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.

February 18, 2013

The Hockey News - Feb-18-13

<div class="byline">&#x2013; SPENCER DAVIS</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0014-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-012255/9811615-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>CHECK OUT</b></p><p>OUR iPAD ISSUE FOR MORE ACTION PHOTOS FROM THE AHL OUTDOOR CLASSIC</p></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>W</span>here the NHL failed, the American League delivered for fans nostalgic of hockey played in the elements. In mid-January, the AHL held its annual Outdoor Classic at Hersheypark Stadium. In below-freezing temperatures, decked out in toques and eye black, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Hershey Bears faced off in front of a sellout crowd of 17,311. Fans watched the Eastern Conference rivals battle in rebellious conditions as the game came down to the wire. With the wind blowing and sun setting, the Pens won 2-1 thanks to Paul Thompson&rsquo;s overtime heroics.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-021699/9811608-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg" title="f0014-02" width="176" height="180"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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IN THIS ISSUE

THE AHL AT ITS BEST

<div class="byline">BY BEN KUZMA</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-01457/9812466-1-eng-US/f0048-012.jpg" title="f0048-01" width="378" height="282"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-1418/9812473-1-eng-US/f0048-142.jpg" title="f0048-14" width="60" height="68"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-02292/9812459-1-eng-US/f0048-022.jpg" title="f0048-02" width="1530" height="1193"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>TAKING THE NEXT STEP</b></p><p>In his first season in a Canucks uniform, Jason Garrison hopes to build on his career-year 2011-12.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(RICH LAM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>JASON GARRISON AND ALEXANDER EDLER</b>&nbsp;have more in common than being a top defense pairing for the Canucks.</p><p>In 2011-12, Garrison had a career year with 16 goals, which set a Florida Panthers single-season record for defensemen, while Edler had a career-high 49 points. (Garrison&rsquo;s output was third among blueliners behind Shea Weber and Erik Karlsson, who had 19 goals apiece, and Garrison&rsquo;s nine power play goals were just two behind Weber, who led that category.)</p><p>More importantly, however, both defensemen took care of pressing health concerns during the lockout.</p><p>Garrison (groin) and Edler (back) were injured and paid while the NHL was on hiatus, until medically cleared mid-December. Hopes were high the two would establish instant chemistry for the defending Presidents&rsquo; Trophy winners, but the pair&rsquo;s fingers were crossed that the compacted 48-game schedule wouldn&rsquo;t bring more health concerns. For good reason. It&rsquo;s a homecoming for Garrison, a White Rock, B.C., native, after signing a six-year, $27.6-million contract on the first day of free agency. And it&rsquo;s a place Edler will continue to call his hockey home after inking a six-year, $30-million extension in January.</p><p>Garrison corrected a groin issue that had bothered him for two years. He strengthened  his core with noted local physiotherapist Rick Celebrini, the head of sports medicine and science for Major League Soccer&rsquo;s Vancouver Whitecaps. Celebrini helped by giving Garrison a specific strength exercise for his groin, hamstring and quads.</p><p>Celebrini saw him when his injury was at its worst and told Garrison the strength in his core and adductors was lacking. Celebrini basically retrained everything and rebuilt Garrison&rsquo;s core.</p><p>The defenseman now says that area of his body is stronger than it&rsquo;s ever been. &ldquo;I feel pretty confident that nothing bad is going to happen as long as I maintain what I&rsquo;m doing and pay attention,&rdquo; Garrison said. &ldquo;There were times at the start where I tried to push it and I could just tell it wasn&rsquo;t there. Over time it got better and you want to get to that place where it&rsquo;s reaction and nothing is going to cause pain.&rdquo;</p><p>Meanwhile, Edler eased worries over recurring back problems stemming from a big hit from Dallas Stars center Jamie Benn more than two years ago. He had surgery shortly after sustaining the injury to repair a herniated disc that could not have healed on its own and returned for the second last game of the regular season in 2010-11 after missing 10 weeks.</p><p>After his career year in 2011-12, Edler picked up right where he left off to start this season, with two goals and three points in three games. &ldquo;After surgery, I don&rsquo;t think the back can get back to 100 percent, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean you can&rsquo;t play at 100 percent,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know if I was 100 percent last year, but it didn&rsquo;t affect me. I&rsquo;ve got to stay on top of it and maintain it, but I&rsquo;m not going to play a game and be cautious. That&rsquo;s not my way and not my style. If I don&rsquo;t feel good, I&rsquo;ll have to look into it.&rdquo;</p><p>In Edler, Vancouver believes it has a Norris Trophy contender, not the player whose confidence crumbled in the playoffs last season. If he stays healthy, he could help the Canucks claim a fifth consecutive Northwest Division title. &ldquo;There haven&rsquo;t been any red lights,&rdquo; Edler said. &ldquo;I can do everything, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean I&rsquo;m not feeling it. Sometimes it&rsquo;s sore and stiff, but it was sore and stiff last year and I played 82 games.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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BACK-END DEALING AND HEALING

<p class="dropcap"><i><span>C</span>ute analogy with the &ldquo;Real Wives of the NHL&rdquo; cover (Jan. 21). I realize you were hurting for subject matter and I&rsquo;ll admit I was interested to know more, but once I got to the actual article I was a bit puzzled. On the one hand it sounds like you&rsquo;re trying to quell the &ldquo;trophy wives&rdquo; stereotype, but on the other hand you have them posing in tight and revealing clothing. You&rsquo;re telling us one thing and showing us another. I would have loved to see them as they really are, without all the silly posing.</i></p><p><b><i>Leah Leitch, Grand Valley, Ont.</i></b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-012472/9811159-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="595" height="793"></div><p>CONTACT US:</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-021683/9811152-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="141" height="88"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p><a href="http://THN.COM/LETTERS">THN.COM/LETTERS</a></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-031004/9811145-1-eng-US/f0006-032.jpg" title="f0006-03" width="70" height="70"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p>/THEHOCKEYNEWS</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-05499/9811138-1-eng-US/f0006-052.jpg" title="f0006-05" width="71" height="71"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p>/+THEHOCKEYNEWS<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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THE REAL DEAL?

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-1913/9811204-1-eng-US/f0006-192.jpg" title="f0006-19" width="522" height="139"></div><p>56% SETH JONES</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-1617/9811197-1-eng-US/f0006-162.jpg" title="f0006-16" width="250" height="310"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-1714/9811190-1-eng-US/f0006-172.jpg" title="f0006-17" width="284" height="302"></div><p>44% NATHAN<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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PUCKPOLL

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-012197/9810951-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>CHECK OUT</b></p><p>Our iPad issue for a bonus slideshow from opening night in L.A.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(SHELLY CASTELLANO/SCPIX)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>KINGS&rsquo; LANDING</b></h2><p>Better late than never. L.A. fans rejoice as their team&rsquo;s first Stanley Cup banner is raised Jan. 19.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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OPENING FACEOFF

<div class="byline">WITH JASON KAY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-012242/9810989-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="526" height="923"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(RYAN BROOK/TC MEDIA)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>Y WIFE AND I INVITED SOME FRIENDS</b> to stately Kay Manor in east-end Toronto on the opening night of the season to catch the return of the Original 30. It was a couple whose Saturday night routine revolves around their favorite National Hockey League franchise, despite the fact said team has given them nothing to cheer about in a decade. Or Four.</p><p>To my surprise, they declined. The reason had nothing to do with what we were feeding them, but rather with what the NHL has fed them. They&rsquo;ve had it up to the visor with the greed of the one percent and are boycotting the rest of the campaign. Maybe longer.</p><p>It made me wonder if some of the projections we were hearing about the damage the league and players were inflicting on themselves with their third prolonged lockout in 18 years were actually accurate. Turns out, not so much. The early results strongly suggest the rich and famous are getting away with it. Again. Attendance and TV ratings through the first several days were robust, <a href="http://NHL.com">NHL.com</a> crashed on opening night due to increased activity and social media in general is all atwitter about the boys on blades (see pgs. 15 and 58 for more on the NHL&rsquo;s return).</p><p>In spite of itself, the league may be on the precipice of another leap. That growth could be accelerated if the New York Rangers, the subject of our cover story beginning on pg. 16, meet the heightened expectations of the masses. On paper, New York looks like a juggernaut, a team with very few flaws. On the ice, it began the season sluggishly, but that will be forgotten with a hot streak and long playoff run. And a Stanley Cup? Imagine the increased buzz for the league.</p><p>We remember what happened in 1994, when the Blueshirts won their first title in 54 years. In fact, you can relive those moments along with us in the pages of our new iPad edition, available at finer iTunes stores everywhere. A tale from the THN&rsquo;s past is one of the many bonuses we&rsquo;ve woven into the tablet version. The digital THN includes all the same content you get in the printed product, plus embedded videos, additional sidebars, links to breaking news and up-to-the-minute team reports and live Twitter feeds of our columnists. No boycotts or hunger strikes here. In fact, there&rsquo;s more of us to love than ever.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-021897/9810982-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="414" height="222"></div><p><b>NEXT ISSUE</b> MARCH 4, 2013</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><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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DEPARTMENTS

THE APPLE OF OUR EYES

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-1067/9811079-1-eng-US/f0006-102.jpg" title="f0006-10" width="513" height="702"></div><h2><b>POWER OUTAGE</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-06354/9811107-1-eng-US/f0006-062.jpg" title="f0006-06" width="140" height="88"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span> always considered THN as a source of serious journalism specializing in the sport we love. &ldquo;The Real Wives of the NHL&rdquo; feature betrays this belief. The focus should be on the athlete, not his family. I would cancel my subscription, but I love the sport too much. For now, I&rsquo;ll read this issue in hiding, just as when I used to peek at girlie magazines 45 years ago. The shame.</p><p><b><i>Raymond Romeu, Santa Teresa, N.M.</i></b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-07230/9811100-1-eng-US/f0006-072.jpg" title="f0006-07" width="140" height="88"></div><p>I must know: what do you guys smoke when you make up the 100 People of Power and Influence list each year? Apparently, having not learned your lesson from the Carrie Underwood fiasco, you put Ryan Suter&rsquo;s wife at No. 87, a woman who may have possibly had a slight influence on Suter&rsquo;s signing with the Wild. If there aren&rsquo;t enough powerful figures to fill the list&rsquo;s 100 spots each year, then cut it to 50, but please don&rsquo;t embarrass yourself like this.</p><p><b><i>Mike Woodel, Erie, Pa.</i></b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-08141/9811093-1-eng-US/f0006-082.jpg" title="f0006-08" width="141" height="88"></div><p>I cannot believe THN is resorting to exploitative features about spouses. Our focus is on the sport itself and on the accomplishments of the players <i>on</i> the ice. Please, keep your standards high and stay on subject.</p><p><b><i>Alfred Arroyo, El Paso, Texas</i></b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>TRUE INSTIGATION</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-0991/9811086-1-eng-US/f0006-092.jpg" title="f0006-09" width="140" height="88"></div><p>On Jan. 14, 2010, my brother, SSgt. Cody Anderson of the U.S Army, passed away unexpectedly after returning home safe from Afghanistan. My brother was a huge hockey fan like myself. Imagine my shock when opening the Jan. 21 issue and seeing The Instigator. In 1996, we weren&rsquo;t fighting over a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, but the fact that this issue coincided so closely to the anniversary of his death certainly made me re-read the cartoon several times.</p><p><b><i>Kyle Anderson, Las Vegas, Nev.</i></b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>EARLY RETURNS</b></h2><p><i>Re: Rory Boylen&rsquo;s &ldquo;Fans Welcome Back NHL Hockey With Open Arms&rdquo; <a href="http://THN.com">THN.com</a> column, Jan. 15</i></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-1151/9811072-1-eng-US/f0006-112.jpg" title="f0006-11" width="70" height="70"></div><p>And those people, sorry to say, are blatant fools.</p><p><b><i>Jenn Marie</i></b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-1241/9811065-1-eng-US/f0006-122.jpg" title="f0006-12" width="70" height="70"></div><p>Why should I punish myself by staying away from the games? I love watching hockey and the NHL and it does nothing to hurt them by staying away. And who is anyone to say what is too much money to make as either a player or owner? As far as I&rsquo;m concerned, they weren&rsquo;t fighting over my money, because as soon as the green left my pocket, it was no longer mine.</p><p><b><i>Nancy Dunn</i></b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-1331/9811058-1-eng-US/f0006-132.jpg" title="f0006-13" width="71" height="71"></div><p>Not all will be forgotten methinks, but I agree we sheep will return.</p><p><b><i>Jeff Riddall</i></b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-1424/9811051-1-eng-US/f0006-142.jpg" title="f0006-14" width="70" height="70"></div><p>I&rsquo;ll watch free games on TV if I&rsquo;m in the mood, but will never spend another dime for Center Ice, a ticket to an NHL game or merchandise. There are only so many times a lifelong fan can be burned and we&rsquo;ve been burned one too many times.</p><p><b><i>Maurice Fitzgerald</i></b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-1521/9811044-1-eng-US/f0006-152.jpg" title="f0006-15" width="70" height="70"></div><p>Hockey is Life. Everything else is just filler.</p><p><b><i>Sandy Cook</i></b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

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THN INBOX

<p><b>Chris Alldread</b></p><p>Bowmanville, Ont.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-1814/9811235-1-eng-US/f0006-182.jpg" title="f0006-18" width="443" height="747"></div><p>THINK YOU ARE A BIG FAN? SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS AT <a href="http://THN.COM/BIGFAN">THN.COM/BIGFAN</a><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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BIGFAN

<div class="byline">&nbsp;&#x2013; RYAN KENNEDY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-012361/9811280-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="240" height="272"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-021806/9811273-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="1907" height="611"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-031285/9811266-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg" title="f0008-03" width="984" height="1095"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>WELCOME BACK!</b></p><p>Ryan Miller and Co. gave Sabres fans a big thank you, beating Philly 5-2 in their home opener.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(ABELIMAGES/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>T</span>HE BIG QUESTION COMING OUT</b> of the NHL&rsquo;s second lockout in less than a decade was whether fans would return. Well, in Philadelphia, the Flyers had 15,000 people come out for a pre-season scrimmage, so draw your own conclusions. &ldquo;Philly fans are pretty passionate about sport and they love their Flyers,&rdquo; said sophomore center Sean Couturier. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re happy to be back and I guess they&rsquo;re happy to have us back.&rdquo;</p><p>It&rsquo;s a sentiment not limited to those in Orange and Black. Across the NHL, teams saw overwhelming support at open practices and early home games, where the league average was 99.1 percent, up 6.6 percent over the same number of games from last season. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s been a long time since we&rsquo;ve been there for our fans,&rdquo; said Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller. &ldquo;For them to be patient, come back, sell out the rink and be excited and on our side&hellip;I really didn&rsquo;t worry about the Buffalo fans. We&rsquo;ve got good people here. They love hockey and I&rsquo;m happy to give them something to cheer about.&rdquo;</p><p>Miller&rsquo;s crew gave the fans a lot to root for in Buffalo&rsquo;s opener, as Thomas Vanek hung five points on the visiting Flyers en route to a 5-2 victory at First Niagara Center. Elsewhere, ageless Anaheim wonder Teemu Selanne, 42, kicked off his 20th year in North America with four points in a win over Vancouver while 38-year-old Phoenix Coyotes newcomer Steve Sullivan notched his first hat trick in the desert when the Dogs bested Columbus a few days later. Overall, scoring rose slightly during the first week compared to last year&rsquo;s total average.</p><p>Rust was obviously a factor in some games, but the lack of prep time during the compressed schedule also affected outcomes, particularly for teams with new coaches and systems. &ldquo;There is no teaching,&rdquo; said Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle, beginning his first full campaign in Toronto. &ldquo;You&rsquo;re teaching on the fly. Sometimes at the morning skate.&rdquo;</p><p>And while the previous post-lockout season saw these pages wonder aloud about the &ldquo;Death of the Goon,&rdquo; enforcers have not been quiet so far in 2013. Traditionally fight-friendly teams such as Boston, Toronto and the New York Rangers all averaged one or more scraps per game early on. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s still going to be there even though it&rsquo;s a shortened season,&rdquo; said Leafs enforcer Colton Orr. &ldquo;Guys are even playing a little harder because each game means so much at this point. Everyone&rsquo;s going hard and it&rsquo;s going to happen.&rdquo;</p><p>As for whether the masses are watching the action, so far the answer is a resounding yes. NBC and its sister station, the NBC Sports Network, boasted record numbers in a variety of markets to kick off the season. Regional coverage of the Chicago-Los Angeles and Pittsburgh-Philadelphia tilts delivered the highest U.S. ratings for non-Winter Classic regular season games since 1999, when Fox owned the NHL&rsquo;s broadcast rights. An average of 2.77 million people tuned in, with a peak audience of 3.82 million at the tail end of the Battle of Pennsylvania.</p><p>In person, fans were driving the turnstiles early on, though not every game was a sellout. Proving there is still work to be done earning trust back in Arizona, the Coyotes played to an announced attendance of just 8,355 in their thrashing of Columbus. And yes, a mid-week game against a non-divisional opponent that lacks star power may not make for the best marquee in the world, but it&rsquo;s still a precipitous drop for a franchise that brought in more than twice that amount of people just three days prior for the home-opening loss to Chicago.</p><p>With the rust off and each team focused on how to win as many of the 48 games in 99 days it can, things are approaching full speed much sooner than usual. But ask anyone involved and they&rsquo;re just happy to be back doing what they love. &ldquo;Hockey&rsquo;s too good of a game,&rdquo; said Buffalo&rsquo;s Steve Ott. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a fan before I&rsquo;m a player of this game and I felt truly bad for the fans. They were robbed of three months of the season, but what we can do is show we&rsquo;re ready to go and show the fans how much fun they can have by coming to a game.</p><p>&ldquo;And that will be the proving point.&rdquo;</p><div class="sidebar"><h2><b>2.77 MILLION</b></h2><p>Viewers for NBC&rsquo;s coverage of the Penguins vs. Flyers and Blackhawks vs. Kings season-opening matchups Jan. 19, marking the highest U.S. TV ratings for non-Winter Classic regular season games since 1999.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

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TRIUMPHANT RETURN

<div class="byline">By Charlie Teljeur</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0009-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-012102/9811332-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-021474/9811325-1-eng-US/f0009-022.jpg" title="f0009-02" width="112" height="112"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>D</span>ownload and use the <b>Digimarc</b> app to scan the photos on pages 11, 22 and 23 to watch exclusive 1-on-1 videos with NHL stars Sidney Crosby, John Tavares and Martin Brodeur.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-03901/9811318-1-eng-US/f0009-032.jpg" title="f0009-03" width="301" height="99"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-04673/9811311-1-eng-US/f0009-042.jpg" title="f0009-04" width="301" height="99"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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THE INSTIGATOR

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-06410/9811363-1-eng-US/f0009-062.jpg" title="f0009-06" width="557" height="576"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(LECAVALIER: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>+ PLUS</b></h2><h3><b>LIGHTNING LEGACY</b></h3><p><i>Tampa&rsquo;s</i>&nbsp;<b><i>Vincent Lecavalier</i></b>&nbsp;<i>plays his 1,000th NHL game, surviving Habs trade rumors, Len Barrie and Barry Melrose.</i></p><h2><b>&ndash; MINUS</b></h2><h3><b>NO &lsquo;D&rsquo; IN PHILLY</b></h3><p><i>The Chris Pronger-less Flyers give up six power play goals and get outscored 11-3 in their first three games, all losses. And Ilya Bryzgalov was not the issue.</i></p><h2><b>+ PLUS</b></h2><h3><b>LOKO EMOTION</b></h3><p><i>One year after a plane crash wiped out the team, Yaroslavl Lokomotiv&rsquo;s new roster secures a KHL playoff spot.</i></p><h2><b>&ndash; MINUS</b></h2><h3><b>MAIZE AND BLUE</b></h3><p><i>University of Michigan hits rock bottom, losing to Team USA&rsquo;s under-18 squad and getting swept at home by Alaska-Fairbanks &ndash; both dubious firsts.</i><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0009-06

PLUS MINUS

<div class="byline">&nbsp;&#x2013; TAYLOR ROCCA</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0010-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-012336/9811408-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>NO. 1 WITH A BULLET</b></p><p>Patrick Kane is one of two American players to be taken first overall since 2004.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>THE SOUTH HAS RISEN AGAIN.</b></p><p>In 2003-04, 162 U.S. players donned NHL sweaters. Since then, the American demographic has seen a strong and steady rise. There were 235 different U.S. players who suited up in the NHL during 2011-12.</p><p>And there&rsquo;s a large contingent of Red, White and Blue on draft day, too. Since 2004, the United States has laid claim to 26.4 per cent of the NHL draftees, with 527 players selected. Canada, at 46 percent, is the only other nation to top that mark. Sweden, with 8.9 percent, is a distant third. Plus, there&rsquo;s quality to go with quantity: Defenseman Seth Jones could become the third American-born player since 2004 to be selected first overall, after Erik Johnson in 2006 and Patrick Kane the following year.</p><p>Dan Marr, the director of NHL Central Scouting, says three factors have contributed to the uptick: the growth of grass-roots hockey in non-traditional markets; the rise of the United States League, considered by Marr to be a near equivalent to Canadian major junior, as an option for high-end talent; and, of course, the U.S. National Team Development Program, which hot-houses the best of the best 16-and 17-year-olds from across the nation and has led to success in international competition. &ldquo;The program has been bringing in the medals left and right,&rdquo; Marr said. &ldquo;In the last two or three years it has really come to fruition for them and the NHL partners with USA Hockey and supports them at various levels.&rdquo;</p><p>It&rsquo;s at the grassroots level where Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey, sees the most important progress. In 2010, USA Hockey introduced the American Development Model, putting an emphasis on age-appropriate training. According to Ogrean, the implementation of this program has resulted in greater player retention. &ldquo;I think we will look back on (the model) as the most significant change ever,&rdquo; Ogrean said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s patterned on a lot of the European philosophies of coaching hockey and on other sports in this country and elsewhere.&rdquo;</p><p>Not only has the NHL seen an increase in U.S. players traversing its ice, it has also seen a new breed of elite Yankee talent establishing its place. During the glory years of past greats such as Bill Guerin, Mike Modano and Doug Weight, the Americans maintained an average of eight players within the top 50 scorers between 1994 and 2004. A serious decline followed, as only four U.S. players per season cracked the NHL&rsquo;s top-50 scoring charts from 2005-09. Since then, the American presence within the NHL&rsquo;s top-50 scorers has risen, with seven players achieving the mark in both 2009-10 and 2010-11. Most recently, during the 2011-12 season, eight American skaters cracked the top 50.</p><p>The U.S. isn&rsquo;t just excelling in the point-scoring department. In 2011-12, 17 goalies topped the 30-win mark, five of which were American (Jonathan Quick, Jimmy Howard, Tim Thomas, Craig Anderson and Ryan Miller).</p><p>Top 10 2012 picks Alex Galchenyuk (Montreal, 3rd overall) and Jacob Trouba (Winnipeg, 9th overall) were members of the gold-medal winning squad from the 2013 world juniors (see pg. 66 for more). They project to continue, or even improve upon, the strong American showing of recent years.</p><p>&ldquo;It is safe to anticipate that this trend should continue to grow,&rdquo; Marr said. &ldquo;In Canada, we have very high standards, but it&rsquo;s almost like the currency: once you&rsquo;re at par it&rsquo;s just going to fluctuate up and down a little bit. One year it will be Canada&rsquo;s turn, another year will be the U.S.&rsquo;s turn. But that&rsquo;s good competition and good for the game.&rdquo;</p><p>Ogrean, who started his first of two terms as the head of USA Hockey 20 years ago, has seen the peaks and valleys up close: &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve gone from hoping to do well to expecting to do well.&rdquo;</p><div class="sidebar"><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-021711/9811401-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg" title="f0010-02" width="166" height="108"></div><h2><b>NHL SEEING STARS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-031106/9811394-1-eng-US/f0010-032.jpg" title="f0010-03" width="1045" height="653"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></div>

f0010-01

U.S.A. BETTER THAN OK

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0011-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-021414/9811446-1-eng-US/f0011-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>CHECK OUT</b></p><p>OUR IPAD ISSUE FOR AN EXCLUSIVE 1-ON-1 VIDEO WITH SIDNEY CROSBY</p> <span class="photo-credit">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>1. WAYNE GRETZKY 1.92 PPG</b></p><p><b>2. MARIO LEMIEUX 1.88</b></p><p><b>3. MIKE BOSSY 1.50</b></p><p><b>4. SIDNEY CROSBY 1.40</b></p><p><b>5. BOBBY ORR 1.39</b></p><p><b>6. MARCEL DIONNE 1.31</b></p><p><b>7. PETER STASTNY 1.27</b></p><p><b>8. PETER FORSBERG 1.25</b></p><p><b>9. KENT NILSSON 1.24</b></p><p>&nbsp;<b>--PHIL ESPOSITO 1.24</b></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-011944/9811439-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg" title="f0011-01" width="120" height="120"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></div>

f0011-02

Follow The LEADER

<div class="byline">&#x2013; SPENCER DAVIS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-03950/9811477-1-eng-US/f0011-032.jpg" title="f0011-03" width="258" height="267"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Kontinental League is introducing a new piece of hockey hardware this season for the league&rsquo;s lovable losers. The Cup of Hope will give the league&rsquo;s bottom feeders something to play for while the KHL&rsquo;s best teams vie for the Gagarin Cup in the playoffs. Fans can watch their beloved under-achieving franchises compete in a 10-team tournament in which non-playoff clubs battle it out for higher draft positions and cash prizes.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0011-03

BEST OF WORST

<div class="byline">&#x2013; BEN CLYMER</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0012-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-012278/9811515-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>BACKUP PLAN</b></p><p>Teams with a top No. 2 goalie, like Pittsburgh&rsquo;s Tomas Vokoun, are at an advantage this season.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(SCOTT LEVY/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>A</span> CONDENSED SCHEDULE PUTS</b> added emphasis on the regular season. In 1994-95, after a lockout shortened the season to 48 games, the New Jersey Devils became the first team seeded lower than fourth in its conference to win the Stanley Cup. (The only other team to have done so is last season&rsquo;s eighth-seeded Los Angeles Kings.) No one saw that coming and a similar surprise could come this year. Whichever team bathes in Cup glory come June, it&rsquo;ll have to address these five points.</p><h2><b>Veteran Coach</b></h2><p>More so than most seasons, a veteran coach familiar with his team and staff is important. Being able to pick up where they left off last season is going to be a huge benefit, and familiarity behind the bench will provide an edge. Expect teams with fresh coaches &ndash; Washington, Montreal and Calgary &ndash; to find it difficult to quickly install new systems, establish an identity, develop accountability and create chemistry.</p><h2><b>Respected Training Staff</b></h2><p>Players need maintenance days to rest nagging groin, hip flexor and back injuries. It&rsquo;s one thing for players to miss a practice or a single game, but when strains turn into bigger pains that require a week or more to heal, injuries will hamper a team&rsquo;s playoff hopes.</p><p>While I was with Tampa Bay, Tom Mulligan was our head athletic trainer. He had the unenviable job of informing coach John Tortorella of players&rsquo; injury statuses daily. Over time, &lsquo;Torts&rsquo; grew to accept Tom&rsquo;s decisions and recommendations and knew that if Tom said a player needed a day to rest to be able to play in the next game, it was the right course of action.</p><h2><b>Proven Backup</b></h2><p>Teams need a No. 2 who&rsquo;s been around the league and is comfortable as a starter if their top netminder get injured. Even if the No. 1 remains healthy, with points at a premium in a condensed season, a veteran backup goalie allows a team to give its starter a couple days to work out any kinks if he struggles. In &rsquo;94-95, Detroit made it to the final in large part to its goaltending duo of Mike Vernon and Chris Osgood.</p><p>When I was with the Lightning in 2003-04, Nikolai Khabibulin hit a rough stretch and John Grahame came in and played solid. This gave Nikolai time to work through his struggles with goaltending coach Jeff Reese.</p><h2><b>Game-ready Players</b></h2><p>Teams with guys who saw game action during the lockout will be at an advantage for three reasons: these players will be the closest to being in game shape; they will have the touch-and-go feel that takes several weeks of play to get; and they will avoid many nagging injuries that can play a large role in a player&rsquo;s season.</p><h2><b>Third-line Scoring</b></h2><p>With the density of games, teams have a greater need for depth scoring. Players from the past worth their weight in Stanley Cup silver are John Madden and Jere Lehtinen &ndash; defensive specialists who could score. One such player who could contribute more than normal is Detroit&rsquo;s Darren Helm. He&rsquo;s capable of providing more scoring, but due to his team&rsquo;s depth and his defensive role he gets lost in the shuffle. Look for him to blossom this season and become even more valuable in the playoff push.</p><div class="sidebar"><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-021796/9811508-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="221" height="296"></div><p>Ben Clymer played 438 games with Tampa and Washington, scoring 129 points. He now works as an analyst with Fox Sports North. Tweet him @ben_clymer<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0012-01

FIVE KEYS IN A QUICK SEASON

<div class="byline">&#x2013; ADAM PROTEAU</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-031162/9811546-1-eng-US/f0012-032.jpg" title="f0012-03" width="556" height="697"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(KOMISAREK: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he season wasn&rsquo;t a week old when injuries hit teams hard: Philadelphia lost Scott Hartnell to a foot injury, while Toronto&rsquo;s Joffrey Lupul suffered a broken forearm. It&rsquo;s the type of news we&rsquo;ll see more of in a 48-game schedule and teams are trying to mitigate the damage.</p><p>Leafs veteran <b>Mike Komisarek</b> knows the importance of taking care of himself. &ldquo;Supplements, getting the proper nutrition, cold tubs &ndash; there&rsquo;s a real premium this year on those small little details,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It makes a huge difference&hellip; In  a condensed schedule, it&rsquo;s going to catch up to teams and players.&rdquo;</p><p>That said, others are relying on more traditional, low-tech methods. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m trying to do activation workouts to get my body ready and sleep as much as possible,&rdquo; said Buffalo&rsquo;s Ryan Miller. &ldquo;That will be it for me.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0012-03

INJURY ALERT

<div class="byline">&#x2013; ERIC ZWEIG</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0013-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-011986/9811577-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>FOSTER OF THE PEOPLE</b></p><p>The date of Foster Hewitt&rsquo;s first radio broadcast isn&rsquo;t as clear as his legendary tones were.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(IMPERIAL OIL-TUROFSKY/HOCKEY HALL OF FAME)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>F</span>EBRUARY MARKS THE 90TH AN</b>niversary of two hockey beginnings&hellip;we think: the first live broadcast of a game and the first play-by-play call from Foster Hewitt.</p><p>On Feb. 8, 1923, Toronto <i>Star</i> employee Norman Albert called an amateur game between Midland and North Toronto on the newspaper&rsquo;s radio station, CFCA. In those days, newspapers across Canada owned the radio stations that put games on the air. Albert also handled CFCA&rsquo;s, second broadcast, and first NHL game, Feb. 14, 1923, when the Toronto St. Pats beat the Ottawa Senators 6-4.</p><p>All broadcasts on CFCA began with a recap of the first and second periods, followed by live play-by-play of the third. The first full 60-minute broadcast was Feb. 22, 1923, when a station owned by the Manitoba <i>Free Press</i> aired a 4-1 victory by the Winnipeg Falcons over Port Arthur. That March, stations owned by the Regina <i>Leader</i> and Edmonton <i>Journal</i> also aired games.</p><p>Shortly after the historic first broadcast, fans heard Foster Hewitt for the first time, though the details are a little fuzzy as to exactly when. Hewitt often recalled the date of his first broadcast as March 22, 1923. The game that night was supposed to be an Ontario senior playoff between Kitchener and Parkdale to determine who would take on the Toronto Granites in the Eastern Canada final. Problem is the Granites were already in Winnipeg, where they defeated the University of Saskatchewan that night to win the Allan Cup national championship. &ldquo;I know Kitchener played and I had it in my mind that it was the Parkdale Canoe Club,&rdquo; Hewitt recalled in a quote the <i>Globe and Mail</i> ran with his obituary April 22, 1985. &ldquo;But it may well have been the Argonauts.&rdquo;</p><p>As it happens, Kitchener was in Toronto to play the Argonauts hockey team Feb. 16, 1923. As it further happens, the Star reported that CFCA would be on the air that night with live play-by-play, the third to be broadcast on the station. Hewitt&rsquo;s recollections of his first broadcast match the details of the game that night almost exactly.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0013-01

ON THE ICE, ON THE AIR

<div class="byline">BY SAL BARRY, WEBMASTER OF THE HOCKEY CARD SITE PUCKJUNK.COM</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-031148/9811653-1-eng-US/f0014-032.jpg" title="f0014-03" width="487" height="640"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-04787/9811646-1-eng-US/f0014-042.jpg" title="f0014-04" width="451" height="611"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>N</span>ATIONAL HOCKEY CARD DAY LIVES ON.</b> Fans who visit a participating store Feb. 9 in Canada or Feb. 16 in the United States will receive a free five-card pack of exclusive Upper Deck hockey cards. Cards given away in Canada highlight 15 greats from Team Canada, while the 15-card United States set features American-born players and stars on U.S.-based teams. Fans can get a special 16th card &ndash; of Jonathan Quick for U.S. collectors, Wayne Gretzky/Mario Lemieux Canada Cup for Canadians &ndash; by making a purchase from a participating retailer. For more information visit <a href="http://Facebook.com/NationalHockeyCardDay">Facebook.com/NationalHockeyCardDay</a>.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0014-03

In The CARDS

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-05541/9811733-1-eng-US/f0014-052.jpg" title="f0014-05" width="249" height="328"><figcaption class="caption-body">2005</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-06417/9811726-1-eng-US/f0014-062.jpg" title="f0014-06" width="248" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">2006</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-07324/9811719-1-eng-US/f0014-072.jpg" title="f0014-07" width="248" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">2007</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-08265/9811712-1-eng-US/f0014-082.jpg" title="f0014-08" width="248" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">2008</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-09230/9811705-1-eng-US/f0014-092.jpg" title="f0014-09" width="248" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">2009</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-10206/9811698-1-eng-US/f0014-102.jpg" title="f0014-10" width="248" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">2010</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-11180/9811691-1-eng-US/f0014-112.jpg" title="f0014-11" width="248" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">2011</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-12165/9811684-1-eng-US/f0014-122.jpg" title="f0014-12" width="771" height="682"><figcaption class="caption-body">2013 <span class="photo-credit">(BURNS: GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0014-05

EVOLUTION of Brent Burns

f0015-01

SHORT SEASON, LONG TO-DO LIST

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-011538/9811872-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="918" height="491"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>N</span>EWARK</b>&nbsp;<b>&ndash;</b> For a guy who hasn&rsquo;t had to deal with a lot of setbacks in his life, Martin Brodeur handled the disappointment of losing the Stanley Cup remarkably well last spring. It&rsquo;s all about perspective. After all, it might have been the last time he ever gets that close. But with Brodeur you just never know.</p><p>Rather than spend his time fretting over what might have been, Brodeur chose to celebrate what was, at both ends of the family spectrum. He watched his son get his driver&rsquo;s license and welcomed his father, Denis, who made his first trip to New Jersey last June after having a baseball-sized tumor removed from his brain in February.</p><p>And you&rsquo;d like to say he turned back the hands of time. That&rsquo;s only because he turned 40 during the New Jersey Devils&rsquo; surprising playoff run. Brodeur elevated his game to be sure, but it wasn&rsquo;t as though he was fading into oblivion. He was happier that he and his teammates got within two games of winning the Stanley Cup than he was sad they fell two games short.</p><p>Would one more Stanley Cup have made a difference in his legacy? &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what it is, it&rsquo;s not that I don&rsquo;t care,&rdquo; Brodeur says, explaining his ability to shake off the loss to the Los Angeles Kings in the final quickly. &ldquo;I really appreciated the opportunity to do what I did and what I was able to accomplish. I was more disappointed to see the other guys not winning. That hurt the most.&rdquo;</p><p>Everyone expects Brodeur&rsquo;s game to drop off and it will at some point. The key for him will be identifying when that will be. Good luck on that one.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-03832/9811865-1-eng-US/f0022-032.jpg" title="f0022-03" width="1219" height="1355"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>AGELESS WONDER</b></p><p>Martin Brodeur is in his 19th season and showing no signs of slowing down.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(ANDY MARLIN/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/f0022-021129/9811858-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="118" height="107"></div><p>In his 19th season and with three extra months to prepare physically and mentally, Brodeur is ready to carry an extensive load again for the Devils. And the team is prepared to pin a healthy amount of hope on its Hall of Fame-bound goalie.</p><p>Much was made of what effect the departure of captain Zach Parise would have on the team, but just imagine if Brodeur had decided to retire. The day will come when the Devils will have to deal with life without Brodeur, but that time isn&rsquo;t coming in the immediate future. In fact, would it be terribly outlandish to suggest that Brodeur, if he can continue to play well, will be a candidate to not only be on Canada&rsquo;s Olympic team for the fifth time, but the starter?</p><p>Seriously. Which goaltender from north of the 49th parallel distinguished himself in the past couple seasons? You never know what you&rsquo;re going to get from Marc-Andre Fleury or Roberto Luongo. Carey Price has the inside track at the moment, but he&rsquo;s hardly a lock for the job. Cam Ward shows flashes of brilliance, but consistency is an issue. Hockey Canada could do worse than have its players look back and see a 41-year-old Brodeur guarding the net.</p><p>For his part, Brodeur said he&rsquo;d be thrilled to play for Canada, even if it&rsquo;s just as the third goaltender. &ldquo;For me, playing in the Olympics was the greatest thing in my life, but I&rsquo;m not concentrating on that,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;If I&rsquo;m asked to go, regardless of the spot I&rsquo;ll be in, I&rsquo;ll take the invitation. I&rsquo;ll do anything for my country.&rdquo;</p><p>For the past two decades, he&rsquo;s also been willing to do anything for the Devils and they haven&rsquo;t been the least bit hesitant to ask. Barring injury, Brodeur will be a workhorse for the Devils this season. The prospect of playing 48 games in 99 days shouldn&rsquo;t be all that daunting for him.</p><p>Teammates marvel at his ability to defy age when he gets into the net and, if anything, his ability to move around the crease and post-to-post has actually improved over the past couple years. &ldquo;He seems to impress you every year,&rdquo; says right winger David Clarkson. &ldquo;You watch him out there and it&rsquo;s like he&rsquo;s 20 again. And he makes saves and you&rsquo;re like, &lsquo;How the heck did he get that?&rsquo; And there is nobody in the game, in my opinion, who can play the puck like he can. I&rsquo;m sure if you gave him a player&rsquo;s stick, he could shoot as hard as half of us on the team.&rdquo;</p><p>Don&rsquo;t give the Devils any ideas.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0022-01

FEATURES

THE DEVILS’ ADVOCATE

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-03714/9811917-1-eng-US/f0023-032.jpg" title="f0023-03" width="914" height="490"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-02954/9811910-1-eng-US/f0023-022.jpg" title="f0023-02" width="1589" height="1347"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>HELP WANTED</b></p><p>John Tavares had 81 points last season, but the Isles were 28th in offense.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(ANDY MARLIN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-011324/9811903-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg" title="f0023-01" width="118" height="107"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>U</span>NIONDALE &ndash;</b> You could just imagine the snickers. Just before the season started, the New York Islanders had a scrimmage against their farm team, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. And they lost. You know that old joke about a team being so bad it would lose an intrasquad game? Well that&rsquo;s pretty much what the Islanders did.</p><p>They&rsquo;ve grown accustomed to the barbs. Has it really been 30 years since they won the Cup? It will be more unless they win it this year. (Har, har.) This is a team whose futility even made it to one of the most popular sitcoms on TV. In an episode of <i>30 Rock,</i> Liz Lemon comes home to find her boyfriend distraught over the Isles losing a game. &ldquo;Doesn&rsquo;t that happen a lot?&rdquo; she asks.</p><p>The Islanders haven&rsquo;t exactly silenced the jokesters over the past decade or so. But they&rsquo;re slowly putting the pieces in place for a team that could, should contend for a play off spot soon. Perhaps not this season, but in a shortened schedule in an Eastern Conference that is rather mediocre beyond the top few teams, anything is possible.</p><p>No NHL teams, not even the elite, can afford to just open the gate and show up for their two points. It&rsquo;s the best league in the world and there are no soft touches anymore. The Isles are a perfect example of that. They have players on the top two lines who have been productive at the NHL level in the past and the rest of their roster is scrappy and opportunistic enough to make life difficult. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re a team that can&rsquo;t take nights off,&rdquo; says center John Tavares. &ldquo;We have to go out and earn all our victories and points.&rdquo;</p><p>And how many will that be? The Islanders really believe they can put together enough to challenge for a playoff spot this year. That will be a tall order, considering they finished 14th in the Eastern Conference last season and were the third-worst offensive team in the league. And let&rsquo;s face it, Matt Carkner and Brad Boyes don&rsquo;t quite qualify as additions that will affect the balance of power.</p><p>So the improvements have to come from within. Tavares will continue his upward trajectory, which includes a much better game in all three zones of the ice. Michael Grabner has the speed to create all sorts of chances that, if Boyes can relocate his scoring touch, will result in more goals. The Islanders resisted the temptation to throw underage juniors Ryan Strome and Griffin Reinhart into a 48-game crucible, which can do nothing but enhance their chances to make an impact in the longer term.</p><p>And that&rsquo;s where this organization is headed. By the time it moves into the Barclays Center for 2015-16, it should have enough young talent to be a force in the East. Until then, the Islanders will keep trying to forge an identity as a team that can, and will, surprise on any given night. &ldquo;You have to play with the energy we play with and the battle level we play with if you&rsquo;re going to have a chance to win,&rdquo; says coach Jack Capuano. &ldquo;Every night is a battle. Best league in the world, best players in the world. There&rsquo;s a certain way we&rsquo;re going to have to play if we want to have success. We&rsquo;re going to have to grind teams down.&rdquo;</p><p>That includes taking a template from the New Jersey Devils by having a defense-first mentality. From there, the young legs and speed will give the Islanders chances to capitalize. The top line of Tavares between Matt Moulson and Kyle Okposo is big enough and strong enough to go head-to-head with other No. 1 units and still keep possession of the puck deep in the opposing team&rsquo;s zone. The second unit of Grabner and Boyes on either side of Frans Nielsen will be a key one. They and the bottom two lines have to pick up some of the scoring responsibilities.</p><p>As we said before, everyone works hard in this league, from the best teams to the cellar dwellers. It comes down to whether the Islanders have enough talent to hang with the middle tier of the NHL. So do they? &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll see,&rdquo; Capuano says.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0023-03

IT’S ALL IN THE GRIND

<div class="byline">BY MIKE BROPHY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0024-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-021062/9811955-1-eng-US/f0024-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Joe Nieuwendyk</b> <span class="photo-credit">(DAVE SANDFORD/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>T</span>HERE USED TO BE A TIME WHEN</b> NHL GMs were reluctant to bring former high-profile players aboard their staff. &ldquo;They were worried those players might come in and steal their jobs,&rdquo; says Carolina Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford.</p><p>Not today, though. An increasing number of NHL teams are turning to recently retired greats to join in the decision-making process. Superstar Steve Yzerman put in a few undergrad years at the University of Ken Holland and now runs the Tampa Bay Lightning. Joe Nieuwendyk, a three-time Stanley Cup winner, served as a consultant to GM Jacques Martin in Florida and later as special assistant to former GM-president Brian Burke in Toronto and is now trying to revive the Dallas Stars as their GM.</p><p>It&rsquo;s happening all over the NHL. Teams are aligning themselves with former stars. Cam Neely is president of the Boston Bruins; Mark Messier works closely with New York Rangers GM-president Glen Sather; Ron Francis is Rutherford&rsquo;s right-hand man in Carolina; Joe Sakic is an executive advisor and alternate governor in Colorado; Al MacInnis is a senior adviser to the GM in St. Louis; and Chris Chelios is a special advisor to hockey operations in Detroit.</p><p>It is not limited to management posts. Hall of Famers Adam Oates, Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer have joined the coaching ranks. Oates is coach of the Washington Capitals while Stevens and Nieder-mayer are assistants with New Jersey and Anaheim.</p><p>Rutherford finds the notion of a GM endangering his survival by hiring a former star player just plain silly. &ldquo;That thinking is shortsighted,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;because the more good people you have and the more information you have, the more success over time you can have with an organization.&rdquo;</p><p>At 63, Rutherford has seen the game change time and time again, so having someone like the 49-year-old Francis, who retired in 2004, to bounce ideas off helps him stay current.</p><p>Nieuwendyk faced special challenges the past few years operating the Stars, a team with serious financial woes, but with new owner Tom Gaglardi, the GM has gone about trying to restore stability in a once-proud organization. It started with bringing back former GM Bob Gainey to serve as a senior advisor to hockey ops, as well as Mark Recchi, who will also be an advisor. When Nieuwendyk took over as GM in 2009, one of the first things he did was cut ties with then-active center Mike Modano &ndash; the face of the franchise. Now he and Gaglardi have brought Modano back to Dallas. Modano will focus on trying to re-establish business contacts in the community. &ldquo;We had to get Mike Modano to the Dallas Stars,&rdquo; Gaglardi told the organization&rsquo;s website. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s the Wayne Gretzky of Dallas. He&rsquo;s the Wayne Gretzky of U.S. hockey. I am so elated Mike is coming on board. I don&rsquo;t think we can be successful in this market without Mike being a part of it.&rdquo;</p><p>For Nieuwendyk, adding star power to the front office was an easy decision. &ldquo;When you sit and talk with these guys, they are just so passionate about the game still and they want to be close to it,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Just look at the Stanley Cups we have in our management group. We have good discussions and hopefully we&rsquo;ll make good decisions because of all our history and our experience.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-011297/9811948-1-eng-US/f0025-012.jpg" title="f0025-01" width="666" height="932"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>FROM STAR TO SUIT</b></p><p>Hall of Famer Joe Sakic is Colorado&rsquo;s executive advisor and alternate governor.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Gainey has six Cup rings, Recchi three and Modano one to go with their GM&rsquo;s three. Recchi, in fact, played a large role in Dallas&rsquo; landing free agents Jaromir Jagr and Ray Whitney. A co-owner of the Western League&rsquo;s Kamloops Blazers with Gaglardi, Recchi phoned both UFAs on behalf of the Stars expressing the organization&rsquo;s interest. &ldquo;I gave them some info about the owner and how he wants to build a team with the right attitude,&rdquo; Recchi says. &ldquo;Joe and Tom felt they needed to change the culture in Dallas and I felt these were two perfect guys who could help.&rdquo;</p><p>Why would a player such as Sakic, who earned more than $93 million in his career, want to commit himself to helping build a champion in his post-playing career? Sakic says he simply wants to have a stake in the games. He doesn&rsquo;t travel with the Avalanche on road trips, but he attends all home games and is involved in management meetings. &ldquo;You watch as a fan and you want the team to win, but being part of the process means you really get into it,&rdquo; Sakic says. &ldquo;You have that extra vested interest.&rdquo;</p><blockquote class="pullQuote"><i>&ldquo;IT&rsquo;S THE CLOSEST THING TO PLAYING WHERE YOU DON&rsquo;T TAKE THE BEATING ANYMORE, BUT IT IS THE SAME FEELING IN YOUR STOMACH. YOU HAVE THE SAME THOUGHT PROCESS RUNNING THROUGH YOUR HEAD AT NIGHT WHEN YOU GO TO BED</i><br>&ndash; Joe Nieuwendyk</blockquote><p>One of the lasting images of the Bruins&rsquo; Stanley Cup run in 2011 is Neely repeatedly being shown on TV in a private box agonizing over every play unfolding below him on the ice. There were times when it looked like old &lsquo;Sea Bass&rsquo; would have given anything to be on the ice bashing bodies instead of wearing a suit and tie high above the action.</p><p>Neely didn&rsquo;t win the Cup in his 13-year Hall of Fame career and didn&rsquo;t want this chance to slip through his fingers. &ldquo;For me it was probably as close to playing as I&rsquo;m going to get,&rdquo; Neely says. &ldquo;And to be honest, I didn&rsquo;t realize I&rsquo;d experience the type of emotion I do. I thought it would be just like watching a game like I had in the years after I retired. When you are sitting up high like that, things look much easier than they really are at ice level.&rdquo;</p><p>Nieuwendyk, for one, was not surprised Neely got so emotional during the final. It&rsquo;s in a hockey player&rsquo;s blood. &ldquo;You think of arguably the greatest player who ever played the game, Wayne Gretzky, and did you see when he was behind the bench in Phoenix?&rdquo; Nieuwendyk says. &ldquo;Did you see how crazy he would get? It&rsquo;s in us. It&rsquo;s the closest thing to playing where you don&rsquo;t take the beating anymore, but it is the same feeling in your stomach. You have the same thought process running through your head at night when you go to bed.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a really great opportunity for all of us to stay in something we love and to remain competitive.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0024-02

EXECUTIVE SWEET

<div class="byline">BY DAVID BOCLAIR</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0026-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-011488/9811993-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg"></div><p><b>SHEA WEBER WAS THE LAST PLAYER</b> the Nashville Predators wanted to lose.</p><p>When confronted with that possibility last summer, therefore, the small-market franchise elected to pay big bucks to retain its captain and two-time Norris Trophy finalist. Nashville matched the 14-year, $110-million offer sheet Weber signed as a restricted free agent with the Philadelphia Flyers.</p><p>Based on the lockout implemented by NHL owners a short time later and the resultant collective bargaining agreement, Weber&rsquo;s deal now stands as the last of its kind. The length and variance (a difference of $13 million between the high and low points) were negotiated out of the league in an effort to limit teams&rsquo; ability to circumvent the salary cap, a tool originally adopted to help franchises such as the Predators.</p><p>Now though, Nashville has to deal with that contract for almost a decade and a half and Weber has to live up to the expectations created by the team&rsquo;s willingness to keep him at almost any cost. &ldquo;The great thing about Shea is there&rsquo;s no difference,&rdquo; says coach Barry Trotz. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s the same guy now as he was five years ago. He&rsquo;s just more mature, smarter at everything he does. He&rsquo;s grown up a little bit. He&rsquo;s just got very, very strong beliefs and he&rsquo;s had a great upbringing. If you know his parents, they&rsquo;re humble people and hard working. He&rsquo;s taken that, kept that in his life and added exceptional talent to bring it all together.</p><p>&ldquo;From his standpoint, he&rsquo;s a pretty downto-earth guy in a pretty high-profile role.&rdquo;</p><p>Weber insists the money won&rsquo;t change him. Not with the memory of his father going off each morning to work at a local saw mill fresh in his mind. Not with the desire that fuelled his rise from a second round draft pick in 2003 (the third defenseman Nashville selected that year, behind Ryan Suter and Kevin Klein) to an Olympic hero and regular participant in the NHL All-Star Game. Not with the efforts of his family to make sure he stays grounded, as certain members did during a visit this past Christmas. &ldquo;We were all skating together and they reminded me that we&rsquo;re all the same,&rdquo; Weber says. &ldquo;They still go hard at me and they still make it tough.&rdquo;</p><p>The 6-foot-4, 233-pounder also made it clear from the outset of this long-delayed season that he intends to be as difficult to play against as ever.</p><p>Rather than weigh his value on a wage or talent scale, Weber jumped to the defense of teammate Craig Smith during the second period of Nashville&rsquo;s opening 3-2 shootout loss to Columbus. Weber fought with Blue Jackets fourth-line right winger Jared Boll and earned almost as many penalty minutes (seven) as Boll had ice time (7:47) in that contest. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s what your captain does &ndash; he leads by example,&rdquo; Trotz says. &ldquo;Not a great trade-off for us, but at the same time, he did what you want your captain to do: step right in there.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-011373/9811986-1-eng-US/f0027-012.jpg" title="f0027-01" width="1564" height="897"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>EYE ON THE PRIZE</b></p><p>Shea Weber is set for life with a 14-year, $110-millior deal signed last summer.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(BOTH: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s captain of the Nashville Predators and he&rsquo;s going to be captain for a while.&rdquo;</p><p>His contract, which runs through 2025-26, virtually guarantees as much. It does, however, put a little pressure on the Predators&rsquo; front office, at least in the short term. With the salary cap set to drop to $64.3 million next season, Weber&rsquo;s cap number ($7,857,143) accounts for roughly 12 percent of that figure.</p><p>As it stands now, Nashville has 14 players under contract for next season and less than $20 million in projected cap space. Plus, the $13 million in bonus money he&rsquo;s due each of the next three seasons (he got a similar amount prior to this one) poses certain challenges for a franchise not renowned for a lot of cash on-hand.</p><p>The good news for the Preds is they&rsquo;re not going to find themselves in a similar situation any time soon &ndash; or ever, if the owners can maintain many of the same contract restrictions beyond the current CBA. &ldquo;Who knows? Maybe in the next CBA they&rsquo;ll change it back,&rdquo; Weber says. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t really know what will be down the line. For right now, yeah, I guess it is the last one. We&rsquo;ll just see how the rest of it plays out.</p><p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think there&rsquo;s a need to put any excess pressure on myself because of a contract. I&rsquo;m still going to be the same guy, same player: play hard every night and continue to try and get better because my game can still improve in all areas. I&rsquo;ll continue to do that and help the young guys come along. It will be a fun experience.&rdquo;</p><blockquote class="pullQuote">&ldquo;HE&rsquo;S THE SAME GUY NOW AS HE WAS FIVE YEARS AGO, JUST MORE MATURE AND SMARTER<br>- Barry Trotz</blockquote><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0026-01

FACING THE MUSIC

<div class="byline">WITH STAN FISCHLER</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-021027/9812024-1-eng-US/f0028-022.jpg" title="f0028-02" width="950" height="1412"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>THE DOCTOR IS IN</b></p><p>Elwyn &lsquo;Doc&rsquo; Romnes got his nickname because he stored his skates in a physician&rsquo;s case.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(HOCKEY HALL OF FAME)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-011465/9812031-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg" title="f0028-01" width="193" height="228"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>T</span>HERE ARE ALL KINDS OF DOCTORS. YOU CAN START WITH MED</b>ical doctors, shrinks and those who live in ivory towers, otherwise known as PhDs. In the NHL there have been two distinct species of docs: the ones who tend to wounds and the one who skated for the Chicago Black Hawks.</p><p>Elwyn &lsquo;Doc&rsquo; Romnes, out of White Bear Lake, Minn., was a slick center who just hated his given name but loved being called &lsquo;Doc&rsquo; &ndash; a moniker he got because he carried his skates in a physician&rsquo;s case, of all places.</p><p>In December 1930, Romnes became the first Minnesotan to play in the NHL. That didn&rsquo;t impress his teammates. Faster than you can say &ldquo;Windy City,&rdquo; Doc became one of the most hated players in Chicago. Most of the other Hawks were Canadians and in those parochial NHL days, an American-born player was treated with less admiration than if he had just been traded to Chicago from Devils Island. &ldquo;There were times when nobody on my own Black Hawks team talked to me,&rdquo; Romnes says. &ldquo;They treated me a little like I was a thief. The Canadians wondered what an American was doing invading their preserve. That&rsquo;s why I became a good playmaker, setting those fellows up so they&rsquo;d talk to me. I eventually got accepted, but it wasn&rsquo;t easy.&rdquo;</p><p>What made acceptance less difficult was his assortment of skills, some of which helped Chicago win its first Stanley Cup in 1934. As a result, Romnes became the first Minnesotan to have his name on the silverware. A year later, he won the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship and competent play.</p><p>But in 1938, for a brief moment, &lsquo;Doc&rsquo; turned terrorist on the ice. Either Romnes lost his marbles or he was so bent on achieving justice he couldn&rsquo;t contain his fury. This much is certain: he picked the wrong guy with whom to mess. George Reginald &lsquo;Red&rsquo; Horner wasn&rsquo;t a man to be trifled with, even when he was in a good mood. And in the eyes of many victims, he was regarded as the meanest man this or that side of the sin bin.</p><p>Romnes insisted he never would have acted so out of character under normal circumstances, but he had been brutalized by the Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman during the 1938 Cup final between the Hawks and Leafs that Doc had no choice but to perform surgery on the redhead with a wooden stick instead of a scalpel. &ldquo;In our first game against the Leafs, Horner broke my nose in five places,&rdquo; Romnes says. &ldquo;That game was played at Maple Leaf Gardens. I told &lsquo;Red&rsquo; I&rsquo;d get him in Chicago. Some people thought my coach, Bill Stewart, had something to do with my plan of retaliation, but that wasn&rsquo;t true. It was all my idea.</p><p>&ldquo;When the second game was ready to start, I was out for the faceoff. I skated up to Horner and swung my stick at his head. Remember, I wasn&rsquo;t that kind of player, but in this particular instance I went berserk.&rdquo;</p><p>Once the ice had cleared and the penalties were meted out, the teams settled down to hockey and eventually the Hawks went on to win their second Stanley Cup.</p><p>Despite the fact he got even with Horner, Doc&rsquo;s hatred for the nasty Toronto enforcer didn&rsquo;t abate with the head-knocking at center ice. Every time he faced the Blue and White, Romnes kept an Argus eye out for his nemesis. And then it happened.</p><p>The Hawks were on their first road trip in 1938-39 when GM Bill Tobin broke the news to Romnes: he had been traded to the Maple Leafs. &ldquo;That meant Horner and I would be teammates,&rdquo; Romnes says. &ldquo;When the train reached Buffalo, I got off and headed for Chicago. I informed Tobin that I was through.</p><p>&ldquo;Back in Chicago, Tobin sent a taxi and asked me down to the office. There was a bonus clause in my contract that stipulated I would be paid $1,500 if I scored a certain number of goals. Tobin told me the bonus would be waiting for me in Toronto if I would report. Well, I couldn&rsquo;t afford to lose $1,500, so I went.&rdquo;</p><p>During his journey to Toronto, he questioned whether he could co-exist with Horner. But when Romnes arrived in Toronto, he was in for a stunning surprise. &ldquo;When I got off the train, the first person I saw was Red Horner,&rdquo; Romnes says. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t know what to think, but Red removed all my misgivings in a moment. He said: &lsquo;C&rsquo;mon, Doc, from now on you and I are on the same side.&rsquo; He turned out to be a terrific guy.&rdquo;</p><p>Romnes finished that season with Toronto, played part of the next with the New York Americans and retired in 1940. He died in Colorado Springs, Colo., in 1984 at 77.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0028-02

WHITE COAT, BLACK HAWK

<div class="byline">BY WAYNE FISH</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-02474/9812069-1-eng-US/f0044-022.jpg" title="f0044-02" width="316" height="256"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-03360/9812062-1-eng-US/f0044-032.jpg" title="f0044-03" width="1398" height="921"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>DEAL OR NO DEAL?</b></p><p>Kimmo Timonen&rsquo;s six-year contract expires after this season, but the Flyers hope to re-sign him.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>I</span>T&rsquo;S NOT REALLY HIS SURGICALLY REPaired</b> back that makes Kimmo Timonen wonder about his future. Nor will his 37-year-old knees steer the decision to keep playing. It&rsquo;s not even the prospect of not having a contract this July for the first time.</p><p>No, if the Finnish defenseman stays and plays another year or two for the Philadelphia Flyers, he said, it will all come down to his family. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been talking about that,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;My son (Samuel) is 13 and plays on the Comcast 99s. He likes it here and he loves his teammates.</p><p>&ldquo;But, at the same time, we have to think about the future and school in Finland. In a year or two, we have to make a decision, whether we&rsquo;re going to stay here or move back because I don&rsquo;t think we can put him in a position of starting high school here and then moving back.&rdquo;</p><p>In the Timonen household (there are also two daughters), it&rsquo;s a democracy. Sure, Dad wants to stay and get another shot or two at the Stanley Cup that has eluded him since he was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings 250th overall 20 years ago, but if he&rsquo;s outvoted, there&rsquo;s a good chance a move is in the making. &ldquo;Obviously, family is the most important thing to me,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;If they want to go back, we go back.</p><p>&ldquo;Personally, when I finish hockey, I need to find something to do. I&rsquo;ve done this for 25 years. I don&rsquo;t want to sit. I need to find something interesting to do and if I do, that might be a reason to stay.&rdquo;</p><p>Flyers GM Paul Holmgren has made it clear he wants to sign Timonen for another season or two, preferably before the six-year, $37.8-million deal he signed in 2007 ends.</p><p>Besides the family situation, those afore-mentioned  health concerns are also a factor. &ldquo;My approach is, I&rsquo;m going to start playing games and see how my back feels,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I still love the game, but every option is still open. I still want to play on a high level and if I can&rsquo;t play on a high level because of the back or something else, it&rsquo;s over.&rdquo;</p><p>In some people&rsquo;s estimation, Timonen ranks with Teppo Numminen as Finland&rsquo;s best all-time defensemen. He&rsquo;s probably third all-time on the Flyers behind Mark Howe and Eric Desjardins and top-five or so among Scandinavian-born NHL defensemen. (He sits sixth all-time in points by a Scandinavian blueliner, trailing Nicklas Lidstrom, Borje Salming, Numminen, Fredrik Olausson and Calle Johansson.)</p><p>With Chris Pronger on indefinite leave because of post-concussion symptoms, Timonen has been nudged back into the role of Philadelphia&rsquo;s top defenseman, a position he held from 2007 to 2009. That said, Timonen hasn&rsquo;t changed much. He&rsquo;s still the smooth, steady defenseman who seldom makes a mistake. &ldquo;Obviously, we lost a future Hall of Famer,&rdquo; Timonen said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a big loss for us, but it&rsquo;s part of the game, that&rsquo;s going to happen. We have to move on. We have lots of experienced guys who can take that leadership (role).</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not sure that&rsquo;s going to add any extra ice time or any of that (expanded role) for me. I&rsquo;ll be the same person, no matter who is out or in. I don&rsquo;t take a different approach.&rdquo;</p><p>Timonen has expressed an interest in playing in a fifth Olympic Games at Sochi, Russia in 2014, giving Holmgren hope he can use that incentive to keep Timonen in Philly a while longer. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s great,&rdquo; Timonen said. &ldquo;I love it here and I&rsquo;m sure if the time comes and I can still play at a high level, we can get something done.&rdquo;</p><p>From a personal, professional standpoint, there&rsquo;s not much left to achieve except a championship. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s the only reason I&rsquo;m still here,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s the only reason I will sign for a year or two.&rdquo;</p><p>And the chances of that happening? &ldquo;Again, I want to see how I feel,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It might be 10 games, it might be the full year, it might be halfway. I&rsquo;m not putting any timeline on it.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0044-02

FIGHT OR FLIGHT FOR TIMONEN

<div class="byline">&#x2013; JOSH YOHE</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0045-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-01646/9812184-1-eng-US/f0045-012.jpg"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-1440/9812191-1-eng-US/f0045-142.jpg" title="f0045-14" width="60" height="68"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-02432/9812177-1-eng-US/f0045-022.jpg" title="f0045-02" width="660" height="682"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>EVGENI MALKIN</b></figcaption></div><p><b>FRESH OFF CLAIMING HIS FIRST HART</b>&nbsp;Trophy, Evgeni Malkin is looking for to repeat his career season.</p><p>His teammates expect nothing less. &ldquo;The thing is,&rdquo; said Sidney Crosby, &ldquo;he&rsquo;s going to be great this season, because he&rsquo;s always great.&rdquo;</p><p>Early returns indicate Crosby&rsquo;s projection is right on the money.</p><p>Malkin had four assists &ndash; all of them beauties &ndash; as the Pittsburgh Penguins started the season with impressive road victories against the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers, then added his first goal of the season two nights later against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Pittsburgh&rsquo;s home opener. Through those first three games, he had five points, looking every bit a reigning MVP.</p><p>More important than statistics was Malkin&rsquo;s dynamic skating during the season&rsquo;s opening week. It is frequently forgotten he started his 2011-12 MVP campaign only eight months removed from ACL surgery. &ldquo;You have to remember that guys aren&rsquo;t really fully recovered from that surgery until the second season after they have it,&rdquo; said Brooks Orpik. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s what&rsquo;s so scary about &lsquo;Geno&rsquo; &ndash; that he had that kind of season so close to the surgery. He might be better this year.&rdquo;</p><p>Now 26, Malkin maintains there is only one trophy that interests him. Scoring titles and MVP honors are nice, but the man who won the Conn Smythe in 2009 wants another taste of championship glory. &ldquo;I want to win another Stanley Cup,&rdquo; Malkin said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s my target. My only target.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-03367/9812170-1-eng-US/f0045-032.jpg" title="f0045-03" width="683" height="542"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-09100/9812163-1-eng-US/f0045-092.jpg" title="f0045-09" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(MALKIN/ZAJAC: ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The Devils will replace Zach Parise&rsquo;s duties by committee. Bryce Salvador inherits his captaincy, Ilya Kovalchuk shoulders more production and Adam Henrique gets his PP minutes. <b>Travis Zajac</b>, with a new eightyear contract, takes his dressing room stall. Parise and Zajac are close friends, ex-linemates and U. of North Dakota alum.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-04315/9812156-1-eng-US/f0045-042.jpg" title="f0045-04" width="684" height="542"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-1083/9812149-1-eng-US/f0045-102.jpg" title="f0045-10" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(STRAIT: ANDY MARLIN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>During training camp, the Islanders plucked players off waivers like candy at the cash register. In succession: Joe Finley, Thomas Hickey, Keith Aucoin and <b>Brian Strait</b>. That all but one (Aucoin) are &lsquo;D&rsquo; is no coincidence as the Isles try to replace, if only in part, Lubomir Visnovsky, who was suspended for not reporting to the team.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-05272/9812142-1-eng-US/f0045-052.jpg" title="f0045-05" width="683" height="542"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-1168/9812135-1-eng-US/f0045-112.jpg" title="f0045-11" width="309" height="463"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(TORTORELLA: JARED WICKERHAM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The ever-demanding <b>John Tortorella</b> will have the Rangers ready for the rigors of the shortened season. And recent history suggests they&rsquo;ll do well. Since the &rsquo;04-05 lockout, New York has the NHL&rsquo;s best points percentage in back-to-back games (.648) and is second to Detroit when playing three games in four nights (.626).</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-06238/9812128-1-eng-US/f0045-062.jpg" title="f0045-06" width="684" height="541"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-1258/9812121-1-eng-US/f0045-122.jpg" title="f0045-12" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(LAUGHTON: ELSA/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Philadelphia benefitted big time from its freshman in 2011-12 &ndash; their rookies scored the most goals (64) of any team&rsquo;s crop &ndash; and it&rsquo;s hoping for more this season. To that end, 2012 first-rounder <b>Scott Laughton</b> became the Flyers&rsquo; sixth forward picked in the first round since 1996 to make the roster in the season after being drafted.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-07208/9812114-1-eng-US/f0045-072.jpg" title="f0045-07" width="684" height="541"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-1349/9812107-1-eng-US/f0045-132.jpg" title="f0045-13" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(NEAL: CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>James Neal&rsquo;s</b> hot start is great news for Pittsburgh, but it isn&rsquo;t surprising. Neal has started strong in the first five games of every season throughout his NHL career. As a rookie in 2008-09, he had two goals and three points. Each of the next two seasons, he had three goals and seven points. And in 2011-12, he had four and five.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-2018/9812100-1-eng-US/f0045-202.jpg" title="f0045-20" width="640" height="30"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0045-01

EVGENI’S ENCORE

<div class="byline">&#x2013; KEN CAMPBELL</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0046-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-02428/9812299-1-eng-US/f0046-022.jpg"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-1433/9812306-1-eng-US/f0046-142.jpg" title="f0046-14" width="60" height="68"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-03294/9812292-1-eng-US/f0046-032.jpg" title="f0046-03" width="660" height="643"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>STEVE OTT</b> <span class="photo-credit">(OTT: BILL WIPPERT/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>F</span>OR</b>&nbsp;<b>SOMEONE WHO PLAYS OFF THE</b>energy in the building as much as Steve Ott, getting traded to Buffalo might be the best thing that could have happened. Half his games will be at the First Niagara Center, where a rabid fan base sells out every game. The other half will be mostly in raucous buildings where Ott will get the chance to be hated by thousands of dyed-in-the-wool fans.</p><p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s one of the coolest things about coming to the Sabres,&rdquo; Ott said. &ldquo;In your division alone you get to play in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Boston, which are all fun atmospheres. And then you get the Phillys and the New Yorks. There&rsquo;s going to be energy every night.&rdquo;</p><p>There is little doubt the Sabres made a statement when they dealt for Ott and defenseman Adam Pardy in exchange for center Derek Roy over the summer. Roy is a highly talented, but soft and injury-prone player. Ott, on the other hand, is about as pleasant as a rusty nail in the foot. If the Sabres lacked a belligerent player who can actually score, they don&rsquo;t now. Ott scored on his first shot in a Sabres uniform. &ldquo;I try to be as competitive as possible,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But I want to contribute.</p><p>Through the lockout, he stayed sharp by participating in a couple of playerrun mini camps in Dallas and Phoenix, skated with a number of Detroit Red Wings and worked out occasionally with the Ontario League&rsquo;s Windsor Spitfires. But the wait for a new NHL season to start was almost unbearable. &ldquo;It felt so good,&rdquo; Ott said, &ldquo;to put that Buffalo Sabres jersey on.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-04244/9812285-1-eng-US/f0046-042.jpg" title="f0046-04" width="684" height="542"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-05193/9812278-1-eng-US/f0046-052.jpg" title="f0046-05" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(HAMILTON: STEVE BABINEAU/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Adding 6-foot-5, 199-pound rookie <b>Dougie Hamilton</b> made the Bruins defense corps bigger than ever. With him joining fellow towers Zdeno Chara and Adam McQuaid, the B&rsquo;s top six averaged 6-foot-3 and 213 pounds. The shrimp bringing the number down was Andrew Ference, a mere mortal at 5-foot-11 and 189 pounds.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-06168/9812271-1-eng-US/f0046-062.jpg" title="f0046-06" width="684" height="542"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-07138/9812264-1-eng-US/f0046-072.jpg" title="f0046-07" width="305" height="459"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(VANEK: ABELIMAGES/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Though it&rsquo;s a tiny sample size, <b>Thomas Vanek</b> was off to a fantastic start with six points in two games. He played for his hometown team in Graz, Austria during the lockout and was in mid-season form with five points in Buffalo&rsquo;s 5-2 win over Philly in Game No. 1. He hasn&rsquo;t averaged a point per game since his sophomore year.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-0897/9812257-1-eng-US/f0046-082.jpg" title="f0046-08" width="684" height="542"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-0979/9812250-1-eng-US/f0046-092.jpg" title="f0046-09" width="305" height="467"></div><p>Rookie <b>Alex Galchenyuk</b> may have wondered what he did to deserve No. 27 from the Habs. Though any NHL sweater with a number is sweet for a rookie, Galchenyuk&rsquo;s digits are a bit notorious in Montreal. Last year, trade goat Rene Bourque wore No. 27, while legendary enigma Alex Kovalev made the jersey famous/infamous before that.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-1062/9812243-1-eng-US/f0046-102.jpg" title="f0046-10" width="683" height="542"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-1154/9812236-1-eng-US/f0046-112.jpg" title="f0046-11" width="327" height="505"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(METHOT: MARIANNE HELM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Due to the lockout, it took longer for <b>Marc Methot</b> to debut for his home team than he hoped, but the Ottawa native is making his presence felt. The ex-Blue Jacket led the Sens with a plus-4 rating after two games and averaged more than 22 minutes. Methot did skate at a charity game in nearby Cornwall during the hiatus.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-1246/9812229-1-eng-US/f0046-122.jpg" title="f0046-12" width="683" height="541"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-1340/9812222-1-eng-US/f0046-132.jpg" title="f0046-13" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(GALCHENYUK/SCRIVENS: RICHARD WOLOWICZ/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Coach Randy Carlyle leaned on AHL players early, including goalie <b>Ben Scrivens</b>. Though James Reimer was the incumbent starter, Scrivens parlayed his excellent numbers with the Marlies (2.22 GAA, .917 save percentage) into crease duty for Toronto&rsquo;s first two games, surrendering just three goals for a 1.53 GAA and .929 SP.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0046-02

OTT EMBRACES THE NOISE

<div class="byline">&#x2013; DANIEL NUGENT-BOWMAN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0047-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-02382/9812421-1-eng-US/f0047-022.jpg"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-1434/9812428-1-eng-US/f0047-142.jpg" title="f0047-14" width="60" height="68"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-03305/9812414-1-eng-US/f0047-032.jpg" title="f0047-03" width="660" height="667"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>KRIS VERSTEEG</b> <span class="photo-credit">(VERSTEEG: JONATHAN KOZUB/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>BEFORE THE NEW YEAR, KRIS VERSTEEG</b> wasn&rsquo;t taking instructions from coaches. He was giving them.</p><p>The lockout gave the Florida Panthers right winger a chance to go behind the bench for six games as an unofficial assistant coach in his hometown with the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns. &ldquo;(Coach) Greg Gatto threw it out there that he needed some help,&rdquo; Versteeg said. &ldquo;I jumped at the opportunity.&rdquo;</p><p>The timing was perfect. Versteeg, 26, was returning from Miami after being cleared from off-season hip surgery. He usually skates with the Pronghorns before heading to training camp each season, so there was familiarity with the team. Coaching also runs in his family. His father, Roy, led the local midget AAA team from 2005 to 2008 and Versteeg assisted whenever he could.</p><p>Because he played part of his final WHL season on &lsquo;D,&rsquo; Versteeg gave pointers to the team&rsquo;s blueliners while also running the power play. Being teacher instead of pupil gave him a useful lesson. &ldquo;It can be helpful for me going forward as a player &ndash; realizing that I&rsquo;m not always right,&rdquo; he said with a chuckle.</p><p>At the university, Versteeg enrolled in business and sociology courses and was to continue assisting the Pronghorns until those plans changed when a new collective bargaining agreement was reached. Still, he returned to Florida with a new passion. &ldquo;Coaching is definitely on my radar as something I&rsquo;d like to do, but that&rsquo;s for another day,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Hopefully it&rsquo;s 10-15 years down the road.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-04234/9812407-1-eng-US/f0047-042.jpg" title="f0047-04" width="683" height="541"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-05180/9812400-1-eng-US/f0047-052.jpg" title="f0047-05" width="305" height="459"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(WARD: TRAVIS GOLBY/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>With all the roster changes in front of him, expectations for <b>Cam Ward</b> are high. The 28-year-old faced the secondmost shots in the NHL in 2011-12 and had his worst GAA and SP since 2007-08. Ward allowed four goals and was pulled in the first period of the first game this season, then allowed four more in game No. 2.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-06148/9812393-1-eng-US/f0047-062.jpg" title="f0047-06" width="684" height="541"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-07115/9812386-1-eng-US/f0047-072.jpg" title="f0047-07" width="305" height="465"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(KOVALEV: FRANCOIS LACASSE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>When <b>Alex Kovalev</b> was starring for the Montreal Canadiens from 2004-09, Jonathan Huberdeau, who grew up in the area, was an adolescent who looked up to the talented Russian. When Kovalev, now 39, won the Stanley Cup with the Rangers in 1994, Huberdeau, now 19, was only a year old. Now the two play on the same line.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-0884/9812379-1-eng-US/f0047-082.jpg" title="f0047-08" width="683" height="541"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-0966/9812372-1-eng-US/f0047-092.jpg" title="f0047-09" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(CONACHER: SCOTT AUDETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Last season, <b>Cory Conacher</b> was a beast for the AHL&rsquo;s Norfolk Admirals, notching 39 goals and 80 points in 75 games, and was named MVP. The 5-foot-8 scorer gained Calder attention in the opening week of his NHL career by becoming the first player in Lightning history to record a point in each of his first three games.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-1058/9812365-1-eng-US/f0047-102.jpg" title="f0047-10" width="684" height="542"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-1148/9812358-1-eng-US/f0047-112.jpg" title="f0047-11" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(OVECHKIN; GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The Capitals are among the four teams with the disadvantage of starting a season on short notice with a new coach, plus a new system. One of Adam Oates&rsquo; changes was moving <b>Alex Ovechkin</b> from the left to the right wing. Oates believes the shift will make the sniper less predictable and give him more scoring opportunities.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-1242/9812351-1-eng-US/f0047-122.jpg" title="f0047-12" width="684" height="542"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-1338/9812344-1-eng-US/f0047-132.jpg" title="f0047-13" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(ENSTROM: MARIANNE HELM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>In a compressed schedule, the Jets must improve on their 1-11-1 record in the second half of back-to-back games. They face this situation eight times in 2013. In their first back-end game, they snapped an 0-for-9 power play drought by scoring twice and beating the Caps 4-2 thanks to a three-assist night from <b>Tobias Enstrom.</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-2023/9812337-1-eng-US/f0047-202.jpg" title="f0047-20" width="640" height="30"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0047-02

ONCE TAUGHT, NOW TEACHER

<div class="byline">&#x2013; EDWARD FRASER</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0049-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-02335/9812588-1-eng-US/f0049-022.jpg"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-1418/9812595-1-eng-US/f0049-142.jpg" title="f0049-14" width="60" height="68"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-03262/9812581-1-eng-US/f0049-032.jpg" title="f0049-03" width="660" height="645"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>CAM ATKINSON</b> <span class="photo-credit">(ATKINSON: JAMIE SABAU/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>C</span>AM ATKINSON IS READY. WITH A RUN IN</b>&nbsp;the American League this season that had him top 10 in goals (17) and points (38), a strong showing with Columbus to end 2011-12 (14 points in 27 games) and a stint with Team USA at the 2012 World Championship, the small but skilled 23-year-old has made it known he&rsquo;s prepared for full-time NHL duty. &ldquo;I want to be an impact player in the NHL for as long as I possibly can be and help bring a winning tradition to the Columbus Blue Jackets. When you&rsquo;re winning, there&rsquo;s nothing better.&rdquo;</p><p>Behind his success is a new focus on fitness. The 157th pick in 2008 signed on with rising training/nutrition star Ben Prentiss, who counts Martin St-Louis, Max Pacioretty and Matt Moulson among his current disciples. In the summer, Atkinson cut his body fat from &ldquo;the low 14s&rdquo; to 8.1 percent.</p><p>In 33 games with AHL&rsquo;s Springfield Falcons, Atkinson saw ice time in all situations. He tried to round out his game by becoming defensively responsible and using proper positioning. All the work was meant to catch the attention of Columbus brass and silence those who say a 5-foot-8 right winger can&rsquo;t make it in the NHL. It has worked. In the Jackets&rsquo; surprising 1-0-1 start, Atkinson averaged 16:31 minutes and scored against Detroit. &ldquo;People have told me I won&rsquo;t make it to this level or that level and I&rsquo;ve been proving them wrong since I was a little kid,&rdquo; Atkinson said. &ldquo;I actually love the critics. Let them talk about me. If they&rsquo;re talking, I must be doing something right.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-04243/9812574-1-eng-US/f0049-042.jpg" title="f0049-04" width="752" height="597"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-05192/9812567-1-eng-US/f0049-052.jpg" title="f0049-05" width="327" height="506"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(CARCILLO: JON ATHAN DANIEL/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Good news: the injury <b>Daniel Carcillo</b> sustained in Game 1 of the season was to his right knee. He tore the ACL in his left knee last year and had it surgically repaired. Bad news: he was expected to miss a month or more. It&rsquo;s a shame since he had a golden opportunity skating with Marian Hossa and Jonathan Toews on the top line.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-06113/9812560-1-eng-US/f0049-062.jpg" title="f0049-06" width="753" height="596"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-0782/9812553-1-eng-US/f0049-072.jpg" title="f0049-07" width="328" height="505"></div><p>They lack the flash of Jack Johnson or the experience of Adrian Aucoin, but reunited Russian blueline partners <b>Fedor Tyutin</b> and Nikita Nikitin impressed early. Tyutin&rsquo;s two assists in the Jackets&rsquo; season-opening victory quieted concerns about a slow start after a broken hand cost him the final 16 games of 2011-12.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-0851/9812546-1-eng-US/f0049-082.jpg" title="f0049-08" width="752" height="596"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-0943/9812539-1-eng-US/f0049-092.jpg" title="f0049-09" width="327" height="505"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(FRANZEN: JEFF VINN ICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The Wings have pegged <b>Johan Franzen</b> to take over retired Tomas Holmstrom&rsquo;s power play role in front of the net. Holmstrom gave goalies fits with his large behind and the 6-foot-3, 223-pound Franzen has the build for the task. &lsquo;The Mule&rsquo; isn&rsquo;t new to the job, though. He led Detroit in power play goals the past two seasons.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-1038/9812532-1-eng-US/f0049-102.jpg" title="f0049-10" width="752" height="596"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-1129/9812525-1-eng-US/f0049-112.jpg" title="f0049-11" width="328" height="505"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(TYUTIN/KLEIN: AND Y DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>Kevin Klein</b> is a wild card. The stay-at-home defenseman had four goals in 66 games last season, but two in 10 playoff contests. And he had just four PIM all last year, but went wild during the lockout with 29 in eight games playing in Denmark. Which Klein shows up for the Preds this season is anyone&rsquo;s guess.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-1226/9812518-1-eng-US/f0049-122.jpg" title="f0049-12" width="752" height="597"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-1323/9812511-1-eng-US/f0049-132.jpg" title="f0049-13" width="328" height="506"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(TARASENKO: PHOTO BY MARK BUCKN ER/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Doug Palazzari scored twice in his 1974 debut and no St. Louis rookie did it again until <b>Vladimir Tarasenko</b> Jan. 19, 2013. That Palazzari flamed out after 108 NHL games reminds us not to get too excited over one game, but Tarasenko did flash the skill that made him the 16th overall draft pick in 2010 and No. 6 prospect in Future Watch 2012.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-2010/9812504-1-eng-US/f0049-202.jpg" title="f0049-20" width="640" height="30"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0049-02

NO ‘CAN’T’ IN CAM’S LEXICON

<div class="byline">&#x2013; RANDY SPORTAK</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0050-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-02317/9812703-1-eng-US/f0050-022.jpg"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-1415/9812710-1-eng-US/f0050-142.jpg" title="f0050-14" width="60" height="68"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-03169/9812696-1-eng-US/f0050-032.jpg" title="f0050-03" width="660" height="679"><figcaption class="caption-body">MIKAEL <b>BACKLUND</b> <span class="photo-credit">(BACKLUND: GERRY THOMAS/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>N</span>O MORE MR. NICE GUY, ALICE COOPER&rsquo;S</b> 1973 hit, was released 16 years before Mikael Backlund was born. Still, the Calgary Flames center could try using it for his new theme.</p><p>Backlund, a 2007 first-rounder (24th overall), doesn&rsquo;t want to become a full-out jerk. He just wants a harder edge. So he isn&rsquo;t about to start hitting guys like a missile or wielding his stick like Tim &lsquo;Dr. Hook&rsquo; McCracken in <i>Slap Shot</i>. He just wants to play with more self-assuredness. &ldquo;Instead of believing other guys are better than me, it&rsquo;s about having more cockiness and believing in myself and that I&rsquo;m good enough,&rdquo; Backlund said. &ldquo;When I played against Bobby Ryan, Anze Kopitar, those guys in Sweden, I felt I was better than them because I produced more. I need to bring that here and feel I&rsquo;m a better player than other guys when I get on the ice.&rdquo;</p><p>Backlund spent the lockout with Vasteras in Sweden&rsquo;s second division (Allsvenskan) and had 12 goals and 30 points in 23 games for his hometown team. It&rsquo;s a huge boost after the 2011-12 NHL season, in which injuries and ineffectiveness limited him to four goals and 11 points in 41 games. He was pencilled in for the top line, but everything went wrong, starting with a broken finger just before the campaign began.</p><p>This season, he started on a line with prized rookie Sven Baertschi. They want to prove they belong, though Backlund knows he&rsquo;s running out of chances. &ldquo;The way I played last year wasn&rsquo;t good enough to stay in this league,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I have to play better.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-04135/9812689-1-eng-US/f0050-042.jpg" title="f0050-04" width="683" height="541"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-0593/9812682-1-eng-US/f0050-052.jpg" title="f0050-05" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(BEGIN: BRAD WATSON/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>On one hand, the last thing the well-seasoned Flames needed was another 34-year-old journeyman. But <b>Steve Begin</b> earned himself a contract after a sharp one-week training camp. Injuries sidelined the fourth-line mucker most of the past two seasons, but his energetic play and penalty-killing ability won the team over.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-0678/9812675-1-eng-US/f0050-062.jpg" title="f0050-06" width="684" height="541"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-0755/9812668-1-eng-US/f0050-072.jpg" title="f0050-07" width="305" height="459"></div><p><b>Semyon Varlamov</b> knows the value of a good start. The second-year starter won just five of his first 15 games last season, struggling with a .893 SP. He shaped up afterwards (finishing at .913 with 26 wins), but the cold start kept the Avs out of playoff contention. Varlamov was strong early with a .922 SP while the offense was cold.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-0842/9812661-1-eng-US/f0050-082.jpg" title="f0050-08" width="684" height="542"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-0931/9812654-1-eng-US/f0050-092.jpg" title="f0050-09" width="305" height="465"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(VARLAMOV/BELANGER: ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The youthful Oilers are sure to improve in at least one stat. They&rsquo;ve struggled in the faceoff dot the past four years, finishing 30th twice. But with experience comes craftiness and Edmonton ranked in the league&rsquo;s top 15 (50.8 percent) after a week. And that&rsquo;s with key draw man <b>Eric Belanger</b> fourth among Oilers centers.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-1027/9812647-1-eng-US/f0050-102.jpg" title="f0050-10" width="684" height="542"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-1123/9812640-1-eng-US/f0050-112.jpg" title="f0050-11" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(SUTER: HANNAH FOSLIEN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>It didn&rsquo;t take long for <b>Ryan Suter</b> to face his old teammates. Minnesota hosted Nashville in Game 3 and he was minus-2 in a 3-1 loss. &ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t that big of a deal,&rdquo; he told the post-game media. After emotional words when Suter left his team of eight years last summer, he and Preds GM David Poile made up following the morning skate.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-1221/9812633-1-eng-US/f0050-122.jpg" title="f0050-12" width="684" height="542"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-1317/9812626-1-eng-US/f0050-132.jpg" title="f0050-13" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(HANSEN: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>An endorsement by the Sedin twins landed third-liner <b>Jannik Hansen</b> a role on the power play replacing Ryan Kesler. Coming off his best season, with 16 goals and 39 points, the Dane has a strong net presence and deceptive skill. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve always said Jannik is very underrated as an offensive player,&rdquo; Henrik Sedin told reporters.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0050-02

BACKLUND’S BACKBONE

<div class="byline">&nbsp;&#x2013; ROBIN SHORT</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0051-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-01339/9812825-1-eng-US/f0051-012.jpg"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-1319/9812832-1-eng-US/f0051-132.jpg" title="f0051-13" width="60" height="68"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-02244/9812818-1-eng-US/f0051-022.jpg" title="f0051-02" width="660" height="618"><figcaption class="caption-body">JORDAN <b>NOLAN</b> <span class="photo-credit">(NOLAN: VICTOR DECOLONGON/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>F</span>OR JORDAN NOLAN, THE KEY TO SUCCESS</b>&nbsp;is simple: play a clean, basic up-and-down game, using his big body in the corners and in front of the net. If only it were that easy. &ldquo;Jordan is a guy who&rsquo;s still trying to figure out what he is as a player,&rdquo; said Mark Morris, coach of Los Angeles&rsquo; American League affiliate Manchester Monarchs. &ldquo;He has the ability to make high-end skill plays, but the Kings look to him as a power forward.&rdquo;</p><p>Nolan, all 6-foot-3 and 227 pounds of him, was doing that last season when he split time between the Monarchs and the Kings. During the lockout, however, he was back in the minors and developing old habits. &ldquo;You can get away with a few more things at the American League level that you can&rsquo;t at the NHL level,&rdquo; Morris said. &ldquo;Lately, he&rsquo;s starting to show us what got him to the NHL. We want him to realize he is a big body and he can really establish a presence when he plays with a bit of snarl.&rdquo;</p><p>After drafting Nolan 186th overall in 2009, Los Angeles sent him back to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario League for 2009-10, then let him simmer for a season and a half in the AHL before bringing him up for 26 games in 2011-12.</p><p>The Kings liked him so much they kept him for all 20 playoffs games, helping them win the Stanley Cup. &ldquo;I was getting  a little too fancy down here, getting away from my game,&rdquo; Nolan said. &ldquo;I just have to remember what got me to L.A.: get in on the forecheck, lay on the body and get to the net. I have to remember that&rsquo;s what works.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-03174/9812811-1-eng-US/f0051-032.jpg" title="f0051-03" width="752" height="597"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-04140/9812804-1-eng-US/f0051-042.jpg" title="f0051-04" width="327" height="506"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(BONINO: MARIANNE HELM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>An opportunity like <b>Nick Bonino</b> is getting is rare. Though he led Boston U. in points in 2009-10, the Hartford native hasn&rsquo;t made a big impact on NHL scoresheets. But with vet Saku Koivu pencilled in as a shutdown center this year, Bonino is getting a chance to shine with Bobby Ryan and Teemu Selanne on Anaheim&rsquo;s No. 2 line.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-05102/9812797-1-eng-US/f0051-052.jpg" title="f0051-05" width="753" height="598"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-0685/9812790-1-eng-US/f0051-062.jpg" title="f0051-06" width="328" height="505"></div><p>The Stars celebrate their 20th season in Texas this year. To kick things off, they announced a string of famous hires, including Mark Recchi and Dallas legends <b>Mike Modano</b> and Marty Turco. Modano gets the gig with the highest profile, as executive advisor and alternate governor. New Stars uniforms are also in the offing.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-0759/9812783-1-eng-US/f0051-072.jpg" title="f0051-07" width="752" height="596"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-0841/9812776-1-eng-US/f0051-082.jpg" title="f0051-08" width="327" height="505"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(MODANO+CARTER: JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The Kings have a luxury befitting their name when it comes to talent up the middle. Where else can a team shrug off the loss of its No. 1 center? When Anze Kopitar&rsquo;s knee woes held him out of the opener, Mike Richards and <b>Jeff Carter</b> (who was on the wing) softened the blow. Ask Vancouver about the alternative situation.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-0935/9812769-1-eng-US/f0051-092.jpg" title="f0051-09" width="752" height="596"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-1030/9812762-1-eng-US/f0051-102.jpg" title="f0051-10" width="328" height="505"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(LOMBARDI: CHRISTIAN PETERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>Matthew Lombardi</b> belongs in the desert. The speedy center has also played for Calgary, Nashville and Toronto, but his time in Phoenix was the most bountiful, so it&rsquo;s no surprise the Coyotes reacquired him after the lockout. In his first tenure with the team, he averaged more minutes and points than he did anywhere else.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-1124/9812755-1-eng-US/f0051-112.jpg" title="f0051-11" width="752" height="597"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-1220/9812748-1-eng-US/f0051-122.jpg" title="f0051-12" width="328" height="506"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(IRWIN: CHRISTOPHER PASATIERI/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>San Jose&rsquo;s losses are <b>Matt Irwin&rsquo;s</b> gain. The rookie D-man earned a spot on the top pairing with veteran Dan Boyle in part due to injuries sustained by Brent Burns and Jason Demers. The Sharks lack depth on &lsquo;D,&rsquo; so the fact Irwin, a free agent out of UMass, played 19 minutes in his debut (third on the team) was a good harbinger.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0051-205/9812741-1-eng-US/f0051-202.jpg" title="f0051-20" width="640" height="30"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0051-01

BACK TO WHAT WORKS

<div class="byline">BY JOHN MATISZ</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0052-02212/9812877-1-eng-US/f0052-022.jpg" title="f0052-02" width="326" height="356"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0052-03147/9812870-1-eng-US/f0052-032.jpg" title="f0052-03" width="986" height="1178"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>CAPITAL &lsquo;O&rsquo;</b></p><p>Sean Monahan keeps scoring even as teammates are dealt. He had 51 points in 37 games.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(ICELEVEL..COM)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>L</span>IKE A LOT OF HOCKEY PLAYERS,</b> Sean Monahan is severely superstitious. And like many of them, the Ottawa 67&rsquo;s captain prefers to keep a lock on most habits. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s so many,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But a lot of them I don&rsquo;t talk about.&rdquo;</p><p>Still, at least one has managed to slip through the cracks. The club&rsquo;s hockey operations staff usually arrives at the rink a good hour before the players in hopes of preparing for the day ahead with minimal distractions. Often times, Monahan isn&rsquo;t too far behind. The Brampton native walks through the dress ing room doors bright and early so he can make sure everything is how it should be. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s the type of player where you have a 10 o&rsquo;clock meeting and &lsquo;Mony&rsquo;s&rsquo; there at nine working on his sticks, equipment or getting ready for practice later that day,&rdquo; said 67&rsquo;s associate coach Misha Donskov.</p><p>The quirk is not only a testament to Monahan&rsquo;s enthusiasm for the game, but also a prime example of his quiet intensity. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve played with him and against him and every time we&rsquo;re out on the ice, you can tell he has such a drive to win,&rdquo; said Brendan Gaunce, a Vancouver Canucks first-rounder (26th overall in 2012) and captain of the Ontario League&rsquo;s Belleville Bulls. &ldquo;Even when he loses the draw, he knows exactly what to do. He knows what to do with the puck and without the puck. It&rsquo;s hard to play against a guy like that.&rdquo;</p><p>Gaunce and Monahan, bitter rivals playing for two East Division OHL clubs, are good friends off the ice. After facing each other in youth hockey, they became teammates at the under-17 and under-18 championships as members of Team Ontario and Team Canada, respectively.</p><p>During 2012-13, with Gaunce and the Bulls sitting atop the division for most of the year, Monahan, 18, has trucked on while the 67&rsquo;s bottom out as part of a rebuilding process. Just past mid-season, the 6-foot-2, 193-pounder had 17 goals and 51 points in 37 games.</p><p>Monahan takes care of his own end, too, managing a minus-7 rating even though his team allows more goals per game than any other in the OHL and has five players at minus-20 or worse.</p><p>NHL Central Scouting has Monahan pegged fourth among draft eligible North American skaters in its mid-term rankings, while International Scouting Services placed him in the No. 5 spot in a listing of the entire 2013 draft class. Unfortunately for the crafty center, he was cut at Canada&rsquo;s national junior camp shortly after returning from a lengthy suspension. He sat out 10 games for an elbow to the head of Plymouth Whalers captain Colin MacDonald Nov. 18. &ldquo;I just came into the corner, the guy had the puck and I went to go finish my check,&rdquo; Monahan said. &ldquo;The guy&rsquo;s head was a little bit down, I fell forward to brace myself and my elbow caught him in the head.&rdquo;</p><p>According to Donskov, Monahan&rsquo;s top intangible characteristics are his hockey sense, maturity and drive. Those will help him adjust to life as a lone star on an inexperienced team after Ottawa gutted its core when the OHL trade deadline hit in early January. Four of its top six scorers, including Ottawa Senators pick Cody Ceci, were dealt for a variety of youngsters and picks. &ldquo;It was difficult to see those guys leave,&rdquo; Monahan said. &ldquo;But I&rsquo;m happy they got to go somewhere to win.&rdquo;</p><p>Central Scouting&rsquo;s Chris Edwards believes Monahan has the potential to be a legitimate top-six forward in the NHL, but added his skating needs work and he&rsquo;ll have to fill out his frame. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a highly skilled, smart, creative playmaker,&rdquo; Edwards said. &ldquo;As far as I&rsquo;m concerned, he&rsquo;s the top (draft eligible) player in the Ontario Hockey League.&rdquo;</p><p>The pre-draft hype has been reserved for Seth Jones, Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin, a virtual consensus as the NHL&rsquo;s top three 2013 picks. Nevertheless, much like the situation at the 67&rsquo;s rink, Monahan won&rsquo;t be too far behind.</p><div class="sidebar"><p>5 Sean Monahan&rsquo;s 2013 draft ranking according to International Scouting Services&rsquo; January report. He is the highest-rated OHL player and trails only Seth Jones, Nathan MacKinnon, Jonathan Drouin and Sasha Barkov overall.</p></div><div class="sidebar"><h2><b>SEAN MONAHAN</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0052-04115/9812863-1-eng-US/f0052-042.jpg" title="f0052-04" width="255" height="162"></div><p><b>POSITION</b> Center</p><p><b>AGE</b> 18</p><p>&nbsp;<b>HEIGHT</b> 6-2</p><p>&nbsp;<b>WEIGHT</b> 193 lbs</p><p><b>DRAFTED</b>&nbsp;2013 eligible<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0052-02

MONAHAN IN OTTAWA VALLEY

<div class="byline">BY MIKE ASHMORE</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0053-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0053-02217/9812908-1-eng-US/f0053-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>WALLEYE WALL</b></p><p>Detroit prospect Petr Mrazek won two of three ECHL starts, posting a .944 save percentage.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(TOLEDO WALLEYE HOCKEY CLUB)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0053-01316/9812915-1-eng-US/f0053-012.jpg" title="f0053-01" width="60" height="68"></div><p><b>AS IT DID IN 2004-05, THE</b> AHL benefitted from a well-publicized injection of young talent when the NHL went dormant for three-plus months.</p><p>Lost in the mix, however, was the AHL&rsquo;s development league. Sure enough, the trickle-down effect impacted the ECHL in a positive way and many prospects with NHL potential were scattered throughout the league&rsquo;s 23 teams at various points this season.</p><p>Among them was Dallas Stars draft pick Austin Smith (128th overall in 2007), who has had a lengthy stint with the ECHL&rsquo;s Idaho Steelheads despite coming off a senior season at Colgate in which he was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.</p><p>Smith began his pro career with the AHL&rsquo;s Texas Stars at the tail end of last season. But after going 12 games without lighting the lamp &ndash; uncharacteristic given the 24-year-old led the NCAA in goals with 36 last season &ndash; a trip to a state known more for potatoes than pucks was in store to open 2012-13.</p><p>He recaptured his sniper&rsquo;s touch there, potting 19 goals in 23 games. &ldquo;To start the season, I was kind of frustrated with how the previous year finished and I started off a bit slow,&rdquo; Smith said. &ldquo;More than anything for me, it was just kind of finding my confidence again. More than humbling myself, it was a little bit on the other side, where I was a little down on myself. So this experience has helped me regain my confidence and it&rsquo;s been a real positive for me.&rdquo;</p><p>Scott Wedgewood (New Jersey, 84th in 2010) has maintained a similar outlook while manning the pipes for the Trenton Titans. The 20-year-old, regarded as the Devils&rsquo; No. 2 goaltending prospect, is the latest netminder in that organization to earn the &lsquo;next Martin Brodeur&rsquo; moniker. But despite being stuck behind Jeff Frazee and Keith Kinkaid at the AHL level, he was adamant about not wanting to return to the Ontario League&rsquo;s Plymouth Whalers as an overager.</p><p>The ECHL, he said, was his best option. &ldquo;Plymouth was a great experience for me, probably the greatest four years of my life &ndash; it definitely prepared me for what I&rsquo;m getting into this year,&rdquo; Wedgewood said. &ldquo;If I went back there, obviously I&rsquo;d be getting a lot of playing time. But being here, it&rsquo;s almost more beneficial to just get on the ice. The more you get exposed to this level, the better you&rsquo;re going to be and right now this is a better step than junior.&rdquo;</p><p>The ECHL has long had a reputation of developing goalies (see: Quick, Jonathan) with many NHL teams choosing to send the low man on the totem pole of their five or six contracted netminders down there. Then again, goaltenders like Wedgewood, Reading&rsquo;s Philipp Grubauer (Washington, 112th in &rsquo;10) and Petr Mrazek (Detroit, 141st in &rsquo;10) aren&rsquo;t your typical depth guys.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p>While Wedgewood and Grubauer are likely trapped in the ECHL all season, the highly touted 21-year-old Mrazek made just a three-game cameo with the Toledo Walleye. Not only did Mrazek win two of his three starts, he even bested Wedgewood in a rematch of their 2012 World Junior Championship meeting, with the ECHL serving as an unlikely setting for their first pro duel. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s my first year as a pro and the coaches and management wanted me to spend some time here and play,&rdquo; said Mrazek, who was summoned to Grand Rapids when he and Jordan Pearce swapped spots.</p><p>Goaltending will always be the ECHL&rsquo;s strongest suit, but Gwinnett Gladiators coach John Wroblewski has seen the overall talent level in the league take a big step up. He points to standouts like South Carolina&rsquo;s tandem of Hunter Bishop and Tyler McNeely, both of whom spent extended time in the AHL in 2011-12. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s always somebody this year that has a resume that stands out to you to where you look at it and say, &lsquo;I&rsquo;m surprised this guy is playing in the ECHL,&rsquo;&rdquo; Wroblewski said.</p><p>With the goal of the ECHL still being to send players to the next level, Smith made it clear the transition up to the AHL isn&rsquo;t nearly as difficult as perhaps it once was. &ldquo;As far as skill, especially the first couple lines in this league, there are a lot of players that could play in the American League,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Defensively, it&rsquo;s obviously a little stronger in the American League, but as far as talent and skill, there&rsquo;s a lot down here. It&rsquo;s not too far off.&rdquo;</p><div class="sidebar"><p>491 Former ECHL players who have played in the NHL. The most recent was Cory Conacher, who played for the Cincinnati Cyclones in 2010-11 and debuted with the Tampa Bay Lightning Jan. 19, 2013.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0053-02

YOUNG BEASTS LURKING BELOW

<div class="byline">BY GREG OLIVER</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0054-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0054-01327/9812946-1-eng-US/f0054-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>BACKSTOPPING RIVALS</b></p><p>Bob Froese split eight NHL seasons between traditional enemies, Philadelphia and the Rangers.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE BENNETT STUDIOS/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>ENTORING CAME EASY TO BOB FROESE, ALMOST AS EASY AS</b> a kick save. In 1989-90, his final season, the New York Rangers asked him to look after their prize pupil, Mike Richter. Froese hadn&rsquo;t had a roomie in years, but the two goalies bunked together and Froese passed on his knowledge. In short, he prepared Richter to take his job.</p><p>Helping the next generation is a role he embraced toward the end of his career. &ldquo;I would be spending time with the young guys &ndash; that was my responsibility,&rdquo; Froese said. &ldquo;I was good at it. I encouraged these guys to get them to play hard. At the same time, I warned them about the dangers and gave them the hope of keeping your nose clean, your life in order.&rdquo;</p><p>It&rsquo;s a talent that led him into his next career as the pastor at Faith Fellowship Church in Clarence, N.Y. After his 18 years as a goalie &ndash; struggling with bad junior teams (St. Catharines Black Hawks and Niagara Falls Flyers), getting thrust into the spotlight in Philadelphia following the fatal car accident of Pelle Lindbergh in 1985, playing backup with the Rangers and acting as a goalie coach on Long Island &ndash; Froese broke away from the game. He was raised Mennonite Brethren in St. Catharines, Ont., and after hockey he earned a B.Sc. in religion from Liberty University, then a master&rsquo;s degree in religion at Liberty&rsquo;s Baptist Theological Seminary and finally a doctorate from Trinity Theological Seminary. In Froese&rsquo;s eyes, the two professions aren&rsquo;t as conflicting as one might think. &ldquo;I became a pastor and I&rsquo;ve got my PhD in biblical counseling,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But I cut my teeth in the locker room.&rdquo;</p><p>Motivational speeches can be parlayed into sermons and with 242 NHL appearances, Froese has a lot to draw upon.</p><p>He recently got to speak in Denver for a group of biblical counselors and shared details of his second season with the Flyers. He was in great shape physically following a pretty good rookie season and was armed with a fresh four-year contract with Philadelphia. But things didn&rsquo;t go as planned initially. &ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t stop a beach ball,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We had round-robins in the first week of camp and probably the third day in, I&rsquo;m telling you, I was Swiss cheese. I was frustrated to the hilt.&rdquo;</p><blockquote class="pullQuote">&ldquo;BOBBY CLARKE HANDED ME A PUCK AND SAID, &lsquo;ALL I WANT YOU TO DO IS KEEP YOUR EYES ON THIS&rsquo;<br>&ndash; Bob Froese</blockquote><p>That carried over into the season until then-GM Bobby Clarke took him out for lunch. Froese had lost his focus and Clarke pointed out the differences in the goaltender from his rookie season. &ldquo;He said, &lsquo;The referee would be flipping the puck in his hand, waiting to drop it and your eyes would just be going up and down, wherever that puck was,&rdquo; Froese recalled. &ldquo;&lsquo;Now you&rsquo;re concerned about where the TV cameras are, where the fans are. You&rsquo;ve got your eyes on what the defensemen are supposed to be doing, all these different things.&rsquo;</p><p>&ldquo;He handed me a puck across the table and said, &lsquo;All I want you to do is just keep your eyes on this thing.&rsquo;</p><p>Froese took Clarke&rsquo;s advice, kept his eyes on the puck and turned his season around, finishing fourth in wins (28) and fifth in goals-against average (3.14). It is lessons like those that he has taken into life after hockey as a pastor. &ldquo;To me, it&rsquo;s easy to parlay that as a Christian &ndash; you keep your eyes on Christ,&rdquo; Froese said. &ldquo;It is so easy to get your eyes off on all these other window-dressings. Just do what you&rsquo;ve been called to do.&rdquo;</p><p><b>FOR MORE TALES OF PAST HOCKEY GREATS, CLICK ON <a href="http://THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM/BACKCHECKING">THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM/BACKCHECKING</a></b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0054-01

FROM CREASE TO PULPIT

<div class="byline">BY KEVIN FREIHEIT</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0055-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0055-01285/9812977-1-eng-US/f0055-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>THE MAN OF THE MIC</b></p><p>Rick Jeanneret, right, has called more than 3,000 games for the Buffalo Sabres.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(BILL WIPPERT/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>R</span>ICK JEANNERET&rsquo;S VOICE IS IMITATED BY FANS OF ALL AGES</b> throughout Buffalo and beyond. His exuberant style of calling games has poured energy into the heart of Sabres nation for more than four decades and he&rsquo;s a large part of not only the NHL team, but the entire city.</p><p>Jeanneret, now 70, first landed behind the microphone 50 years ago, though it wasn&rsquo;t by design. One night in 1963, he took over the play-by-play duties because for a Niagara Falls Flyers Jr. A game because the regular announcer was ill. Jeanneret was in his seat when someone asked him if he knew anything about calling a game. Though already in the broadcast business, Jeanneret had never done any play-by-play hockey prior to that night. &ldquo;I did the game and next thing I knew I was doing all of them,&rdquo; he says.</p><p>Jeanneret&rsquo;s tenure with Buffalo began in 1971. Over his 40-plus years with the team, he has provided fans with numerous memorable calls and has been there for the best periods in Sabres history: the &lsquo;French Connection&rsquo; era; the days of Pat LaFontaine; the &ldquo;May Day&rdquo; goal, when unlikely hero Brad May scored the overtime-winner to give the Sabres a sweep over the Boston Bruins in 1993; Jason Pominville&rsquo;s shorthanded goal in 2006 to defeat Ottawa in the playoffs; and the 2006-07 Presidents&rsquo; Trophy season.</p><p>Buffalo fans have grown accustomed to watching Sabres games with Jeanneret&rsquo;s call. When he isn&rsquo;t the on television broadcast, many fans mute the TV, turn on the radio and sync his voice to the action. &ldquo;The fans have certainly let me know how they feel and it&rsquo;s very heartwarming,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had a wonderful relationship with them over the years. I absolutely love Buffalo&rsquo;s fans.&rdquo;</p><p>Jeanneret has received several honors for his broadcasting. In the past two years, he&rsquo;s been inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame, Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, Hockey Hall of Fame and Buffalo Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. He also won The Foster Hewitt Memorial Award (awarded by the Hockey Hall of Fame to members of the radio and television industry who make outstanding contributions to their profession and the game of hockey during their broadcasting career). &ldquo;When I was inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasters Association, I felt that I was inducted by my peers,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;When I was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, I very much felt that I was being inducted by the fans.&rdquo;</p><blockquote class="pullQuote">&ldquo;THE FANS HAVE LET ME KNOW HOW THEY FEEL AND IT&rsquo;S HEART-WARMING<br>&ndash; Rick Jeanneret</blockquote><p>Of course, there is one important piece missing from Jeanneret&rsquo;s resume: the call of the Sabres winning a championship. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m hoping that before I leave I can get ahold of that Stanley Cup,&rdquo; Jeanneret said during his induction speech for the Buffalo Broadcaster&rsquo;s Association Hall of Fame. &ldquo;I would truly love to have that happen.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;That would be the culmination of 40-some-odd years in this business.&rdquo;</p><p>Jeanneret has already called more than 3,000 Sabres games and acknowledges his broadcasting career is closer to the end than the beginning. His retirement has been rumored for the past couple of seasons, but he has agreed to come back each time. &ldquo;I&rsquo;mnotgoingtogoon forever,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Wherever I&rsquo;ll be when I&rsquo;m done, I know I can sit back and think upon those good times.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0055-01

JUST ONE THING MISSING

<h2><b>Guess</b>&nbsp;<b>WHO!</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-01242/9813043-1-eng-US/f0057-012.jpg" title="f0057-01" width="523" height="551"></div><p><i>&ldquo;Playing forward, I was a key part of the Chicago Blackhawks 2010 Stanley Cup.&rdquo;</i></p><p><i>&ldquo;As a defenseman for the Atlanta Thrashers, I got my first All-Star Game invite in 2010-11.&rdquo;</i></p><p><i>&ldquo;At 265 pounds, I am the NHL&rsquo;s second-heaviest player. Maybe that&rsquo;s why I&rsquo;m called &lsquo;Big Buff.&rsquo;&rdquo;</i></p><h2><b>Separated AT BIRTH</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-02174/9813036-1-eng-US/f0057-022.jpg" title="f0057-02" width="246" height="437"></div><h3><b>DREW STAFFORD</b></h3><p>6-foot-1 sniper plays in upstate New York; has more career goals on Saturdays than on any other day.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-03129/9813029-1-eng-US/f0057-032.jpg" title="f0057-03" width="245" height="437"></div><h3><b>BILL HADER</b></h3><p>6-foot-1 actor performs on TV in New York; plays more roles on <i>Saturday Night Live</i> than in all his movies.</p><p><b>Submitted by:</b> Colin MacDonald</p><p>Email your suggestions to <b><a href="mailto:sab@thehockeynews.com">sab@thehockeynews.com</a></b></p><p>WHO AM I: DUSTIN BYFUGLIEN</p><h2><b>CROSSWORD</b></h2><p>By Larry Humber</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-04107/9813022-1-eng-US/f0057-042.jpg" title="f0057-04" width="1004" height="1004"></div><p><b>ANSWERS AVAILABLE IN THE NEXT ISSUE AND AT <a href="http://THN.com/XWORD">THN.com/XWORD</a></b></p><h3><b>ACROSS</b></h3><p>1 Veteran winger Ryan ___</p><p>8 Where Tyler Seguin played his junior hockey</p><p>9 The 2012 Grey Cup winners, once co-owned by &lsquo;Gretz&rsquo;</p><p>10 Edmonton&rsquo;s junior team</p><p>11 An IIHF member nation since 1963</p><p>14 One of the Stastnys</p><p>15 Corey ___ was 2011 Hart Trophy winner</p><p>20 On top in the standings</p><p>21 Where the 2006 Cup-winning Canes play</p><p>22 Albany was once home of the ___ Rats</p><p>23 Where the Battalion are currently based</p><p>24 One of the Primeaus; they famously fought each other</p><h3><b>DOWN</b></h3><p>2 Brad ___ is a rugged Bruin, pictured</p><p>3 Joe ___ was Hart winner in 2006 despite a mid-season swap</p><p>4 Wren ___ was coach and GM in Minny</p><p>5 The Trail ___ Eaters were twice world champions</p><p>6 Pat ___ was coach in both Toronto and Montreal</p><p>7 Kelly ___ could mix it up</p><p>12 ___ Hat is home of junior hockey&rsquo;s Tigers</p><p>13 One who is likely to be drafted</p><p>16 Strikebreakers</p><p>17 Gretzky was dubbed &lsquo;The ___ One&rsquo;</p><p>18 Falls to the ice to make a save</p><p>19 The NHLPA is hockey&rsquo;s ___</p><p><b>LAST WEEK&rsquo;S CROSSWORD SOLUTION ACROSS</b> 1. ALFIE, 8. CAROLINE, 9. LUKAS, 10. KAMLOOPS, 11. SCOTT, 14. HEAVY, 15. KORAB, 20. DAVID, 21. IMPACTED* 22. CHING, 23. MEMORIAL 24. ANKLE <b>DOWN</b> 2. LAUNCHED, 3. INACTIVE, 4. JAPAN, 5. GOALS, 6. MINOR, 7. BEAST, 12. JONATHAN, 13. NATIONAL, 16. TIMMY, 17. SEAMS, 18. SCORE 19. DELAY *21 across conflicts with 17 down; THN apologizes for the error, created during editing</p><h2><b>Behind</b>&nbsp;<b>THE MASK</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-0567/9813015-1-eng-US/f0057-052.jpg" title="f0057-05" width="929" height="893"></div><h3><b>HENRIK LUNDQVIST | NEW YORK RANGERS</b></h3><p>While Lundqvist loves New York, his homeland needed some mask love. He had Dave Gunnarsson adorn his new lid with Swedish movie stars Greta Garbo and Ingrid Bergman. On the unseen side is the other famous movie Bergman: director Ingmar. <b>&ndash; MATT LARKIN</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-0644/9813008-1-eng-US/f0057-062.jpg" title="f0057-06" width="676" height="667"></div><h3><b>MICHIGAN TECH | 2012-13</b></h3><h2><b>Jersey HOUND</b></h2><p>Gold jerseys are awesome because when replacing white sweaters, they make the contrast with the opposing team that much greater. For example, Michigan Tech wore these 1970s-era throwbacks against North Dakota&rsquo;s green jerseys.</p><p>The baseball-style lettering harkens to the program&rsquo;s glory years, when Tech made the NCAA final three times in a row. This throwback, the second of three the Huskies are rolling out this year, was actually designed by Michigan Tech volunteer coach and ex-San Jose Sharks netminder Steve Shields. <b>&ndash; RYAN KENNEDY</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0057-01

last minute of play

<div class="byline">WITH KEN CAMPBELL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0058-02174/9813074-1-eng-US/f0058-022.jpg" title="f0058-02" width="914" height="1001"><figcaption class="caption-body">GARY <b>BETTMAN</b> <span class="photo-credit">(DAVE SANDFORD/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0058-01259/9813081-1-eng-US/f0058-012.jpg" title="f0058-01" width="200" height="238"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>N</span>EW YORK &ndash; I RECEIVED A TWEET</b> from an old friend after the first weekend of the season that read: &ldquo;NHL fans=sheep.&rdquo; I asked him if that meant he had cancelled his Calgary Flames season tickets this season. &ldquo;Did not,&rdquo; was the reply. &ldquo;But gave away some Flames gear and will not eat/drink in Saddledome again.&rdquo;</p><p>If everyone who threatened to totally boycott the NHL after the lockout had followed through with his/her threat when the rubber hit the road, there might have been a problem. But admit it: commissioner Gary Bettman was right all along. The NHL does have the best fans in the world &ndash; people who can&rsquo;t stay away in spite of those who run the sport. And in eight or 10 years when the league puts its customers through this all over again, there will be the same threats and the same result.</p><p>Nearly eight years ago, after the previous lockout ended, the NHL came back with a resurgence that defied every business model, setting attendance records and driving revenues up exponentially. But this time it was supposed to be different. NHL Lockout &ndash; Part III, had the potential to drive loyal fans away from the game for good. But what happened? Well, the early returns favor the league&rsquo;s notion that it knew what it was doing all along. (It also supports the notion that the owners will rue their decision to relent on their hard line just to save the season. The people would have come back regardless.)</p><p>When the puck dropped for opening night Jan. 19, a total of 9.2 million people watched at least some of the Hockey Night in Canada telecast between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. So if you&rsquo;re Canadian and you didn&rsquo;t watch that game, look at the person to your right and your left and there&rsquo;s a good chance he or she tuned in. That was the highest rating ever for a regular season game. It was also the same day the NHL&rsquo;s website crashed because it couldn&rsquo;t handle the traffic. NBC Sports posted its best non-Winter Classic numbers in a decade and the St. Louis Blues win over the Nashville Predators early in the season posted the best numbers ever for a regular season game on Fox Sports Midwest. The Maple Leafs home opener garnered the highest numbers ever for a Rogers Sportsnet regional telecast.</p><p>Yup, we&rsquo;re really showin&rsquo; them, aren&rsquo;t we? Makes you wonder whether the league even needed to do anything to apologize to its fans for the third lockout in 18 years.</p><p>As the league got going, there was a lot of debate over whether individual teams and the league were doing enough to placate their fans for betraying their loyalty. There wasn&rsquo;t a team in the league that didn&rsquo;t do at least something to thank their fans for their patience during the lockout. But most of it was token and meaningless. Not charging season-ticket holders for the first game of the season in Toronto? No doubt the corporate types who occupy the best seats on the company&rsquo;s dime and the public dole &ndash; since those companies are writing those expenses off against taxes &ndash; were eternally grateful. And the money the Leafs save as a result of having the players&rsquo; share of revenues go from 57 percent to 50 will make that expense a pittance. Show me a team that went above and beyond when it came to lockout contrition and I&rsquo;ll show you a team that has trouble attracting fans and corporate sponsors at the best of times. (Speaking of corporate sponsors, they all had a year added to their existing contracts with the league as a show of appreciation. You can all sleep better now.)</p><p>If the league were actually serious about awarding its loyal fan base, it would have immediately announced a long-term deal to ensure Olympic participation and the revival of the World Cup of Hockey every four years. That would give people a best-on-best tournament every two years.</p><blockquote class="pullQuote">&ldquo;FANS WEREN&rsquo;T GOING ANYWHERE NO MATTER HOW LONG THE NHL SLAMMED THE DOOR IN THEIR FACES</blockquote><p>Personally, I never bought the notion that the lockout was going to be bad for the long-term business of the NHL. That&rsquo;s because it has a fan base that is bafflingly loyal, well heeled for the most part and tech savvy. Those people weren&rsquo;t going anywhere no matter how long the NHL slammed the door in their faces. Teams that did well before the lockout will continue to do so, teams that struggled to attract fans and whose financial success hinges on how well the team does in the standings will always be thus.</p><p>So why did the league, the players and their teams feel the need to apologize for anything? They took hockey away for a while and they gave it back. It&rsquo;s their business to run how they see fit and it&rsquo;s our prerogative to punish them if we don&rsquo;t like how they do that.</p><p>But admit it: we just don&rsquo;t have it in us. And that&rsquo;s just fine. It means you love hockey and there&rsquo;s nothing wrong with that. You don&rsquo;t have to apologize for it. And neither does the NHL.</p><p><b>CAN&rsquo;T GET ENOUGH CAMPBELL?</b> CLICK ON <b><a href="http://thehockeynews.com">THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM</a></b> FOR KEN&rsquo;S EXCLUSIVE COLUMN<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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February 18, 2013

THE AHL AT ITS BEST

BACK-END DEALING AND HEALING

THE REAL DEAL?

PUCKPOLL