roster: C - Jeff Friesen*, Bernie Nicholls, Ron Sutter, Dody Wood. LW - Viktor Kozlov, Tony Granato, Steve Guolla, Ville Peltonen*, Nicklas Andersson, Barry Potomski, Stephane Mattaeu. RW - Owen Nolan, Murray Craven, Shawn Burr, Shean Donovan, Andrei Nazarov*, Todd Ewen. D - Bill Houlder, Doug Bodger, Marcus Ragnarsson, Todd Gill, Al Iafrate, Mike Rathje, Marty McSorley. G - Mike Vernon, Kelly Hrudey. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: 07/09 - Signed free agent defenseman Bill Houlder (Tampa Bay) to a four-year contract; signed Andrei Zyuzin, a first-round pick in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft; signed defenseman Richard Brennan. 07/25 - Traded center Darren Turcotte to the St. Louis Blues for forward Stephane Matteau; acquired forward Murray Craven from the Chicago Blackhawks for left wing Petri Varis and Chicago's sixth-round draft pick in 1998. 08/13 - Signed unrestricted free-agent center Jarrod Skalde (Calgary); signed unrestricted free-agent goaltender Jamie Ram (NY Rangers). 08/15 - Signed unrestricted free-agent left wing Barry Potomski and unrestricted free-agent defenseman Peter Allen. 08/18 - Signed goaltender John Nabokov. 08/21 - Announced left wing Ville Peltonen and right wing Jan Caloun have signed individual contracts with European club teams for the 1997-98 season; bought out the contract of forward Ray Whitney, making him an unrestricted free agent; signed center Peter Roed. 08/22 - Traded defenseman Vlastimil Kroupa to the New Jersey Devils for a third-round pick in the 1998 draft. 09/02 - Signed unrestricted free-agent goaltender Kay Whitmore and center Mike Casselman; signed right wing Marko Makinen, a 1995 third-round draft pick. 09/05 - Named Cap Raeder professional scout. 09/10 - Signed free-agent left wing Niklas Andersson, who had been with the New York Islanders. 09/12 - Reassigned center Mike Casselman to Cincinnati of the International Hockey League; goaltender Kay Whitmore to Long Beach of the International Hockey League and center Peter Roed, right wings Marko Makinen and Alexei Yegorov, and defenseman Jason Widmer to Kentucky of the American Hockey League; sent center Cory Cyrenne, left wings Cam Severson and David Thibault, right wing Matt Bradley and goaltender Terry Friesen to their respective junior clubs. 09/13 - 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. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 27-47-8 HOME 14-23-4 ROAD 13-24-4 POINTS: 62 (25th) GOALS SCORED: 211 (26th) GOALS AGAINST: 278 (24th) POWER PLAY: 14.3% (20th) PENALTY KILLING: 83.9% (12th) Pre-season Game Results: 9/14 Los Angeles L 4-3 @San Diego TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief SUTTER GIVES SHARKS BITE Last season was a complete debacle in San Jose. The club finished with the worst record in the Western Conference and missed the playoffs by 19 points. An overall lack of discipline was the main reason for the team's woes. The only thing the Sharks led the league in was dumb penalties. San Jose was the NHL's most penalized team, spending 2,085 minutes in the box. That was a full 245 minutes more than their nearest competitor, the Buffalo Sabres. The difference between the two teams, of course, being that Buffalo's penalties usually had a purpose behind them. Most of the Sharks just came as a result of playing undisciplined hockey. Whenever a team plays like the Sharks did, it's the coach that takes the fall, and rightfully so. If a coach can't control his players, he has no business being the coach. Replacing the fired Al Sims behind the bench will be Darryl Sutter. As is the case with most of the Sutter brothers, Darryl is known for his work ethic, stern manner, and discipline. He hasn't coached since 1994-95 when he was the main man in Chicago, but he should be the perfect leader for the Sharks. Speaking of the Sutter brothers, Darryl will have the pleasure of coaching little brother Ronnie this season in the Shark Tank. Hey, think you can name all the Sutter brothers? Well, let's see... there's Darryl, Ronnie, Brian, Brent... um, Kenny... Larry... Pepe... Donner and Blitzen. OFFENSE: More Veteran Role Players Added The Sharks worked some trading magic over the off-season to add three quality role players to the roster in the forms of Shawn Burr, Murray Craven, and Stephane Matteau. All three are nice additions that give the Sharks some quality checking depth. Craven can play either the wing or center, Burr is one of the best pound-for-pound hitters in the league, and Matteau can still work the boards with the best of 'em. The trio will join the aforementioned Ronnie Sutter to try and clamp down on the defensive end of things. Toughness will be provided by the Russian Nightmare, Andrei Nazarov. Of course, that's assuming that the Sharks can get Nazarov signed to a new contract. At the moment, the two sides are miles apart. With the new role players on board, the Sharks now have to try and find some goal-scoring. The Sharks were dead last in the NHL last season with just 211 goals. In the early stages of training camp, Jeff Friesen was centering a line with Owen Nolan and Craven. Nolan and Friesen were the club's top two goal-scorers a year ago, connecting for 31 and 28, respectively. Nolan could be a 50-goal scorer in this league if he could show up with the same intensity every night and play with a center that can give him the puck. Known more for his speed than anything else, Friesen is going to have to prove that he can be a premier setup man in the NHL. If these two could gel, they could give the Fish an explosive scoring duo. The second line at camp has featured Broadway Bernie Nicholls between Tony Granato and Viktor Kozlov. Nicholls played only 65 games last season, missing time with a kidney problem that could have been more serious than first thought. Luckily, Bernie came through okay and will be good to go this season. For the Sharks to be competitive, Nicholls is going to have to get between 70 and 80 points. Granato became an immediate fan favorite last year after recovering from brain surgery to score 25 goals and 40 points in his first season as a Shark. Now that he has a full season back under his belt, his production could rise a little bit. Kozlov, the final member of the line, has the talent to be a dominating superstar. The 22-year-old Russian stands 6'5" and weighs 225 pounds, yet has all the skills of a small man. Because of his immense stature and marvelous stickhandling ability, Kozlov used to get compared to Mario Lemieux. But eventually he's going to have to deliver on that potential with numbers. He had just 16 goals and 41 points in 78 games last season. However, this will be his third full season in the NHL and that's when a lot of young players make their moves. Kozlov could have a big year. Center Patrick Marleau, the club's most recent number one pick, has been mighty impressive at camp and could make the team. He's a gifted scorer that could bring some added excitement to the festivities. DEFENSE: Hey, It's Not That Bad... The San Jose defense may get ridiculed a lot, but it's actually not that bad. Injuries to Marty McSorley and Al Iafrate pretty much crippled the squad last season. McSorley's presence on the blue line just makes everyone on the team tougher. And Iafrate, well, he's just nuts. You never know what that guy's gonna do. He may be wacky, but Iafrate still has the big slap shot and when he plays the Sharks are competitive. The club was 17-17-4 last season with Iafrate in the lineup. When he was out with a busted toe and a bad back, the club went 10-30-4. Tough to argue his importance to the team in light of those numbers. Iafrate's back has been on the mend all summer. While he is a little behind schedule in his rehabilitation, he hasn't had any major setbacks. If he isn't healthy in time for the season opener, he should be good to go not long after. As boring as the NHL's been recently, the league needs Iafrate around to keep things interesting. If Iafrate and McSorley can stay healthy, they'll join veterans Doug Bodger, Todd Gill, and Bill Houlder along the blue line. Houlder was signed as a free agent from Tampa Bay and has become quite the dependable defender the past few years in Tampa. After finishing at a -18 with Anaheim in 1993-94, Houlder vowed to improve his defensive game, deciding to just start making the safe, simple play in his own zone. The result has been a dramatic turnaround in his plus-minus totals. Last season Houlder led the Lightning Bolts with a +16, well ahead of his next closest teammate who checked in at a +6 (Cory Cross). Houlder should bring a calming influence to the back line. The club also has some youth with Marcus Ragnarsson and Mike Rathje. Ragnarsson appeared to be on his way to stardom after an impressive rookie season in 1995-96. But he had a typical sophomore slump last season, watching his scoring total drop by 22 points. A return to form would help the Sharks dramatically. GOALTENDING: Conn Smythe in Town The Detroit Red Wings rewarded Mike Vernon for ending their 42- year Stanley Cup drought by trading him to San Jose. Gee, thanks. Vernon will bring his Conn Smythe Trophy and two Cup rings to the San Jose goal crease, giving the Sharks a reliable last line of defense. The only catch is that Vernon is 34 years of age and hasn't played more than 32 games in any of the past three seasons. So there might be some question of his ability to go the distance as the number one guy. Providing relief for Vernon will be another aging netminder, Kelly Hrudey. The 36-year-old is still quick on his feet and eager to flop around like a chimp. If these two guys can stay off Medicare long enough to last the full season, goaltending shouldn't be a problem. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * Sutter should get the most out of his troops and correct any attitude problems. * Nolan is a bad man up front. * Experienced veterans make the club extremely solid on defense and in net. TROUBLE * Scoring could still be hard to find. * The state of the defense hinges on the health of Iafrate and McSorley. * Team has a lot of work to do to shed losing image. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: The Sharks are an interesting team. If all the veterans stay healthy and play up to their potential, and Kozlov breaks through, this team could be a force. Of course, this borderline over-the-hill gang could also suffer through an injury-plagued season. One thing is for sure, Sutter will have them ready to play. That alone will make this club competitive. PREDICTION: Fourth place in the Pacific and maybe, just maybe, a return to the playoffs. ----------------------------------------------------------------- VANCOUVER CANUCKS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coach: Tom Renney Roster: C - Mark Messier, Trevor Linden, Mike Sillinger, Lonny Bohonos*. LW - Martin Gelinas, Markus Naslund, Gino Odjick, Donald Brashear, David Roberts. RW - Pavel Bure, Alexander Mogilny*, Brian Noonan, Scott Walker, Larry Courville. D - Jyrki Lumme, Dana Murzyn, Grant Ledyard, Bret Hedican*, Dave Babych, Adrian Aucoin*, Steve Staios*, Mattias Ohlund. G - Kirk McLean, Arturs Irbe. * - Unsigned free agent. Injuries: None. Transactions: XX/XX - Announced the retirement of Mike Ridley. 07/04 - Agreed to terms with free-agent defenseman Dave Babych. 07/14 - Signed free agent defenseman Grant Ledyard (Dallas). 07/15 - Agreed to terms with center Lubomir Vaic. 07/28 - Signed free-agent center Mark Messier (NY Rangers) to a three-year contract. 08/05 - Agreed to terms with free-agent goaltender Arturs Irbe (Dallas). 08/07 - Matched the offer sheet for defenseman Mattias Ohlund, tendered by the Toronto Maple Leafs last Friday. 08/12 - Agreed to terms with free agent left wing Markus Naslund. 08/14 - Agreed to terms with free-agent goaltender Tim Keyes. 08/18 - Agreed to terms with free agent center Mike Sillinger. 09/02 - Promoted Steve Tambellini to senior vice president, hockey operations and Mike Penny to assistant general manager. 09/09 - Re-signed free-agent right wing Scott Walker; re-signed left wing Donald Brashear. Standings: 1996-97 FINAL RESULTS RECORD: OVERALL 35-40-7 HOME 20-17-4 ROAD 15-23-3 POINTS: 77 (15th) GOALS SCORED: 257 (5th) GOALS AGAINST: 273 (22nd) POWER PLAY: 16.8% (9th) PENALTY KILLING: 80.8% (24th) Pre-season Game Results: None. TEAM PREVIEW by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief WHAT A MESS Vancouver GM Pat Quinn scored the free agent coup of the summer by signing Mark Messier away from the New York Rangers. Quinn also finally came to terms with highly-touted Swedish defender Mattias Ohlund. Yet for all his good work, Quinn still has a long road to hoe. Russian superstars Pavel Bure and Alexander Mogilny are both unhappy with their contracts. Mogilny is an unsigned restricted free agent that doesn't seem in any real hurry to report to camp. At the moment he's just chilling on the beach in Malibu with his family. Mogilny's first choice is to remain in Vancouver, but he wouldn't mind playing elsewhere, either. Meanwhile Bure, who is under contract, has reported to camp and even scored a hat trick in his first scrimmage. But the Russian Rocket is still steamed about the Canucks cheating him of $1.8 million during the lockout shortened 1994-95 season. He's putting on a good front and saying that he's excited about the chance to play with Messier, but his agent has said that unless the issue of back pay gets settled, a walk out remains a possibility. Trade rumors involving both stars continue to circulate. Quinn also has ongoing contract disputes with winger Martin Gelinas and defenseman Bret Hedican. The Canucks will have wacky new uniforms this season, but exactly who will be filling them is still very much in doubt. OFFENSE: Could Be Great... If Bure and Mogilny stay, the Canuck offense could be stacked. The top line would likely feature Messier with Bure and Gelinas. That would leave Trevor Linden to center the second line with Mogilny and probably Markus Naslund. Now see right there, that's two solid scoring lines. Vancouver's problem is going to come in the third and fourth lines. The club lost two centers this summer when Mike Ridley retired and Sergei Nemchinov signed with the Islanders, so that leaves Mike Sillinger to anchor the third line and tough guy Scott Walker to center a fourth. If Mogilny does get traded, he will undoubtedly bring back a center in return. Depth on the wing will be provided by veteran checker Brian Noonan, the defensively sound Dave Roberts, second-year man Lonny Bohonos, and tough guy Donald Brashear. There's definitely room for improvement in this area, as well. The Canucks don't have much depth at all, but if Messier, Bure, Mogilny, and Linden are all in the lineup, they won't need much support. DEFENSE: Can Ohlund Live Up to Hype? Ever since he was drafted by Vancouver 13th overall in 1994, Mattias Ohlund has been considered one of the best blueliners in the world outside the NHL. The 21-year-old Swede has great size (6'3", 210) and is a smooth skater with the skill to be a point producer from the line. If he's as good as everyone says he is, he'll step right in and be the Canucks' number one defenseman and a fixture on the power play. Joining Ohlund at the point will be the vastly underrated Jyrki Lumme. The veteran Finn never gets the respect he deserves, but he's one of the best all-around defensemen in the game. He had 11 goals and 35 points in 66 games last season and posted 17 goals the previous year, so he can be a force on the scoresheet as well as in his own zone. After Ohlund and Lumme, the defense gets pretty shabby. The club signed Grant Ledyard from Dallas to add size. Dana Murzyn brings toughness and is the club's most physical defender. Dave Babych is a wily veteran and Dave Babych's mustache continues to keep opposing coaches up at nights trying to figure a way around it. Hedican, if he gets signed, brings an enormous amount of speed to the table and can skate a point on the man-advantage. Adrian Aucoin and Leif Rohlin also have some offensive talent and second-year men Steve Staios and Mark Wotton will be available to provide depth. GOALTENDING: Throw a Dart While the defense is hardly stellar, Vancouver's biggest concern is in net. Kirk McLean has seldom looked like a number one goaltender the past couple years and Corey Hirsch gets abused on a pretty regular basis. The team lost free agent Mike Fountain to Carolina, but did ink Arturs Irbe to a contract. There isn't a dominating goaltender among the lot, but look for McLean to return as the starter and Irbe to emerge as the new backup. The little Latvian is cool like that. Irbe like wall... chomp, chomp, chomp... Irbe like wall. GEE, THAT'S SWELL * Messier's the best leader in sports. * If Bure and Mogilny return, the offense will be dangerous. * Ohlund is finally in Vancouver. TROUBLE * The third and fourth lines are week. * The defense could use another top name. * Goaltending is a major question mark. 1997-98 OUTLOOK: The Canucks have some holes, and they need at least Bure to stay in town, but no matter what happens Messier will make this team a winner. PREDICTION: Second in the Pacific and in the playoffs. ================================================================ ================================================================ Next Issue: October 8, 1997 The season begins. ================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NHL PRE-SEASON STANDINGS September 17, 1997 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- EASTERN CONFERENCE NORTHEAST DIVISION GP W L T PTS GF GA MONTREAL 4 3 0 1 7 16 12 BOSTON 3 2 1 0 4 8 6 CAROLINA 3 2 1 0 4 7 4 OTTAWA 4 1 2 1 3 10 11 PITTSBURGH 3 1 2 0 2 4 7 BUFFALO 1 0 0 1 1 3 3 ATLANTIC DIVISION GP W L T PTS GF GA NY RANGERS 3 2 1 0 4 10 7 NEW JERSEY 1 1 0 0 2 4 1 FLORIDA 2 1 1 0 2 4 5 PHILADELPHIA 2 1 1 0 2 7 6 WASHINGTON 2 1 1 0 2 3 5 TAMPA BAY 2 0 1 1 1 6 7 NY ISLANDERS 2 0 2 0 0 2 9 WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION GP W L T PTS GF GA DALLAS 3 2 0 1 5 14 8 PHOENIX 1 1 0 0 2 7 6 DETROIT 2 1 1 0 2 4 3 TORONTO 3 0 2 1 1 8 10 CHICAGO 1 0 1 0 0 2 5 ST LOUIS 2 0 2 0 0 3 7 PACIFIC DIVISION GP W L T PTS GF GA LOS ANGELES 2 2 0 0 4 7 4 EDMONTON 3 2 1 0 4 12 9 ANAHEIM 2 1 1 0 2 6 4 CALGARY 2 1 1 0 2 10 10 SAN JOSE 2 1 1 0 2 4 4 VANCOUVER 3 1 2 0 2 7 12 COLORADO 2 0 2 0 0 1 4 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NHL PRE-SEASON GAMELOG September 17, 1997 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH FLORIDA 2, BOSTON 1 PHILADELPHIA 3, PITTSBURGH 1 CAROLINA 4, NY ISLANDERS 1 TORONTO 5, MONTREAL 5 OTTAWA 3, BUFFALO 3 DALLAS 5, CHICAGO 2 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH MONTREAL 4, NY RANGERS 2 BOSTON 4, FLORIDA 2 NEW JERSEY 4, WASHINGTON 1 PHOENIX 7, CALGARY 6 (OT) EDMONTON 4, ANAHEIM 1 DALLAS 4, ST LOUIS 1 LOS ANGELES 4, SAN JOSE 3 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH OTTAWA 2, CAROLINA 0 LOS ANGELES 3, COLORADO 1 NY RANGERS 3, TORONTO 2 VANCOUVER 4, EDMONTON 3 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH CALGARY 4, VANCOUVER 3 DETROIT 2, PITTSBURGH 0 DALLAS 5, TAMPA BAY 5 (OT) MONTREAL 2, TORONTO 1 (OT) CAROLINA 3, OTTAWA 1 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH DETROIT 4, PITTSBURGH 1 NY RANGERS 5, NY ISLANDERS 1 WASHINGTON 2, TAMPA BAY 1 MONTREAL 5, PHILADLEPHIA 4 EDMONTON 5, OTTAWA 4 (OT) BOSTON 3, ST LOUIS 2 SAN JOSE 1, COLORADO 0 ANAHEIM 5, VANCOUVER 0 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NHL PRE-SEASON LEAGUE LEADERS September 17, 1997 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- INDIVIDUAL SCORING LEADERS --- PLAYER TEAM GP G A PTS +/- PIM PP SH GW GT S PCTG ------------------------- ---- -- --- --- --- --- --- -- -- -- -- --- ---- MARK RECCHI MON 3 3 2 5 - 6 2 0 0 0 - - JASON ARNOTT EDM 2 2 3 5 - 4 0 0 2 0 - - JON SIM DAL 2 2 3 5 - 0 0 0 1 0 - - DIMITRI KHRISTICH BOS 3 1 4 5 - 0 1 0 0 0 - - JAMIE LANGENBRUNNER DAL 3 3 1 4 - 4 1 0 0 1 - - MARC SAVARD NYR 3 3 1 4 - 0 2 0 0 0 - - ALEXANDER SELIVANOV TAM 1 3 1 4 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - ANDREI KOVALENKO EDM 2 1 3 4 - 2 1 0 0 0 - - JANNE NIINIMAA PHI 2 1 3 4 - 4 0 0 0 0 - - DALLAS DRAKE PHO 1 0 4 4 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - ESPEN KNUTSEN ANA 2 0 4 4 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - SAKU KOIVU MON 2 0 4 4 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - SERGEI ZUBOV DAL 2 0 4 4 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - JOE NIEUWENDYK DAL 2 3 0 3 - 0 1 0 0 0 - - DONALD AUDETTE BUF 1 2 1 3 - 0 1 0 0 1 - - SEBASTIEN BORDELEAU MON 3 2 1 3 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - SHANE DOAN PHO 1 2 1 3 - 0 1 0 0 0 - - MARTIN GELINAS VAN 2 2 1 3 - 2 1 0 0 0 - - BENOIT HOGUE DAL 2 2 1 3 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - RANDY ROBITAILLE BOS 1 2 1 3 - 0 0 1 1 0 - - SANDY MCCARTHY CGY 2 2 1 3 - 2 2 0 0 0 - - TEEMU SELANNE ANA 2 2 1 3 - 2 1 1 0 0 - - TODD MARCHANT EDM 2 2 1 3 - 2 1 1 0 0 - - BRIAN HOLZINGER BUF 1 1 2 3 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - BENOIT BRUNET MON 2 1 2 3 - 2 0 1 0 0 - - NELSON EMERSON CAR 1 1 2 3 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - VLADIMIR MALAKHOV MON 2 1 2 3 - 4 0 0 0 0 - - DMITRI MIRONOV ANA 2 1 2 3 - 8 1 0 0 0 - - DAVE REID DAL 2 1 2 3 - 2 0 1 0 0 - - STEPHANE RICHER MON 2 1 2 3 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - LUC ROBITAILLE LOS 1 1 2 3 - 4 1 0 0 0 - - SERGEI SAMSONOV BOS 1 1 2 3 - 0 1 0 0 0 - - RYAN SMYTH EDM 1 1 2 3 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - DARRYL SYDOR DAL 3 1 2 3 - 2 1 0 1 0 - - SCOTT THORNTON MON 1 1 2 3 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - SERGEI BEREZIN TOR 1 0 3 3 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - MILOSAV GUREN MON 2 0 3 3 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - ROMAN HAMRLIK TAM 1 0 3 3 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - CHAD KILGER PHO 1 0 3 3 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - MICHAEL NYLANDER CGY 1 0 3 3 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - STEPHANE QUINTAL MON 2 0 3 3 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - TIM SWEENEY NYR 1 0 3 3 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - --- INDIVIDUAL LEADERS --- -- GOAL SCORING -- -- ASSISTS -- NAME TEAM GP G NAME TEAM GP A ------------------------- ---- -- --- ------------------------- ---- -- --- ALEXANDER SELIVANOV TAM 1 3 DALLAS DRAKE PHO 1 4 JOE NIEUWENDYK DAL 2 3 ESPEN KNUTSEN ANA 2 4 JAMIE LANGENBRUNNER DAL 3 3 SAKU KOIVU MON 2 4 MARK RECCHI MON 3 3 SERGEI ZUBOV DAL 2 4 MARC SAVARD NYR 3 3 DIMITRI KHRISTICH BOS 3 4 DONALD AUDETTE BUF 1 2 SERGEI BEREZIN TOR 1 3 RADEK BONK OTT 1 2 ROMAN HAMRLIK TAM 1 3 SHANE DOAN PHO 1 2 CHAD KILGER PHO 1 3 JIM DOWD CGY 1 2 MICHAEL NYLANDER CGY 1 3 COLIN FORBES PHI 1 2 TIM SWEENEY NYR 1 3 MIKE GARTNER PHO 1 2 JASON ARNOTT EDM 2 3 JAROME IGINLA CGY 1 2 MILOSAV GUREN MON 2 3 MIKE KEANE NYR 1 2 ANDREI KOVALENKO EDM 2 3 SCOTT LEVINS PHO 1 2 JANNE NIINIMAA PHI 2 3 JOHN MACLEAN NJD 1 2 STEPHANE QUINTAL MON 2 3 RANDY ROBITAILLE BOS 1 2 JON SIM DAL 2 3 RAY WHITNEY EDM 1 2 JASON ARNOTT EDM 2 2 DONALD BRASHEAR VAN 2 2 MARTIN GELINAS VAN 2 2 BENOIT HOGUE DAL 2 2 PATRICK MARLEAU SAN 2 2 SANDY MCCARTHY CGY 2 2 MATHIEU SCHNEIDER TOR 2 2 TEEMU SELANNE ANA 2 2 JON SIM DAL 2 2 TODD MARCHANT EDM 2 2 JASON WARD MON 2 2 RICHARD ZEDNIK WAS 2 2 SEBASTIEN BORDELEAU MON 3 2 -- POWER PLAY GOALS -- -- SHORT HANDED GOALS -- NAME TEAM GP PP NAME TEAM GP SH ------------------------- ---- -- --- ------------------------- ---- -- --- RAY WHITNEY EDM 1 2 BRYAN BERARD NYI 1 1 SANDY MCCARTHY CGY 2 2 SAMI KAPANEN CAR 1 1 MATHIEU SCHNEIDER TOR 2 2 SHAWN MCCOSH PHI 1 1 MARK RECCHI MON 3 2 RANDY ROBITAILLE BOS 1 1 MARC SAVARD NYR 3 2 BENOIT BRUNET MON 2 1 CHRIS ALLEN FLA 1 1 DAVE REID DAL 2 1 TONY AMONTE CHI 1 1 TEEMU SELANNE ANA 2 1 DONALD AUDETTE BUF 1 1 TODD MARCHANT EDM 2 1 SCOTT BARNEY LOS 1 1 RADEK BONK OTT 1 1 TERRY CARKNER FLA 1 1 DON SWEENEY BOS 1 1 SHANE DOAN PHO 1 1 GARY SUTER CHI 1 1 PAUL HEALEY PHI 1 1 OLLI JOKINEN LOS 1 1 MIKE KNUBLE DET 1 1 STEVE KONOWALCHUK WAS 1 1 VIKTOR KOZLOV SAN 1 1 JUHA LIND DAL 1 1 JOHN MACLEAN NJD 1 1 GLEN MURRAY LOS 1 1 ROMAN OKSIUTA PIT 1 1 CHRIS PHILLIPS OTT 1 1 JASON PODOLLAN TOR 1 1 MIKAEL RENBERG TAM 1 1 LUC ROBITAILLE LOS 1 1 SERGE AUBIN PIT 1 1 SERGEI SAMSONOV BOS 1 1 DARREN VAN IMPE ANA 1 1 GLEN WESLEY CAR 1 1 ZARLEY ZALAPSKI CGY 1 1 PETER ZEZEL NJD 1 1 SEAN BROWN EDM 2 1 DONALD BRASHEAR VAN 2 1 ALEXANDRE DAIGLE OTT 2 1 MARTIN GELINAS VAN 2 1 KEVIN BROWN CAR 2 1 ANDREI KOVALENKO EDM 2 1 DAYMOND LANGKOW TAM 2 1 STEVE LEACH CAR 2 1 CAMERON MANN BOS 2 1 DMITRI MIRONOV ANA 2 1 JOE NIEUWENDYK DAL 2 1 TEEMU SELANNE ANA 2 1 TODD MARCHANT EDM 2 1 DAINIUS ZUBRUS PHI 2 1 SERGEY GUSEV DAL 3 1 DIMITRI KHRISTICH BOS 3 1 JAMIE LANGENBRUNNER DAL 3 1 DARRYL SYDOR DAL 3 1 DAVID WILKIE MON 3 1 -- GAME WINNING GOALS -- -- OVERTIME GOALS -- NAME TEAM GP GW NAME TEAM GP GOT ------------------------- ---- -- --- ------------------------- ---- -- --- JASON ARNOTT EDM 2 2 MIKE GARTNER PHO 1 1 BATES BATTAGLIA CAR 1 1 ERIC HOUDE MON 1 1 CRAIG JOHNSON LOS 1 1 JASON ARNOTT EDM 2 1 MIKE GARTNER PHO 1 1 PAUL HEALEY PHI 1 1 ERIC HOUDE MON 1 1 ALEXANDRE JACQUES DET 1 1 OLLI JOKINEN LOS 1 1 ALEXANDER KARPOVTSEV NYR 1 1 MIKE KEANE NYR 1 1 STEVE KONOWALCHUK WAS 1 1 JOHN MACLEAN NJD 1 1 ROMAN OKSIUTA PIT 1 1 RANDY ROBITAILLE BOS 1 1 TOMAS SANDSTROM ANA 1 1 MAGNUS ARVEDSON OTT 2 1 HAL GILL BOS 2 1 STEVE LEACH CAR 2 1 PATRICK MARLEAU SAN 2 1 DANA MURZYN VAN 2 1 DAVID NEMIROVSKY FLA 2 1 CHRIS O'SULLIVAN CGY 2 1 JON SIM DAL 2 1 MARTIN RUCINSKY MON 3 1 DARRYL SYDOR DAL 3 1 DAVID WILKIE MON 3 1 -- GAME TYING GOALS -- NAME TEAM GP GT ------------------------- ---- -- --- DONALD AUDETTE BUF 1 1 MATHIEU SCHNEIDER TOR 2 1 JAMIE LANGENBRUNNER DAL 3 1 -- FIRST GOALS -- NAME TEAM GP FG ------------------------- ---- -- --- SCOTT BARNEY LOS 1 1 KELLY CHASE TOR 1 1 MATT COOKE VAN 1 1 DON SWEENEY BOS 1 1 JIM DOWD CGY 1 1 JOE HULBIG EDM 1 1 SAMI KAPANEN CAR 1 1 SCOTT LEVINS PHO 1 1 JOHN MACLEAN NJD 1 1 SANDY MOGER LOS 1 1 ROMAN OKSIUTA PIT 1 1 SERGE AUBIN PIT 1 1 SERGEI SAMSONOV BOS 1 1 TOMAS SANDSTROM ANA 1 1 ALEXANDER SELIVANOV TAM 1 1 PIERRE SEVIGNY NYR 1 1 HARRY YORK STL 1 1 MAGNUS ARVEDSON OTT 2 1 TIE DOMI TOR 2 1 KEVIN BROWN CAR 2 1 PATRICK MARLEAU SAN 2 1 JOE NIEUWENDYK DAL 2 1 ED OLCZYK PIT 2 1 TODD MARCHANT EDM 2 1 JASON WARD MON 2 1 RICHARD ZEDNIK WAS 2 1 JAMIE LANGENBRUNNER DAL 3 1 MARK RECCHI MON 3 1 MARC SAVARD NYR 3 1 JASON YORK OTT 3 1 --- GOALTENDING LEADERS --- -- GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE -- (MIN 1 GP) GOALTENDER TEAM GP GA AVG ------------------------- ---- -- --- ----- SHAWN MCEACHERN OTT 3 0 0.00 BRENT JOHNSON STL 1 0 0.00 ED BELFOUR DAL 1 0 0.00 CRAIG BILLINGTON COL 1 0 0.00 OLAF KOLZIG WAS 1 0 0.00 NEIL LITTLE PHI 1 0 0.00 STEVE PASSMORE EDM 1 0 0.00 JAMIE RAM SAN 1 0 0.00 DWAYNE ROLOSON CGY 1 0 0.00 STEVE SHIELDS BUF 1 0 0.00 MIKHAIL SHTALENKOV ANA 1 0 0.00 MIKE VERNON SAN 1 0 0.00 JIMMY WAITE CHI 1 0 0.00 KEVIN WEEKES FLA 1 0 0.00 JORDAN WILLIS DAL 1 0 0.00 -- WINS -- GOALTENDER TEAM GP W L T ------------------------- ---- --- -- -- -- JOCELYN THIBAULT MON 3 2 0 0 BOB ESSENSA EDM 2 2 0 0 JASON MUZZATTI NYR 2 1 0 0 ROBB STAUBER NYR 2 1 0 0 ROMAN TUREK DAL 2 1 0 0 ED BELFOUR DAL 1 1 0 0 JIM CAREY BOS 1 1 0 0 SYLVAIN DAIGLE PHO 1 1 0 0 MIKE DUNHAM NJD 1 1 0 0 STEPHANE FISET LOS 1 1 0 0 PAT JABLONSKI CAR 1 1 0 0 OLAF KOLZIG WAS 1 1 0 0 NEIL LITTLE PHI 1 1 0 0 CHRIS OSGOOD DET 1 1 0 0 DWAYNE ROLOSON CGY 1 1 0 0 SEAN BURKE CAR 1 1 0 0 JAMIE STORR LOS 1 1 0 0 ROB TALLAS BOS 1 1 0 0 MIKE VERNON SAN 1 1 0 0 TOMAS VOKOUN MON 1 1 0 0 KEVIN WEEKES FLA 1 1 0 0 GUY HEBERT ANA 2 1 1 0 COREY HIRSCH VAN 2 1 1 0 JANI HURME OTT 2 1 1 0 KEN WREGGET PIT 2 1 1 0 -- SAVE PERCENTAGE -- GOALTENDER TEAM GP GA SA SPCTG ------------------------- ---- --- --- ---- ----- JAMIE RAM SAN 1 0 18 1.000 ED BELFOUR DAL 1 0 17 1.000 OLAF KOLZIG WAS 1 0 13 1.000 STEVE PASSMORE EDM 1 0 13 1.000 STEVE SHIELDS BUF 1 0 12 1.000 SHAWN MCEACHERN OTT 3 0 11 1.000 NEIL LITTLE PHI 1 0 11 1.000 DWAYNE ROLOSON CGY 1 0 10 1.000 JIMMY WAITE CHI 1 0 10 1.000 MIKE VERNON SAN 1 0 9 1.000 KEVIN WEEKES FLA 1 0 7 1.000 BRENT JOHNSON STL 1 0 6 1.000 CRAIG BILLINGTON COL 1 0 6 1.000 MIKHAIL SHTALENKOV ANA 1 0 6 1.000 JORDAN WILLIS DAL 1 0 3 1.000 -- SHUTOUTS -- GOALTENDER TEAM GP SO W L T ------------------------- ---- --- -- -- -- -- GUY HEBERT ANA 2 1 1 1 0 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NHL PRE-SEASON GOALTENDING STATS September 17, 1997 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- RECORD OF GOALTENDERS --- (GPI) GAMES PLAYED IN (MINS) MINUTES PLAYED (AVG) 60 MINUTE AVERAGE (EN) EMPTY-NET GOALS AGAINST (SO) SHUTOUTS (GA) GOALS AGAINST (SA) SHOTS AGAINST (SPCTG) SAVE PERCENTAGE GOALTENDER GPI MINS AVG W L T EN SO GA SA SPCTG G A PIM --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MIKE DUNHAM 1 60 1.00 1 0 0 0 1 16 .938 0 0 0 NJD TOTALS 1 60 1.00 1 0 0 0 0 1 16 .938 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- SEAN BURKE 1 60 1.00 1 0 0 0 1 18 .944 0 0 0 PAT JABLONSKI 1 60 1.00 1 0 0 0 1 28 .964 0 0 0 TREVOR KIDD 1 60 2.00 0 1 0 0 2 34 .941 0 0 0 CAR TOTALS 3 180 1.33 2 1 0 0 0 4 80 .950 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHRIS OSGOOD 1 40 1.50 1 0 0 0 1 22 .955 0 0 0 KEVIN HODSON 2 60 2.00 0 1 0 0 2 9 .778 0 0 0 DET TOTALS 2 120 1.50 1 1 0 0 0 3 42 .929 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MIKHAIL SHTALENKOV 1 29 0.00 0 0 0 0 0 6 1.000 0 0 0 GUY HEBERT 2 90 2.00 1 1 0 1 3 34 .912 0 0 0 ANA TOTALS 2 120 2.00 1 1 0 1 1 4 41 .902 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- JAMIE RAM 1 31 0.00 0 0 0 0 0 18 1.000 0 0 0 MIKE VERNON 1 29 0.00 1 0 0 0 0 9 1.000 0 0 0 JOHN NABOKOV 1 20 3.00 0 0 0 0 1 5 .800 0 0 0 KELLY HRUDEY 1 40 4.50 0 1 0 0 3 16 .813 0 0 0 SAN TOTALS 2 120 2.00 1 1 0 0 1 4 48 .917 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- JAMIE STORR 1 60 1.00 1 0 0 0 1 27 .963 0 0 0 STEPHANE FISET 1 60 3.00 1 0 0 0 3 47 .936 0 0 0 LOS TOTALS 2 120 2.00 2 0 0 0 0 4 74 .946 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- CRAIG BILLINGTON 1 30 0.00 0 0 0 0 0 6 1.000 0 0 0 MARC DENIS 1 29 2.07 0 1 0 0 1 14 .929 0 0 0 PATRICK ROY 1 29 2.07 0 0 0 0 1 13 .923 0 0 0 RANDY PETRUK 1 31 3.87 0 1 0 0 2 18 .889 0 0 0 COL TOTALS 2 120 2.00 0 2 0 0 0 4 51 .922 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ROB TALLAS 1 60 2.00 1 0 0 0 2 24 .917 0 0 0 BYRON DAFOE 1 60 2.00 0 1 0 0 2 26 .923 0 0 0 JIM CAREY 1 60 2.00 1 0 0 0 2 27 .926 0 0 0 BOS TOTALS 3 180 2.00 2 1 0 0 0 6 77 .922 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- PETER SKUCRA 3 69 0.87 0 0 0 0 1 29 .966 0 0 0 KEN WREGGET 2 61 1.97 1 1 0 0 2 32 .938 0 0 0 CRAIG HILLER 1 50 4.80 0 1 0 0 4 18 .778 0 0 0 PIT TOTALS 3 180 2.33 1 2 0 0 1 7 79 .911 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ROBB STAUBER 2 59 1.02 1 0 0 0 1 18 .944 0 0 0 JASON MUZZATTI 2 61 1.97 1 0 0 0 2 30 .933 0 0 0 MIKE RICHTER 1 33 3.64 0 0 0 0 2 16 .875 0 0 0 DAN CLOUTIER 1 27 4.44 0 1 0 0 2 15 .867 0 0 0 NYR TOTALS 3 180 2.33 2 1 0 0 0 7 79 .911 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- OLAF KOLZIG 1 40 0.00 1 0 0 0 0 13 1.000 0 0 0 MIKE ONEILL 1 20 3.00 0 0 0 0 1 10 .900 0 0 0 MARTIN BROCHU 1 20 3.00 0 0 0 0 1 18 .944 0 0 0 BILL RANFORD 1 40 4.50 0 1 0 0 3 23 .870 0 0 0 WAS TOTALS 2 120 2.50 1 1 0 0 0 5 64 .922 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- KEVIN WEEKES 1 24 0.00 1 0 0 0 0 7 1.000 0 0 2 MARK FITZPATRICK 1 36 1.67 0 0 0 0 1 10 .900 0 0 0 JOHN VANBIESBROUCK 1 31 3.87 0 0 0 0 2 16 .875 0 0 0 TODD MACDONALD 1 29 4.14 0 1 0 0 2 14 .857 0 0 0 FLA TOTALS 2 120 2.50 1 1 0 0 0 5 47 .894 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- JORDAN WILLIS 1 20 0.00 0 0 0 0 0 3 1.000 0 0 0 ED BELFOUR 1 40 0.00 1 0 0 0 0 17 1.000 0 0 0 MANNY FERNANDEZ 2 75 2.40 0 0 1 0 3 35 .914 0 0 2 ROMAN TUREK 2 50 6.00 1 0 0 0 5 20 .750 0 0 0 DAL TOTALS 3 185 2.59 2 0 1 0 0 8 75 .893 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- SHAWN MCEACHERN 3 19 0.00 0 0 0 0 0 11 1.000 0 2 0 FREDERIC CASSIVI 2 60 1.00 0 0 0 0 1 21 .952 0 0 0 JANI HURME 2 59 1.02 1 1 0 0 1 30 .967 0 0 0 RON TUGNUTT 2 65 3.69 0 0 0 0 4 15 .733 0 0 0 DAMIAN RHODES 2 62 3.87 0 1 1 0 4 21 .810 0 0 0 OTT TOTALS 4 248 2.66 1 2 1 1 1 11 88 .875 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- STEVE SHIELDS 1 35 0.00 0 0 1 0 0 12 1.000 0 0 0 ANDREI TREFILOV 1 30 6.00 0 0 0 0 3 28 .893 0 0 0 BUF TOTALS 1 65 2.77 0 0 1 0 0 3 40 .925 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ANDY MOOG 1 40 1.50 0 0 0 0 1 22 .955 0 0 0 JOSE THEODORE 1 30 2.00 0 0 0 0 1 10 .900 0 0 0 TOMAS VOKOUN 1 30 2.00 1 0 0 0 1 10 .900 0 0 0 JOCELYN THIBAULT 3 114 3.16 2 0 0 0 6 54 .889 0 0 0 MATHIEU GARON 1 35 5.14 0 0 1 0 3 16 .813 0 0 0 MON TOTALS 4 249 2.89 3 0 1 0 0 12 112 .893 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- STEVE PASSMORE 1 30 0.00 0 0 0 0 0 13 1.000 0 0 0 BOB ESSENSA 2 92 3.26 2 0 0 0 5 50 .900 0 0 0 CURTIS JOSEPH 1 30 4.00 0 1 0 0 2 9 .778 0 0 0 JF LABBE 1 30 4.00 0 0 0 0 2 18 .889 0 0 0 EDM TOTALS 3 183 2.95 2 1 0 0 0 9 90 .900 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEIL LITTLE 1 30 0.00 1 0 0 0 0 11 1.000 0 0 0 RON HEXTALL 1 29 2.07 0 0 0 0 1 13 .923 0 0 0 BRIAN BOUCHER 1 29 2.07 0 1 0 0 1 20 .950 0 0 0 GARTH SNOW 1 30 8.00 0 0 0 0 4 10 .600 0 0 0 PHI TOTALS 2 120 3.00 1 1 0 0 0 6 54 .889 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MARCEL COUSINEAU 1 34 1.76 0 1 0 0 1 14 .929 0 0 0 GLENN HEALY 1 59 3.05 0 1 0 0 3 30 .900 0 0 0 FELIX POTVIN 2 95 3.79 0 0 1 0 6 45 .867 0 0 0 TOR TOTALS 3 189 3.17 0 2 1 0 0 10 89 .888 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- DAREN PUPPA 1 60 2.00 0 1 0 0 2 27 .926 0 0 0 DEREK WILKINSON 1 33 3.64 0 0 1 0 2 18 .889 0 0 0 ZAC BIERK 1 32 5.63 0 0 0 0 3 13 .769 0 0 0 TAM TOTALS 2 125 3.36 0 1 1 0 0 7 58 .879 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- BRENT JOHNSON 1 28 0.00 0 0 0 0 0 6 1.000 0 0 0 JAMIE MCLENNAN 1 29 2.07 0 0 0 0 1 11 .909 0 0 0 GRANT FUHR 1 30 4.00 0 1 0 0 2 14 .857 0 0 0 RICH PARENT 1 31 5.81 0 1 0 0 3 10 .700 0 0 0 STL TOTALS 2 120 3.50 0 2 0 1 0 7 42 .833 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- COREY HIRSCH 2 60 2.00 1 1 0 0 2 24 .917 0 0 0 KIRK MCLEAN 1 30 4.00 0 1 0 0 2 22 .909 0 0 0 ARTURS IRBE 2 59 5.08 0 0 0 0 5 26 .808 0 0 0 TIM KEYES 1 3 60.00 0 0 0 0 3 15 .800 0 0 0 VAN TOTALS 3 180 4.00 1 2 0 0 0 12 87 .862 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ERIC FICHAUD 1 30 2.00 0 0 0 0 1 16 .938 0 0 0 TOMMY SALO 1 30 4.00 0 0 0 0 2 6 .667 0 0 0 WADE FLAHERTY 1 30 6.00 0 1 0 0 3 17 .824 0 0 0 ROBERTO LUONGO 1 30 6.00 0 1 0 0 3 16 .813 0 0 0 NYI TOTALS 2 120 4.50 0 2 0 0 0 9 55 .836 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- DWAYNE ROLOSON 1 29 0.00 1 0 0 0 0 10 1.000 0 0 0 RICK TABARACCI 1 40 4.50 0 0 0 0 3 12 .750 0 0 0 JS GIGUERE 1 31 5.81 0 0 0 0 3 16 .813 0 0 0 TYLER MOSS 1 25 9.60 0 1 0 0 4 17 .765 0 0 0 CGY TOTALS 2 125 4.80 1 1 0 0 0 10 55 .818 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- JIMMY WAITE 1 29 0.00 0 0 0 0 0 10 1.000 0 0 0 CHRIS TERRERI 1 30 8.00 0 1 0 0 4 15 .733 0 0 0 CHI TOTALS 1 60 5.00 0 1 0 1 0 5 26 .808 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYLVAIN DAIGLE 1 24 2.50 1 0 0 0 1 7 .857 0 0 0 SCOTT LANGKOW 1 40 7.50 0 0 0 0 5 21 .762 0 0 0 PHO TOTALS 1 65 5.54 1 0 0 0 0 6 28 .786 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NHL PRE-SEASON PLAYER STATS September 17, 1997 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLAYER TEAM GP G A PTS +/- PIM PP SH GW GT S PCTG TEEMU SELANNE ANA 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0.0 J.J. DAIGNEAULT ANA 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 ESPEN KNUTSEN ANA 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 ANTTI AALTO ANA 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 GUY HEBERT ANA 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 MIKE LECLERC ANA 1 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JASON MARSHALL ANA 1 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 DMITRI MIRONOV ANA 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 MARC MORO ANA 1 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 MIKHAIL SHTALENKOV ANA 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JEREMY STEVENSON ANA 1 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 DON SWEENEY BOS 1 1 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0.0 HAL GILL BOS 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 DIMITRI KHRISTICH BOS 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 PER-JOHAN AXELSSON BOS 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 KIM BAUMGARTNER BOS 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 BYRON DAFOE BOS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 CAMERON MANN BOS 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JEFF ODGERS BOS 1 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 MATTIAS TIMANDER BOS 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 LANDON WILSON BOS 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 DONALD AUDETTE BUF 1 2 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0.0 BRIAN HOLZINGER BUF 1 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 DIXON WARD BUF 1 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 RICHARD SMEHLIK BUF 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 MATTHEW BARNABY BUF 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 ROB RAY BUF 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 STEVE SHIELDS BUF 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 ALEXEI TEZIKOV BUF 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 ANDREI TREFILOV BUF 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 SANDY MCCARTHY CGY 1 2 1 3 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0.0 MICHAEL NYLANDER CGY 1 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JAROME IGINLA CGY 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 ZARLEY ZALAPSKI CGY 1 1 1 2 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 0.0 RONNIE STERN CGY 1 1 0 1 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JAMIE ALLISON CGY 1 0 1 1 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 ERIC ANDERSSON CGY 1 0 1 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JOEL BOUCHARD CGY 1 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 CHRIS O'SULLIVAN CGY 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 CORY STILLMAN CGY 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 ED WARD CGY 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 SAMI HELENIUS CGY 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 TYLER MOSS CGY 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 TODD SIMPSON CGY 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 RICK TABARACCI CGY 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JEFF O'NEILL CAR 1 1 1 2 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - GLEN WESLEY CAR 1 1 1 2 - 0 1 0 0 0 - - GEOFF SANDERSON CAR 1 0 2 2 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - BATES BATTAGLIA CAR 1 1 0 1 - 0 0 0 1 0 - - SAMI KAPANEN CAR 1 1 0 1 - 0 0 1 0 0 - - STEVE CHIASSON CAR 1 0 1 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - KEVIN BROWN CAR 1 0 1 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - ROBERT KRON CAR 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - CHRIS MURRAY CAR 1 0 1 1 - 19 0 0 0 0 - - STU GRIMSON CAR 1 0 0 0 - 41 0 0 0 0 - - JEFF DANIELS CAR 1 0 0 0 - 5 0 0 0 0 - - TREVOR KIDD CAR 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - STEVE LEACH CAR 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - TROY MALLETTE CAR 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - NOLAN PRATT CAR 2 0 0 0 - 17 0 0 0 0 - - STEVEN RICE CAR 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - SEAN BURKE CAR 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - STEVE HALKO CAR 1 0 0 0 - 22 0 0 0 0 - - GARY SUTER CHI 1 1 1 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0.0 TONY AMONTE CHI 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0.0 KEITH CARNEY CHI 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 TUOMAS GRONMAN CHI 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 CRAIG MILLS CHI 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 ALAEIN NASREDDINE CHI 1 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 BOB PROBERT CHI 1 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 CAM RUSSELL CHI 1 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 CHRIS TERRERI CHI 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JIMMY WAITE CHI 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 YURI BABENKO COL 1 1 0 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - BRIAN WILLSIE COL 1 0 1 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - WADE BELAK COL 1 0 1 1 - 25 0 0 0 0 - - KEVIN GRIMES COL 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - UWE KRUPP COL 1 0 0 0 - 4 0 0 0 0 - - RANDY PETRUK COL 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - PATRICK ROY COL 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - YVES SARAULT COL 1 0 0 0 - 9 0 0 0 0 - - BRENT SEVERYN COL 1 0 0 0 - 17 0 0 0 0 - - JON SIM DAL 1 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 JAMIE LANGENBRUNNER DAL 1 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 SERGEY GUSEV DAL 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0.0 BENOIT HOGUE DAL 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JOE NIEUWENDYK DAL 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0.0 DARRYL SYDOR DAL 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 PAT VERBEEK DAL 1 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 PETR BUZEK DAL 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 PATRICK COTE DAL 1 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 TODD HARVEY DAL 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 RICHARD JACKMAN DAL 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 ROMAN TUREK DAL 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JORDAN WILLIS DAL 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 ANDREI KOVALENKO EDM 2 1 3 4 - 2 1 0 0 0 - - RAY WHITNEY EDM 1 2 0 2 - 0 2 0 0 0 - - JASON ARNOTT EDM 1 1 1 2 - 0 0 0 1 0 - - MIKE WATT EDM 1 0 2 2 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - DOUG WEIGHT EDM 2 0 2 2 - 6 0 0 0 0 - - JOE HULBIG EDM 1 1 0 1 - 5 0 0 0 0 - - MATS LINDGREN EDM 2 1 0 1 - 17 0 0 0 0 - - TODD MARCHANT EDM 1 1 0 1 - 0 0 1 0 0 - - STEVE KELLY EDM 1 0 1 1 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - BRYAN MARCHMENT EDM 1 0 0 0 - 4 0 0 0 0 - - SEAN BROWN EDM 1 0 0 0 - 9 0 0 0 0 - - KELLY BUCHBERGER EDM 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - GREG DEVRIES EDM 1 0 0 0 - 10 0 0 0 0 - - BOB ESSENSA EDM 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - SCOTT FERGUSON EDM 1 0 0 0 - 14 0 0 0 0 - - BILL HUARD EDM 1 0 0 0 - 15 0 0 0 0 - - CURTIS JOSEPH EDM 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - JF LABBE EDM 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - GEORGES LARAQUE EDM 1 0 0 0 - 7 0 0 0 0 - - CRAIG MILLAR EDM 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - BORIS MIRONOV EDM 1 0 0 0 - 4 0 0 0 0 - - BRANTT MYHRES EDM 1 0 0 0 - 27 0 0 0 0 - - STEVE PASSMORE EDM 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - SERGI YERKOVICH EDM 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - CHRIS ALLEN FLA 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0.0 DAVID NEMIROVSKY FLA 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 GORD MURPHY FLA 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 IVAN NOVASALTSEV FLA 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 TOM FITZGERALD FLA 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 STEVE WASHBURN FLA 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JOHN JAKOPIN FLA 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 ED JOVANOVSKI FLA 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 PAUL LAUS FLA 1 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 MARK FITZPATRICK FLA 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 MIKE OGRADY FLA 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 KEVIN WEEKES FLA 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 LUC ROBITAILLE LOS 1 1 2 3 - 4 1 0 0 0 - - GLEN MURRAY LOS 1 1 1 2 - 2 1 0 0 0 - - PHILIPPE BOUCHER LOS 1 0 2 2 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - GARY GALLEY LOS 1 0 2 2 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - SCOTT BARNEY LOS 1 1 0 1 - 2 1 0 0 0 - - CRAIG JOHNSON LOS 1 1 0 1 - 2 0 0 1 0 - - OLLI JOKINEN LOS 1 1 0 1 - 0 1 0 1 0 - - DONALD MACLEAN LOS 1 1 0 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - SANDY MOGER LOS 1 1 0 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - ERIC BELANGER LOS 1 0 1 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - PETER HOGAN LOS 1 0 1 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - SEAN O'DONNELL LOS 2 0 1 1 - 26 0 0 0 0 - - YANIC PERREAULT LOS 1 0 1 1 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - PAVEL ROSA LOS 1 0 1 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - JOZEF STUMPEL LOS 1 0 1 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - MATT ZULTEK LOS 1 0 1 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - AKI BERG LOS 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - ROB BLAKE LOS 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - STEPHANE FISET LOS 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - JAN VOPAT LOS 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - MATT JOHNSON LOS 1 0 0 0 - 7 0 0 0 0 - - STEVE MCKENNA LOS 1 0 0 0 - 12 0 0 0 0 - - MATTIAS NORSTROM LOS 1 0 0 0 - 9 0 0 0 0 - - JAMIE STORR LOS 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - SCOTT THORNTON MON 1 1 2 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 SEBASTIEN BORDELEAU MON 2 2 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 STEPHANE RICHER MON 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 MARTIN RUCINSKY MON 2 1 1 2 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 BENOIT BRUNET MON 1 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 MILOSAV GUREN MON 1 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 SAKU KOIVU MON 1 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 VLADIMIR MALAKHOV MON 1 0 2 2 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 STEPHANE QUINTAL MON 1 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 MARK RECCHI MON 1 1 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0.0 CRAIG RIVET MON 1 1 0 1 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 VALERI BURE MON 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JASON WARD MON 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 FRANCOIS GROLEAU MON 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 DAVID LING MON 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 DAVID WILKIE MON 2 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 BRETT CLARK MON 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 MATHIEU GARON MON 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JOSE THEODORE MON 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 TERRY RYAN MON 1 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 SHAYNE CORSON MON 1 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 TURNER STEVENSON MON 1 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JOCELYN THIBAULT MON 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 TOMAS VOKOUN MON 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JOHN MACLEAN NJD 1 2 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0.0 RANDY MCKAY NJD 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 PETER ZEZEL NJD 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0.0 KEN DANEYKO NJD 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 BOBBY HOLIK NJD 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 SASHA LAKOVIC NJD 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 SCOTT NIEDERMAYER NJD 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 PASCAL RHEAUME NJD 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 SHELDON SOURAY NJD 1 0 1 1 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 KEN SUTTON NJD 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 VALERI ZELEPUKIN NJD 1 0 1 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 MIKE DUNHAM NJD 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 REID SIMPSON NJD 1 0 0 0 0 25 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 BRYAN BERARD NYI 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.0 KEN BELANGER NYI 1 0 0 0 0 25 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 ZDENO CHARA NYI 1 0 0 0 0 33 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 ERIC FICHAUD NYI 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 WADE FLAHERTY NYI 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JASON HOLLAND NYI 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 DOUG HOUDA NYI 1 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JEFF LIBBY NYI 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 WARREN LUHNING NYI 1 0 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 TODD BERTUZZI NYI 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 MICK VUKOTA NYI 1 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JEFF ZEHR NYI 1 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 MARC SAVARD NYR 2 3 0 3 - 0 2 0 0 0 - - MIKE KEANE NYR 1 2 0 2 - 0 0 0 1 0 - - ERIC CAIRNS NYR 2 0 1 1 - 5 0 0 0 0 - - JEFF FINLEY NYR 1 0 1 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - ALEXEI KOVALEV NYR 1 0 1 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - BRIAN LEETCH NYR 1 0 1 1 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - JOHAN LINDBORN NYR 1 0 1 1 - 4 0 0 0 0 - - RONNIE SUNDIN NYR 1 0 1 1 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - NIKLAS SUNDSTROM NYR 1 0 1 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - SYLVAIN BLOUIN NYR 1 0 0 0 - 7 0 0 0 0 - - CHRIS FERRARO NYR 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - DAN CLOUTIER NYR 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - MIKE EASTWOOD NYR 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - DARREN LANGDON NYR 1 0 0 0 - 8 0 0 0 0 - - DOUG LIDSTER NYR 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - JASON MUZZATTI NYR 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - MIKE PELUSO NYR 1 0 0 0 - 7 0 0 0 0 - - MIKE RICHTER NYR 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - BRIAN SKRUDLAND NYR 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - ADAM SMITH NYR 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - ROBB STAUBER NYR 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - KEVIN STEVENS NYR 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - RYAN VANDENBUSSCHE NYR 1 0 0 0 - 5 0 0 0 0 - - CHRIS PHILLIPS OTT 1 1 1 2 - 0 1 0 0 0 - - MAGNUS ARVEDSON OTT 2 1 0 1 - 2 0 0 1 0 - - RANDY CUNNEYWORTH OTT 1 1 0 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - DENNY LAMBERT OTT 1 1 0 1 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - JASON YORK OTT 2 1 0 1 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - CLAYTON BEDDOES OTT 2 0 1 1 - 6 0 0 0 0 - - ALEXANDRE DAIGLE OTT 1 0 1 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - MARIAN HOSSA OTT 1 0 1 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - SHAWN MCEACHERN OTT 1 0 1 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - LANCE PITLICK OTT 1 0 1 1 - 4 0 0 0 0 - - ALEXEI YASHIN OTT 1 0 1 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - DEREK ARMSTRONG OTT 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - RADIM BICANEK OTT 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - FREDERIC CASSIVI OTT 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - IVAN CIERNICK OTT 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - JANI HURME OTT 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - MARC LABELLE OTT 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - WADE REDDEN OTT 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - DAMIAN RHODES OTT 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - RON TUGNUTT OTT 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - DENNIS VIAL OTT 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - JASON ZENT OTT 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - SHAWN MCCOSH PHI 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.0 JANNE NIINIMAA PHI 1 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 PAUL HEALEY PHI 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0.0 PAT FALLOON PHI 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 VACLAV PROSPAL PHI 1 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 SCOTT DANIELS PHI 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 CRAIG DARBY PHI 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 CHRIS GRATTON PHI 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 RON HEXTALL PHI 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 CHRIS JOSEPH PHI 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 NEIL LITTLE PHI 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 DAVID MACISSAC PHI 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 LUKE RICHARDSON PHI 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 DAINIUS ZUBRUS PHI 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 DALLAS DRAKE PHO 1 0 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 SHANE DOAN PHO 1 2 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0.0 CHAD KILGER PHO 1 0 3 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 MIKE GARTNER PHO 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.0 SCOTT LEVINS PHO 1 2 0 2 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 MURRAY BARON PHO 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 GERALD DIDUCK PHO 1 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 CRAIG JANNEY PHO 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JAY MORE PHO 1 0 1 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JEFF CHRISTIAN PHO 1 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 SYLVAIN DAIGLE PHO 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JASON DOIG PHO 1 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 DAN FOCHT PHO 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 SCOTT LANGKOW PHO 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JOHN SLANEY PHO 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 ED OLCZYK PIT 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 STU BARNES PIT 1 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 DARIUS KASPARAITIS PIT 1 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 ANDREAS JOHANSSON PIT 1 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 ROB BROWN PIT 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 ANDREW FERENCE PIT 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 FRANCOIS LEROUX PIT 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 STEFAN BERGKVIST PIT 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 PETER SKUCRA PIT 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JIRI SLEGR PIT 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 KEN WREGGET PIT 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 SHEAN DONOVAN SAN 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 VIKTOR KOZLOV SAN 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0.0 PATRICK MARLEAU SAN 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 DOUG BODGER SAN 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 SHAWN BURR SAN 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 BERNIE NICHOLLS SAN 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 RON SUTTER SAN 1 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 PETER ALLEN SAN 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 TODD EWEN SAN 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 BILL HOULDER SAN 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 KELLY HRUDEY SAN 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 ALEX KOROLYUK SAN 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 MARTY MCSORLEY SAN 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JOHN NABOKOV SAN 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 DODY WOOD SAN 1 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 ANDREI ZYUZIN SAN 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 GEOFF COURTNALL STL 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JIM CAMPBELL STL 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 MICHAL HANDZUS STL 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 STEVE DUCHESNE STL 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 GRANT FUHR STL 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 BRETT HULL STL 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 CHRIS KENADY STL 1 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JAMAL MAYERS STL 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JAMIE MCLENNAN STL 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 RUDY POESCHEK STL 1 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 CHRIS PRONGER STL 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 TONY TWIST STL 1 0 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 SERGEI BEREZIN TOR 1 0 3 3 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - MATHIEU SCHNEIDER TOR 1 2 0 2 - 0 2 0 0 1 - - MATS SUNDIN TOR 1 1 1 2 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - PER GUSTAFSSON TOR 2 0 2 2 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - DIMITRI YUSHKEVICH TOR 1 0 2 2 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - KELLY CHASE TOR 1 1 0 1 - 20 0 0 0 0 - - TIE DOMI TOR 1 1 0 1 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - JASON PODOLLAN TOR 1 1 0 1 - 0 1 0 0 0 - - MARTIN PROCHAZKA TOR 1 1 0 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - WENDEL CLARK TOR 1 0 1 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - DEREK KING TOR 1 0 1 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - JAMIE MACOUN TOR 1 0 1 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - ALYN MCCAULEY TOR 1 0 1 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - JAMIE BAKER TOR 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - DAN MARKOV TOR 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - MARK DEYELL TOR 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - DJ SMITH TOR 1 0 0 0 - 4 0 0 0 0 - - GLENN HEALY TOR 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - JEFF WARE TOR 1 0 0 0 - 12 0 0 0 0 - - KRIS KING TOR 1 0 0 0 - 5 0 0 0 0 - - NICK KYPREOS TOR 1 0 0 0 - 5 0 0 0 0 - - MATT MARTIN TOR 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - FELIX POTVIN TOR 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - TODD WARRINER TOR 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - DONALD BRASHEAR VAN 1 2 0 2 - 16 1 0 0 0 - - ZENITH KOMARNISKI VAN 1 0 2 2 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - MATT COOKE VAN 1 1 0 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - DANA MURZYN VAN 1 1 0 1 - 4 0 0 1 0 - - ADRIAN AUCOIN VAN 1 0 1 1 - 15 0 0 0 0 - - MARTIN GELINAS VAN 1 0 1 1 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - MARK WOTTON VAN 1 0 1 1 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - CLINT CABANA VAN 1 0 0 0 - 4 0 0 0 0 - - BRAD FERENCE VAN 1 0 0 0 - 10 0 0 0 0 - - PAUL FERONE VAN 1 0 0 0 - 7 0 0 0 0 - - ROBB GORDON VAN 1 0 0 0 - 22 0 0 0 0 - - COREY HIRSCH VAN 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - ARTURS IRBE VAN 1 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - JAMIE LINDEN VAN 1 0 0 0 - 17 0 0 0 0 - - STEVE STAIOS VAN 1 0 0 0 - 12 0 0 0 0 - - TYSON NASH VAN 1 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 0 0 - - RICHARD ZEDNIK WAS 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JAN BULIS WAS 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 TODD KRYGIER WAS 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 PETER BONDRA WAS 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 MARTIN BROCHU WAS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 DWAYNE HAY WAS 1 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 PHIL HOUSLEY WAS 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 JOEL THERIAULT WAS 1 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 BILL RANFORD WAS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 CHRIS SIMON WAS 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 BRENDAN WITT WAS 1 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- LCSHOCKEYLCSHOCKEYLCSHOCKEYLCSHOCKEYLCSHOCKEYLCSHOCKEYLCSHOCKEYLCSHOCKEYLCSHO -----------------------------------------------------------------------------