The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.

September 12, 2011

The Hockey News - Sep-12-11

<div class="byline">BY RYAN KENNEDY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0048-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-01416/9565849-1-eng-US/f0048-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>WHALE HUNT</b></p><p><b>New York Rangers first-rounder J.T. Miller is going to Plymouth instead of North Dakota.</b></p> <span class="photo-credit">(MILLER: MATTHEW MURNAGHAN/HHOF-IIHF IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-03180/9565856-1-eng-US/f0048-032.jpg" title="f0048-03" width="75" height="89"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p><b>For a kid</b> with such strong Christian beliefs, Florida Panthers prospect Rocco Grimaldi certainly has a Loki-esque trickster side to him.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-02264/9565842-1-eng-US/f0048-022.jpg" title="f0048-02" width="123" height="122"></div><p>In the midst of a tumultuous summer for the NCAA, Grimaldi sent out a mysterious message on his Twitter page, proclaiming &ldquo;Many different choices, but I&rsquo;m going with the Dub. The Dub is the best fit for me.&rdquo;</p><p>In prospect parlance, &lsquo;The Dub&rsquo; is the Western League, so many thought Grimaldi was spurning his commitment to the University of North Dakota in order to play major junior. But soon after, Grimaldi posted a picture of himself with his new car &ndash; a Volkswagen, or &lsquo;VW.&rsquo; Slang it up and it becomes a &lsquo;Dub.&rsquo; As the cherry on top, Grimaldi is grinning ear to ear in the snapshot while wearing a Fighting Sioux baseball cap.</p><p>So it hasn&rsquo;t been all doom and gloom for the college game this summer, but there was a fair bit of bloodletting. While Grimaldi will suit up for North Dakota, his teammate from the U.S. national team development program, J.T. Miller, chose to renege on his vow to join the Sioux and jump to the Ontario League instead, signing with the Plymouth Whalers. He was followed by NTDP goal-tender John Gibson (spurning Michigan to join Kitchener) and a pair of Sarnia signings in defenseman Connor Murphy (Miami) and center Reid Boucher (Michigan State). With Northeastern blueliner Jamie Oleksiak leaving school for the OHL&rsquo;s Saginaw Spirit, that meant only one first round draft pick from 2011 &ndash; Toronto Maple Leafs selection Tyler Biggs &ndash; was slated to play college hockey this season. Since the lockout, the number has never been lower than four and hit a high of 10 in 2007, including second overall pick James van Riemsdyk and third choice Kyle Turris. While NCAA backers aren&rsquo;t panicking, they also haven&rsquo;t been taking the news lying down. &ldquo;What&rsquo;s disappointing to me is, when you make a commitment, you follow through on it,&rdquo; said Paul Kelly of College Hockey Inc., a group that educates prospects on NCAA eligibility. &ldquo;Frankly, if I was an NHL GM, I would be concerned of a player who so easily walks away from a commitment.&rdquo;</p><p>But Kelly, the former head of the NHL Players&rsquo; Association, also knows some teams may push their draft picks towards the CHL, believing the pro-style schedule prepares them better for the rigors of the NHL. He begs to differ. &ldquo;There isn&rsquo;t a perfect path, there isn&rsquo;t a one-size-fits-all,&rdquo; Kelly said. &ldquo;The NCAA route is still an excellent route for players that want to play in the NHL.&rdquo;</p><p>And whether it was just a matter of timing or not, Oleksiak, Gibson, Miller, Murphy and Boucher all chose the OHL after they were selected in the 2011 NHL draft. What is for sure is the four NTDP kids kept each other in the loop. &ldquo;We talked to each other,&rdquo; Gibson said. &ldquo;It was our own decisions, but we let each other know what was going on.&rdquo;</p><p>Gibson was slated to start in net for Michigan this season, but in a cruel twist of fate he is the second straight NTDP netminder to ditch the Wolverines in favor of the OHL. In the summer of 2010,</p><p>Jack Campbell hopped across the border to Windsor to suit up for the Spitfires. Gibson will be tending net in Kitchener and said a visit to the city really sold the idea for him. &ldquo;It was obviously a hard decision,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;At the end of the day, it&rsquo;s where I felt I would be the most comfortable.&rdquo;</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-01384/9565835-1-eng-US/f0049-012.jpg" title="f0049-01" width="853" height="1383"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>RETREATING RECRUITS</b></p><p><b>John Gibson is one of several 2011 NHL draftees leaving the NCAA in favor of major junior.</b></p></figcaption></div><p>For Kelly, having a major program lose its starting goaltender so close to the beginning of the season is the perfect example of why there needs to be some understanding between the NCAA and CHL. &ldquo;At some point, we need to bring order to the system and have respect for each other&rsquo;s program,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;If a kid has made a commitment, I&rsquo;d like to see him left alone until after his freshman year. Then, if he doesn&rsquo;t like the experience, he can move on. It&rsquo;s free market.&rdquo;</p><p>The CHL declined to comment on the matter for this story, but as the circuit that is winning most of these battles, it doesn&rsquo;t need to say much. Major junior teams are not bound by the strict guidelines college programs must abide by, meaning players have been known to unwittingly blow their NCAA eligibility by, say, playing in a major junior exhibition game. The fact a college player can leave for major junior (such as in Oleksiak&rsquo;s case, inspired in part by the fact Northeastern coach Greg Cronin left the Huskies for a job with the Toronto Maple Leafs) but not the other way around also vexes the NCAA crew. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a one-way street,&rdquo; Kelly said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re always the victims, not the proponents.&rdquo;</p><p>The irony of the NCAA&rsquo;s rough summer is by College Hockey Inc.&rsquo;s count, fewer players defected or decommitted than in previous years; it just so happened the names were a lot shinier this time around.</p><p>And while Murphy sustained a knee injury at Team USA&rsquo;s national junior evaluation camp in August, he and Boucher are part of an exciting story developing in Sarnia. For years, the Sting have failed to crack the OHL&rsquo;s elite, but with the addition of new coach-GM Jacques Beaulieu, things have turned around. Aside from Murphy and Boucher, 15-year-old rearguard Anthony DeAngelo decommitted from Boston University to join the Sting, while Swede Ludvig Rens-feldt (35th overall to Chicago in 2010) was also added. Add in returning top 2012 prospects Nail Yakupov and Alex Galchenyuk and the Sting are a team to beat in the OHL West.</p><p>As for the plight of college hockey, it&rsquo;s important to keep in perspective the quickest route to the NHL isn&rsquo;t always best for the individual player. Sometimes the extra weight room time on a college campus is the recipe for success. A perfect example is Chicago Blackhawks captain and 2010 Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Toews, formerly of North Dakota.</p><p>&ldquo;After I was drafted, people thought I would go right to the NHL,&rdquo; Toews said. &ldquo;But I&rsquo;m glad I went back for a second year. It worked out for me because I felt physically ready when I did leave.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>60</b></h2><p><b>Players selected in the 2011 NHL draft who were college-bound at the time</b></p><p><b>For more on the future, check out: <a href="http://thn.com/prospects">thn.com/prospects</a></b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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IN THIS ISSUE

NCAA Hockey’s Hangover

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Logo RANKINGS

<div class="byline">BY RYAN KENNEDY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0050-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-01368/9566065-1-eng-US/f0050-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>MAKE IT THREE</b></p><p><b>Olli Maatta will patrol a stacked Knights blueline with Jarred Tinordi and Scott Harrington</b></p> <span class="photo-credit">(MAATTA: COURTESY FINNISH ICE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-03147/9566072-1-eng-US/f0050-032.jpg" title="f0050-03" width="75" height="89"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>I</span>t&rsquo;s shaping</b> up to be a banner year for draft-eligible defensemen and Finland&rsquo;s entry is 6-foot-2, 198-pound Olli Maatta. He has already played in a World Junior Championship and broke through at another international event months later.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-04115/9566058-1-eng-US/f0050-042.jpg" title="f0050-04" width="126" height="43"></div><p>At the world under-18s, Maatta was named one of the top three Finnish players at the tournament &ndash; not bad considering he was one of the youngest participants on the team. &ldquo;It was a good experience,&rdquo; Maatta said. &ldquo;Playing the U.S. and Canada, I got to see what North American hockey is.&rdquo;</p><p>Maatta will get more than just a taste this season, as he&rsquo;s joining the Ontario League&rsquo;s London Knights. Coming off a disappointing campaign, the Knights are poised to make noise once again and landing Maatta with the first overall pick in the Canadian Hockey League import draft will go a long way towards making that happen. &ldquo;I went over to Germany to watch him at the under-18s and he stood out,&rdquo; said London coach Dale Hunter. &ldquo;He was an under-ager playing a year up. He&rsquo;s big and strong and he plays both ways, offense and defense.</p><p>&ldquo;For a guy who was a year younger than the others there, he was outstanding; one of the best &lsquo;D&rsquo; there.&rdquo;</p><p>And Maatta won&rsquo;t be alone on the Knights blueline. Returning to the fold are two solid NHL prospects in Jarred Tinordi and Scott Harrington. Tinordi, who spurned Notre Dame in favor of London after Montreal selected him 22nd overall in the 2010 draft, got off to a rough start in the OHL. The son of ex-NHLer Mark Tinordi eventually settled down in the second half last season and now knows what to expect from the gruelling schedule.</p><p>Harrington came into junior as an offensive defenseman, but has morphed into a more rounded player. His effort at Pittsburgh&rsquo;s rookie camp this summer earned him a quick entry level contract, coming off his second round selection by the Penguins in June. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to be real solid back there,&rdquo; Hunter said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to have the Big Three and when you roll them out every other shift, good things will happen.&rdquo;</p><p>Taken right before Russian Mikhail Grigorenko, who was snapped up by Patrick Roy&rsquo;s Quebec Remparts (see sidebar), Maatta is quite happy with his new home in London. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve heard everything good about that place,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s one of the best organizations in junior hockey and has one of the best coaching staffs.&rdquo;</p><p>Along with his new major junior experience, Maatta will also get another crack at the world juniors. The Finns cratered after a great round robin in Buffalo, but the team has a solid core (Suomi has another rising prospect in 2012-eligible defenseman Ville Pokka) and their star underaged blueliner is ready for full-time action after seeing spot duty in 2011. &ldquo;It was a good experience for me,&rdquo; Maatta said. &ldquo;Next year, I think I will play more.&rdquo;</p><p>The fact the young Finn is cool under pressure helps and with his pride in defensive play, opponents will have a tough time outsmarting the big backender. Maatta would like to work on his skating ability, but enemy forwards are already wary of what he brings to the table. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a very good defender,&rdquo; said Swedish 2012 prospect Filip Forsberg, who has faced Maatta several times internationally. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s mobile and a great puck carrier.&rdquo;</p><p>Along with other defenders such as Ryan Murray, Griffin Reinhart and Nick Ebert, Maatta will be one to watch in what is turning out to be a deep 2012 draft class.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

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Maatta Makes The Trifecta

<div class="byline">BY BOB DUFF</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0044-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-02427/9565309-1-eng-US/f0044-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">IAN WHITE <span class="photo-credit">(WHITE: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-05219/9565323-1-eng-US/f0044-052.jpg" title="f0044-05" width="75" height="89"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-01680/9565316-1-eng-US/f0044-012.jpg" title="f0044-01" width="228" height="168"></div><p><b>Stability and opportunity.</b> These were the factors that led Ian White to sign with the Red Wings.</p><p>Affordability and ability. Those were the elements that made him an attractive option to Detroit.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-03320/9565302-1-eng-US/f0044-032.jpg" title="f0044-03" width="135" height="100"></div><p>White filled a need for a skilled defenseman, who was also a right-hand shot, when Brian Rafalski retired shortly after 2010-11.</p><p>White, 27, wasn&rsquo;t Option A on Detroit&rsquo;s summer shopping list, but when other teams priced the top-end free-agent defenders out of the Red Wings&rsquo; range, GM Ken Holland found him at two years and $5.75 million to be a perfect fit. &ldquo;White can play the power play and we can play him regularly,&rdquo; Holland said. &ldquo;Ian is a skilled defenseman, who makes tape-to-tape passes and competes hard with a good hockey sense.&rdquo;</p><p>Detroit is White&rsquo;s fifth NHL stop in a six-season career. In fact, the Red Wings are his fifth team in the past 20 months, an odyssey that began when the Toronto Maple Leafs, White&rsquo;s NHL home for his first four-and-a-half seasons, dealt him to the Calgary Flames in January 2010.</p><p>White began last season with Calgary, was dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes in November and then to the San Jose Sharks at the Feb. 28 trade deadline. &ldquo;Things changed in a hurry,&rdquo; White said.</p><p>Making all this packing and unpacking even more unpleasant was the reality White&rsquo;s wife Tess was pregnant. She delivered a girl, Gracelyn, the same night the Sharks eliminated the Wings in Game 7 of their second-round Stanley Cup series. White raced to the hospital following the game in time to share in the birth of their daughter. &ldquo;It was quite a stressful time of year,&rdquo; said White, who also has a two-year-old son, Paxton.</p><p>Diminutive in stature at 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, White makes up for what he lacks in size with excellent mobility. He&rsquo;s a strong skater, slick puck-mover and owns a heavy shot from the point.</p><p>White skated as a top-four defenseman in San Jose and the Wings foresee him filling a similar role in their lineup, perhaps pairing with Niklas Kronwall, while Nicklas Lidstrom teams with Brad Stuart, which was an effective tandem for Detroit in 2010-11. &ldquo;We saw (White) a lot in the San Jose series,&rdquo; Holland said. &ldquo;He can play on the power play, he&rsquo;s a competitor. He&rsquo;s a guy that thinks the game. He&rsquo;s got the skills.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got skilled defensemen in (Nicklas) Lidstrom, (Niklas) Kronwall and others and he&rsquo;s comfortable playing with them. He&rsquo;s played on the power play everywhere he&rsquo;s been, first or second (unit).</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s got some snarl in front of the net, too.&rdquo;</p><p>With the departure of Rafalski, White recognizes there&rsquo;s a chance to fill a void and find a home for some time. &ldquo;Hopefully I&rsquo;m a perfect fit for that spot,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It really fits my style of game.&rdquo;</p><p>With the depth of high-end skill in the Detroit lineup, White, who produced four goals and 26 points with his three teams in 2010-11, also believes he can return his 2009-10 form when he established career highs in goals (13) and points (38). &ldquo;You stare at those guys, study how good they are,&rdquo; White said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to learn so much and that&rsquo;s sure to make me a better player.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve played against them for six years. It&rsquo;s just a real special team to play against. It&rsquo;s great to get an opportunity to play with those guys &ndash; the puck movement, the puck possession, so many talented players. I&rsquo;m glad to be part of the Wings.&rdquo;</p><p>And the Wings are glad to have him, too.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

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White A Perfect Fit In Red

<div class="byline">PHOTOGRAPH BY JEFF GOLDEN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-012158/9564053-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>Pitch Men</b></h2><p><b>Dustin Penner, Trevor Lewis and Scott Parse are treated like Kings, throwing out the first pitch at Dodger Stadium.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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THE BIG PICTURE

<div class="byline">WITH JASON KAY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-012186/9564098-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="907" height="580"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JAMIE HODGSON/THN)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>S</span>ooner</b>&nbsp;<b>or later,</b> we all hit the progress wall. It&rsquo;s that place at which we grow tired of technological advancements or newfangled ideas, throw our hands up and simply don&rsquo;t want to get it.</p><p>In my experience, I&rsquo;ve had friends, relatives or acquaintances of respectable intellect who have left their VCRs blinking &ldquo;12:00&rdquo;; insisted on standing in line for a teller instead of banking online; asked what their &ldquo;Internet address&rdquo; was; and needed help working a push-button phone. Honest.</p><p>My digital clock block was Twitter. Is this another layer of media added to an already bloated field? Is this something we really needed to be involved with?</p><p>As we&rsquo;ve come to quickly learn, the answer is undeniably yes. The rapid growth of the tool and its powerful reach cannot be ignored. So I recently wrapped my head around the concept and joined the tide. If you&rsquo;re so inclined and choose to follow yours truly (@JKTHN), I&rsquo;ll provide updates on what&rsquo;s upcoming in THN, solicit the Twittersphere for ideas and opinions and occasionally maybe even provide some actual hockey news and views. You can also stay plugged in with what we&rsquo;re doing at @TheHockeyNews.</p><p>That the shinny world has embraced Twitter is not a revelation. Generous handfuls of players, management types, agents and reporters are among the puckheads who tweet. Based solely on our observances, hockey people have been among the quickest in the professional sports sphere to embrace social media in general and Twitter in particular.</p><p>One player you won&rsquo;t find on Twitter, however, is our cover boy, Pavel Datsyuk. At least not yet. The Detroit Red Wings superstar told our Rory Boylen he&rsquo;d probably participate if pushed, but at this point that&rsquo;s not his preference.</p><p>No worries. That&rsquo;s where the old school media comes in. Beginning on pg. 20, Boylen &ndash; who attended Datsyuk&rsquo;s hockey camp (PD13) in Ekaterinburg, Russia, this summer as a participant and observer &ndash; paints a picture of a compelling individual, a shy but warm man whose private life has remained relatively, well, private, despite his fame. Who knew, for example, that one of hockey&rsquo;s leading virtuosos is a fan of Broadway and Russian musicals?</p><p>Now that&rsquo;s something you won&rsquo;t find on Twitter&hellip;until I (or someone else) post it, informing our audience about the next great read in the pages of THN.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-021857/9564091-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="414" height="222"></div><p><b>NEXT</b>&nbsp;<b>ISSUE</b> SEPTEMBER 19, 2011</p><p><b>CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TO SUBSCRIBE:</b> <a href="http://THN.com">thn.com</a></p><p><b>CONTACT US:</b> <a href="mailto:editorial@thehockeynews.com">editorial@thehockeynews.com</a></p><h2><b>LISTEN UP!</b></h2><p><b>THE HOCKEY NEWS RADIO SHOW</b></p><p><b>FRIDAYS 4-5 EST</b></p><p><b>XM 92</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-031495/9564084-1-eng-US/f0004-032.jpg" title="f0004-03" width="185" height="72"></div><p><b>SIRIUS 207 IN USA</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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Pleased To Tweet You

<p><b>Submit your letter at: <a href="http://THN.COM/LETTERS">thn.com/letters</a></b></p><h2><b>SILVER&rsquo;S WORTH?</b></h2><p><b>It really annoys me when people compare players or talk about potential Hall of Famers based on the number of Stanley Cups they&rsquo;ve won. Yes, it&rsquo;s important to be a champion, but an individual can only do so much. Unless referring to a goalie or a captain&rsquo;s leadership skills, this &ldquo;stat&rdquo; is useless. So Henri Richard (11 Cups) is better than Bobby Orr (2)? Mathieu Garon (1) is better than Tony Esposito (0)? And, of course, Matt Cooke (1) is superior to Adam Oates or Mats Sundin (0 each)? No. Any NHL player can win a Cup and while it&rsquo;s good to be a winner, it doesn&rsquo;t automatically make you a better player.</b></p><p><b><i>Eric Lawrie, Toronto</i></b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-012413/9564181-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="978" height="1152"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(ORR: BRUCE BENNETT STUDIOS/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>Less Is More</b></h2><p>What should happen to the division realignments? Simple: Two conferences, no divisions. Move a couple of teams around here and there and then you&rsquo;re ready to go. Fifteen teams in each conference and the top eight make the big show. NHL, do yourself a favor and save the time of completely revamping each division and make things right, the way it always should have been.</p><p><i>Kyle Armstrong, Richmond Hill, Ont.</i></p><h2><b>Used Jets</b></h2><p>So the old Atlanta team takes the former name of the Phoenix team and the logo of the 1948 Olympic gold medal-winning RCAF Flyers? They are so devoted to recycling, I bet their uniforms will be green.</p><p><i>Louis-Pierre Smith Lacroix, Quebec City, Que.</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-021639/9564174-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="379" height="448"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>RCAF FLYERS</b></p><p><b>1948</b></p></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-03969/9564167-1-eng-US/f0006-032.jpg" title="f0006-03" width="458" height="617"></div><h2><b>Hawk-y Nuts</b></h2><p>Chicago was given a B+ in your &ldquo;Summer Grades&rdquo; in the August issue. According to that stead, they are ranked the same as the Rangers, whp acquired Brad Richards, Columbus, which brought in Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski, and Los Angeles, which grabbed Mike Richards and Simon Gagne. You can&rsquo;t honestly say signing the likes of Andrew Brunette and Steve Montador are anywhere near the talent these other teams acquired. Not to mention they also lost Brian Campbell, Troy Brouwer and Tomas Kopecky.</p><p><i>Nathan Stone, Abbotsford, B.C.</i></p><h2><b>Raw Deals</b></h2><p>I still can&rsquo;t wrap my head around the fact GM Paul Holmgren traded away the face and image of the Flyers to sign a goalie, Ilya Bryzgalov, who has only made it past the second round once (when he was the backup for the Ducks). Sergei Bobrovsky has the potential to be a very solid No. 1. Too bad it won&rsquo;t be for the Flyers. Philly got awesome young talent in return for Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, but I still think &lsquo;Homer&rsquo; has taken one too many shots to the head.</p><p><i>Johnny Plover, Fairbanks, Alaska</i></p><h2><b>Epic Phail</b></h2><p>I&rsquo;ve been an avid reader the past five years and love the job you guys do, so with my avid reading I do find it comical when there are errors. We are after all human and inclined to make mistakes. In the August cover story, one of the photo cutlines has a typo in reference to Brayden Schenn. Hopefully in the next volume, you will have more &ldquo;Luck&rdquo; getting names right.</p><p><i>Mike Freeman, Edmonton</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-04620/9564160-1-eng-US/f0006-042.jpg" title="f0006-04" width="482" height="94"></div><h2><b>POLLRESULTS</b></h2><p>Who will win the 2012 Stanley Cup?</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-05486/9564153-1-eng-US/f0006-052.jpg" title="f0006-05" width="483" height="452"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(POLL: ABELIMAGES/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>Washington 17%</b></p><p>Vancouver 12%</p><p>Boston 11%</p><p>Los Angeles 10%</p><p>Pittsburgh 10%</p><p>Detroit 9%</p><p>Philadelphia 8%</p><p>Chicago 7%</p><p>Buffalo 6%</p><p>San Jose 5%</p><p>Tampa Bay 5%</p><p><b>Vote on polls from everything top to bottom in the world of hockey at <a href="http://thehockynews.com">thehockynews.com</a></b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0006-01

THN INBOX

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0007-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-012145/9564212-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JAMES REIMER</b> <span class="photo-credit">(REIMER: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>Hey Adam, what teams are your dark horse picks to do damage in the NHL this year?</b></p><p><i>Paul Frenette, Boston</i></p><p>Hey Paul: In the age of parity, there aren&rsquo;t many teams you can call &ldquo;dark horses&rdquo; in the traditional sense. But if all goes right for the Blue Jackets &ndash; meaning, if goalie Steve Mason reverts to his stellar rookie form and new additions Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski pan out &ndash; Columbus will make the playoffs.</p><p>Same goes for the Maple Leafs. Should James Reimer stand on his head as he did last year and new additions Tim Connolly and John-Michael Liles make solid contributions, Toronto will challenge for a post-season berth.</p><p><b>Adam, with the deaths of Derek Boogaard and Rick Rypien, do you feel there&rsquo;s too much pressure on athletes to succeed? I remember when hockey season was over, it was over. Players would take the summer off. Now it is 12 months of rigorous training. Is it too much?</b></p><p><i>Darren Skene, Red Deer, Alta.</i></p><p>Darren: You can&rsquo;t definitively tie the tragic deaths of Rypien or Boogaard to the round-the-clock pressures faced by pro athletes. Boogaard battled addiction and Rypien labored under the heavy weight of chronic depression. It&rsquo;s impossible to connect those two situations to the rigors of modern training.</p><p>That said, there is a sense of overkill in regard to what is asked of players. For instance, if an NHL team misses the playoffs, it is all but assumed players must represent their country at the World Championship. Is that fair? I say no. I wouldn&rsquo;t blame NHLers at all for being burnt out by the onerous demands. How can they miss hockey if it never goes away?</p><p><b>|</b> Read more <b>&lsquo;Ask Adam&rsquo;</b> every Friday at <a href="http://thehockeynews.com">thehockeynews.com</a><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0007-01

ASK ADAM

<div class="byline">&nbsp;&#x2013; RYAN DIXON</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0008-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-012303/9564264-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-021754/9564271-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="200" height="180"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-031240/9564257-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg" title="f0008-03" width="349" height="92"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>K</span>evin Dineen plans</b> to have an open door and an open mind when it comes to dealing with his players&rsquo; concerns. But the Florida Panthers new coach is also pretty clear about the bottom line.</p><p>&ldquo;If we agree to disagree,&rdquo; Dineen said, &ldquo;I win because I&rsquo;m the boss.&rdquo;</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-04699/9564250-1-eng-US/f0008-042.jpg" title="f0008-04" width="110" height="125"></div><p>Dineen is one of four first-time head coaches in the league this year, along with Paul MacLean in Ottawa, Dallas&rsquo; Glen Gulutzan and Mike Yeo in Minnesota. The other two new coaching hires are hardly grizzled NHL vets themselves. Claude Noel takes over the Winnipeg Jets with 24 games as Columbus&rsquo; top man in 2009-10 on his resume, while Pete DeBoer is the Devils&rsquo; new bench boss after three years in Florida, which represents the full extent of his NHL experience.</p><p>Dineen, Gulutzan, Noel and Yeo were all head coaches in the American League last year. According to Yeo, NHL clubs and their AHL affiliates are extremely integrated these days because the need to develop players is such a critical component of winning at the highest level. That, he believes, is at the root of AHL coaches increasingly getting a shot in the big leagues. Yeo joined the Wild organization as coach of the Houston Aeros last year and was impressed with what he saw in the AHL after spending four years as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins. &ldquo;The biggest thing is the level of coaching in that league is really strong right now,&rdquo; he said.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-05493/9564243-1-eng-US/f0008-052.jpg" title="f0008-05" width="1048" height="943"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>FRESH FACES</b></p><p><b>Kevin Dineen has never helmed an NHL team, but Florida has faith in the rookie.</b></p> <span class="photo-credit">(DINEEN: SUSANSTOCKER/SUNSENTINEL/MCT)</span></figcaption></div><p>Dineen, who played 1,188 games in the NHL, likened his five years as coach of the Portland Pirates to attending school. &ldquo;Working in the American League was a fabulous experience for me,&rdquo; he said.</p><p>It was in Portland that Dineen learned the key to success in any business is open communication and everybody on the team understanding their roles. He may have cracked wise about always having the trump card in discussions, but Dineen said he&rsquo;s big on chatting with players whenever necessary and having set meetings at different intervals of the season. It&rsquo;s fitting Dineen is a new face behind the Florida bench because the Panthers underwent sweeping off-season changes, which means chemistry is sure to be a buzzword when training camp opens. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think you can go play paintball and all of a sudden your team is bonding,&rdquo; Dineen said. &ldquo;I think it starts before you sign guys. You&rsquo;re looking for guys who have character and are looking for a level of responsibility. I feel we&rsquo;ve done that.&rdquo;</p><p>Yeo joins the Wild as the league&rsquo;s youngest coach at 38 years old and was hired by GM Chuck Fletcher, whom he knew from his time in Pittsburgh, where Fletcher held the post of assistant GM. For eight seasons under former coach Jacques Lemaire, Minnesota had a strong, distinct identity, even if results varied. The past two years under Todd Richards produced no playoff appearances and the Wild seemed to wander into a middle ground where it wasn&rsquo;t clear exactly what the team was all about. Yeo has made providing his squad with a clear personality a priority. &ldquo;When other people are talking about us, I would expect them to use words like fast and physical, detailed and structured,&rdquo; he said.</p><p>Minny made news for more than appointing a new coach this summer, as the club traded for two talented former Sharks in Devin Setoguchi and Dany Heatley. The latter saw his production dip over two years in San Jose, but Yeo said Heatley is excited about his opportunity in Minnesota and disputes the notion his best years are behind him.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s an impact player,&rdquo; Yeo said. &ldquo;Despite what people might think about the last two years, he has scored big goals at big times and we&rsquo;re counting on that from Dany.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>25</b></h2><p>Length, in feet, of the bolts of &ldquo;Lightning&rdquo; that will shoot from the St. Pete Times Forum scoreboard after Tampa Bay installed Tesla coils as part of a summer renovation.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0008-01

Brand New Taskmasters

<div class="byline">By Charlie Teljeur</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-012274/9564302-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg" title="f0010-01" width="969" height="1154"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0010-01

The Instigator

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-021659/9564333-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg" title="f0010-02" width="610" height="661"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(KOSTITSYN: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>+ PLUS</b></h2><h3><b>BEST TO TEST</b></h3><p><i>NHL takes frequent heat for its slow-to-act ways, but we love where the league&rsquo;s head is at with the R&D camp. Very progressive thinking.</i></p><h2><b>&minus; MINUS</b></h2><h3><b>ROOT KOS IDENTIFIED?</b></h3><p><i>Hab</i>&nbsp;<b><i>Andrei Kostitsyn</i></b>&nbsp;<i>says strained relationship with coach hurt his game; blame probably lies closer to home.</i></p><h2><b>+ PLUS</b></h2><h3><b>MATT-A BOY, BRADLEY</b></h3><p><i>Former Cap and current Cat Matt Bradley calls out ex-teammate Alex Semin for his poor attitude. Honest commentary like that makes for fun.</i></p><h2><b>&minus; MINUS</b></h2><h3><b>ONGOING ISSUE</b></h3><p><i>Sidney Crosby is the most prominent, but certainly not the only player with an uncertain status due to concussions.</i><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0010-02

PLUS/MINUS

<div class="byline">&#x2013; BRIAN COSTELLO</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-031065/9564371-1-eng-US/f0010-032.jpg" title="f0010-03" width="737" height="549"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS</b> <span class="photo-credit">(HOPKINS: NICK LAHAM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>I</span>n finalizing the last</b> projections for our Ultimate Fantasy Pool Guide, numbers guru Murray Townsend noticed the door closing on upstart rookies.</p><p>&ldquo;Teams are loading up on veterans,&rdquo; Townsend said. &ldquo;A lot of first-year players aren&rsquo;t even going to get a shot.&rdquo;</p><p>With the NHL salary cap increasing to $64.3 million, teams had nearly $5 million more to spend. That opened the door for proven players. In past years, teams looked at young prospects on entry level deals as cheaper ways to fill out rosters.</p><p>The rising salary cap also saw the floor hiked as well. Lower-budget teams had to spend more and that meant added demand for veterans.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-04739/9564364-1-eng-US/f0010-042.jpg" title="f0010-04" width="275" height="375"></div><p>As Townsend notes in our 13th annual Pool Guide, rookies will be hard-pressed to make a big impact.</p><p>As of mid-August, the average team has 22.3 players under contract, not including players hoping to crack the big time (2011 draftees and prospects in the system).</p><p>A good example is Colorado prospect defenseman Stefan Elliott, a prolific junior producer with 81 points last season. Townsend envisioned him making the NHL in October and getting 32 points. But the Avs signed Jan Hejda and Shane O&rsquo;Brien, bumping Elliott down the depth chart.</p><p>Philadelphia made numerous changes this off-season, so Townsend saw an opening for college free agent signee Matt Read to step in and get 30-plus points. That was changed when the Flyers acquired Jaromir Jagr, Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds, Maxime Talbot and Brayden Schenn.</p><p>Rookies, of course, will still make a big impact this season &ndash; Townsend is projecting Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to lead the way with 55 points &ndash; but they&rsquo;ll have a tougher time making NHL rosters that are largely already determined.</p><p><i>THN&rsquo;s Ultimate Fantasy Pool Guide is available at newsstands and at <a href="http://THN.com">THN.com</a></i><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0010-03

Rookie Squeeze

<div class="byline">BY JASON JAFFRAY </div><div class="byline">&#x2013; WITH TIM CAMPBELL</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0012-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-021743/9564402-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>FEISTY FOOT SOLDIER</b></p><p><b>Rick Rypien&rsquo;s energy and emotion endeared him to his Moose and Canucks teammates.</b></p> <span class="photo-credit">(RYPIEN: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-012220/9564409-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg" title="f0012-01" width="193" height="247"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>R</span>ick Rypien and I</b> came to the Manitoba Moose almost at the same time. It was early 2005, the lockout season. &lsquo;Zinger&rsquo; (Craig Heisinger, Moose GM) put us in an apartment together, so we were roommates and also linemates when we could get in the lineup.</p><p>Those are good memories. I just remember thinking at the time, &lsquo;Who&rsquo;s that 12-year-old kid walking into our dressing room?&rsquo; He looked extremely small and young right out of junior in Regina. I immediately questioned how this baby-faced kid was going to hold up against pro players.</p><p>But it didn&rsquo;t take him long. He caught a lot of people off guard that first season &mdash; nobody knew him and how tough he was. It was pretty amazing to see how gifted a fighter he was on the ice, almost always taking on guys bigger than him.</p><p>Rick was a guy everybody loved having on their team. You hated to play against him. You loved him in your dressing room because you knew he&rsquo;d have your back, especially if your top-end guys were run over or taken advantage of. He was always the first person to step up if your team needed a spark. He was one of those foot soldiers that brings the team together.</p><p>We were teammates over time with both the Moose and Canucks and when I came back to the Moose later last season, after a year in Calgary&rsquo;s organization, we were road roommates when he joined the team on a conditioning assignment at the trading deadline. We had a lot to laugh about this spring, especially because we were always icing our knees down together. We talked about how we were the Band-Aids on the team.</p><p>He sure got us back into the first round playoff series against Lake Erie with that overtime winner in Game 2. It wasn&rsquo;t a pretty goal, but when you&rsquo;re a fourth-line grinder, those are the goals you&rsquo;re expected to score. I remember him at the time also saying he was frustrated nobody would fight him in the playoffs. But Ripper&rsquo;s whole line was really setting the tone for our team when we were down 3-1 in that series.</p><p>After our AHL playoffs were over, I talked to Ripper about going to Vancouver to watch a game of the Stanley Cup final. But he was already excited about next season. He didn&rsquo;t want to go to a game in Vancouver. He said he wanted to think about bringing that Cup to Winnipeg. He said to me at the time we should both sign in Winnipeg and have the Cup party there. We both eventually signed there just like he talked about. Everyone knew the tough guy Rick was, but I knew Rick as a kind person, with a great sense of humor and a large heart. I don&rsquo;t know the details of how or why this happened, but this is a tragedy and I&rsquo;m going to miss him a lot.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0012-02

Rick Rypien

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-031122/9564440-1-eng-US/f0012-032.jpg" title="f0012-03" width="190" height="111"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>E</span>ric Fehr:</b>&nbsp;<i>Unbelievably sad news on the passing of Rick Rypien. One of the toughest players I ever played against. Thoughts and prayers with his family.</i></p><p><b>George Parros:</b>&nbsp;<i>Damn&hellip;Rick Rypien will be missed. He was the nicest guy, hung with him a few times in VAN&hellip;tough as all hell too. Thoughts to his (family).</i></p><p><b>Michael Grabner:</b>&nbsp;<i>I will always have the memories from Vancouver with Rick&hellip; also pound for pound was one of the toughest guys out there.</i></p><p><b>Matt Moulson:</b>&nbsp;<i>Tough news to hear about Rick Rypien&hellip;another sad day for hockey. Played the game as hard as anyone&hellip;my prayers to him and his family.</i></p><p><b>Mike Commodore:</b>&nbsp;<i>RIP Rick Rypien. He was a warrior. Hit me so hard my eyes couldn&rsquo;t focus for 30 (seconds). Not sure if it was a left or right.</i></p><p><b>Andrew Ladd:</b>&nbsp;<i>Sad to hear about Rick Rypien. I was looking forward to playing with him in Winnipeg. Thoughts are with his family and friends.</i><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0012-03

REMEMBERING RYPIEN

<div class="byline">&nbsp;&#x2013; RYAN DIXON</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0013-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-011952/9564471-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>BRAIN GAMES</b></p><p><b>The Senators looked beyond just stats and scouting reports for the 2011 draft.</b></p> <span class="photo-credit">(DAVE SANDFORD/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>A</span>s a young blueliner</b> growing up, Isabelle Giroux was always trying to figure out what her sneaky forward of a brother was thinking when he had a hockey stick in his hands. As an adult, she&rsquo;s now trying to discern what&rsquo;s in the mind of an assortment of young athletes.</p><p>Isabelle grew up playing hockey in Hearst, Ont., with her talented brother Claude, five years her junior. Claude Giroux is now one of the best young players in the NHL, starring with the Philadelphia Flyers, but Isabelle&rsquo;s connection to sports is also tight.</p><p>She lives in Ottawa and works for a company called EPSI, which has developed a test that helps uncover the inner workings of an athlete&rsquo;s mind. It&rsquo;s a four-part evaluation tool that provides insight into an athlete&rsquo;s decision-making abilities, their problem-solving skills, what motivates them and what kind of general values they hold.</p><p>Isabelle played AAA hockey with a prominent Thunder Bay-based female team called the Queens when she was 15, so in addition to the expertise she has in her field, she also has extensive experience with hockey players in general. Isabelle noted the test, which takes a half-hour to complete, is designed so there&rsquo;s no &ldquo;socially desirable&rdquo; answer, meaning there&rsquo;s no completing questions based simply on what an athlete expects the coach wants to hear.</p><p>For instance, a portion of the personal values section might ask a player to pick the truer statement as it pertains to them: &ldquo;The sport I compete in is one facet of my interests in life&rdquo; or &ldquo;The sport I compete in is the single most important aspect of my life.&rdquo; Better to appear obsessive or well-rounded?</p><p>&ldquo;They can&rsquo;t really know, &lsquo;This answer is exactly what the coaches want,&rsquo;&rdquo; Isabelle said. &ldquo;It really depends on who you are and what you think is better for you.&rdquo;</p><p>EPSI (in French, Evaluation Personnel Selection International) has worked with Baseball Canada&rsquo;s national women&rsquo;s team, which is managed by one of Isabelle&rsquo;s former instructors at the University of Ottawa, Andre Lachance. This summer, EPSI was enlisted by the Ottawa Senators to evaluate six potential first round picks one week before the draft (Confidentiality prevents the release of names).</p><p>With so much pressure to draft the correct player, teams are putting extra emphasis on factors beyond playing ability. &ldquo;I think more and more it&rsquo;s hard to decide who you want between two players whose performance is really close,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;When you get this test, it&rsquo;s just added value.&rdquo;</p><p>EPSI will pitch its test to other teams and Isabelle is optimistic there will be a market. &ldquo;When you&rsquo;re investing millions of dollars in athletes, it&rsquo;s important to know as much as you can.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0013-01

Mind Matters

<div class="byline">&nbsp;&#x2013; RYAN DIXON</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-012193/9564516-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg" title="f0014-01" width="747" height="747"></div><p><b>What came</b> first, the logo or the name?</p><p>In the case of the Winnipeg Jets, 2011-12 version, the development of the logo really helped one of the team&rsquo;s prominent figures get on board with dubbing the team &lsquo;Jets.&rsquo;</p><p>Considering the genesis of the original Jets nickname, it&rsquo;s easy to understand why Mark Chipman, chairman and governor of Winnipeg&rsquo;s True North Sports and Entertainment ownership group, wasn&rsquo;t completely at ease reprising that moniker without creating strong ties to the city itself, beyond the simple nostalgia. According to lore, the Jets original owner gave the club that nickname not because of Winnipeg&rsquo;s aviation history or because the team made its first splash by signing one of the most charismatic hockey players of all-time, &lsquo;The Golden Jet,&rsquo; Bobby Hull.</p><p>Flashy National Football League quarterback Joe Namath, however, may have had something to do with it. &ldquo;I think the story goes that Benny Hatskin, when he bought the team and he named it the Jets, he named it the Jets because he liked the New York Jets,&rdquo; said Scott Brown, Winnipeg&rsquo;s director of corporate communications.</p><p>The new Jets logo was a collaborative effort between the team, league and Reebok, and work on it began before the club officially (re)adopted the name. Seeing the results of the labor gave Chipman, who coveted a clean, simple look, peace of mind that naming the team &lsquo;Jets&rsquo; was the right move. &ldquo;It was something where, by working on the logo and working on the look, it allowed Mark to become comfortable with the name Winnipeg Jets,&rdquo; Brown said.</p><p>The logo pays tribute to the strong Royal Canadian Air Force history in the city, where the 17 Wing Winnipeg is located, and province of Manitoba.  Brown is quick to point out the silver fighter jet incorporates elements of several different planes and isn&rsquo;t simply a representation of a CF-18 Hornet as some have suggested. The emblem is very similar to that of the Royal Canadian Air Force and Brown credited the Canadian Forces Department of National Defence for cutting through a lot of red tape to allow Winnipeg to put together its logo in a timely manner.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-021647/9564509-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg" title="f0014-02" width="380" height="237"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-031113/9564502-1-eng-US/f0014-032.jpg" title="f0014-03" width="490" height="233"></div><p><b><i>The maple leaf that&rsquo;s consistent throughout the Jets&rsquo; primary and secondary logos isn&rsquo;t a case of Winnipeg claiming to be Canada&rsquo;s team, but does aim to capture the excitement that went into becoming the country&rsquo;s seventh entry. Mostly, the symbol is intended as a nod to the Royal Canadian Air Force.</i></b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0014-01

Mark Made

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-04760/9564547-1-eng-US/f0014-042.jpg" title="f0014-04" width="225" height="329"></div><blockquote class="pullQuote"><b><i>It&rsquo;s almost like asking a father for his daughter&rsquo;s hand in marriage.</i></b><br><b>&ndash; WINNIPEG&rsquo;S EVANDER KANE ON HOPING TO WEAR JETS LEGEND BOBBY HULL&rsquo;S NO. 9</b></blockquote><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0014-04

HE SAID what!?

<div class="byline">BY RYAN KENNEDY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-011963/9564651-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg" title="f0016-01" width="268" height="258"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-021505/9564644-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="1561" height="2092"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>W</span>hen hundreds</b> of Quebec Nordiques supporters travelled to Long Island for a tilt between New York and Atlanta last season, it was both a heartening display by a fan base that wants an NHL team to return to its city and a body blow for those who support the team still residing at Nassau Coliseum. True, good times have been few and far between for the Islanders the past two decades, but many would suggest the only thing keeping the franchise from packing the house was, well, getting a new house. In the meantime, attendance at Islanders games has cratered. New York drew the fewest fans in the NHL last year &ndash; worse than Phoenix, worse than the same Atlanta team that just moved north to Winnipeg. The question is now: Are the Islanders the next franchise to pull up stakes and leave for greener pastures?</p><p>Nassau Coliseum is one of the oldest arenas in the league and the old gal shows her age. The time for a new building is way past due, but local politics have scuppered New York owner Charles Wang&rsquo;s plans on more than one occasion. The latest setback, a &ldquo;No&rdquo; decision in a voter referendum on whether taxpayers would help fund a new arena at a price tag of $400 million, was a devastating blow for those who thought they saw light at the end of the (bridge and) tunnel. &ldquo;I was personally disappointed,&rdquo; said Chris Botta, a prominent Isles blogger who also worked for the team as a public relations coordinator for 20 years. &ldquo;It was a strange campaign. Once word got out that it would cost taxpayers money, the opposition feasted on that.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-011710/9564637-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="1364" height="1021"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>John Tavares</b> <span class="photo-credit">(TAVARES: MIKE STOBE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>In a strange turn of events as far as American politics were concerned, it was the Republicans, traditionally thought of as low-tax, small-government boosters, who approved of Wang&rsquo;s arena plan and fought for the &ldquo;Yes&rdquo; side. Democrats on Long Island saw things differently. The party usually hammered for being casual with spending saw a voter base sick of high taxes and seized on the point to great success. &ldquo;I sure didn&rsquo;t think we were going to win this referendum,&rdquo; said Jay Jacobs, chair of the Nassau County Democratic Committee. &ldquo;But we really tapped into the mood of the electorate. They didn&rsquo;t like the principle of paying more taxes.&rdquo;</p><p>While the amount of how much the deal would have cost each individual taxpayer varied from $14 to $60 annually for 30 years, the public verdict was clear: Any amount was too much. And though voter turnout was classified as quite low &ndash; the referendum was on a Monday in the middle of summer, instead of tied to a larger election &ndash; the Islanders faithful came out in droves; they simply couldn&rsquo;t match their fellow citizens who cared more about economics than hockey. &ldquo;I do believe the fans came out,&rdquo; Botta said. &ldquo;They didn&rsquo;t lose because of that. The opposition kicked ass.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-021309/9564630-1-eng-US/f0017-022.jpg" title="f0017-02" width="638" height="442"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>JUST CAN&rsquo;T WIN</b></p><p><b>Charles Wang&rsquo;s attempts to build a new stadium continue to get thwarted.</b></p> <span class="photo-credit">(WANG: CHRISTOPHER PASATIERI/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Which was an obviously tough result for Wang. There&rsquo;s no question the Isles owner wants to keep the team on Long Island and he has reiterated many times he will honor the lease that runs with the arena until 2015. But it was also obvious from his post-referendum press conference what the loss meant.</p><p>&ldquo;To be blunt, I&rsquo;m heartbroken,&rdquo; Wang said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re disappointed that the referendum was not voted on by the people of Nassau County as being a move in the right direction for growth. I feel that sound bites ruled the day, not the facts.&rdquo;</p><p>Another cruel fact is Wang&rsquo;s previous attempt at infrastructure, a much bigger initiative known as the Lighthouse Project, was struck down by the Republicans of Nassau County. Back in 2009, Wang had designs on a self-funded venture involving not only a newly refurbished Coliseum, but also condos, a minor league baseball park and various other amenities. In that case, it was the Republicans who objected to his attempt at grandeur, deeming the Lighthouse Project too big for the community.</p><p>So Wang couldn&rsquo;t build his own big plan and he couldn&rsquo;t get taxpayers to help with a smaller project. What&rsquo;s left? According to Jacobs, the solution is obvious: Wang pays for his own smaller-scale project. Jacobs would like to see Nassau County sell the land next to the Coliseum to Wang and let him build his arena on it. His money, his problem if anything goes wrong. &ldquo;Nassau County should not be in the Coliseum business,&rdquo; Jacobs said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s not what government should do.&rdquo;</p><p>However, in many cities that&rsquo;s exactly what happens. New stadiums and arenas are built all the time with taxpayer money, with the promise all the new revenue and jobs will benefit the community. Whether that actually comes to pass or not varies wildly upon location.</p><p>Now orphans in their own county, the Islanders will be one of the most intriguing outfits to watch in the NHL this season. Bottom-dwellers for quite some time, the squad has always at least carried a scrappy attitude onto the ice and now has a wealth of top-end prospects up front, led by 2009 first overall pick, John Tavares. He has been growing alongside fellow forwards such as Kyle Okposo, Michael Grabner and Matt Moulson and with No. 1 defenseman Mark Streit back after missing all of last season to injury (Okposo also missed the majority of games), things are starting to look up. Add in veteran Brian Rolston, shorthanded demon Frans Nielsen and a potential Calder Trophy candidate in Swiss rookie Nino Niederreiter and the New Yorkers will at least be entertaining. &ldquo;This arena situation hasn&rsquo;t been easy on people on the business side of things,&rdquo; Tavares said. &ldquo;But as players and keep the team here.&rdquo; town,&rdquo; he said. I think we&rsquo;ve done a good job not thinking about it on the ice.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-011842/9564623-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="1078" height="1125"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>SAY YES TO NINO</b></p><p><b>Slick winger Nino Niederreiter is among the reasons for optimism on Long Island.</b></p> <span class="photo-credit">(NIEDERREITER: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>And as soon as the puck is dropped at Nassau Coliseum this season, fans will have a brief respite from their woes. The situation is still unclear but even opponents of the latest arena-funding attempt are positive. &ldquo;I happen to love the Islanders and hope they stay,&rdquo; Jacobs said. &ldquo;This was about rejecting a bad deal. I believe we can build this Coliseum</p><p>If not, the most likely destination for the franchise would be somewhere in the New York area. Suffolk County, which shares a border with Nassau County, has expressed interest in the team, while nearby Brooklyn and Queens have also been mentioned. After that, the options go back to the old standbys: Kansas City, Quebec City and so on. But Botta doesn&rsquo;t think matters will go that far, particularly because of the political suicide a move would mean for the officials in charge at the time. &ldquo;Nobody wants to be the person responsible for seeing a team that once won 19 straight playoff series and was a true American dynasty leave</p><p>While the Isles have been dogged by owners both criminal and wacky, Botta also maintains that Wang &ndash; who, to be fair, also has his unpredictable side &ndash; has his heart in the right place. &ldquo;His sincerity has been crushed by political forces,&rdquo; Botta said. &ldquo;This isn&rsquo;t a Walter O&rsquo;Malley-Brooklyn Dodgers situation. This is on them.&rdquo;</p><p>Outwardly at least, Wang still has a sense of optimism, even if he couches it legally. &ldquo;We now have a season to concentrate on with a team bursting with a young core of talent, sprinkled with the right mix of veterans,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This combination bodes well for the last four years of our lease.</p><p>&ldquo;Hockey is right around the corner. And I can&rsquo;t wait until the puck drops at our home opener.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>ISLES ATTENDANCE</b></h2><p>LOW FAN TURNOUT ISN&rsquo;T HELPING THE CAUSE FOR A NEW HOME IN NASSAU COUNTY</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-021378/9564616-1-eng-US/f0018-022.jpg" title="f0018-02" width="2123" height="559"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0016-01

Lonely Island

f0020-01

Pavel UNRAVELLED

<div class="byline">BY RYAN KENNEDY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0040-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-02552/9564776-1-eng-US/f0040-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">JEFF SKINNER <span class="photo-credit">(SKINNER: CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-05291/9564790-1-eng-US/f0040-052.jpg" title="f0040-05" width="75" height="89"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-01875/9564783-1-eng-US/f0040-012.jpg" title="f0040-01" width="228" height="168"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>G</span>oing off</b> seniority alone, Jeff Skinner jumped the queue when he nabbed his roster spot on the 2010-11 Carolina Hurricanes. A fresh-faced 18-year-old who dazzled at rookie camp before cementing his status with the big boys, Skinner was the unlikely winner in a game of youthful musical chairs featuring older Carolina prospects such as Zach Boychuk, Drayson Bowman and Zac Dalpe. &ldquo;I tell people, in the nicest way possible, that he&rsquo;s a freak on the ice,&rdquo; Dalpe said. &ldquo;People don&rsquo;t even see what he does in practice, it&rsquo;s unbelievable. He deserved everything he got this year, that&rsquo;s for sure.&rdquo;</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-03428/9564769-1-eng-US/f0040-032.jpg" title="f0040-03" width="144" height="88"></div><p>Dalpe and Skinner were actually roommates during training camp last season and with the then-20-year-old Dalpe entering his first pro season after two years at Ohio State, both were on equal footing. But Skinner played a full NHL schedule, while Dalpe got in just 15 games with the Canes and spent the rest of the season in the American League with Charlotte.</p><p>Nonetheless, the pair often discussed the pro grind. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s fun to go through that together,&rdquo; Skinner said. &ldquo;You get to bounce ideas off each other and see how each guy handles it, because it&rsquo;s such a personal thing. I think it&rsquo;s important to have guys around who help you out like that.&rdquo;</p><p>The goal for Dalpe and the other young Canes is to replicate Skinner&rsquo;s 82-game NHL feat this season. Boychuk and Bowman both saw action 23 times last year, but neither made huge impacts. Though the team added forwards Alexei Ponikarovsky and Anthony Stewart in the summer, there will once again be chances for the next wave to grab roster spots.</p><p>Following Skinner&rsquo;s camp example &ndash; he came in famously trained by ex-Hurricane Gary Roberts &ndash; would be a wise move for youngsters hoping to make an impression. &ldquo;He was as strong as guys who were 24, 25 years old and that&rsquo;s why he was capable of playing 82 games at a high level,&rdquo; said Carolina GM Jim Rutherford. &ldquo;I think that&rsquo;s the key point here for guys coming out of the draft.&rdquo;</p><p>While Carolina&rsquo;s other prospects are a few years divorced from the draft now, the goal is the same: stick and make an impact.</p><p>Having proved himself as a full-timer, Skinner returns with a mission on his mind: &ldquo;First of all, it&rsquo;s to get back to the playoffs,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Personally, I want to build on last year and help the team win as many games as we can.&rdquo;</p><p>Skinner&rsquo;s year was notable not only because his NHL career started in Europe, where he scored the shootout winner against Minnesota in just his second game, but also because the NHL All-Star Game came to Raleigh. And Skinner took part in the game, not just the rookie skills challenge.</p><p>Skinner quickly became a teen idol in North Carolina, which is a lot of attention for a kid who is mild-mannered off the ice. &ldquo;You see the smile on his face,&rdquo; Dalpe said. &ldquo;I know he&rsquo;s quiet, but he does like to have some fun. I think he&rsquo;s handled it pretty well. I&rsquo;d like to see how he does this year. I think he&rsquo;ll come back and score more goals than he did last year.&rdquo;</p><p>Based on how he shot out of the gates, perhaps Skinner will request Dalpe as a roommate again. Ironically, the NHL&rsquo;s rookie of the year also bunked with Bowman and rookie defenseman Jamie McBain (playing his first full season in the NHL) on the road during the season, so maybe youth helping youth is the way to go for the Canes. &ldquo;It was my first week in Carolina, so I was pretty nervous,&rdquo; Skinner said. &ldquo;We went through a lot of firsts together and it&rsquo;s pretty cool to go through it with someone.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0040-02

Principal Skinner

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-04343/9564821-1-eng-US/f0040-042.jpg" title="f0040-04" width="220" height="395"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>PAT RICK KANE</b> <span class="photo-credit">(KANE: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>Patrick Kane</b></p><p><i>.88 vs. .88</i></p><p>N/C</p><p><b>Evgeni Malkin</b></p><p><i>1.09 vs. 1.29</i></p><p>+.20</p><p><b>Alex Ovechkin</b></p><p><i>1.31 vs. 1.12</i></p><p><b>Dany Heatley</b></p><p><i>.82 vs. 1.16</i></p><p>+.34</p><p><b>Scott Gomez</b></p><p><i>.85 vs .83</i></p><p>-.02</p><p><b>Chris Drury</b></p><p><i>.56 vs .82</i></p><p>+.26</p><p><b>Sergei Samsonov</b></p><p><i>.58 vs. .65</i></p><p>+.07</p><h2><b>31</b></h2><p><b>Goals scored by Skinner in his rookie campaign, good for 21st in the NHL</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0040-04

Sophmore SLUMP?

<div class="byline">&#x2013; ROB ROSSI</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-06269/9564929-1-eng-US/f0041-062.jpg" title="f0041-06" width="605" height="675"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>STEVE SULLIVAN</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-1829/9564971-1-eng-US/f0041-182.jpg" title="f0041-18" width="75" height="89"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-01758/9564964-1-eng-US/f0041-012.jpg" title="f0041-01" width="227" height="169"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-02489/9564957-1-eng-US/f0041-022.jpg" title="f0041-02" width="228" height="168"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-03397/9564950-1-eng-US/f0041-032.jpg" title="f0041-03" width="227" height="168"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-04343/9564943-1-eng-US/f0041-042.jpg" title="f0041-04" width="228" height="168"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-05310/9564936-1-eng-US/f0041-052.jpg" title="f0041-05" width="203" height="147"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he word on Steve Sullivan is he&rsquo;s Ray Shero&rsquo;s kind of player: gritty, smart and skilled. And since taking over as Pittsburgh&rsquo;s GM in 2006, Shero hasn&rsquo;t been shy about taking a chance on short-term free agents who other GMs opted to pass on.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-07231/9564922-1-eng-US/f0041-072.jpg" title="f0041-07" width="131" height="124"></div><p>In that regard, Sullivan, who signed a one-year deal worth $1.5 million with the Penguins, is no different than defenseman Mark Eaton, who was one of Shero&rsquo;s first free agents signings. As with Eaton then, the Penguins are expecting Sullivan to provide a specific element on the ice. With Eaton, it was sound own-zone play and expert shot blocking; with Sullivan, 37, it&rsquo;s some power play punch and consistency from the wing.</p><p>There is an off-ice expectation comparison, too. Shero knew in 2006 that his young core needed a pro such as Eaton. He knows Sullivan, a veteran hungry for one last crack at the Cup, can bring perspective to a core that needs only slight tinkering to get back into a long playoff run.</p><p>Sullivan is aiming to stay healthy and the Penguins are banking on him to handle specific power play duties for a man-advantage attack that has struggled and been revamped by coach Dan Bylsma. A 20-goal season is within reach for Sullivan and though the Penguins haven&rsquo;t publicly placed a number on him to justify their investment, they would take that 20 and run &ndash; especially if Sullivan is healthy heading into the playoffs.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>RED INDICATES NEW ARRIVAL</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-08178/9564915-1-eng-US/f0041-082.jpg" title="f0041-08" width="684" height="546"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-10102/9564908-1-eng-US/f0041-102.jpg" title="f0041-10" width="684" height="547"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-1268/9564901-1-eng-US/f0041-122.jpg" title="f0041-12" width="684" height="547"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-1448/9564894-1-eng-US/f0041-142.jpg" title="f0041-14" width="684" height="547"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-1640/9564887-1-eng-US/f0041-162.jpg" title="f0041-16" width="684" height="547"></div><h2><b>FOR THE RECORD</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-09129/9564880-1-eng-US/f0041-092.jpg" title="f0041-09" width="305" height="508"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(PARISE: PAUL BERESWILL/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The easy choice for the Devils captaincy is <b>Zach Parise.</b> However, given Parise signed a one-year, $6-million deal this off-season that makes him a UFA next summer, the team may be leery of going that route. History shows they won&rsquo;t rush &ndash; in 2005-06, the organization left the captaincy vacant all season.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-1182/9564873-1-eng-US/f0041-112.jpg" title="f0041-11" width="297" height="500"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(STREIT: PHILLIP MACCALLUM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>One reason the Isles didn&rsquo;t rush out to sign a veteran defenseman was the return of <b>Mark Streit</b> to active duty. The 33-year-old, who missed all of 2010-11 with a shoulder injury, averaged 39 assists (and 14 goals) in his first two years with the franchise &ndash; one more helper than assists leader John Tavares had last season.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-1357/9564866-1-eng-US/f0041-132.jpg" title="f0041-13" width="305" height="508"></div><p>The Rangers play their first Outdoor Classic game Jan. 1 against the Flyers in Philadelphia&rsquo;s Citizens Bank Park, home to Major League Baseball&rsquo;s Phillies. It will be a new experience for all but two Blueshirts; Erik Christensen (2008) and <b>Mike Rupp</b> (2011) have been through one outdoor game before with Pittsburgh.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-1546/9564859-1-eng-US/f0041-152.jpg" title="f0041-15" width="305" height="508"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(SULLIVAN+RUPP+NYLANDER: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The Flyers will be a younger squad this season, but will get older if they add center <b>Michael Nylander</b>, who will attend camp on a tryout basis. Nylander will be 39 and hasn&rsquo;t played an NHL game since 2008-09, but stayed active in the AHL and Finland. Nylander played with Jaromir Jagr in New York and Washington.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-1734/9564852-1-eng-US/f0041-172.jpg" title="f0041-17" width="300" height="508"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(CROSBY: FRANCOIS LACASSE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Even if stars like <b>Sidney Cros</b><b>by</b> and Evgeni Malkin aren&rsquo;t in the lineup, the Penguins enjoy rabid support. They&rsquo;ve sold out 210 straight home games and despite having added another 300 seats to the Consol Energy Center (making the rink&rsquo;s new capacity 18,387), they&rsquo;ve again had to cap the number of season tickets at 15,000.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0041-06

Man Of The Power

<div class="byline">&#x2013; RYAN KENNEDY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-06247/9565079-1-eng-US/f0042-062.jpg" title="f0042-06" width="605" height="675"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>JASON SPEZZA</b> <span class="photo-credit">(SPEZZA: GERRY THOMAS/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-1837/9565121-1-eng-US/f0042-182.jpg" title="f0042-18" width="75" height="89"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-01801/9565114-1-eng-US/f0042-012.jpg" title="f0042-01" width="228" height="169"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-02512/9565107-1-eng-US/f0042-022.jpg" title="f0042-02" width="227" height="168"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-03402/9565100-1-eng-US/f0042-032.jpg" title="f0042-03" width="228" height="168"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-04324/9565093-1-eng-US/f0042-042.jpg" title="f0042-04" width="227" height="168"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-05277/9565086-1-eng-US/f0042-052.jpg" title="f0042-05" width="228" height="168"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>t seems like a lifetime ago when the Ottawa Senators were a high-flying elite team in the East, charging all the way to the Stanley Cup final before falling to Anaheim.</p><p>In real time, that was only 2007. In hockey time, much longer.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-07209/9565072-1-eng-US/f0042-072.jpg" title="f0042-07" width="112" height="132"></div><p>But key members of that Ottawa squad are still on the roster and will be called upon heavily as the Senators begin their journey up from the Northeast&rsquo;s basement. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s an exciting year for us,&rdquo; said center Jason Spezza. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re a bit of an underdog in our division, but we feel we can compete. There are a lot of new faces, a lot of hungry guys and it&rsquo;s always fun going into camp knowing guys are working hard for their jobs.&rdquo;</p><p>Youngsters such as Bobby Butler, Colin Greening and Erik Condra all saw action at the end of 2010-11 and will be joined by rookie hopefuls Jared Cowen and David Rundblad. While Cowen and Rundblad will look to fellow blueliner Chris Phillips for veteran wisdom, Spezza and captain Daniel Alfredsson will provide the template up front.</p><p>It&rsquo;s a role Spezza is happy to take on and a reversal from his days as the young phenom who rang up 71 assists and 90 points as a third-year NHLer in 2005-06. &ldquo;You want to be approachable, to be able to give guys pointers whenever you can,&rdquo; Spezza said. &ldquo;Little things that you can help with off the ice go a long way. When everybody&rsquo;s comfortable at the rink, you get a better product out on the ice.&rdquo;</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>RED INDICATES NEW ARRIVAL</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-08160/9565065-1-eng-US/f0042-082.jpg" title="f0042-08" width="684" height="582"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-10103/9565058-1-eng-US/f0042-102.jpg" title="f0042-10" width="684" height="547"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-1265/9565051-1-eng-US/f0042-122.jpg" title="f0042-12" width="684" height="547"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-1447/9565044-1-eng-US/f0042-142.jpg" title="f0042-14" width="685" height="547"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-1641/9565037-1-eng-US/f0042-162.jpg" title="f0042-16" width="684" height="547"></div><h2><b>FOR THE RECORD</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-09128/9565030-1-eng-US/f0042-092.jpg" title="f0042-09" width="305" height="508"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(LUCIC: DAVE SANDFORD/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>We usually knock players for cliches, but <b>Milan Lucic</b> is entitled to a &ldquo;There&rsquo;s no place like home.&rdquo; To wit: The Vancouver boy was drafted 50th overall by the Bruins in his home city in 2006, won the Memorial Cup in Vancouver playing for the hometown Giants and you probably heard about his recent triumph in &lsquo;Van City.&rsquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-1178/9565023-1-eng-US/f0042-112.jpg" title="f0042-11" width="305" height="508"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(PECA: RICK STEWART/ALLSPORT)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>Michael</b>&nbsp;<b>Peca</b> is re-joining the Sabres family. Well, sort of. Peca, who spent five seasons in Buffalo and retired after 2008-09, was tabbed GM of the Buffalo Jr. Sabres, who compete in the Ontario Junior League. Peca&rsquo;s post-playing days have mostly been spent as a TV analyst, so this marks a career shift.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-1354/9565016-1-eng-US/f0042-132.jpg" title="f0042-13" width="314" height="514"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(PACIORETTY: FRANCOIS LACASSE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>Max</b>&nbsp;<b>Pacioretty</b> is now Maxim Afinogenov&rsquo;s brother-in-law. Pacioretty married Afinogenov&rsquo;s sister, Katia, a tennis player who was never able to crack the elite ranks. Earlier this summer, Afinogenov wed former tennis star Elena Dementieva, who&rsquo;s now retired, but was once No. 3 in the world. Lots of good backhands in that family.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-1543/9565009-1-eng-US/f0042-152.jpg" title="f0042-15" width="304" height="508"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(MICHALEK: ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>Milan</b>&nbsp;<b>Michalek</b> has been limited to just 66 games in each of his first two seasons in Ottawa and topped out at 22 goals in 2009-10. It would be easy to chalk his lack of production up to injury troubles, but Michalek&rsquo;s goal totals have diminished every season since he scored 26 for San Jose in 2006-07.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-1739/9565002-1-eng-US/f0042-172.jpg" title="f0042-17" width="305" height="506"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(REIMER: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Leafs fans hoping <b>James Reimer</b> is the real deal can put faith in the fact he didn&rsquo;t start playing organized hockey until he was 12, so he&rsquo;s been a bit behind the eight-ball all along. Reimer was also last cut from an under-17 team and missed out on playing for Canada&rsquo;s under-18 team because of a broken thumb.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0042-06

Sen Of Sensibility

<div class="byline">&#x2013; TIM CAMPBELL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-06248/9565229-1-eng-US/f0043-062.jpg" title="f0043-06" width="605" height="675"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>ANDREW LADD</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-1845/9565271-1-eng-US/f0043-182.jpg" title="f0043-18" width="75" height="89"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-01784/9565264-1-eng-US/f0043-012.jpg" title="f0043-01" width="227" height="168"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-02539/9565257-1-eng-US/f0043-022.jpg" title="f0043-02" width="193" height="132"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-03450/9565250-1-eng-US/f0043-032.jpg" title="f0043-03" width="191" height="131"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-04346/9565243-1-eng-US/f0043-042.jpg" title="f0043-04" width="191" height="130"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-05300/9565236-1-eng-US/f0043-052.jpg" title="f0043-05" width="192" height="136"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Winnipeg Jets didn&rsquo;t re-sign captain Andrew Ladd to a five-year, $22-million contract to get more leadership. They believe the 25-year-old from Maple Ridge, B.C., has already proven to be the right player at the right time for the relocated Atlanta franchise.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-07211/9565222-1-eng-US/f0043-072.jpg" title="f0043-07" width="125" height="124"></div><p>&ldquo;For Andrew, I don&rsquo;t think he&rsquo;s going to be any different as a person or a player,&rdquo; said Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff, noting Ladd signed for three years beyond when he could have become an unrestricted free agent. &ldquo;A player plays his whole career to get to the free agent years and has choices at that point.</p><p>&ldquo;He could have signed shorter and played the market after that, so what that says to me is this is his team.&rdquo;</p><p>Ladd, who had a career-best 29 goals and 59 points last season, said he&rsquo;s ready to be a central figure for the Jets in their new home.</p><p>&ldquo;All the teams that have (strong leadership), they know it&rsquo;s important to have those signed pieces that are always there,&rdquo; Ladd said. &ldquo;That helps them keep the same kind of culture.&rdquo;</p><p>Ladd embraced that role in Atlanta after being acquired from the Cup-winning Blackhawks, captained by his close friend Jonathan Toews.</p><p>&ldquo;It was a good thing for me to move on and get a chance to play a bigger role on the team,&rdquo; Ladd said about being captain. &ldquo;Look at Johnny, for instance. That year we won the Cup, he came in and wanted to be the guy in every situation. That&rsquo;s what makes him great.&rdquo;</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>RED INDICATES NEW ARRIVAL</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-08164/9565215-1-eng-US/f0043-082.jpg" title="f0043-08" width="684" height="547"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-10108/9565208-1-eng-US/f0043-102.jpg" title="f0043-10" width="684" height="547"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-1283/9565201-1-eng-US/f0043-122.jpg" title="f0043-12" width="684" height="547"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-1469/9565194-1-eng-US/f0043-142.jpg" title="f0043-14" width="684" height="547"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-1658/9565187-1-eng-US/f0043-162.jpg" title="f0043-16" width="684" height="547"></div><h2><b>FOR THE RECORD</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-09123/9565180-1-eng-US/f0043-092.jpg" title="f0043-09" width="305" height="490"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(LOWE: ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Carolina&rsquo;s hoping success runs in the family. Prospects <b>Keegan Lowe</b> and Brody Sutter are the sons of Kevin and Duane who won Stanley Cups with different dynasties. But it&rsquo;ll be odd having a Lowe and a Sutter on the same team &ndash; Kevin won six with Edmonton and the Rangers, while Duane, won four with the Islanders.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-1194/9565173-1-eng-US/f0043-112.jpg" title="f0043-11" width="305" height="508"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JOVANOVSKI: ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>When <b>Ed Jovanovski</b> was traded from Florida in 1999, it looked as though the team was regaining its winning ways. In 1999-2000, the Panthers improved by 13 wins and with Pavel Bure and Roberto Luongo, there was hope and hype. However, as &lsquo;Jovo&rsquo; returns 12 years later, Florida has as many playoff wins as when he left.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-1372/9565166-1-eng-US/f0043-132.jpg" title="f0043-13" width="305" height="508"></div><p>Shot-blocker extraordinaire <b>Brett Clark</b> might be the most under-appreciated specialist in his area. In blocking 157 shots last season, Clark finished 18th in the NHL. What&rsquo;s more impressive though is the fact he&rsquo;s one of only two players, along with Greg Zanon, to finish in the top 20 in that department each of the past five seasons.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-1562/9565159-1-eng-US/f0043-152.jpg" title="f0043-15" width="305" height="508"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(OVECHKIN+CLARK: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>Alex</b>&nbsp;<b>Ovechkin&rsquo;s</b> 32 goals last season was the lowest total of his career and represented a drop of 33 goals from his career high. So what is the superstar doing to combat the freefall? He&rsquo;s changing his stick, of course. &lsquo;Ovie&rsquo; announced in early August he wouldn&rsquo;t be renewing his endorsement deal with CCM.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-1752/9565152-1-eng-US/f0043-172.jpg" title="f0043-17" width="305" height="508"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(LADD+BOGOSIAN: CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>What kind of a defenseman do the Winnipeg Jets have in <b>Zach Bogosian</b>? On one hand, you have a guy who was picked third overall in 2008 and who one scout said was the most impressive prospect ever when describing his showing at that year&rsquo;s combine. On the other, you have a No. 3 defenseman with a minus-34 career rating.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0043-06

Ready To Take Flight

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-04258/9565354-1-eng-US/f0044-042.jpg" title="f0044-04" width="220" height="411"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>LUBOMIR VISNOVSKY</b> <span class="photo-credit">(VISNOVSKY: ABELIMAGES/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>Lubomir Visnovsky</b></p><p><i>68 points</i></p><p><b>Tobias Enstrom</b></p><p><i>51 points</i></p><p><b>Brian Rafalski</b></p><p><i>48 points</i></p><p><b>John-Michael Liles</b></p><p><i>46 points</i></p><p><b>Kimmo Timonen</b></p><p><i>37 points</i></p><p><b>Ian White</b></p><p><i>26 points</i></p><p><b>Kris Russell</b></p><p><i>23 points</i></p><p><b>Jack Hillen</b></p><p><i>22 points</i></p><p><b>Mike Weaver</b></p><p><i>13 points</i></p><p><b>Jared Spurgeon</b></p><p><i>12 points</i></p><p><b>Francis Bouillon</b></p><p><i>10 points</i></p><h2><b>191</b></h2><p><b>Overall draft position White was selected in by the Maple Leafs in 2002 (sixth round)</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0044-04

LITTLE D-men

<div class="byline">&#x2013; RYAN KENNEDY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-06216/9565462-1-eng-US/f0045-062.jpg" title="f0045-06" width="605" height="675"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>STEVE MASON</b> <span class="photo-credit">(MASON: ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-1820/9565504-1-eng-US/f0045-182.jpg" title="f0045-18" width="75" height="89"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-01590/9565497-1-eng-US/f0045-012.jpg" title="f0045-01" width="196" height="139"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-02390/9565490-1-eng-US/f0045-022.jpg" title="f0045-02" width="198" height="140"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-03329/9565483-1-eng-US/f0045-032.jpg" title="f0045-03" width="190" height="132"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-04286/9565476-1-eng-US/f0045-042.jpg" title="f0045-04" width="191" height="131"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-05251/9565469-1-eng-US/f0045-052.jpg" title="f0045-05" width="201" height="140"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>C</span>atching up with Columbus goalie Steve Mason at a charity golf tournament, former NHL netminder-turned-analyst Kevin Weekes was not shy about his assessment of the Jackets stopper&rsquo;s abilities. &ldquo;Does he understand how good he can be in this league?&rdquo; Weekes said. &ldquo;Seriously. I believe this guy can be a Vezina candidate, but does he believe it and is he willing to work hard enough to do it?&rdquo;</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-07189/9565455-1-eng-US/f0045-072.jpg" title="f0045-07" width="121" height="104"></div><p>The Blue Jackets had a great summer, answering questions at center (Jeff Carter) and the power play point (James Wisniewski). But Mason is the real X-factor: a return to Calder form will mean playoffs; a reversion to the past two seasons spells doom. To help the young netminder regain his magic, Columbus has brought in goalie coach Ian Clark, formerly of the Vancouver Canucks. &ldquo;The first time we got together, it was about simplifying the game for myself,&rdquo; Mason said. &ldquo;It was eliminating unnecessary movements and strategizing more.&rdquo;</p><p>Weekes, who faced Mason before retiring in 2009, loves the 23-year-old&rsquo;s size, athleticism and glove hand, but acknowledged that being a phenom rookie didn&rsquo;t help Mason in the long run. &ldquo;He got a lot very quickly,&rdquo; Weekes said. &ldquo;The flipside of that is he had to learn his lessons at the NHL level instead of the AHL and that&rsquo;s a big difference.&rdquo;</p><p>Understandable, but not something fans will forgive without another  playoff berth.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>RED INDICATES NEW ARRIVAL</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-08119/9565448-1-eng-US/f0045-082.jpg" title="f0045-08" width="684" height="548"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-1067/9565441-1-eng-US/f0045-102.jpg" title="f0045-10" width="684" height="548"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-1244/9565434-1-eng-US/f0045-122.jpg" title="f0045-12" width="684" height="547"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-1435/9565427-1-eng-US/f0045-142.jpg" title="f0045-14" width="684" height="547"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-1625/9565420-1-eng-US/f0045-162.jpg" title="f0045-16" width="636" height="508"></div><h2><b>FOR THE RECORD</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-0984/9565413-1-eng-US/f0045-092.jpg" title="f0045-09" width="297" height="500"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(EMERY: GERRY THOMAS/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Will <b>Ray Emery&rsquo;s</b> act play in Chicago? The 28-year-old was invited to try out for the Hawks&rsquo; backup goalie role following a solid late-season cameo in Anaheim. If he&rsquo;s as healthy and well-conditioned as his camp claims, he&rsquo;ll be a steal. If not, intriguing prospect Alexander Salak, who is on a one-way contract, will get the call.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-1154/9565406-1-eng-US/f0045-112.jpg" title="f0045-11" width="305" height="508"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(HOWSON: JAMIE SABAU/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>If the NHL re-aligns as expected following 2011-12, Jackets GM <b>Scott Howson</b> is eager to get his team moved to the Eastern Conference. Go figure. Over the past four seasons, the Jackets are 38-17-9 against Eastern foes (.664 points percentage). That compares to 103-120-41 versus the more familiar West (.468).</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-1340/9565399-1-eng-US/f0045-132.jpg" title="f0045-13" width="305" height="508"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(COMMODORE: DALE MACMILLAN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Despite a grassroots push to get <b>Mike Commodore</b> to wear No. 64 (in connection with the old computer), the new Wing has opted for No. 22. The number he&rsquo;ll be most focused on entering camp, however, is six &ndash; as in being one of the club&rsquo;s top-six D-men. Jakub Kindl and Brendan Smith will push him for regular duty.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-1532/9565392-1-eng-US/f0045-152.jpg" title="f0045-15" width="283" height="474"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(ELLIS: FREDERICK BREEDON/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The Preds have their own post-concussion syndrome question mark: Francis Bouillon. It&rsquo;s unclear whether the D-man will be ready to start the season. With Cody Franson traded and Brett Lebda released, rookies such as <b>Ryan Ellis</b>, Teemu Laakso and Roman Josi will join newcomer Jack Hillen in an intriguing battle for playing time.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-1722/9565385-1-eng-US/f0045-172.jpg" title="f0045-17" width="284" height="473"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(CHEECHOO: ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Right winger <b>Jonathan Cheechoo</b> is confident that with better health and a new training regimen designed to improve his skating, he can still compete and contribute at the NHL level. The risk for the Blues is relatively low. He&rsquo;ll earn $600,000 if he makes the club and $105,000 if sent to Peoria of the AHL.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0045-06

Showtime Nationwide

<div class="byline">&#x2013; ROB TYCHKOWSKI</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-06150/9565612-1-eng-US/f0046-062.jpg" title="f0046-06" width="606" height="675"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>CAM BARKER</b> <span class="photo-credit">(BARKER: JEFF GROSS/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-1823/9565654-1-eng-US/f0046-182.jpg" title="f0046-18" width="75" height="89"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-01595/9565647-1-eng-US/f0046-012.jpg" title="f0046-01" width="228" height="168"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-02383/9565640-1-eng-US/f0046-022.jpg" title="f0046-02" width="201" height="139"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-03265/9565633-1-eng-US/f0046-032.jpg" title="f0046-03" width="228" height="168"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-04217/9565626-1-eng-US/f0046-042.jpg" title="f0046-04" width="228" height="168"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-05172/9565619-1-eng-US/f0046-052.jpg" title="f0046-05" width="228" height="168"></div><p>In the old adage, &ldquo;one man&rsquo;s trash is another man&rsquo;s treasure,&rdquo; Chuck Fletcher is the first man and Steve Tambellini the second.</p><p>The Minnesota Wild GM considered Cam Barker so expendable he tossed him on the scrap heap by buying him out.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-07124/9565605-1-eng-US/f0046-072.jpg" title="f0046-07" width="161" height="103"></div><p>The move prompted Tambellini to fish Barker out and laud the reclamation project as a potential July 1 steal.</p><p>It&rsquo;s up to the enigmatic defenseman to prove who&rsquo;s right when he starts the season with a franchise that&rsquo;s also on the rebuild. &ldquo;As bad as things got, I&rsquo;m glad it worked out this way,&rdquo; said Barker, who went third overall in 2004 and is already on his third NHL team after starting in Chicago. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited. Edmonton is a great young team, so many great young guys, talented players and things are moving in the right direction. It couldn&rsquo;t be a better fit. It&rsquo;s great to be wanted.&rdquo;</p><p>In inking Barker to a one-year contract, the Oilers see him as a low-risk/high-reward signing. &ldquo;We have to remember he&rsquo;s 25 years old,&rdquo; Tambellini said. &ldquo;He struggled a little bit last year in Minnesota, but he&rsquo;s 25 and has the potential to be a top-four NHL defenseman. He&rsquo;s on a one-year deal. I can&rsquo;t see much risk there.&rdquo;</p><p>Barker knows he is only going to get so many chances, so he&rsquo;s determined to make good on this one. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a huge year for me,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s when I re-establish myself and get back to where I was two, three years ago.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>RED INDICATES NEW ARRIVAL</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-0887/9565598-1-eng-US/f0046-082.jpg" title="f0046-08" width="684" height="547"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-1051/9565591-1-eng-US/f0046-102.jpg" title="f0046-10" width="685" height="548"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-1239/9565584-1-eng-US/f0046-122.jpg" title="f0046-12" width="684" height="547"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-1428/9565577-1-eng-US/f0046-142.jpg" title="f0046-14" width="684" height="547"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-1627/9565570-1-eng-US/f0046-162.jpg" title="f0046-16" width="684" height="548"></div><h2><b>FOR THE RECORD</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-0969/9565563-1-eng-US/f0046-092.jpg" title="f0046-09" width="305" height="509"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(HANNAN: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>If <b>Scott Hannan</b> turns out to be a decent replacement for Robyn Regehr &ndash; playing a tough, physical game and logging 20-22 minutes, the Flames will have saved about $3 million. Hannan, 32, is one year older than Buffalo-bound Regehr, but both have similar stats and play similar styles &ndash; and both have lost a step.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-1147/9565556-1-eng-US/f0046-112.jpg" title="f0046-11" width="305" height="508"></div><p>Eighteen-year-old <b>Gabriel Landeskog</b> goes into training camp as the 2011-draftee most likely to make the NHL this season. The second overall pick wore the &lsquo;C&rsquo; in OHL Kitchener last year, plays a well-rounded two-way game, is physically mature and the Avalanche happen to have a gaping hole at first- or second-line left wing.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-1333/9565549-1-eng-US/f0046-132.jpg" title="f0046-13" width="305" height="508"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(LANDESKOG+HOPKINS: ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Top draft pick <b>Ryan Nugent-Hopkins</b> faces a tough battle in training camp. The Oilers have 14 forwards on the depth chart who finished the season in the NHL last year, including five centers. The addition of Ryan Smyth, Eric Belanger, Ben Eager and Darcy Hordichuk adds much-needed experience and niche skills.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-1527/9565542-1-eng-US/f0046-152.jpg" title="f0046-15" width="305" height="508"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(KOIVU: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>Mikko</b>&nbsp;<b>Koivu&rsquo;s</b> salary jumps from a relative bargain $3.3 million last season to $6.8 million as his seven-year extension kicks in. As such, expectations are raised. So there&rsquo;s no doubt the 28-year-old Finn can&rsquo;t wait to play with new snipers Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi. Koivu has always been more of a playmaker than finisher.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-1724/9565535-1-eng-US/f0046-172.jpg" title="f0046-17" width="305" height="508"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(NOLAN: GERRY THOMAS/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The Canucks extended a couple  of compelling camp invites to former NHLers <b>Owen Nolan</b> and enforcer Todd Fedoruk. Nolan, 39, spent last season playing in the Swiss League and said he&rsquo;d be comfortable in any role, while Fedoruk, 32, sat out last season with injury. The Canucks have about $2.5 million in cap space remaining.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0046-06

Any Oil In This Well?

<div class="byline">&#x2013; MIKE HEIKA</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-06134/9565762-1-eng-US/f0047-062.jpg" title="f0047-06" width="605" height="675"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MIKE RIBEIRO</b> <span class="photo-credit">(RIBEIRO: PHILLIP MACCALLUM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-1823/9565804-1-eng-US/f0047-182.jpg" title="f0047-18" width="75" height="89"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-01540/9565797-1-eng-US/f0047-012.jpg" title="f0047-01" width="227" height="168"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-02351/9565790-1-eng-US/f0047-022.jpg" title="f0047-02" width="190" height="134"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-03279/9565783-1-eng-US/f0047-032.jpg" title="f0047-03" width="227" height="168"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-04214/9565776-1-eng-US/f0047-042.jpg" title="f0047-04" width="228" height="168"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-05164/9565769-1-eng-US/f0047-052.jpg" title="f0047-05" width="188" height="128"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>M</span>ike Ribeiro had the seventh most assists in the NHL last season at 52. Surprising, eh? Well, not if you consider he ranked ninth in 2008-09 and 10th in 2007-08 with 56 in each season.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-07105/9565755-1-eng-US/f0047-072.jpg" title="f0047-07" width="146" height="92"></div><p>Bottom line, Ribeiro is one of the best setup men in the NHL. Since joining the Stars in a trade from Montreal for Janne Niinimaa in 2006, Ribeiro has been fantastic. Known for his on-ice antics and off-ice partying with the Canadiens, the 31-year-old Ribeiro has matured and settled down in Dallas.</p><p>He has averaged .93 points per game over the past four seasons. Now, with the departure of Brad Richards to the Rangers in free agency, Ribeiro will be expected to step up and play No. 1 minutes for the Stars.</p><p>&ldquo;What we&rsquo;ve seen from Mike the last couple of seasons has been just a very focused and very solid hockey player,&rdquo; said Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk. &ldquo;He has improved his defensive game, he&rsquo;s worked hard to fit in and do what the coaches want, he&rsquo;s just been a player who will do anything to help his team.&rdquo;</p><p>Ribeiro bought a house on a lake in East Texas and spends much of his summers working out in the heat. He said he definitely feels he&rsquo;s in better shape and is excited about helping the Stars return to the playoffs.</p><p>&ldquo;I love this team and I really feel a part of this team,&rdquo; Ribeiro said. &ldquo;I want to play here the rest of my career.&rdquo;</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>RED INDICATES NEW ARRIVAL</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-0877/9565748-1-eng-US/f0047-082.jpg" title="f0047-08" width="684" height="547"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-1050/9565741-1-eng-US/f0047-102.jpg" title="f0047-10" width="685" height="547"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-1236/9565734-1-eng-US/f0047-122.jpg" title="f0047-12" width="684" height="547"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-1430/9565727-1-eng-US/f0047-142.jpg" title="f0047-14" width="684" height="547"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-1625/9565720-1-eng-US/f0047-162.jpg" title="f0047-16" width="685" height="548"></div><h2><b>FOR THE RECORD</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-0959/9565713-1-eng-US/f0047-092.jpg" title="f0047-09" width="305" height="508"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(CARLYLE: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>He has only missed the playoffs once in Anaheim in six seasons and guided the team to its only Stanley Cup. So it goes without saying the Ducks wanted to keep coach <b>Randy Carlyle</b> in the fold. They did just that in August, inking the 55-year-old bench boss to a three-year extension rather than waiting for his contract to expire.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-1142/9565706-1-eng-US/f0047-112.jpg" title="f0047-11" width="305" height="508"></div><p>Though he has yet to play a game for the Stars, <b>Sheldon Souray</b> is already getting national exposure. The free agent defenseman who signed for $1.6 million was incidentally part of WWE SummerSlam broadcast when his girlfriend, wrestler Kelly Kelly, went ringside to give him a kiss after she won a big match at the event.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-1332/9565699-1-eng-US/f0047-132.jpg" title="f0047-13" width="305" height="508"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(ROENICK: DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Ex-King <b>Jeremy Roenick</b> took his pop culture cult status to a new level recently when he filmed a re-enactment of the scene from <i>Swingers</i> where a character in the movie dominates NHL &rsquo;93 by playing as Roenick&rsquo;s Blackhawks and &ldquo;making Gretzky&rsquo;s head bleed.&rdquo; J.R. wears No. 99&rsquo;s L.A. jersey in the spot.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-1528/9565692-1-eng-US/f0047-152.jpg" title="f0047-15" width="305" height="508"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(SMITH: SCOTT AUDETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The Yotes brought him in to hold the fort, but they also know <b>Mike Smith</b> can go yard. The netminder hit a home run this summer while taking batting practice with the Tampa Bay Rays. Smith rounded the bases in celebration and was greeted by then-Bolts teammates Steven Stamkos, Nate Thompson and Teddy Purcell.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-1725/9565685-1-eng-US/f0047-172.jpg" title="f0047-17" width="305" height="508"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(SOURAY+SHEPPARD: GERRY THOMAS/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>San Jose&rsquo;s Institute for Recovering Wild Players gained its newest member when 2006 first-rounder <b>James Sheppard</b> was acquired from Minnesota for a draft pick. Sheppard missed all of last season due to an injury involving an all-terrain vehicle and has yet to live up to hype after being rushed to the NHL as a 19-year-old in 2007.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0047-06

Ribeiro Set To Shine

<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-225/9566027-1-eng-US/f0049-222.jpg" title="f0049-22" width="75" height="89"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-02284/9566020-1-eng-US/f0049-022.jpg" title="f0049-02" width="190" height="242"></div><h2><b>Jamie Oleksiak, D,</b></h2><p>14th overall (DAL)</p><p><i>Played for Northeastern last season, will join Saginaw this year</i></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-03219/9566013-1-eng-US/f0049-032.jpg" title="f0049-03" width="75" height="88"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-04200/9566006-1-eng-US/f0049-042.jpg" title="f0049-04" width="190" height="242"></div><h2><b>J.T. Miller, C</b></h2><p>15th overall (NYR)</p><p><i>Slated to attend North Dakota, will instead play for Plymouth</i></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-05156/9565999-1-eng-US/f0049-052.jpg" title="f0049-05" width="75" height="88"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-0684/9565992-1-eng-US/f0049-062.jpg" title="f0049-06" width="190" height="242"></div><h2><b>Connor Murphy, D</b></h2><p>20th overall (PHX)</p><p><i>Committed to Miami, has chosen to join Sarnia instead</i></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-0761/9565985-1-eng-US/f0049-072.jpg" title="f0049-07" width="75" height="88"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-0840/9565978-1-eng-US/f0049-082.jpg" title="f0049-08" width="190" height="242"></div><h2><b>Tyler Biggs, RW</b></h2><p>22nd overall (TOR)</p><p><i>Made a promise to Miami, expected to keep it this season.</i></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-0932/9565971-1-eng-US/f0049-092.jpg" title="f0049-09" width="88" height="92"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-1027/9565964-1-eng-US/f0049-102.jpg" title="f0049-10" width="190" height="242"></div><h2><b>Rocco Grimaldi, C</b></h2><p>33rd overall (FLA)</p><p><i>Committed to North Dakota, still expected to attend.</i></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-1119/9565957-1-eng-US/f0049-112.jpg" title="f0049-11" width="88" height="92"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-1217/9565950-1-eng-US/f0049-122.jpg" title="f0049-12" width="190" height="242"></div><h2><b>Scott Mayfield, D</b></h2><p>34th overall (NYI)</p><p><i>Family history has him on the path to Denver, just as he planned.</i></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-1314/9565943-1-eng-US/f0049-132.jpg" title="f0049-13" width="88" height="91"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-1412/9565936-1-eng-US/f0049-142.jpg" title="f0049-14" width="190" height="243"></div><h2><b>John Gibson, G</b></h2><p>39th overall (ANA)</p><p><i>Pulled out of Michigan commit to join Kitchener instead.</i></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-1511/9565929-1-eng-US/f0049-152.jpg" title="f0049-15" width="75" height="88"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-1611/9565922-1-eng-US/f0049-162.jpg" title="f0049-16" width="190" height="242"></div><h2><b>Michael Paliotta, D</b></h2><p>70th overall (CHI)</p><p><i>Slated to attend Vermont, no change expected there.</i></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-1710/9565915-1-eng-US/f0049-172.jpg" title="f0049-17" width="88" height="91"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-1810/9565908-1-eng-US/f0049-182.jpg" title="f0049-18" width="190" height="243"></div><h2><b>Steven Fogarty, C</b></h2><p>72nd overall (NYR)</p><p><i>Notre Dame commit still expected to suit up for the Fighting Irish.</i></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-198/9565901-1-eng-US/f0049-192.jpg" title="f0049-19" width="88" height="92"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-208/9565894-1-eng-US/f0049-202.jpg" title="f0049-20" width="190" height="242"></div><h2><b>Blake Coleman, C</b></h2><p>75th overall (NJ)</p><p><i>Committed to Miami, no change anticipated.</i></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-216/9565887-1-eng-US/f0049-212.jpg" title="f0049-21" width="88" height="90"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p><b>For more on the future, check out: <a href="http://thn.com/prospects">thn.com/prospects</a></b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0049-02

Did They Stay or Go?

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-02267/9566103-1-eng-US/f0050-022.jpg" title="f0050-02" width="474" height="464"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MIKHAIL GRIGORENKO</b> <span class="photo-credit">(GRIGORENKO: RUSSIAN ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>C</span>enter Mikhail Grigorenko already has one No. 1 out of the way; he was the top pick in the CHL Import Draft and will indeed come over to North America this season. That his rights were grabbed by Patrick Roy&rsquo;s Quebec Remparts certainly helped the situation. &ldquo;Patrick, he&rsquo;s phenomenal in terms of his intensity,&rdquo; said Grigorenko&rsquo;s agent, Jay Grossman. &ldquo;He wants to win, but he also understands these are young players who are coming to him for development.&rdquo;</p><p>Tremendously skilled and big at 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, Grigorenko wanted to test his mettle during the tough major junior schedule and although breaking the language barrier is the first goal, he&rsquo;s already got the inside scoop from former Rempart and fellow Grossman client Alexander Radulov. Grossman cited Roy&rsquo;s ability to pick out the differences in players as being invaluable to Radulov&rsquo;s career at the time.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0050-02

Russian Rempart

<div class="byline">BY RYAN WHIRTY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0052-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0052-01303/9566134-1-eng-US/f0052-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>PAVING THE WAY</b></p><p><b>Jaroslav Jirik&rsquo;s brief tenure with the Blues left a long legacy for Europeans to follow.</b></p> <span class="photo-credit">(THN ARCHIVES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>R</span>ight winger</b> Jaroslav Jirik didn&rsquo;t have much of a statistical impact when he played three games for the St. Louis Blues in 1969-70. But his effect on the destiny of international hockey was far-reaching.</p><p>More than 40 years ago, the native of Brno, Czech Republic, became the first player behind the Iron Curtain to compete in the NHL, a development that hinted at the flood of Eastern Bloc talent that would arrive in the ensuing years.</p><p>Jirik, who died in a small-plane crash in the Czech Republic July 11, is especially beloved in his native country. He keyed the Czech triumph over the Soviets in the 1968 Olympics, recognized today as one of the greatest games in Olympic hockey history. Then, as a member of the Czechoslovakian national team, he helped upset the mighty juggernaut from the Soviet Union in the World Championship in March 1969. That emotional victory came just months after the USSR invaded Czechoslovakia to brutally squash calls for political reform.</p><p>Between his trailblazing abroad and his dedication to his homeland, Jirik earned the respect and admiration of a hockey world that mourned his passing at age 71.</p><p>The 1969 World Championship was Jirik&rsquo;s last. He was hampered by injuries that kept him out of the first win against the Soviets, but would not hold him back for the second. Jirik and teammate Jaroslav Holik led the Czech team&rsquo;s rebellion against Soviet influence by covering up the red star on their jerseys with tape.</p><p>The Czech victories in that tournament represented a massive moral and emotional triumph over the imperial force that crushed the spirits of the Czech people just seven months earlier. After the 1969 wins, wild celebrations and anti-Soviet protests erupted in the streets.</p><p>However, even before the Czechs&rsquo; triumph at the worlds, Jirik&rsquo;s standout play for ZKL Brno in the Czech pro league caught the eyes of former scout and assistant Blues GM Cliff Fletcher, who entered into negotiations to acquire the rights to the fiery winger. Fletcher succeeded when international officials gave permission for the 30-year-old Czech star to go.</p><p>Jirik drew praise from Blues coach Scotty Bowman, who told the press Jirik was &ldquo;very aggressive, a good two-way player.&rdquo; However, Bowman also hinted European rules regarding checking would make it tough for any European to gain a foothold in North America.</p><p>Bowman&rsquo;s words proved prophetic. Jirik spent much of 1969-70 with the Blues&rsquo; Central League affiliate in Kansas City before being called up to the big club late. He competed in three games for St. Louis and played decently, but didn&rsquo;t register a point. However, by simply appearing in the contests, Jirik became the first Eastern Bloc player to play in the NHL.</p><p>While in Kansas City, Jirik made a quiet impression. He was fairly fluent in English, but was also shy, said teammate Don Giesebrecht. &ldquo;That was understandable with him coming to our country,&rdquo; Giesebrecht said. &ldquo;I think he was missing his home country sometimes. It was a big cultural shock when he came to Kansas City.&rdquo;</p><p>Jirik, who was older than most of the other players, was assertive on the ice when needed. &ldquo;He held is own,&rdquo; Giesebrecht said. &ldquo;He didn&rsquo;t back away from anything. He was a well-built kid, very muscular and mature-looking. He didn&rsquo;t avoid contact or anything.&rdquo;</p><p>Jirik ended up tallying 19 goals and 35 points in 53 games with K.C. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s more of a scramble in the minor league,&rdquo; Jirik told THN at the time. &ldquo;They play positions more in the NHL, the game is so much faster and they handle the puck so much better. It&rsquo;s a lot harder.&rdquo;</p><p>After the season, the Blues asked Jirik to stay for another campaign, but he decided to return to his homeland for five more seasons with ZKL Brno before retiring in 1975. He then embarked on a successful coaching career and in 1978-79 he guided the Swiss national team. After retiring from coaching, he became a successful sports agent in the 1990s.</p><p>While Jirik ended up blazing a trail to the NHL for Eastern European players, it was on the international scene he will be best remembered.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0052-01

Trailblazer Remembered

<p class="dropcap"><span>A</span>s a subscriber to The Hockey News, you can expect the best in subscription services. If you have questions about your subscription, please contact us at one of the following contact points. Please be prepared to provide your mailing information and account number from your label.</p><p><b>CONTACT INFO</b> 1-888-361-9768</p><p><b>MAIL</b></p><p><b>IN Canada:</b></p><p>The Hockey News</p><p>PO Box 904, STN B</p><p>Toronto ON M2K 2T6</p><p><b>IN U.S.A:</b></p><p>The Hockey News</p><p>PO Box 904</p><p>Buffalo NY</p><p><b>U.K. and Europe:</b></p><p>The Hockey News</p><p>Barker&rsquo;s Worldwide Publications</p><p>Units 6/7 The Elms Centre,</p><p>Normandy Surrey, UK GU3 2DF</p><p>P :-(44) 1483-811971</p><p>F :-(44) 1483-811972</p><p>E: <a href="mailto:sales@bwwp.co.uk">sales@bwwp.co.uk</a></p><h2><b>ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES</b></h2><p>Print: North America, $62.95 including any applicable taxes. U.K. and Europe: &pound;149.95. Digital Subscriptions available worldwide: $62.95 via <a href="http://thehockeynews.com">thehockeynews.com</a></p><h2><b>SUBSCRIPTION EXPIRY, BILLING AND RENEWAL NOTICES</b></h2><p>You can determine when your subscription expires by checking your mailing label. Our labels and notices are produced in advance of issues and notices being mailed. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for renewals and requests for address changes to avoid missing any issues. It is possible that your payment or renewal notice will cross in the mail with our next notice. If you receive yet another notice, please let us know.</p><h2><b>PRIVACY POLICY</b></h2><p>On occasion, we make our subscriber list available to carefully screened organizations whose product or service might interest you. If you prefer that we not share your name and address (postal and or e-mail), you can easily remove your name from our mailing list by reaching us at any of the listed contact points. You can review our complete Privacy Policy at <a href="http://www.thehockeynews.com">www.thehockeynews.com</a>.</p><h2><b>BACK ISSUES</b></h2><p>Please contact us with the cover date or volume and issue number of the issue you are interested in. Please be advised that not all issues are available, and only for a limited time. Photos and images in the magazine are not available for purchase separately due to licensing restrictions.</p><h2><b>PHOTOS IN THE HOCKEY NEWS</b></h2><p>The Hockey News does not reproduce and distribute photos that appear in issues.</p><p>Complete subscriber services are available online</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0053-0584/9566165-1-eng-US/f0053-052.jpg" title="f0053-05" width="265" height="45"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0053-05

The Hockey News At Your Service

<div class="byline">By Larry Humber</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0053-01283/9566196-1-eng-US/f0053-012.jpg" title="f0053-01" width="913" height="913"></div><p><b>ANSWERS AVAILABLE IN THE NEXT ISSUE AND AT <a href="http://THN.com/XWORD">THN.com/xword</a></b></p><h2><b>ACROSS</b></h2><p>1 He&rsquo;s GM in Anaheim</p><p>8 Where a young Gordie Howe spent a season</p><p>9 Talked trash</p><p>10 Ottawa&rsquo;s Erik ___</p><p>11 Two-time Smythe winner ___ Parent</p><p>12 A face shield maker</p><p>14 Phoenix&rsquo;s ___ Yandle</p><p>17 ___ Lukowich was a Jet legend</p><p>19 Nickname of Seattle&rsquo;s old Western League team</p><p>20 One who&rsquo;ll never win the Art Ross Trophy</p><p>21 Mike Ilitch is Detroit&rsquo;s</p><p>22 High-scoring games</p><h2><b>DOWN</b></h2><p>2 St. Louis&rsquo;s T.J. ___, pictured</p><p>3 Howie ___ was a legendary Hab</p><p>4 Goalie Jeff ___ had a record three-point game</p><p>5 Tokyo&rsquo;s ___ Arena has hosted NHL games</p><p>6 In Happy Gilmore, Adam ___ is a hockey player turned golfer</p><p>7 Playoff games that go on and on</p><p>11 Nicklas ___ centers &lsquo;Ovie&rsquo;</p><p>13 Body contact</p><p>15 Refs who seem to favor the host team</p><p>16 &lsquo;Uke Line&rsquo; member ___ Horvath</p><p>17 ___ Tremblay was briefly Montreal coach</p><p>18 Unskilled</p><p><b>LAST WEEK&rsquo;S CROSSWORD SOLUTION ACROSS</b> 1. ARMSTRONG, 8. RIFLE, 9. INDIANS, 10. LABINE, 11. CYCLES, 12. SHAFT, 14. VAIVE, 17. FROZEN, 19. LINDEN, 20. PENALTY, 21. NANNE, 22. TIM THOMAS <b>DOWN</b> 2. RANDY, 3. SHIELD, 4. RINKS, 5. GREATS, 6. AFRICAN, 7. SEVENTEEN, 11. CLEVELAND, 13. WINNING, 15. EYELET, 16. MODANO, 17. FLEET, 18. EXTRA<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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CROSSWORD

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0053-02190/9566227-1-eng-US/f0053-022.jpg" title="f0053-02" width="899" height="1175"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Murph Chamberlain of the Canadiens gets punchy in this staged shot from the 1940s. Nice pipe, too.</b> <span class="photo-credit">(BLAST: HHOF IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0053-04114/9566234-1-eng-US/f0053-042.jpg" title="f0053-04" width="136" height="136"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></div>

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Blast from the Past from The Hockey Hall of Fame

<div class="byline">&#x2013; RYAN KENNEDY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0053-03132/9566265-1-eng-US/f0053-032.jpg" title="f0053-03" width="622" height="575"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JERSEY: QMJHL)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>F</span>irst they were the St. John&rsquo;s Fog Devils, then shortly after that the Montreal Juniors. Now, shortly after that, they&rsquo;re the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. And though the locale is a mouthful, the nickname &lsquo;Armada&rsquo; is a cool moniker for Quebec&rsquo;s newest major junior squad.</p><p>Even though this team is brand new, the logo and sweater design has a classic feel to it. Compounding matters are the pure black and white uniforms, which are rare, but look awesome &ndash; as long as they&rsquo;re not going to be confused for referees out there.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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Jersey Hound

<div class="byline">WITH ADAM PROTEAU</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0054-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0054-02173/9566310-1-eng-US/f0054-022.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0054-01294/9566317-1-eng-US/f0054-012.jpg" title="f0054-01" width="187" height="222"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>S</span>ome people looked</b> at the NHL&rsquo;s 2010 research and development camp as a massive, two-day exercise in futility, given how exactly none of the 30 rule changes that were tested at the Toronto-based camp were adopted last season.</p><p>But that isn&rsquo;t the way it should be regarded. Now in its second year, the R&D camp has become an important and successful component of the NHL&rsquo;s short-and long-term business. And not for some of the reasons you would expect.</p><p>For starters, you can&rsquo;t look at the camp as an IKEA store, where you simply assemble a bunch of components and put them into use right away. You have to see it as a laboratory or test kitchen &ndash; a place where some recipes are going to fall flat and never see the light of day, but also a place that could be the birthing ground for some world-class advances.</p><p>&ldquo;This is research and development &ndash; it&rsquo;s what many companies do,&rdquo; said NHL vice-president of business and hockey operations Brendan Shanahan, the driving force behind the creation and continuation of the camp. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not a knee-jerk reaction to anything that we feel is wrong with the game. It&rsquo;s about being proactive.&rdquo;</p><p>Shanahan told a throng of reporters during the mid-August camp that some people are under the impression the NHL is dreaming up 30 new tweaks each year to be tested. The reality is the 2011 edition had 20 of the same rules from the previous camp being looked at again.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0054-03112/9566303-1-eng-US/f0054-032.jpg" title="f0054-03" width="903" height="550"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0054-0485/9566296-1-eng-US/f0054-042.jpg" title="f0054-04" width="903" height="493"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>MATTER OF INCHES</b></p><p><b>A verification line and shallower nets are two popular innovations coming out of the NHL&rsquo;s summer test kitchen.</b></p> <span class="photo-credit">(ALL: DAVE SANDFORD/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Two of those rules that were being tested for a second straight year seemed like near locks to be adopted sometime soon, if not in time for 2011-12.</p><p>The first was a solid green stripe just inside the goal line that would serve as a verification for goal disputes (The concept being if the puck in any way is touching the green line, it has passed the traditional goal line and counts on the scoreboard).</p><p>&ldquo;I think the verification line is a really good idea that doesn&rsquo;t affect the game and how it&rsquo;s played in any way other than it will be of great assistance to hockey operations on certain goal reviews,&rdquo; Shanahan said.</p><p>The second change that was met with a warm reception by GMs, scouts and players was a physical alteration to the depth of the nets. Currently, a standard cage is 44 inches deep, but the league is looking at making it shallower by four inches to open up more space behind the twine for players to work.</p><p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s a no-brainer (to implement) for me,&rdquo; one Western Conference GM said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re always talking about how small the ice surface has become with bigger and faster players. Well, here&rsquo;s a nice and easy way to address that.&rdquo;</p><blockquote class="pullQuote"><b>It&rsquo;s about being proactive</b><br><b><i>Brendan Shanahan</i></b></blockquote><p>But don&rsquo;t think the R&D camp is only about testing rules. That may have been Shanahan&rsquo;s goal in initially suggesting the concept, but there is more to it now.</p><p>The camp now tests changes to equipment as well as technological advances (e.g. headsets for officials to use to communicate during games). But the most noticeable positive side effect was the decision to test all rules using the top prospects for the upcoming draft. The kids are getting their first taste of the big-league experience and, with hockey&rsquo;s biggest power brokers in the stands watching them, they play the games like they matter.</p><p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s a great amount of competitiveness among them to be here,&rdquo; Shanahan said. &ldquo;It is part research and development, but it admittedly is part scouting mission for them. It&rsquo;s a great introduction to their draft year and for us to get to know them a bit better. And that competitiveness they bring because all the scouts and GMs are here&hellip; that&rsquo;s what gives us our true reads.&rdquo;</p><p>And let&rsquo;s hope the NHL continues to mine the gold it has at its disposal.</p><p>KEN CAMPBELL&rsquo;S OVERTIME WILL RETURN IN THE NEXT EDITION OF <b>THE HOCKEY NEWS</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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National Hockey Laboratory

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0055-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-01258/9566348-1-eng-US/f0055-012.jpg"></div><p><b>1 YEAR of The Hockey News including Future Watch, Draft Preview and the Yearbook</b></p><p><b>Daily email newsletter FREE</b></p><p><b>Full digital edition FREE</b></p><p><b>NHL<sup>&reg;</sup> team swivel key chain of your choice FREE</b></p><p><b>VISIT <a href="http://thehockeynews.com">THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM</a> TO SUBSCRIBE NOW!</b></p><p><b><a href="http://THN.com">THN.com</a> is now available as a FREE download on mobile devices</b></p><p><b>Download the application today at <a href="http://thn.mobi">thn.mobi</a></b></p><p><b>NHL, the NHL Shield and the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League.</b></p><p><b>NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. &copy; NHL 2010. All Rights Reserved.</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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September 12, 2011

NCAA Hockey’s Hangover

Logo RANKINGS

Maatta Makes The Trifecta

White A Perfect Fit In Red