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December 5, 2011
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.
Eller-vating His Game
NORTHEAST Lars Eller continues his experiment with the Montreal Canadiens, attempting to define his role. And even his position. While the 22-year-old Denmark native is a natural center, he realizes he’ll surely have to shift to the wing when Scott Gomez returns from injury. He’s been centering the Canadiens’ third line, between Travis Moen and Andrei Kostitsyn. Eller admits he wasn’t strong defensively before entering the NHL and he’s learned the importance of playing that skill under coach Jacques Martin. That lesson will ultimately dictate Eller’s playing time, though he still expects to develop into an offensive threat, “I have to be sharper around the crease – I should have more goals,” said Eller, who had a goal and four points through 11 games. “The fact I can play more than one position…
Howard’s Finest Hour
CENTRAL The newest father on the Detroit Red Wings is also their saving grace. Goaltender Jimmy Howard became a dad for the first time in October when his wife Rachel gave birth to a son, James Russell Howard IV. Howard the proud papa is learning on the job, seeking wisdom from his veteran teammates. “Just sleep when you can,” he listed as the most common advice he’s received. Howard the NHL netminder, however, didn’t develop via trial and error. He spent four seasons in the American League before receiving the keys to Detroit’s future in 2009-10. Glib and rarely rattled, Howard has proven to be like the sedans produced in the Motor City by the Big Three automakers – safe and reliable. That sort of description suits Howard, who considers consistency to be…
The Moose Turns Loose
When a collection of NHL coaches and scouts traveled to Belarus to help out at the country’s under-18 and under-20 camps a couple years ago, the youngest skater there caught their attention. Center Artur Gavrus’ work ethic and puck pursuit reminded the North American group of a famous Stanley Cup champion, so the young Belarussian was handed his first nickname by San Jose coach Todd McLellan: ‘Moose.’ Now that Gavrus is in North America with the Ontario League’s Owen Sound Attack, he’s turning many heads and was named the league’s rookie of the month in October despite having to make many adjustments. But don’t think the honor and Mark Messier name-drop will go to the freshman’s head. “It’s not my credit, but also to all my partners on the team,” he said…
THN INBOX
Cap Clap In the Nov. 7 Overtime, Ken Campbell suggests the salary cap doesn’t work because GMs circumvent it and teams should be allowed to spend as they wish. This would shut down Phoenix, Columbus, Dallas, Florida, etc. We could lose half the league through slow attrition. Hockey needs to solve the money problems, not collapse in on itself. Joe Connor, Pennsville, N.J. Bucks, No Pucks Rory Boylen’s article on charity work (Giving Back, Nov. 7) ends with, “The only way we could mention every player and team program would be to dedicate an entire magazine to them.” Well, what’s stopping you? 1) It would highlight the NHL’s best off the ice; 2) It might shame the league’s tightwads into being more generous; 3) It’s a content win-win: 100 percent money talk, zero percent…
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