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.

March 3, 2014

The Hockey News - Mar-03-14

<div class="byline">&#x2013; JOSH ELLIOTT</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0010-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-012361/9910756-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>RUNNING OF THE BULLS</b> Pat Curcio couldn&rsquo;t keep his team alfoat, despite celeb guests like Metallica&rsquo;s James Hetfield. <span class="photo-credit">(MIKE TKACHEFF)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>L</span></b><b>IKE SAND CASTLES ON A BEACH</b>, ECHL franchises are fleeting, as San Francisco Bulls players and fans found out recently. On Jan. 27, the Bulls were swept away after just one-and-a-half seasons on the shores of San Francisco Bay.</p><p>With losses estimated at $2 million and attendance numbers falling to the low hundreds at an 8,500-seat arena, the writing was on the wall for the San Jose Sharks&rsquo; ECHL affiliate. The Bulls were 15-20-5 and in eighth place after 40 games in the ECHL&rsquo;s Western Conference when the league put them out to pasture and wrote them out of the schedule. Coach, GM and president Pat Curcio delivered the news to his players. &ldquo;You walk into the dressing room and you just start crying,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;You&rsquo;ve got 22 early adult players and here you are, a 40-year-old man, and you&rsquo;re crying.&rdquo;</p><p>Center Ryan Garlock was just two weeks into his tenure with the Bulls after arriving in a trade from Bakersfield. He and most of his teammates immediately became unrestricted free agents. &ldquo;It was a pretty quick talk,&rdquo; Garlock says. &ldquo;(Curcio) had put a lot into this team and he had a strong, close bond with a lot of guys. Five minutes after the meeting took place, guys were on the phone, speaking with other teams and coaches, and kind of scrambling for a place to finish the season.&rdquo;</p><p>Most have found new homes in the ECHL or Europe. Former Toronto Marlie Dale Mitchell signed with the first-place South Carolina Stingrays, the oldest active team in the league, while Bulls leading scorer Dean Ouellet joined the Fort Wayne Komets. Four players under contract with the Sharks were reassigned to the ECHL&rsquo;s Ontario Reign, while goaltender J.P. Anderson was called up to the Worcester Sharks of the American League. Others, like Garlock, will sit out the season to heal nagging injuries.</p><p>Turnover is nothing new in the ECHL, but folding mid-season is less common. The Augusta Lynx and Fresno Falcons did it first in 2008. San Francisco is the only franchise to fold mid-season since. Of the five teams from the league&rsquo;s inaugural season in 1988-89, every one has moved or folded. But since starting with those five teams in four states, the ECHL is now coast-to-coast with 21 teams in 15 states. More than 500 alumni have played in the NHL, including 15 who have debuted this season.</p><p>Why didn&rsquo;t the ECHL step in to prop up the Bulls, as the NHL did for the Phoenix Coyotes during their ownership woes? League officials say it was a board of governors decision to fold the team, but long-term profitability was a consideration. The Bulls&rsquo; Second World War-era Cow Palace Arena was a big factor in the team&rsquo;s demise, Curcio says. The Palace, originally built for rodeos, has temporarily housed a number of pro and minor league teams in its 70-plus years, including the NBA&rsquo;s San Francisco (now Golden State) Warriors and the expansion Sharks for their first two NHL seasons. But it also had outdated ice-making technology and the Bulls had to spend nearly $2 million to bring the facility up to modern standards. Still, Curcio says, his team had one of the most expensive lease agreements in the league&rsquo;s oldest building.</p><p>The Bulls showed trouble signs early this season. Meeting payroll became a constant challenge and the team was putting out financial fires right to the end. But even as Curcio mourns the loss of his team and longtime dream, he wants to remember the positives, too. He points to the success of Bulls graduates like Andrew Crescenzi and Daniil Tarasov, who have become regulars in the AHL, and to Jamie Devane, who played two games with the Toronto Maple Leafs this season. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m sure they&rsquo;re going to get opportunities at the NHL level,&rdquo; Curcio says. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m real proud of them.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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DEPARTMENTS

BULL MARKET GOES BEARISH

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-01463/9912722-1-eng-US/f0049-012.jpg" title="f0049-01" width="483" height="592"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(GRAIG ABEL/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><i>&ldquo;In &rsquo;90-91, I became the fourth goalie to win the Calder and Vezina in the same season.&rdquo;</i></p><p><i>&ldquo;I have one Cup ring, but played in three finals, one with Chicago and two with Dallas.&rdquo;</i></p><p><i>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve also been a Shark, a Leaf and a Panther. I&rsquo;m third all-time on the NHL wins list.&rdquo;</i><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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IN THIS ISSUE

Guess Who!

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-02398/9912691-1-eng-US/f0047-022.jpg" title="f0047-02" width="352" height="361"></div><p><b>EDEN <i>(YALE)</i>*</b></p><p>POS C AGE 18</p><p>FAVORITE PLAYERS:</p><p>Pavel Datsyuk, Amanda Kessel</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-03314/9912684-1-eng-US/f0047-032.jpg" title="f0047-03" width="352" height="362"></div><p><b>KELLY <i>(CORNELL)</i></b></p><p>POS D AGE 19</p><p>FAVORITE PLAYERS:</p><p>Nicklas Lidstrom, Cassie Campbell</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-04240/9912677-1-eng-US/f0047-042.jpg" title="f0047-04" width="351" height="362"></div><p><b>MADI <i>(YALE)</i></b></p><p>POS D AGE 21</p><p>FAVORITE PLAYERS:</p><p>Mason Raymond, Delaney Collins</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-05186/9912670-1-eng-US/f0047-052.jpg" title="f0047-05" width="338" height="358"></div><p><b>LOGAN <i>(MCGILL)</i></b></p><p>POS RW AGE 22</p><p>FAVORITE PLAYERS:</p><p>Jarome Iginla, Jennifer Botterill</p><p>*committed for 2014-15<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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MEET THE MURRAYS

<p class="dropcap"><i><span>K</span>en Campbell&rsquo;s &ldquo;Birthday Presence&rdquo; has struck a nerve with me (Overtime, Jan. 27). Hockey Canada got it wrong by eliminating bodychecking in levels below bantam. What they should be doing is lowering the age of body contact to at least the novice level. Kids at that level are mostly the same size and more worried about having fun than making a huge, bonecrushing bodycheck. And they should be learning how to properly give and take a check early on. P.S., Ken, who cares what the Swedes do? This is our game.</i></p><p><b><i>Randy Gates, Carman, Man.</i></b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-08153/9910549-1-eng-US/f0006-082.jpg" title="f0006-08" width="651" height="869"></div><p>CONTACT US:</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-012497/9910542-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="154" height="95"></div><p> <a href="mailto:letters@thehockeynews.com">letters@thehockeynews.com</a></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-021706/9910535-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="77" height="76"></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/f0006-05514/9910528-1-eng-US/f0006-052.jpg" title="f0006-05" width="77" height="77"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p> /+thehockeynews</p><h2><b>OUTSIDE OVERLOAD</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-1161/9910521-1-eng-US/f0006-112.jpg" title="f0006-11" width="154" height="95"></div><p>With all the outdoor games this year, I feel like the excitement for them has died a little bit. When the NHL only had the Winter Classic, it was something special. Now that the NHL has included multiple outdoor games in a season, the Winter Classic didn&rsquo;t seem to have the same kind of excitement. Although the game in California was interesting because of the warmer climate, I don&rsquo;t think the games in New York or Chicago or even Vancouver are necessary&hellip;and I&rsquo;m a Senators fan! I think they should have two, maybe three, outdoor games per season. If they continue to have five or six outdoor games each season, the excitement and hype will eventually wear off.</p><p><b><i>Eric Post</i></b></p><p><b><i>Peterborough, Ont.</i></b></p><h2><b>BLUNDER YEARS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-1250/9910514-1-eng-US/f0006-122.jpg" title="f0006-12" width="154" height="95"></div><p>Imagine my surprise upon reading the Washington Capitals&rsquo; &ldquo;Behind the Name&rdquo; story in the Feb. 10 issue that stated the team came into existence in 1976. I guess those first two years when I went to games were just a bad dream. Whew.</p><p><b><i>Jim Gray</i></b></p><p><b><i>Charlotte Hall, Md.</i></b></p><h2><b>IS ALEX ALL &lsquo;O&rsquo;?</b></h2><p><i>Re: Ken Campbell&rsquo;s &ldquo;Ovechkin simply has to commit more to a two-way game,&rdquo; <a href="http://THN.com">THN.com</a>, Jan. 31</i></p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-031019/9910507-1-eng-US/f0006-032.jpg" title="f0006-03" width="77" height="76"></div><p>Are you kidding? He&rsquo;s a goal scorer and is doing his job. Make the rest of the team play a more defensive or even just a better game. Asking Ovechkin to be more defensive is like driving a Ferrari slowly to save miles per gallon. Never read anything more stupid!</p><p><b><i>John Mather</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/f0006-04653/9910500-1-eng-US/f0006-042.jpg" title="f0006-04" width="77" height="76"></div><p>Sometimes Ken Campbell is a clown, but sometimes he hits it right on&hellip;and this is one of those times. Ovechkin is not even in the top 10 players currently.</p><p><b><i>Robert Wiles</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/f0006-09103/9910493-1-eng-US/f0006-092.jpg" title="f0006-09" width="77" height="78"></div><p>I&rsquo;m sorry, but to score 50 in the NHL you have to be a little more offensive than defensive. You can&rsquo;t be 50/50 and score 50.</p><p><b><i>Ryan Ellerbe</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/f0006-06366/9910486-1-eng-US/f0006-062.jpg" title="f0006-06" width="77" height="76"></div><p>As soon as he commits to a two-way game, the same pundits will say he&rsquo;s not the same player and he&rsquo;s losing a step. You can&rsquo;t please everyone, so Ovie should do what he does best and that&rsquo;s score.</p><p><b><i>Craig Hurley</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/f0006-07242/9910479-1-eng-US/f0006-072.jpg" title="f0006-07" width="77" height="76"></div><p>Too much hotdog&hellip;No beef.</p><p><b><i>Karen E. Valli</i></b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

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HIT ’EM EARLY

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-012213/9910386-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>GIDDYUP, TEX!</b></p><p>Mike Smith makes Erik Cole his little pony after the Star invades his territory.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(NORM HALL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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OPENING FACEOFF

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-012267/9910424-1-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></b><b>ARTIN BRODEUR CAUSED A STIR</b> when he told <i>Star-Ledger</i> reporter and THN contributor Rich Chere he would consider waiving his no-trade for the right opportunity. There was buzz on the Internet and airwaves, but there wasn&rsquo;t massive shock. We&rsquo;ve come to accept, if not expect, star players, even greatest-ever types, to change laundry at least once in their careers.</p><p>In fact, if Brodeur stays put until the day he retires, he&rsquo;ll be one of the rarest of exceptions: a Hall of Fame goalie of the modern era who played his entire career with the same franchise. The only other net-minder of that ilk &ndash; one who played a chunk of his career post-1967 expansion &ndash; is Montreal&rsquo;s Ken Dryden, who became an honored member more than 30 years ago, in 1983. The other 11 on the list all had multiple fixed NHL/WHA addresses. (To save you looking them up, the roll call includes shoo-in Dominik Hasek plus Ed Belfour, Patrick Roy, Grant Fuhr, Billy Smith, Tony Esposito, Ed Giacomin, Gerry Cheevers, Bernie Parent, Jacques Plante and Gump Worsley).</p><p>As for skaters, the phenomenon is similar, though not as stark. Joe Sakic (2012) and Steve Yzerman (2009) are the only ones to accomplish the feat since Mario Lemieux got his plaque in 1997. That&rsquo;s two of 43 in our sample group from that time span. Nick Lidstrom will join them in 2015, then, well, who knows?</p><p>Here, in order of likelihood, are eight candidates to enter the Hall having only belonged to one NHL franchise. To qualify for consideration, players must be at least 30 and be on target to attain low-end Hall of Fame benchmarks. Note, all have no-trade or no-movement clauses except Henrik Zetterberg:</p><p><b>1. Pavel Datsyuk</b>, Detroit, 38 when contract expires.</p><p><b>2. Henrik Sedin</b>, Vancouver, 37 when contract expires.</p><p><b>3. Daniel Sedin</b>, Vancouver, 37 when contract expires.</p><p><b>4. Henrik Zetterberg</b>, Detroit, 40 when contract expires.</p><p><b>5. Duncan Keith,</b> Chicago, 39 when contract expires.</p><p><b>6. Henrik Lundqvist</b>, Rangers, 39 when contract expires.</p><p><b>7. Patrik Elias,</b> New Jersey, 40 when contract expires.</p><p><b>8. Patrick Marleau</b>, San Jose, 37 when contract expires.</p><p>Feel free to discuss. For more on Brodeur, see pg. 28.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-021919/9910417-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="414" height="222"></div><p><b>NEXT ISSUE</b> MARCH 24, 2014</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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EVERYONE GETS NEW JERSEY

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-1077/9910580-1-eng-US/f0006-102.jpg" title="f0006-10" width="522" height="137"></div><p>HOW MANY TRADE DEADLINE DAY DEALS WILL THERE BE?</p><p>40+ 4 %</p><p>30-39 6 %</p><p>20-29 25 %</p><p>10-19 45 %</p><p>0-9 20 %<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0006-10

PUCKPOLL

<p>WHAT&rsquo;S KEEPING YOU UP AT NIGHT? IF YOU&rsquo;VE GOT A QUESTION ABOUT THE GAME, SEND IT TO COLUMNIST ADAM PROTEAU AT <a href="mailto:ASKADAM@THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM">ASKADAM@THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM</a> </p><p><b>QUESTION:</b> I believe Rick Nash is a talented player who lacks heart. If he misses a pass or loses the puck, it most often results in a big turn and no immediate pursuit of the puck. What are your thoughts?</p><p><b><i>David Garmendia, Pine Bush, N.Y.</i></b></p><p><b>ANSWER:</b> While this clearly hasn&rsquo;t been Nash&rsquo;s best year &ndash; I wouldn&rsquo;t have included him on Team Canada &ndash; it&rsquo;s not fair to say he lacks heart or work ethic. Bigger players like him have a naturally longer stride and that is sometimes mistakenly perceived as them not giving it their all. Do you really think Olympic team architect Steve Yzerman would risk his home-land&rsquo;s chances at a gold medal by picking someone who loafed around the ice surface? I don&rsquo;t.</p><p><b>QUESTION:</b> I have noticed there are ads that are up on the glass in the different NHL arenas. This sounds like a stupid question, but how do the people sitting behind those ads see what&rsquo;s happening on the ice?</p><p><b><i>Cami J. Cutler, Vincennes, Ind.</i></b></p><p><b>ANSWER:</b> The advertising banners you&rsquo;re referring to don&rsquo;t block anyone&rsquo;s view, because they&rsquo;re virtual ads visible only to TV viewers. These types of revenue generators are common in all major sports now as teams and leagues wring every possible dollar out of every area of the playing surface and surrounding areas. Ultimately, they add to the clutter and chip away a little more of the attention that should be on the game itself, but they&rsquo;re not going away.</p><p>READ MORE &lsquo;ASK ADAM&rsquo; EVERY FRIDAY AT <a href="http://TheHockeyNews.com">THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM</a><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

ASK Adam?

<div class="byline">&#x2013; KEN CAMPBELL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-021829/9910663-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="273" height="311"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-031306/9910656-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg" title="f0008-03" width="586" height="790"><figcaption class="caption-body">ANDREW <b>FERENCE</b> <span class="photo-credit">(FERENCE: DEREK LEUNG/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-04745/9910649-1-eng-US/f0008-042.jpg" title="f0008-04" width="927" height="802"><figcaption class="caption-body">JASON <b>SPEZZA</b> <span class="photo-credit">(SPEZZA: ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-05529/9910642-1-eng-US/f0008-052.jpg" title="f0008-05" width="749" height="786"><figcaption class="caption-body">BRIAN <b>GIONTA</b> <span class="photo-credit">(GIONTA: CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-012386/9910635-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="1032" height="958"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>CASH CROPPING</b> The falling Canadian dollar could cause next year&rsquo;s cap ceiling to be lower than expected.</figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>T</span>HERE WAS A TIME WHEN NHL</b>&nbsp;teams north of the border would have been thrilled with a 90-cent dollar. That, of course, was back in 2001 when the dollar bottomed out at just over 63 cents compared to its American counterpart. But now that Canada has been on par or, in some cases, trading higher for the better part of seven years now, it&rsquo;s not such pleasant news.</p><p>Since the Canadian dollar drew even in the fall of 2007, it has been great news for the NHL and its (now) seven Canadian teams. But the dollar has been in a free fall according to analysts and isn&rsquo;t about to rebound back to par any time soon. When the puck dropped to open the season in October, the Canadian loonie was worth 97 cents American. By early February, it had dropped to 90 cents, with it dipping ever so slightly below the 90-cent threshold on occasion.</p><p>According to Edmonton Oilers president and chief operating officer Patrick LaForge, each time the loonie drops one cent, it translates into about $700,000 in extra costs for teams that are close to the $64.3-million salary cap over the course of a full season. But the full effect of a weaker dollar won&rsquo;t be felt for a while. That&rsquo;s because when the dollar was at or near par, there&rsquo;s a good chance the Canadian teams purchased a reserve of American currency. Many Canadians do their banking through Scotiabank, which is a sponsor and partner of the NHL, meaning teams likely would have been able to cover their salary commitments for 12 to 24 months. &ldquo;You&rsquo;re taking a gamble, though, and there are no guarantees,&rdquo; LaForge said. &ldquo;It costs a lot of money to buy that security at the front end and you may be buying at 97 or 98 cents and by the time you realize that commitment, it could be up to $1.01 or $1.02. It&rsquo;s called hedging for a reason.&rdquo;</p><p>It&rsquo;s similar to a variable mortgage. Teams lock into what they call &ldquo;forward contracts&rdquo; that give them certainty for a period of time, but locking in at the wrong time can prove costly. And now that the dollar has dipped, Canadian teams will again have to hedge their bets on the value of the dollar. If they buy now, they could protect themselves against further dips in the value of the loonie, but would regret doing it if the dollar rebounded. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve locked in at rates better than it is right now,&rdquo; said Ian Clarke, the Toronto Maple Leafs chief financial officer. &ldquo;But 2016 and &rsquo;17 are unhedged and you&rsquo;re going to be watching that and you hope the dollar recovers.&rdquo;</p><p>Another area where a lower dollar comes into effect is in overall league revenue, since the seven Canadian teams produce about 35 percent of it through Canadian currency. Again, though, the impact might not be as dramatic as you&rsquo;d think. When the league calculates its revenue for purposes of the salary cap, it does so on what the average value of the Canadian dollar was that season. So instead of it being calculated at 90 cents, it might be at 93 or 94 cents.</p><p>So let&rsquo;s say the drop in the dollar ends up costing the league $75 million. With overall league revenue expected to be about $3.4 billion this season, that would represent a drop of about 2.2 percent. If based on those projected revenues the cap for next season was expected to be at $71 million, it might drop down to about $69.4 million to reflect the 2.2 percent loss of revenue.</p><p>So the effect is minimal, for the time being. But if this trend continues for any extended period of time, the NHL in general and the Canadian teams in particular are going to feel the effects. For his part, LaForge looks at the fluctuation of the Canadian dollar the same way he looks at injuries. They&rsquo;re part of the reality of doing business, but it&rsquo;s not something over which the team has a huge amount of control.</p><p>Most speculators think the Canadian dollar will stay about where it is for the next couple months and the hope is that the dip is temporary. Clarke expects the Canadian dollar to be in the 94- or 95-cent range in the next year, but cautioned, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m always wrong, so that&rsquo;s just one view.&rdquo; Added LaForge: &ldquo;We&rsquo;re not whining or complaining about it. We can deal with it as long as it doesn&rsquo;t last forever.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>$700K</b></h2><p>Approximate extra cost for NHL franchises close to the $64.3-million salary cap over a full season any time the Canadian dollar drops one cent. The loonie fell seven cents from October to February.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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WACKY LOONIE TAKING A DIVE

<div class="byline">By Charlie Teljeur</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0009-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-012119/9910694-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(LOONIE: BRENT LEWIN/BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></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/f0009-021486/9910725-1-eng-US/f0009-022.jpg" title="f0009-02" width="441" height="574"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(CHERRY: GERRY THOMAS/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>+PLUS</b></h2><h3><b>RED OCTO-BRRRR</b></h3><p>Iconic and often controversial CBC commentator <b><i>Don Cherry</i></b> turns 80. He celebrates in Russia of all places thanks to the Winter Olympics.</p><h2><b>&ndash;MINUS</b></h2><h3><b>DREAMS DEFERRED</b></h3><p>Steven Stamkos, Henrik Sedin, Marian Gaborik and Mikko Koivu can&rsquo;t heal fast enough from injuries to make the Olympic trek to Sochi.</p><h2><b>+PLUS</b></h2><h3><b>NEVER TOO LATE</b></h3><p>Former Rangers equipment manager Mike Folga gets his day with the Stanley Cup 20 years after missing his day due to a scheduling mix-up.</p><h2><b>&ndash;MINUS</b></h2><h3><b>ERAT-IC RESULTS</b></h3><p>Martin Erat named to Czech team despite not scoring in 50 NHL games this season. Jiri Hudler (14 goals) and Radim Vrbata (13) remain at home.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0009-02

PLUS MINUS

<div class="byline">&#x2013; BRIAN O&#x2019;NEILL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-021730/9910787-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg" title="f0010-02" width="304" height="261"></div><p><b>SAN FRANCISCO BULLS</b>&nbsp;<i>(2012-2014)</i></p><p>The ECHL&rsquo;s recently defunct San Francisco franchise played at the Cow Palace in Daly City, Calif. The team added some horns and, voila, the Bulls were born. Originally called the California State Livestock Pavilion, the Cow Palace got its name during the Depression when plans for it were being laid. A San Francisco <i>Chronicle</i> writer asked, &ldquo;Why, when people are starving, should money be spent on a palace for cows?&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0010-02

Behind THE NAME

<div class="byline">&#x2013; GARRETT PERRY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0011-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-011961/9910832-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg"></div><p><b>IF</b>&nbsp;<b>THERE&rsquo;S ONE TOPIC OF FIGHTING</b>&nbsp;in hockey that doesn&rsquo;t need debate, it&rsquo;s the fight against cancer.</p><p>For Brian Laing, the founder of Hockey 4 Hope, the fight is personal. His Aunt Connie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 and died in 2006 after a lengthy battle with the disease. Throughout her treatment, she endured physical pain and financial hardships that left a lasting impression on Laing. He realized cancer is not only a deadly disease, but an expensive one as well. &ldquo;I knew there had to be more people in the world like my Aunt Connie,&rdquo; Laing says. &ldquo;And the more people I spoke to, the more struggles I heard of.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-03957/9910825-1-eng-US/f0011-032.jpg" title="f0011-03" width="150" height="154"></div><p>On March 29, at the SUNY Broome Ice Center in Binghamton, N.Y., Hockey 4 Hope will hold its fifth annual charity game to raise money for cancer research.</p><p>Laing, 36, grew up playing hockey in Binghamton. When he was 16, he left home to play prep hockey at The Hill School in Pottstown, Pa., and later went on to play with the defunct Great Northern Snow Devils of the Eastern Junior League and then Oswego State in Div. I of the American Collegiate Hockey Association. So it was only natural that he opted to organize a hockey charity game in 2010 to raise money for cancer treatment and commemorate the life of his late aunt. &ldquo;It was a rinky-dink charity game that had no cohesiveness whatsoever,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Basically just organized chaos.&rdquo;</p><p>It struck a chord in the community, however, raising $4,000. Soon after, Laing widened the charity&rsquo;s scope to support all forms of cancer treatment. &ldquo;You can&rsquo;t discriminate against cancer,&rdquo; he says, &ldquo;because cancer doesn&rsquo;t discriminate.&rdquo;</p><p>Since that inaugural game, Hockey 4 Hope has raised almost $70,000 &ndash; the goal this year is $40,000 &ndash; with proceeds going to the Lourdes Hospital Geller Oncology Fund, a charity that echoes Laing&rsquo;s appetite to provide patients with financial assistance. &ldquo;When I met Dr. Marilyn Geller and learned more about the Geller Oncology Fund, what they stand for and how they help patients receive oncology treatment&hellip;it just made sense,&rdquo; Laing says.</p><p>Every year, 34 roster spots for the game are filled with people from all over North America. And anywhere from 40 to 50 more are pencilled in on a waiting list. Every participant plays for a parent, sibling, partner, friend or an extended family member who has battled or is still battling cancer. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not about the guys skating,&rdquo; Laing says. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s about the cause, for whom we are skating for and why we&rsquo;re here.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-021428/9910818-1-eng-US/f0011-022.jpg" title="f0011-02" width="1024" height="675"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>HOPE INTO ACTION</b> Brian Laing and wife, Meghan, co-founded Hockey 4 Hope to raise funds for cancer research. <span class="photo-credit">(LYNN BARSIGIAN)</span></figcaption></div><p>Every year a river of pink pours onto the ice as players adorn the internationally recognized color of breast cancer awareness on everything from skate laces and pucks to helmets and custom jerseys. Even the ice is dyed pink.</p><p>Now in its fifth year, the charity game has become an annual event in Binghamton. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not surprised by the support we get from the Binghamton community,&rdquo; Laing says. &ldquo;It is more amazement.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0011-01

GOOD GAME FOR A GREAT CAUSE

<div class="byline">&#x2013; NICHOLAS CARAFA</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0012-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-012301/9910870-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>A GRAND OLD GAME</b> The Grandravine Tornadoes (purple and teal) give many developmentally challenged kids and adults a chance to play. <span class="photo-credit">(GRANDRAVINE SPECIAL PROGRAM)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>A</span></b><b>S PAT FLICK WALKED OUT OF</b>&nbsp;the dressing room at Toronto&rsquo;s Grandravine Arena, he saw a father of one of his players in tears. Flick had done in three attempts what the father had tried for 13 years: teach his special needs son to tie his own skates. &ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t treat them like the handicapped because I didn&rsquo;t know how to treat a handicap,&rdquo; Flick says. &ldquo;I figured I might as well treat them like hockey players.&rdquo;</p><p>Flick, 74, is the founder of the Grandravine Tornadoes, an organization that gives six- to 60-year-olds with disabilities the chance to play. Back in the 1980s, Flick was the director for the house and rep leagues that ran out of Grandravine Arena. The idea of a league for the developmentally challenged came to him when he saw two boys with disabilities watching avidly through the glass as their older brothers played.</p><p>&ldquo;During that time, people didn&rsquo;t think it could be done,&rdquo; Flick says. &ldquo;They thought the kids wouldn&rsquo;t have the attention span to last more than 15 or 20 minutes. Right off the bat they proved people wrong.&rdquo;</p><p>Flick founded the Tornadoes in 1980 and ran them for 14 years with his wife, Joan. Thanks to sponsorship money, the team was tailored for jackets, bags, jerseys and socks, splashed with its trademark purple-teal color scheme.</p><p>Joe Rizzuto had his son, Mark, suited up for the Tornadoes for the first time in 1994. He became involved in team fundraisers and took over when Pat retired in 2005. For Rizzuto, whose son has Down syndrome, a disability is no reason to keep someone off the ice.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-031174/9910863-1-eng-US/f0012-032.jpg" title="f0012-03" width="174" height="212"></div><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not because the players can&rsquo;t do it,&rdquo; Rizzuto says. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s because we as parents are overprotective sometimes and feel like we have to intrude on what they&rsquo;re doing, instead of letting them go out there and do what they want to do.&rdquo;</p><p>Despite the growth of the organization, the Tornadoes never had another team to play until 1994, when a club in St. Louis, Mo., invited them to compete in the inaugural Special Hockey Tournament. That sparked the creation of Special Hockey International, which has teams across North America and in Sweden, Norway and Finland. Now more than 70 teams attend the SHI tournament.</p><p>Flick, who doesn&rsquo;t have a developmentally challenged child, was constantly asked about the appreciation he received for his efforts. &ldquo;You get the recognition for something whether you want it or not,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;If you do it for the right reason and you see what the kids do, there is no award I could ever receive that would take the place of the feeling I got after doing what I did.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0012-01

EVERYONE CAN PLAY

<div class="byline">BY SAL BARRY, WEBMASTER OF THE HOCKEY CARD SITE PUCKJUNK.COM</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0012-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-021816/9910901-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>E</span>NFORCERS II IS THE FOLLOW-UP</b> to the 2011-12 set from In The Game Trading Cards. It focuses on former players who were all too willing to answer the bell and drop the gloves. Enforcers II offers more of what made its predecessor popular, with some new twists. A box costs about $70 and contains 12 cards, featuring the controversial blood-splattered design used in the first set. Four cards per box have autographs of past pugilists, while three have swatches of game-used jerseys. The last five are a mix of base cards, with themes like Tag Teams, Crease Conflicts and Bloody Battles.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0012-02

In The CARDS

<div class="byline">&#x2013; ALEX LIEPOLD</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0013-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-012005/9910932-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>J</span>OEL</b>&nbsp;<b>QUENNEVILLE</b>, coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, recently passed Hall of Famer Dick Irvin for third on the all-time wins list. His accomplishment is even more impressive considering he reached the milestone in almost 200 fewer games than Irvin. Still, Quenneville has a long way to go to catch No. 1 on the list.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0013-01

Follow The LEADER

<div class="byline">BY GARETH BUSH, JOSH ELLIOTT AND BRIAN O&#x2019;NEILL</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0014-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-012280/9911180-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">ALEX <b>OVECHKIN</b> <span class="photo-credit">(OVECHKIN: FRANCOIS LACASSE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Three of the NHL&rsquo;s <b>TOP 20</b> goal scorers are European. Ten years ago, there were 12</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-021718/9911173-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg" title="f0014-02" width="179" height="87"></div><p>ALEX <b>OVECHKIN</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-031159/9911166-1-eng-US/f0014-032.jpg" title="f0014-03" width="179" height="87"></div><p>ALEXANDER <b>STEEN</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-04794/9911159-1-eng-US/f0014-042.jpg" title="f0014-04" width="179" height="87"></div><p>MARIAN <b>HOSSA</b></p><h2><b>2003-04 SCORERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-05547/9911152-1-eng-US/f0014-052.jpg" title="f0014-05" width="179" height="87"></div><p>ILYA <b>KOVALCHUK</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-06422/9911145-1-eng-US/f0014-062.jpg" title="f0014-06" width="179" height="87"></div><p>PATRIK <b>ELIAS</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-07328/9911138-1-eng-US/f0014-072.jpg" title="f0014-07" width="179" height="87"></div><p>MARIAN <b>HOSSA</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-08269/9911131-1-eng-US/f0014-082.jpg" title="f0014-08" width="179" height="87"></div><p>MILAN <b>HEJDUK</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-09233/9911124-1-eng-US/f0014-092.jpg" title="f0014-09" width="179" height="87"></div><p>MARKUS <b>NASLUND</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-10209/9911117-1-eng-US/f0014-102.jpg" title="f0014-10" width="179" height="87"></div><p>DANIEL <b>ALFREDSSON</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-11183/9911110-1-eng-US/f0014-112.jpg" title="f0014-11" width="179" height="87"></div><p>MATS <b>SUNDIN</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-12167/9911103-1-eng-US/f0014-122.jpg" title="f0014-12" width="179" height="87"></div><p>SERGEI <b>FEDOROV</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-13141/9911096-1-eng-US/f0014-132.jpg" title="f0014-13" width="179" height="87"></div><p>JAROMIR <b>JAGR</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-14117/9911089-1-eng-US/f0014-142.jpg" title="f0014-14" width="179" height="88"></div><p>MARTIN <b>HAVLAT</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-15107/9911082-1-eng-US/f0014-152.jpg" title="f0014-15" width="179" height="88"></div><p>PAVEL <b>DATSYUK</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-1693/9911075-1-eng-US/f0014-162.jpg" title="f0014-16" width="179" height="88"></div><p>ROBERT <b>LANG</b></p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-1789/9911068-1-eng-US/f0014-172.jpg" title="f0014-17" width="1530" height="1059"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(PANTHERS: ELIOT J. SCHECHTER/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The <b>FLORIDA PANTHERS</b> have scored nearly 84 percent of their goals at even strength, the highest percentage in the NHL. Of course, they also have the worst power play at 9.1</p><h2><b>EVOLUTION of Dion Phaneuf</b></h2><p>Since his fun-loving draft year in 2003, &lsquo;Neon Dion&rsquo; has gone from gleeful to glum in his NHL promo photos. Why so serious?</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-04730/9911061-1-eng-US/f0015-042.jpg" title="f0015-04" width="248" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">2003</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-06412/9911054-1-eng-US/f0015-062.jpg" title="f0015-06" width="248" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">2005</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-011971/9911047-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg" title="f0015-01" width="248" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">2007</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-03974/9911040-1-eng-US/f0015-032.jpg" title="f0015-03" width="249" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">2008</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-05510/9911033-1-eng-US/f0015-052.jpg" title="f0015-05" width="249" height="333"><figcaption class="caption-body">2009</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-07350/9911026-1-eng-US/f0015-072.jpg" title="f0015-07" width="248" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">2010</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-021399/9911019-1-eng-US/f0015-022.jpg" title="f0015-02" width="248" height="342"><figcaption class="caption-body">2011</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-08301/9911012-1-eng-US/f0015-082.jpg" title="f0015-08" width="760" height="717"><figcaption class="caption-body">2012</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-15115/9911005-1-eng-US/f0015-152.jpg" title="f0015-15" width="259" height="277"></div><h2>227:22</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-10233/9910998-1-eng-US/f0015-102.jpg" title="f0015-10" width="267" height="298"></div><p>Shutout streak of <b>ARIZONA SUNDOGS</b> goalie Andrew Engelage in mid-January, the second-longest in Central League history. He was 11:10 shy of breaking Mark Guggenberger&rsquo;s record set in 2011-12</p><h2><b>491M</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-11207/9910991-1-eng-US/f0015-112.jpg" title="f0015-11" width="214" height="247"></div><p>Amount of money the <b>NEW YORK YANKEES</b> committed to free agents this off-season, which is more than the top seven cap payrolls combined in the NHL</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-09263/9910984-1-eng-US/f0015-092.jpg" title="f0015-09" width="1058" height="1100"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(LEMIEUX: DENIS BRODEUR/NHLI/VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>30</b> Years since the most dominating junior season by a player. <b>MARIO LEMIEUX</b> scored 133 goals and piled 282 points into 70 games with in1983-84, breaking Guy Lafleur&rsquo;s record for goals (130) goals and Pierre Larouche&rsquo;s mark for points (251)</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-12172/9910977-1-eng-US/f0015-122.jpg" title="f0015-12" width="372" height="324"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-13151/9910970-1-eng-US/f0015-132.jpg" title="f0015-13" width="344" height="331"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-14136/9910963-1-eng-US/f0015-142.jpg" title="f0015-14" width="447" height="332"></div><p>Within a week, the Chicago Blackhawks (Feb. 3), New York Rangers (Feb. 6) and Detroit Red Wings (Feb. 8) each played their 6,000<sup>TH</sup> regular season game in franchise history<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0014-01

Ice CHIPS

f0016-02

FEATURES

TRADING POST

<div class="byline">BY KEN CAMPBELL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-011676/9911627-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg" title="f0020-01" width="436" height="484"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>W</span></b><b>HEN YOU DO THE MATH, EVEN IF</b> you&rsquo;re not terribly adept at it, making deals at the trade deadline doesn&rsquo;t make much sense. After all, there are whole bunch of contenders chasing a limited number of impact players and only one team is going to win the Stanley Cup. Go to the front of the class and collect your gold star if you predicted the Chicago Blackhawks getting Michal Handzus for a fourth-round pick would turn out to be the best move at last year&rsquo;s trade deadline.</p><p>It&rsquo;s often the under-the-radar trades at the deadline that end up being the ones that pay off the most. In 1997, the Detroit Red Wings got much-maligned defenseman Larry Murphy at the deadline from the Toronto Maple Leafs for future considerations and a guy who looked as though he was finished cemented his Hall of Fame credentials with 26 playoff points and consecutive Stanley Cup victories. In 1998, the Red Wings picked up another Toronto defenseman, Jamie Macoun, for a fourth-round pick and won their second championship.</p><p>But in 1999, GM Ken Holland and the Red Wings swung for the fences at the deadline, acquiring Chris Chelios, Wendel Clark and Ulf Samuelsson for a backup goalie, a depth defenseman, two first-round picks, two second-rounders and a third-rounder. They won all of one playoff round and gave their scouts the luxury of repeatedly hitting the snooze button the morning of the draft.</p><p>Clearly, making a big splash at the trade deadline is rife with risk, but sometimes it works brilliantly. Other times, it takes a little while. In 2000, the Colorado Avalanche dealt for Ray Bourque at the trade deadline with the express purpose of winning the Cup, but they didn&rsquo;t manage to do it until the next season when they made a blockbuster for Rob Blake at the deadline.</p><p>Neil Smith, Cliff Fletcher and Bill Torrey are no strangers to making enormous moves before the deadline. All three made seismic trades and all three eventually won Stanley Cups.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-011343/9911620-1-eng-US/f0021-012.jpg" title="f0021-01" width="1432" height="866"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JOHN GIAMUNDO/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b><i>&raquo;</i></b><b>1940! 1940!</b></h2><p><b>NEIL SMITH EARNED HIS MANAGEMENT</b> chops by spending weekends in junior arenas, driving through snowstorms and drinking bad coffee in pursuit of young NHL talent. And the deals he made in 1994, with his team already in first place overall in the standings, were in direct philosophical opposition with every principle he had held dear. Smith learned by scouting with the New York Islanders that Stanley Cup champions are built from within with shrewd scouting and patient development, not by trading the future for the present.</p><p>But that year at the deadline, Smith performed a drastic makeover. He acquired Stephane Matteau and Brian Noonan from the Chicago Blackhawks for Tony Amonte. Then he picked up Craig MacTavish from the Edmonton Oilers for Todd Marchant and Glenn Anderson from the Toronto Maple Leafs for Mike Gartner. And every one of those deals, like the one he did the year before when he acquired Esa Tikkanen from the Oilers for Doug Weight, ate at his gut. It still does when he talks about it as the 20th anniversary of those deals and the Rangers&rsquo; only Stanley Cup in almost three-quarters of a century approaches. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s not how I learned the business,&rdquo; Smith says. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t learn the business of drafting well and trading for average. I mean, what a ridiculous trade. Tony Amonte for Stephane Matteau. I&rsquo;ve always said I hated that trade.&rdquo;</p><p>It didn&rsquo;t seem so ridiculous, however, when Matteau scored one of the biggest goals in franchise history in overtime of Game 7 against the New Jersey Devils of the Eastern Conference final. Losing Marchant was buffered by the winning pedigree and ability to win big faceoffs that MacTavish brought with him. The Rangers paid dearly for those deals later on. But by making them, Smith allowed thousands of Rangers fans to die peacefully, winning the franchise&rsquo;s first Stanley Cup since 1940. &ldquo;All you&rsquo;re thinking is, &lsquo;If we don&rsquo;t win, I&rsquo;m f---ed because I lose one of my best young players and I got two average players for him,&rsquo; &rdquo; Smith says.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-04425/9911613-1-eng-US/f0021-042.jpg" title="f0021-04" width="407" height="501"></div><p>If the deals involving Amonte, Marchant and Weight bothered him as a GM, the Gartner deal rankled him as a human being. Smith, who was only four years older than Gartner, had a close relationship with him and his family and knew Gartner wanted to stay with the Rangers. Smith made the deal largely because coach Mike Keenan didn&rsquo;t think the Rangers could win the Cup with Gartner. To this day, Smith believes that trade was a huge factor in Gartner pushing hard to have no-trade clauses put into contracts when he was negotiating on behalf of the NHL Players&rsquo; Association.</p><p>Would the Rangers have won the Cup with Gartner anyway? It&rsquo;s difficult to tell. Anderson didn&rsquo;t light it up with the Rangers, with just six points in 12 regular season games and six more in 23 playoff games. To make matters worse, Gartner was under contract and Anderson was a pending unrestricted free agent who followed Keenan to the St. Louis Blues the following season. MacTavish went to the Philadelphia Flyers that summer, Noonan left for the Blues after 1994-95 and Matteau was dealt (where else?) to St. Louis midway through 1995-96.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-02868/9911606-1-eng-US/f0021-022.jpg" title="f0021-02" width="661" height="800"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-03559/9911599-1-eng-US/f0021-032.jpg" title="f0021-03" width="629" height="754"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN</b> Mike Gartner was dealt at the &rsquo;94 deadline and missed out on the Rangers&rsquo; Stanley Cup. <span class="photo-credit">(SMTIH HEADSHOT+GARTNER: B BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Twenty years later, the end justifies the means. Smith was prepared to face the lean times that came with making the deals and understands that people grew to forget he delivered a Stanley Cup. Instead he became known as the guy who traded all the organization&rsquo;s good young players and draft picks. If he was thinking only about himself, he likely would have never made those trades. But if someone told him today that he could win a Stanley Cup and eventually get fired for making those trades or have a job for life if he didn&rsquo;t, he&rsquo;d do every one of those deals again. &ldquo;Because I&rsquo;d rather get fired with a Stanley Cup ring,&rdquo; Smith says, &ldquo;than stay forever and have nothing.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-011561/9911592-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="2123" height="1236"></div><h2><b><i>&raquo;</i>YOU TRADED HIM?</b></h2><p><b>P</b><b>EOPLE SCOFFED AT CLIFF FLETCHER</b> when he told them Brett Hull had the potential to score 150 goals in the three seasons after he was dealt to the St. Louis Blues. And they should have, since Hull went on to score 199.</p><p>Fletcher won the Cup with the Flames in 1989, but it was the year before that he dealt one of the greatest goal scorers in history at the trade deadline when he sent Hull to the Blues in exchange for defenseman Rob Ramage and backup goaltender Rick Wamsley. Fletcher got his Stanley Cup, &ldquo;and Brett Hull went on to score 10,000 goals,&rdquo; Fletcher says.</p><p>When Fletcher made the deal, he had a right wing corps that consisted of 50-goal scorer Hakan Loob, 40-goal man Joe Mullen and veteran Lanny McDonald. Joe Nieuwendyk was in the midst of a 50-goal season and Mike Bullard was on his way to 48, so it wasn&rsquo;t as though the Flames were struggling for offense. Gary Roberts was beginning to emerge as a power forward and Theo Fleury was on his way. The next season, Fletcher would use Bullard to get Doug Gilmour from St. Louis. So the way Fletcher saw it, Hull gave them more of what they already had in abundance, but he needed a dependable defenseman and some insurance in goal in case Mike Vernon went down. And that&rsquo;s what he got in Ramage and Wamsley. The Flames didn&rsquo;t realize their Cup dreams right away, getting skunked by the Edmonton Oilers in the second round, but got what they were looking for from Ramage during their Stanley Cup run the next season. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll tell you where he really helped us,&rdquo; Fletcher says. &ldquo;Gary Suter went down in the second game of the first round against Vancouver, and Ramage logged big-time minutes and was a huge, integral part of the reason why we won that series and we went on to the Stanley Cup.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-03840/9911585-1-eng-US/f0022-032.jpg" title="f0022-03" width="407" height="506"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(TEAM+FLETCHER: BRUCE BENNETT STUDIOS/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>What you can&rsquo;t do after making a deal like that one is look back with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. You have to remember the Flames were in a fierce arms race with the Oilers throughout much of the 1980s and it was difficult to infiltrate that exclusive club of Stanley Cup winners, what with the Montreal Canadiens dynasty followed by the Islanders dynasty, which begat the Oilers dynasty. The only team to interrupt those three runaway trains was the Canadiens, who defeated the Flames in the Stanley Cup final in 1986.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-021142/9911578-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="678" height="931"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>GOLD FOR SILVER</b> Trading Brett Hull helped Calgary win its only Cup in franchise history in 1989. <span class="photo-credit">(HULL: DENIS BRODEUR/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Hull went on to win two Cups of his own (one with the Dallas Stars in &rsquo;99 and the other with the Wings in &rsquo;02) and forged a legacy as one of the most dangerous offensive forces to ever play the game. Fletcher knew he was giving up a future star, but what nobody realized at the time was that it was a supernova. &ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t a deal that a lot of teams would make,&rdquo; Fletcher says, &ldquo;but for us, it made sense.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-011342/9911571-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg" title="f0023-01" width="1368" height="1033"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DYNASTIC DEAL</b> The Islanders won four straight Cups after trading for Butch Goring. <span class="photo-credit">(GORING: GEORGE TIEDEMANN/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b><i>&raquo;</i></b><b>THE GOLD STANDARD</b></h2><p><b>A</b><b>S BILL TORREY REMEMBERS IT, THE</b> deal was completed on a pay phone in the lobby of the Chateau Champlain in Montreal. And with each tick before the midnight trade deadline, the sense of urgency became greater for him to get Butch Goring.</p><p>You see, Bryan Trottier was a star, to be sure, but he was developing a reputation as something of a playoff disappointment. In 1978, he had just three assists in seven playoff games in a quarterfinal loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The next season, the Islanders finished first overall, then lost in the semifinal to the Rangers with Trottier scoring just two goals in 10 games. Torrey was well aware that if teams shut down the big line of Trottier between Clark Gillies and Mike Bossy, the Islanders struggled.</p><p>He needed a second-line center to take some of the pressure off Trottier and his linemates. He wanted Marcel Dionne, but watching Goring in the playoffs a year before made him rethink. He tried to get Darryl Sittler from the Maple Leafs, but the price was too high. So he finally got Goring, who was in the second year of a six-year deal with the Kings, for Dave Lewis and Billy Harris. &ldquo;I gave up a lot and the one that really bothered me was Dave Lewis,&rdquo; Torrey says. &ldquo;He was a very integral part of our defense and he was one of the reasons we were successful relatively quickly. He came right from junior to our lineup and was an excellent, excellent defenseman.&rdquo;</p><p>That&rsquo;s what made the emergence of Ken Morrow so important. (&ldquo;Every time the KLM Line was on for the Soviets,&rdquo; Torrey says, &ldquo;I noticed a certain bearded defenseman was always out there, too.&rdquo;) Had Morrow not played so well in the Miracle on Ice in the 1980 Winter Olympics and proved he was ready to play in the NHL, there&rsquo;s a good chance Torrey would not have had the stones to part with Lewis. But in the end, the deal became the standard by which all other trade deadline transactions are measured. Goring went on to help the Islanders to four straight Stanley Cups, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1981.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-02964/9911564-1-eng-US/f0023-022.jpg" title="f0023-02" width="406" height="504"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(TORREY: BRUCE BENNETT STUDIOS/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Torrey knew what he was getting in Goring. He came highly recommended by goalie Billy Smith, who won a Calder Cup with Goring in Springfield when both were Kings farmhands. He could kill penalties, play a shutdown role and contribute offensively. &ldquo;From the minute he walked into our dressing room, he had an effect on our team,&rdquo; Torrey says. &ldquo; &lsquo;Butchie&rsquo; had a way of competing that I always liked. He was a pretty cocky guy and I really liked that someone of his stature never took a backward step.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0020-01

DEAL BREAKERS

<div class="byline">BY RYAN KENNEDY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0024-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-011502/9911672-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JEN FULLER/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>I</span></b><b>T&rsquo;S A TUESDAY MORNING PRACTICE IN</b> Buffalo in early February. The Olympics are close and Ryan Miller is already sporting his Team USA mask. After the skate, he faces the throng of reporters, but doesn&rsquo;t have a lot of answers when it comes to his future with the Sabres. Naturally there has been buzz about the franchise goalie leaving the rebuilding Sabres for quite some time, but no master plan has been revealed to him. &ldquo;I still don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;There was a change here even after there was a change before, so I&rsquo;m waiting to see what the plan is. Anything&rsquo;s possible with the way the season has gone.&rdquo;</p><p>It&rsquo;s a season of upheaval in Buffalo and Miller is correct in his clever wordplay. The year started with four teenagers making the team, plus a couple more players not much older. But as the early losses piled up, longtime GM Darcy Regier and short-term coach Ron Rolston were fired and the interim brain trust of president Pat LaFontaine and coach Ted Nolan changed course, sending Nikita Zadorov and (eventually) Mikhail Grigorenko back to junior, while Rasmus Ristolainen headed to the minors. The team is still losing, but at least the kids are shielded from it. Now, with the team in the NHL&rsquo;s basement, the Sabres and new GM Tim Murray have a grand opportunity to remake a franchise that already has a lot of promise. But with several veteran assets still potential trade bait, it will be emotional, especially if the No. 1 goaltender is shipped out. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been here 12 years in this part of the world, in Western New York,&rdquo; Miller says. &ldquo;Over the years I&rsquo;ve made great friendships and had great ties to the city. I&rsquo;ve tried to give back to the community. That helped me feel a part of Buffalo as a person, not just as a hockey player.&rdquo;</p><blockquote class="pullQuote">&ldquo;THERE ARE GOOD GUYS HERE, GOOD PLAYERS. TO SEE THEIR CONFIDENCE GO UP AND DOWN IS PRETTY TOUGH<br>&ndash; Ryan Miller</blockquote><p>Though his home of East Lansing, Mich., is not geographically distant from Buffalo, Miller never really knew the city that would become his second home for more than a decade. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s been a wonderful surprise,&rdquo; Miller says. &ldquo;Growing up, you pass through Buffalo on the way to hockey tournaments. I had been here maybe once when I was a kid. For me, even being from Michigan, Buffalo seemed far away. But it has the same qualities as the Midwest, so it was easy for me to slip in and be accepted as one of Buffalo&rsquo;s kind of people.&rdquo;</p><p>Despite the Sabres&rsquo; losing ways, Miller has been one of the better goalies in the NHL. His .923 save percentage is remarkable given the defense in front of him, while his 1,267 stops rank top-five overall. He&rsquo;s a pending unrestricted free agent with a limited no-trade clause, which does dampen his value a little, but it hasn&rsquo;t stopped the speculation that teams such as the Minnesota Wild or St. Louis Blues would kill to get him. </p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-011315/9911665-1-eng-US/f0025-012.jpg" title="f0025-01" width="1390" height="1385"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MUTUAL BENEFITS</b> A trade would let Ryan Miller compete for a Stanley Cup while netting Buffalo more youthful pieces for their rebuild. <span class="photo-credit">(JONATHAN KOZUB/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-02927/9911658-1-eng-US/f0025-022.jpg" title="f0025-02" width="1398" height="930"><figcaption class="caption-body">ZEMGUS <b>GIRGENSONS</b> <span class="photo-credit">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>No matter what the Sabres receive in a Miller deal, Regier has given Murray a great head start. The Sabres have two first-round picks and three second-rounders this summer, plus a first-rounder and three second-round selections in 2015. That second first-rounder this year came from the Islanders, who can defer the pick to 2015 if they are selecting in the top-10. That will likely happen, given New York&rsquo;s struggles, which then sets up a scenario in which the Sabres could get an even <i>better</i> slot in 2015, a stronger draft featuring golden boy Connor McDavid and American phenoms Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin.</p><p>Considering the Sabres have picked four times in the past two first rounds and that all four of those picks have already suited up for the team (Zadorov, Grigorenko, Ristolainen and Zemgus Girgensons, the most experienced of the crew), that&rsquo;s an impressive base to draw off. Two of those players are centers, the other two defensemen, so the team is even stocking up at different key positions, while young goaltenders Jhonas Enroth and Matt Hackett are waiting for a shot at Miller&rsquo;s crease. Not that the transition will be easy. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been here my whole career so I&rsquo;ve been fortunate enough to play with, who I believe to be, the best goalie in the league,&rdquo; says veteran right winger Drew Stafford. &ldquo;For him to be gone&hellip;he was out of the lineup a couple years ago with a concussion and even that was strange.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s been a workhorse, he&rsquo;s got that ironman thing going. If that day comes, it&rsquo;s definitely going to be weird.&rdquo;</p><p>If Miller&rsquo;s tenure in Buffalo is indeed coming to a close, it will be bittersweet. After all, this is the team that drafted him, developed him in the minors and gave him an opportunity to become the all-world keeper he is today. But Miller, 33, still can&rsquo;t help but think of that one big trophy that is awarded after the final game of the playoffs, the one that eluded Buffalo even during the Sabres&rsquo; time at the top of the NHL&rsquo;s leaderboard. &ldquo;You want to have that team success, that&rsquo;s the end goal,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Even at the end of the season when I won the Vezina (2009-10), it still felt like something was missing there. You go to battle with the guys every night and when you accomplish something, win playoff games, there&rsquo;s a deeper sense of accomplishing something big and that you did it together.</p><p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s one of the more disappointing parts of this season. The guys are putting work in and you can see the disappointment and frustration. There are good guys here, good hockey players here. To see their confidence go up and down &ndash; a lot of times down &ndash; it&rsquo;s been pretty tough.&rdquo;</p><p>The Sabres may be down now, but with a great slate of youngsters who are on the cusp of the NHL, not to mention a wealth of high draft picks that can bring in more talent for either the future or the present, they won&rsquo;t be down too long. And if Miller is traded, the return Buffalo gets for the netminder will only bolster that effort further. Consider it Miller&rsquo;s last great contribution to the only NHL city he has known in his career.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0024-01

GIVING GOALIE

<div class="byline">BY MATT LARKIN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0026-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-011511/9911703-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p>MARIAN <b>HOSSA</b></p><p>ILYA <b>KOVALCHUK</b></p><p>RYAN <b>SMYTH</b></p><p><b>BUYER BE HAPPY</b> Marian Hossa, Ilya Kovalchuk and Ryan Smyth weren&rsquo;t as costly to acquire as it seemed.</p><span class="photo-credit">(HOSSA: DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES; KOVALCHUK: GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES; SMITH: ANDY MARLIN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>L</span></b><b>OOKING AT THE PERENNIAL CONTENDER</b>that is the Pittsburgh Penguins, it&rsquo;s easy to forget the franchise once &ldquo;mortgaged its future&rdquo; in a deranged Stanley Cup push. It was Feb. 27, 2008. GM Ray Shero stole what was already a wild trade deadline day by acquiring stud sniper Marian Hossa from the Atlanta Thrashers. The price was staggering. Or so we thought.</p><p>Pittsburgh surrendered two useful young forwards in Erik Christensen and Colby Armstrong, top prospect Angelo Esposito and a 2008 first-round pick for Hossa and a throw-in named Pascal Dupuis. The first-rounder turned into Daultan Leveille.</p><p>None of the players Atlanta received plays in the NHL today. Christensen and Armstrong skate in the Swedish League. Leveille suits up for the Evansville Icemen in the ECHL. On the Penguins&rsquo; side, Dupuis has made a living as Sidney Crosby&rsquo;s right winger. Though Hossa left the ensuing sum mer as a free agent, he helped Pittsburgh get to Game 6 of the 2008 Stanley Cup final before losing to Detroit.</p><p>It&rsquo;s easy to play the hindsight-is-20/20 game, but the most interesting takeaway is what happened to the first-round pick. It&rsquo;s interesting because, in the salary cap era, it&rsquo;s the norm, not the exception, when first-rounders acquired in deadline trades go bust. Feast your eyes on pg. 27&rsquo;s chart to see the fate of every first-round pick traded within a week of the deadline since 2005-06. It&rsquo;s a who&rsquo;s who of &ldquo;who?&rdquo;</p><p>So why do first-rounders acquired in deadline deals pan out so rarely?</p><p>For one, a buying team moving the pick for immediate roster help is typically high in the standings, with a chance for a deep play-off run, and will thus yield a low first-round pick. The average draft slot of first-round selections moved in deadline deals since 2005-06 is 22nd. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not like you&rsquo;re getting a crack at one of the top five or six players,&rdquo; says Predators GM David Poile. &ldquo;So you just have to have a gut feel. You tell me that by making a trade giving up our first pick that we make the playoffs and, more importantly, we win the first round of the playoffs? I think more teams would take that as a positive step for their franchise.&rdquo;</p><p>As a buyer in 2007, Poile made a massive splash to land Peter Forsberg from the Philadelphia Flyers, surrendering Ryan Parent, Scottie Upshall and first- and third-rounders in the deal. The risk was relatively minimal and though Forsberg didn&rsquo;t lead the Predators to a title, it hardly cost Nashville. Parent hasn&rsquo;t played in the NHL since 2010-11, Upshall has been just a serviceable NHLer and the pick, which was 23rd, came back to Nashville in a trade. The Predators chose Jonathon Blum, who&rsquo;d played his way out of Music City by last summer.</p><p>Another reason first-rounders moved at the deadline don&rsquo;t amount to much could be the GMs moving them have studied the upcoming draft class and don&rsquo;t see a musthave player. &ldquo;Absolutely you would do that,&rdquo; Poile says. &ldquo;Last year was an outstanding draft, so that would at least give me some pause before I gave up my first-round pick.&rdquo;</p><p>Not that selling teams acquiring first-rounders never score with the picks. The Blues traded Bill Guerin in 2007 and used the pick to select David Perron. Montreal netted Max Pacioretty in the 2007 Craig Rivet trade. But there&rsquo;s no way of knowing the team that dealt the picks would&rsquo;ve taken those same stud prospects, like when Poile traded a first-rounder for Brendan Witt in 2006 and the pick became Semyon Varlamov. Speculating is a pointless exercise, Poile says, as he wouldn&rsquo;t have selected Varlamov, anyway.</p><p>So there&rsquo;s no guarantee the Penguins wouldn&rsquo;t have whiffed and taken Leveille 29th in 2008. The point is that lower picks are crapshoots. As a result, selling teams have little power on deadline day. Most of the time, the marquee player being shopped has an expiring contract, meaning the seller has to get something for him. If that something is a first-rounder, it will be a low one. For buyers, it&rsquo;s a move well worth making.</p><p>The smart move for sellers is to target more reliable, established prospects rather than landing that low-first rounder along with a pile of Erik Christensens and Colby Armstrongs. But that&rsquo;s easier said than done when opposing GMs know it&rsquo;s safer to give up first-rounders than high-end prospects.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0026-01

DO THE MATH NOT THE MYTH

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0027-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-011390/9911734-1-eng-US/f0027-012.jpg"></div><p><i>* Pick was traded again</i><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0027-01

DEADLINE DEALS SINCE 2005-06

<div class="byline">BY RICH CHERE</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0028-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-011489/9911772-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(MADDIE MEYER/GETTY IMAGES; CLAUS ANDERSON/GETTY IMAGES; DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES/NHLI; JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>I</span>T SEEMS UNTHINKABLE. Would the Devils actually trade Martin Brodeur, the face of the franchise for two decades and the goaltender on all three of their Stanley Cup championship teams? More to the point, would the NHL&rsquo;s all-time winningest goalie be willing to waive his no-trade clause if approached by GM Lou Lamoriello? &ldquo;I&rsquo;m open to anything,&rdquo; Brodeur says. &ldquo;I just want to play. So if there is a chance somewhere else, a better situation for me, I&rsquo;d take it.&rdquo;</b></p><p><b>In the final year of his contract, Brodeur, 41, has been outwardly unhappy seeing his playing time diminish. He was</b>&nbsp;<b>coach Pete DeBoer&rsquo;s sentimental choice to start the Devils&rsquo; game against the Rangers at Yankee Stadium Jan. 26. Yet Cory Schneider emerged as the team&rsquo;s clear-cut No. 1 by starting 10 of the Devils&rsquo; 13 games between Jan. 9 and Feb. 3</b></p><p><b>For that reason, Brodeur says he won't be surprised if the Devils seek to trade him. &ldquo;No, not at all &rdquo; he says, It&rsquo;s within the team&rsquo;s right to try and make them-selves better. The fact is, I have the luxury to decide what I want to do. I hope if he (Lamoriello) is able to help the team, he&rsquo;ll ask, regardless of what it is. It&rsquo;s definitely something that is possible.</b></p><p><b>&ldquo;I don't know what I&rsquo;d think if it were</b>&nbsp;to happen. I don&rsquo;t know how I&rsquo;d feel, but I definitely would like to play more. I&rsquo;m not looking for that. I want to make sure this team gets on a playoff run.&rdquo;</p><p>Brodeur has no plans to ask for a trade, but hasn&rsquo;t ruled it out if he winds up a fixture on the bench. Lamoriello says he cannot picture Brodeur on another team, but the goalie has said he&rsquo;s leaning towards coming back next season and he indicates it might not be with the Devils. &ldquo;My heart is in (returning for another season),&rdquo; Brodeur says. &ldquo;My body could be another story. We&rsquo;ll see. I&rsquo;m done after this year with my contract depending on what&rsquo;s going to happen in the next few months. If I feel good body-wise, I&rsquo;ll see what is the best scenario for me, if it&rsquo;s back in New Jersey or somewhere else.&rdquo;</p><p>It&rsquo;s difficult to assess how much Brodeur has left when he&rsquo;s dealing with the unfamiliar chore of playing infrequently, which he believes contributed to his bad day at Yankee Stadium. He allowed six goals on 21 shots in difficult conditions before Schneider replaced him for the third period. &ldquo;Backup goalies &ndash; who are used to playing every 15 or 14 days, 10 or eight days between starts &ndash; are used to it,&rdquo; Brodeur says. &ldquo;With me, it&rsquo;s definitely hard to get in the rhythm. When you don&rsquo;t play in eight days and then have to play in 15-degree weather outside, it makes it a little harder.&rdquo;</p><p>When he was playing more often, Brodeur said he was having fun. The highlight of his season so far came Jan. 14 in his hometown of Montreal when he stopped 29 of 30 shots in a 4-1 victory over the Canadiens and was named first star. Brodeur received a rousing ovation from the Montreal fans.</p><p>There was, of course, speculation it was Brodeur&rsquo;s final game in Montreal. He was noticeably moved when members of the local media and several Canadiens players said the Bell Centre isn&rsquo;t the same since Brodeur&rsquo;s father, Denis, the longtime team photographer for the Habs, passed away Sept. 26. &ldquo;Montreal, especially the Montreal Canadiens, have always been a big part of my family,&rdquo; Brodeur says. &ldquo;I never played for them and probably will never play for them. But it&rsquo;s a big part of me growing up and the career of my dad. So it&rsquo;s definitely appreciated what people think about it.&rdquo;</p><p>But there won&rsquo;t be any sentimental starts for Brodeur down the stretch. DeBoer, at risk of missing the playoffs in two of his three seasons as Devils coach, will ride the hot goalie. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think there is any doubt we&rsquo;re in the home stretch here and the final sprint,&rdquo; DeBoer says. &ldquo;My lineup decisions are going to be based solely on who gives us the best chance to win a game that night.&rdquo;</p><p>And that, DeBoer says, is Schneider, acquired in a June 30 trade with the Vancouver Canucks for the Devils&rsquo; 2013 first-round pick: &ldquo;He&rsquo;s hot right now. That doesn&rsquo;t change our belief system in Marty Brodeur or what he&rsquo;s done. This has nothing to do with history. It&rsquo;s what he (Brodeur) has done for us and for me over the two-and-a-half years I&rsquo;ve been here. I&rsquo;m very aware of how good he&rsquo;s capable of playing and what he&rsquo;s able to do, so they&rsquo;re tough decisions.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-011309/9911765-1-eng-US/f0029-012.jpg" title="f0029-01" width="1598" height="902"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>A MATTER OF RUST</b> Martin Brodeur says he finds it difficult to get into a rhythm when he has long layoffs between starts. <span class="photo-credit">(DAVE SANDFORD/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Lamoriello is hesitant to lose the insurance Brodeur affords the Devils in the event something happens to Schneider. &ldquo;Sometimes you need both guys in case something happens to one or the other,&rdquo; Schneider says. &ldquo;I saw it in Vancouver. They were real reluctant to deal either one of us (Schneider or Roberto Luongo), especially when you want to try and make a deep run in the playoffs. Injuries happen and a bad stretch here or there can happen. It&rsquo;s always nice to be able to turn to another guy who can get the job done.&rdquo;</p><blockquote class="pullQuote">IF THERE IS A BETTER CHANCE FOR ME SOMEWHERE ELSE, I&rsquo;D TAKE IT<br>&ndash; MARTIN BRODEUR</blockquote><p>But, as Brodeur points out: &ldquo;It could be another backup goalie that has experience coming in, too. Who knows? There are deals to be made. Who knows what is available?&rdquo;</p><p>It always comes back to the fact Brodeur must approve a trade. He wouldn&rsquo;t change teams to sit behind another No. 1 goalie. And he wants a club with a shot to win the Cup. His chances of choosing the ideal situation will be a lot stronger in the off-season, when he is an unrestricted free agent.</p><p>If, of course, he wants to play another season. When the Devils visited Colorado in mid-January, Brodeur appeared on the bench to watch the end of the Avalanche&rsquo;s morning skate. Avalanche coach Patrick Roy spotted the man who broke his goaltending records and skated over for what turned out to be a lengthy private chat.</p><p>Roy believes Brodeur would make a good coach when he hangs up his goalie pads. However, while Brodeur has said he might be interested in being a GM some day, coaching doesn&rsquo;t appeal to him. &ldquo;Nope,&rdquo; Brodeur says. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m sure I could do it. I don&rsquo;t know if I&rsquo;d want to. (Roy) coached six years in junior hockey. I don&rsquo;t know if I&rsquo;m ready for those long bus rides. It&rsquo;s a passion being a coach. It&rsquo;s not in everybody.</p><p>&ldquo;He owned that (junior) team long before he retired, so I&rsquo;m sure he had a lot of things invested in it. Me, I have no association with anybody, so coaching wouldn&rsquo;t be something that really attracts me.&rdquo;</p><p>Brodeur has refused to view this season as a farewell tour. A few opponents have asked him for sticks, but he hasn&rsquo;t wanted any added attention from other teams. He also hasn&rsquo;t adopted a backup goalie&rsquo;s mentality. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what it is,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re going to have to teach me. And it&rsquo;s hard to teach an old dog, I guess.&rdquo;</p><p>It&rsquo;s unlikely Brodeur announces this is his final season before the playoffs arrive. He wants to go out on his own terms and has spoken to many players who admit they missed the game when they called it quits. &ldquo;Sometimes on days off I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;This is going to be retirement. It&rsquo;s not fun,&rsquo; &rdquo; he says.</p><p>With Brodeur&rsquo;s consent, a trade might be fun, but it would be an awkward new experience, too. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve never faced it,&rdquo; he says, &ldquo;but this year I might.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0028-01

MARTIN BRODEUR

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0030-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-021032/9911803-1-eng-US/f0030-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>HARD CORE</b> Ryan Kesler is among a large group of Canucks players who have no-trade clauses in their contracts. <span class="photo-credit">(RICH LAM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-011497/9911810-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg" title="f0030-01" width="194" height="229"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>W</span></b><b>HEN VANCOUVER CANUCKS COACH</b>&nbsp;John Tortorella returned from a 15-day suspension in early February, he told reporters a change in &ldquo;the complexion&rdquo; of his team was necessary. Unless the organization was in talks with zit cream maker Proactiv, Tortorella was talking about meaning-ful change. And for this franchise, at this time, the prospect of roster surgery is a at cosmic crossroads, a chance to reflect on where it is in the NHL&rsquo;s pecking order.</p><p>If Vancouver&rsquo;s management and ownership are being honest, any introspection should lead to a simple conclusion: as currently constituted, the Canucks aren&rsquo;t one of the league&rsquo;s top-five teams &ndash; there&rsquo;s a solid argument to be made they&rsquo;re not in the top 10 &ndash; and with 12 players who will be 30 or older by the end of the calendar year, odds are they won&rsquo;t see their fortunes improve. That acknowledgement, followed up with a number of significant personnel changes, is the quickest way for them to return to true Stanley Cup contender status.</p><p>There&rsquo;s no guarantee Canucks GM Mike Gillis opts for the quickest way. Indeed, if he chose to double down on the team he&rsquo;s assembled and add some veterans for a post-season charge, he wouldn&rsquo;t be the first NHL team architect to do so. But standing by a group that won only four of 15 games in January would only lend credence to the theory Gillis&rsquo; Era will be most remembered for the overvaluing of players.</p><blockquote class="pullQuote">&ldquo;CANUCKS SUPPORTERS SOMETIMES ARE ACCUSED OF BEING SENSITIVE, BUT THEY&rsquo;RE NOT FOOLS</blockquote><p>To that end, Vancouver&rsquo;s core &ndash; specifically, forwards Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows, blueliners Alex Edler, Kevin Bieksa, Dan Hamhuis and Jason Garrison and goalie Roberto Luongo &ndash; all were given notrade clauses by Gillis. That makes his</p><p>job in moving them more difficult, but it doesn&rsquo;t make it impossible. Luongo was willing to waive his no-trade clause last summer before the team traded Cory Schneider to New Jersey &ndash; and although he&rsquo;s admirably handled an awkward situation by coming back to the Canucks this year, I&rsquo;d bet Luongo would waive it again under the right circumstances.</p><p>As well, Gillis still has one amnesty buyout option he can use after deploying the first one on Keith Ballard last summer. So there are solutions that can move the Canucks toward a more rapid rejuvenation. Granted, they&rsquo;re not pretty solutions and they&rsquo;re not solutions easily sold to a fan base that&rsquo;s endured its share of agony and disappointment. But GMs are supposed to make tough decisions and take public heat and stand by them because it&rsquo;s the right thing to do.</p><p>In this instance, it is. Canucks supporters sometimes are accused of being sensitive, but they&rsquo;re not fools. They can see Chicago, Anaheim, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Boston, Colorado, Tampa Bay and a few other teams who have the type of dynamic young talent to dominate the playoff scene for some time to come. They know Vancouver&rsquo;s two best players (the Sedins) are going to be 34 in September and there are no elite youngsters in the system to replace them. They&rsquo;ve seen this scenario play out most recently in Calgary, where the Flames deluded themselves into believing they were contenders year after year until they had to go through a ground-up rebuild that included trading franchise icon Jarome Iginla for pennies on dollars.</p><p>Some accused Tortorella of passing the buck to upper management with his &ldquo;complexion&rdquo; comments, but the appraisal was absolutely correct. The Canucks need to change. The only question now is whether they try prettying up a sick patient with a pound of pancake makeup or scrape it all off and get to the heart of the matter.</p><p><b>WANT MORE PROTEAU?</b> GET DAILY UPDATES AT <b><a href="http://TheHockeyNews.com">THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM</a></b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0030-02

TIME FOR CANUCKS TO LOOK IN MIRROR

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-011360/9911841-1-eng-US/f0031-012.jpg" title="f0031-01" width="957" height="1413"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>CAPE BRETON CAPER</b> Glace Bay sneaked in Bill Fraser for the final, but the move backfired when the switch was discovered. <span class="photo-credit">(ERNIE FITZSIMMONS)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-02923/9911848-1-eng-US/f0031-022.jpg" title="f0031-02" width="193" height="228"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>B</span>IG-TIME SENIOR-LEVEL HOCKEY WAS POPULAR IN THE EARLY</b> 1940s and never more mean-spirited than in the Cape Breton League of Nova Scotia. By far the biggest rivalry was between Glace Bay and Sydney. Tough, poor and grimy, Glace Bay specialized in coal mining, while just 13 miles away sat the more sophisticated, patrician Sydney, a steel city. And in late March 1941, as the two towns girded for the playoffs, a warlike atmosphere enveloped the province.</p><p>As for hockey, the Glace Bay Miners had one advantage over the Sydney Millionaires in wily GM Marty MacDonald, who pulled ploys out of his hat with a magician&rsquo;s ease. When it came to winning the playoffs, however, his major headache was in goal: a very vulcanized netminder named Earle Boates who earned his nickname, &lsquo;Leaky.&rsquo; MacDonald knew there was no way the Miners could win the post-season from the Millionaires with Boates between the pipes.</p><p>Which meant Plan B &ndash; as in Bill &lsquo;Legs&rsquo; Fraser &ndash; was hatched. Fraser, was an excellent goalie, but had the misfortune of puck-stopping for the last-place North Sydney Victorias, who finished the regular season far out of the playoffs. In those days of the seven-team NHL, the truculent Fraser was regarded as one of the finest goalies not in the majors. With that in mind, &lsquo;Magical Marty&rsquo; put one-and-one together and figured he&rsquo;d produce a title by replacing Boates with Fraser. On paper it made sense, but in reality it was no small challenge since neither Leaky nor Legs was invisible.</p><p>MacDonald knew that in those Second World War years the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association had ruled that a team was allowed to replace a player who enlisted in the armed forces. Pulling Boates aside one day, MacDonald shoved 200 dollar bills in his hand and said, &ldquo;This is yours if you enlist right now.&rdquo;</p><p>But Leaky was neither patriotic nor co-operative, asserting that he&rsquo;d rather face pucks than bullets. &ldquo;OK,&rdquo; MacDonald said. &ldquo;Here&rsquo;s $100, buy yourself a train ticket to Montreal and stay there until you hear from me.&rdquo;</p><p>With Boates gone and the Sydney-Glace Bay playoff series set to begin, Millionaires staff, foolishly cocky about their team&rsquo;s invincibility, naively agreed Fraser could be the Miners&rsquo; goalie. A minority in the club&rsquo;s high command and loads of Sydney fans disliked the idea of giving the hated foes any break. And they were right as Fraser stunned Sydney citizens to the core by beating the Millionaires in the first three games the best-of-seven series. Just like that Sydney was on the brink of elimination.</p><p>By this time Boates had left Montreal and was hiding out in Truro, N.S., while Glace Bay began to plan its post-championship festivities. Game 4 was set for March 10, giving the Millonaires&rsquo; high command time to do something, anything to avoid a humiliating sweep. The trick was to reach the source of their migraines, the CAHA. Sure enough, angry Sydney officials presented a two-pronged demand: disqualify the indomitable Fraser and erase his three wins to start the playoffs all over again. Furthermore, that motion was seconded by Judge A.D. Campbell of Sydney, who also happened to be president of the Cape Breton League. Campbell not only ruled that Fraser was finished as a Miner, but also that all three Glace Bay wins were invalid.</p><p>When Glace Bay citizens heard the news, they went beyond bananas. They went to war. Barricades were erected at the city line preventing Sydney delivery trucks access to Glace Bay. <i>Readers Digest</i> writer David MacDonald, who covered the fracas, noted that if a Sydney citizen happened to be in Glace Bay, he or she was refused service in the Glace Bay restaurant. &ldquo;One Glace Bay priest,&rdquo; MacDonald said, &ldquo;invoked divine aid.&rdquo;</p><p>Meanwhile, delighted Glace Bay fans were gobbling up tickets for the potentially decisive fourth game when, lo and behold, a strike-breaking discovery was made. Visiting Truro, a Sydney resident came upon poorly hidden Leaky, who instantly knew the jig was up. Boates immediately phoned his GM who blurted, &ldquo;Come on back &ndash; and bring my money.&rdquo;</p><p>Barricades were removed and what once was to be Game 4 now was Game 1. More than 3,000 hopeful-but-doubtful Glace Bay supporters got a collective case of lockjaw as Leaky was true to his nickname. He allowed nine goals, while the Miners illuminated only one red light. That was enough for MacDonald, who forfeited the rest of the series. Mangling the English language the way Boates botched goaltending, MacDonald concluded, &ldquo;At least I made it a serious to remember!&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0031-01

EAST COAST ENEMIES

<div class="byline">BY MIKE HEIKA</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-011475/9911886-1-eng-US/f0032-012.jpg" title="f0032-01" width="319" height="348"></div><p><b>R</b><b>AY WHITNEY IS OLD. WELL, NOT OLD OLD,</b>&nbsp;but hockey old. And there are days he knows it.</p><p>Whitney will turn 42 in May. He has logged more than 1,300 NHL games. He has given 23 years to this demanding job. And for the first time, he does see the end creeping up. &ldquo;At times, when frustration has set in, I&rsquo;ve thought, &lsquo;Yeah, this is it,&rsquo; &rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The game will tell you when it&rsquo;s done with you and you start to see glimpses of that.</p><p>&ldquo;Other times, I just stop thinking about that and keep playing hockey. That&rsquo;s all I&rsquo;ve ever done, is just keep playing.&rdquo;</p><p>Whitney will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He&rsquo;s playing on a team that may or may not make the playoffs and he has seen his playing time reduced almost five minutes a game to 14:27 as a new administration and coaching staff look to the future. So yes, he could be traded, he could get another run at a Stanley Cup or he could just fade away. The ending is still a mystery.</p><p>With 382 goals, Whitney would love to hit 400 and that thought process is part of what keeps him going. He loves pushing himself and believes he can still do it physically. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not having a great year (six goals, 21 points through 50 games), but I don&rsquo;t feel old,&rsquo;&rsquo; he said. &ldquo;You have some games where you feel better than others, but I still feel like my legs are the same as they were 10 years ago. So I definitely feel I can still play. But hey, maybe us old guys, we&rsquo;re the last to know, to realize what&rsquo;s happening.&rdquo;</p><p>Nicklas Lidstrom finally slowed down at 41. Teemu Selanne is showing signs at 43. It catches all of them at some point. Whitney is philosophical about the experience. He understands the process and knows there will be days when he&rsquo;s grumpy, when he&rsquo;s frustrated by his role on the young Stars. But he also knows he was brought to Dallas to help transition a team into the future, so he wants to do that any way he can. &ldquo;You&rsquo;re human, so yeah it&rsquo;s not fun at times when your role is reduced or you don&rsquo;t get to play the game the way you used to play it,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But I still like the preparation and the competition and you focus on that. You get yourself physically ready and you get yourself ready to compete and win a game. It&rsquo;s called showing up and being a pro and doing your job. There is some real satisfaction in that.&rdquo;</p><p>Whitney, a Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., native, got his start as a stick boy for the Edmonton Oilers. After being drafted 23rd overall in 1991 by the San Jose Sharks, he began his pro career with San Diego of the now-defunct International League before making it to The Show. He has played for eight NHL teams and he thinks he&rsquo;ll still have something to offer the game, administratively speaking, when he retires.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-021001/9911879-1-eng-US/f0032-022.jpg" title="f0032-02" width="1679" height="1678"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>AGELESS WONDER</b> Ray Whitney has played on eight teams over 22 seasons. His veteran legs keep on chugging for the Stars. <span class="photo-credit">(CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Whatever path the hockey gods draw up, Whitney is open to taking it. And though all of the emotions experienced throughout his career swirl in his head, he has a great feeling about his future. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve signed a few cards this year with San Diego Gulls on it and that definitely takes you back and makes you think,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve seen everything the game has to offer, from being bought out, to being put on waivers, to being traded, to signing a big contract. I can relate to people and that can help me in the next step of my career. I&rsquo;ve been in it since I was 10 years old, so whatever I do next it will have something to do with hockey.&rdquo;</p><p>And the thought of that fresh start sort of makes him feel young again.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0032-01

DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’

<div class="byline">BY ADRIAN DATER</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-02907/9911924-1-eng-US/f0033-022.jpg" title="f0033-02" width="319" height="348"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>T</span>HERE HAVE BEEN TIMES IN THE NOT-TOO-</b>distant past when it seemed Ryan O&rsquo;Reilly and Paul Stastny wouldn&rsquo;t be wearing Colorado Avalanche jerseys for long.</p><p>O&rsquo;Reilly is a star on arguably the NHL&rsquo;s most surprising team, but only last season he and the Avalanche were embroiled in a bitter contract standoff, solved only when the Calgary Flames jumped in with a rare offer sheet for the restricted free agent that Colorado chose to match. Stastny has seen his name in lots of trade rumor headlines, always a popular choice among armchair GMs to be a player who would come in handy to another team in need up the middle.</p><p>But as the Olympic break approached, both players remained on the Avalanche roster. Will they still be there beyond March 5 and into next season? There&rsquo;s no certainty in this league, but with the seasons both have had for a team all but assured of a playoff spot for the first time since 2010, it would seem a fool&rsquo;s errand to give either one up now.</p><p>After scoring the overtime winner in a 2-1 win over New Jersey Feb. 3, O&rsquo;Reilly had the team lead in goals with 21. Stastny had 16 goals and 39 points in 49 games, despite often drawing the opposition&rsquo;s top center defensively. It has been his best all-around season in years.</p><p>Despite signing other talented young players to lucrative extensions since last summer &ndash; Gabriel Landeskog, Matt Duchene and Semyon Varlamov among them &ndash; the Avalanche have yet to lock up O&rsquo;Reilly or Stastny long term, which has worried some hardcore fans. Executive vice president Joe Sakic said the team tried to reach an agreement with the O&rsquo;Reilly, whose in his fifth season, on a multi-year deal last summer, but when that didn&rsquo;t happen the parties agreed to hold off on talks until this summer.</p><p>Under terms of the two-year, $10 million offer sheet from Calgary (which pays $6.5 million in salary this season), O&rsquo;Reilly can&rsquo;t be traded, if that&rsquo;s what the Avalanche want, until Feb. 28. The Avalanche can retain his rights another two seasons with qualifying offers, but reaching consensus on his worth over the long term has remained elusive. Is he a $6-million player? Before the offer sheet, the most the Avalanche offered was $3.5 million per year. His play has only upped his worth. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s been great for us,&rdquo; said coach Patrick Roy. &ldquo;I can use him in any situation. He&rsquo;s been very solid at both ends of the ice and he&rsquo;s a very smart player.&rdquo;</p><p>O&rsquo;Reilly, 23, said he wants to stay with Colorado, but he and his agent Pat Morris proved last year they aren&rsquo;t afraid to play hardball on his value.</p><p>Meanwhile, Stastny, 28, can become unrestricted this summer. He&rsquo;s made $6.6 million each of the past five seasons and though the Avalanche probably don&rsquo;t want to pay that much to keep him again, they&rsquo;ll have to pay something in that range. Keeping Stastny would maintain a team that has him, Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon as centers. This has worked so far, so why not at least another year?</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-011310/9911917-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg" title="f0033-01" width="1398" height="1674"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>SHOW ME THE MONEY</b> Ryan O&rsquo;Reilly is having a tremendous season for the surprising Avs. He could leverage it for a long-term contract. <span class="photo-credit">(DEREK LEUNG/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Stastny&rsquo;s agent, Matt Keator, indicated extension talks have yet to take place, but that &ldquo;there&rsquo;s no rush.&rdquo; Sakic, who the media have nicknamed &lsquo;Quoteless Joe,&rsquo; won&rsquo;t get into further specifics about the team&rsquo;s plans for either player. Sources around the team, however, said Sakic and the rest of management wanted to take a wait-and-see approach as to how each player performed before reaching deep into the team&rsquo;s wallet.</p><p>Based on O&rsquo;Reilly and Stastny&rsquo;s play, they&rsquo;ll have to reach mighty deep to keep them around.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0033-02

IT’S TIME TO ANTE UP

<div class="byline">&#x2013; RANDY SPORTAK</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-08360/9912004-1-eng-US/f0034-082.jpg" title="f0034-08" width="319" height="348"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-06487/9911997-1-eng-US/f0034-062.jpg" title="f0034-06" width="1017" height="184"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-07418/9911990-1-eng-US/f0034-072.jpg" title="f0034-07" width="1374" height="1039"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>MICHAEL CAMMALLERI</b> <span class="photo-credit">(BRAD WATSON/NHL VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>H</span></b><b>AVING GONE AROUND THE NHL</b>block a few times, Michael Cammalleri feels a sense of calm with the coming NHL trade deadline. The Calgary Flames left winger, a pending unrestricted free agent whose goal-scoring touch would help a litany of teams during the Stanley Cup chase, is well aware his name is being bandied about in the rumor mill.</p><p>Even with a young family and some roots in Calgary, Cammalleri insists he&rsquo;s not fretting about what transpires before the March 5 trade deadline. &ldquo;Maybe it&rsquo;s experience, having gone through it, gone through the experiences I have,&rdquo; Cammalleri said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t feel it&rsquo;s worn on me this season. I was young going through this before and it&rsquo;s a different mentality now.&rdquo;</p><p>It would be a surprise if the 31-year-old winger re-signed with the Flames, a rebuilding team in need of younger NHLers, prospects and draft picks. Cammalleri&rsquo;s age and skillset is better suited for a Cup contender. But he has discussed the possibility of a deal with Flames acting GM and president of hockey operations Brian Burke and he&rsquo;s adamant staying with the young Flames has plenty of appeal. &ldquo;Brian has been places and turned teams into winning teams,&rdquo; Cammalleri said. &ldquo;Who knows? In this business, it&rsquo;s hard to predict.&rdquo;</p><p>Still, the likely scenario is Cammalleri will be in the next wave of core players dealt away in the current Flames teardown. The question will be what would a team acquiring Cammalleri gain in return. He had a tremendous playoff run for the Montreal Canadiens back in 2010, with 13 goals and 19 points in 19 games. He followed it up with three goals and 10 points in seven games when the Habs were bounced the next spring by the eventual Cup-winning Boston Bruins.</p><p>However, Cammalleri has had a couple of troublesome injuries this season. A hand/wrist problem kept him out of the lineup for the first couple weeks and then he missed nine games in mid-January due to a concussion.</p><p>Cammalleri believes neither injury will affect him the rest of the way: &ldquo;I try to stay pretty present,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Life&rsquo;s good. I&rsquo;m a pretty happy person. I think the injuries have just been a little bit of bad luck. I really like my game, feel strongly about my game. None of it concerns me.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-011496/9911983-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg" title="f0034-01" width="305" height="459"></div><p>The Ducks are among the stingiest teams in shots and goals allowed, but they want some more experience on the blue-line heading into the playoffs. <b>Francois Beauchemin</b> is the only defender with more than 20 post-season games under his belt and the only one to have played extensively beyond the first round.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-021049/9911976-1-eng-US/f0034-022.jpg" title="f0034-02" width="305" height="463"></div><p>When Dennis Seidenberg had season-ending knee surgery in December, it left the Bruins with only three veteran D-men in <b>Zdeno Chara</b>, Johnny Boychuk and Adam McQuaid. The B&rsquo;s would like to supplement their &lsquo;D&rsquo; to replace Seidenberg&rsquo;s contributions in his own zone and on the penalty kill and to lessen the workload on Chara.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-03826/9911969-1-eng-US/f0034-032.jpg" title="f0034-03" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>One pending UFA who hasn&rsquo;t received a lot of attention is veteran <b>Henrik Tallinder</b>. But quiet and effective players such as Tallinder are often the kind of under-the-radar acquisitions that end up paying big dividends in the playoffs. Tallinder, 35 and without a no-movement clause, has emerged as a quality shutdown defenseman.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-04672/9911962-1-eng-US/f0034-042.jpg" title="f0034-04" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(DEREK LEUNG/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The Flames have plenty of mobility, but very little brawn on the blueline. <b>Chris Butler</b> is a pending unrestricted free agent who doesn&rsquo;t fit either category, so watch for him to be peddled. Butler has stepped into a top-four role at times. He is playing 20 minutes a game and ranks third in the league with 146 blocked shots.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-05545/9911955-1-eng-US/f0034-052.jpg" title="f0034-05" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>In the wonky Eastern Conference, even a team with a negative goal differential is in the wildcard hunt. That&rsquo;s where the Canes find themselves and if they want to snatch a post-season berth, they need more scoring. Getting another top-six forward to ease the burden on the Staal brothers and <b>Jeff Skinner</b> is a priority.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0034-08

A DIFFERENT DIRECTION

<div class="byline">&#x2013; AARON PORTZLINE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-08385/9912084-1-eng-US/f0035-082.jpg" title="f0035-08" width="319" height="348"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-06521/9912077-1-eng-US/f0035-062.jpg" title="f0035-06" width="1017" height="184"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-07447/9912070-1-eng-US/f0035-072.jpg" title="f0035-07" width="1373" height="1034"><figcaption class="caption-body">MARIAN <b>GABORIK</b> <span class="photo-credit">(JAMIE SABAU/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>T</span></b><b>HE BLUE JACKETS ACQUIRED MARIAN</b>Gaborik last April at the trade deadline, hoping he could help propel them into the playoffs. They missed out to Minnesota in a tiebreaker for the final spot. The Blue Jackets thought they needed his speed and skill to stay competitive in the East this season, but they&rsquo;ve scored a surprising number of goals without him.</p><p>The 10-month relationship between Columbus and Gaborik has been brief and star-crossed. And with the March 5 trade deadline approaching, the notso-long-ago superstar and the suddenly competitive franchise are at a crossroads. According to Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen and Gaborik&rsquo;s agent Ron Salcer, the two sides haven&rsquo;t had any talks toward a contract extension, and Kekalainen said that no offer would be forthcoming until Gaborik became more of a leader on and off the ice. &ldquo;He could be the driving force of the team,&rdquo; Kekalainen said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to see him take charge, driving the team with his example &ndash; not only with the points, but with everything else he does.&rdquo;</p><p>That would lead one to believe Gaborik will be on the trade block for a second straight spring. Gaborik has played in only 30 of the Blue Jackets&rsquo; 68 games since he was acquired from the Rangers for center Derick Brassard, defenseman John Moore, right wing Derek Dorsett and a sixth-round pick in 2014. In reality, the Jackets haven&rsquo;t missed Gaborik or those players the past few months, as they went on a 23-13-2 run since Nov. 15. That date is telling. It&rsquo;s the first game Gaborik missed after suffering a knee sprain a night earlier against Boston. He played only four shifts against Philadelphia on Dec. 21 before breaking his collarbone.</p><p>Gaborik &ldquo;loves Columbus, he loves the team, he loves the guys,&rdquo; Salcer said. Several Blue Jackets teammates &ndash; Brandon Dubinsky, Cam Atkinson and others &ndash; are close with Gaborik. But even when he&rsquo;s healthy, his skill set has seemed an odd fit for the crashand-bang, straight-line Blue Jackets. All signs point to Gaborik being dealt. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what&rsquo;s going to happen,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I can only control part of it and that&rsquo;s what I&rsquo;ll worry about. For me, it&rsquo;s get back 100 percent, go out there and help the guys. I&rsquo;m not thinking of anything other than getting better. Play well, help us to get the playoffs and go from there.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-011385/9912063-1-eng-US/f0035-012.jpg" title="f0035-01" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Not even a Stanley Cup last season quelled talk of Chicago&rsquo;s need for a No. 2 center. Michal Handzus was a revelation in the role during the playoffs, but is 36 and has been ineffective this season. <b>Marcus Kruger</b> still hasn&rsquo;t shown enough offense. A two-way pivot capable of manning the second power play unit and killing penalties would help.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-02988/9912056-1-eng-US/f0035-022.jpg" title="f0035-02" width="305" height="467"></div><p>The Avs have forward depth to spare and would love to land a top-four defense-man to take heat off <b>Jan Hejda</b> and Erik Johnson, who play more than 22 minutes a game. An all-around type capable of generating offense, playing the power play and muscling opposing forwards is at the top of Colorado&rsquo;s wish list.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-03818/9912049-1-eng-US/f0035-032.jpg" title="f0035-03" width="305" height="459"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>With <b>Ryan Johansen</b> hitting a new level and Nathan Horton healthy, Columbus looks solid in all three zones, even if it doesn&rsquo;t have a superstar to speak of. Should GM Jarmo Kekalainen want to reward his soldiers, bringing reinforcements at the deadline would be welcomed. Ryan Callahan of the Rangers looks like a nice target.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-04677/9912042-1-eng-US/f0035-042.jpg" title="f0035-04" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(DEREK LEUNG/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>If the Stars remain outside the playoff picture, mimicking last year&rsquo;s Derek Roy trade makes sense. In that case, the Stars dealt a veteran center for a D-man with offensive upside in Kevin Connauton. Dallas has plenty of solid stay-at-home types like <b>Brenden Dillon</b>, but could use another promising puck-mover from the back end.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-05578/9912035-1-eng-US/f0035-052.jpg" title="f0035-05" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(LEON HALIP/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>With young, talented forwards <b>Riley Sheahan</b>, Tomas Jurco and Luke Glendening filling in during the Red Wings&rsquo; spate of injuries, plus a mother lode of good young players on the defending AHL-champion Grand Rapids Griffins, GM Ken Holland has plenty of chips to use if he does decide to swing for the fences with some big trades.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0035-08

DIDN’T WORK OUT AS EXPECTED

<div class="byline">&#x2013; GEORGE RICHARDS</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-08342/9912164-1-eng-US/f0036-082.jpg" title="f0036-08" width="319" height="348"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-06473/9912157-1-eng-US/f0036-062.jpg" title="f0036-06" width="1017" height="184"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-07403/9912150-1-eng-US/f0036-072.jpg" title="f0036-07" width="1374" height="1048"><figcaption class="caption-body">DMITRY <b>KULIKOV</b></figcaption></div><p><b>AS THE NHL&rsquo;S TRADE DEADLINE</b> approaches, it looks like the Florida Panthers will be sellers.</p><p>Again.</p><p>The Panthers hope some of their young talent rises to the challenge to turning the franchise&rsquo;s fortunes around and makes it not just successful, but relevant within their fickle win-or-beignored marketplace.</p><p>GM Dale Tallon isn&rsquo;t going to let his cornerstone players go. Those asking about Aleksander Barkov, Nick Bjugstad, Jonathan Huberdeau or Erik Gudbranson will be rebuffed. But Dmitry Kulikov, the 23-year-old defenseman in his fifth season in Florida, could be had for the right price.</p><p>A restricted free agent after the season, Kulikov will be looking for something more than a one- or two-year deal under which the Panthers control his rights. He already held out once and ended up spending the lockout playing in Russia for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.</p><p>One rumor making the rounds is Kulikov would like to return to the KHL. He denies this. Kulikov loves living in the United States and playing in the NHL. &ldquo;I would like to face those people saying those things and ask them where they are getting their information,&rdquo; Kulikov said.</p><p>The same chatter was heard in 2009, when he dropped to the Panthers at 14th in the draft, despite being projected by some as a top 10 pick. &ldquo;Wanting to go back to Russia?&rdquo; Kulikov said. &ldquo;Those words have never come out of my mouth. I think the people starting that are just trying to create more drama for the league or whatever&hellip;I had a great experience in the KHL during the lockout. That was my first chance to play there. I left when I was 17. I wanted to play there and see how it is.</p><p>&ldquo;But that experience was enough for me. I experienced it. My dream since I was a kid was playing here. I&rsquo;m living the dream.&rdquo;</p><p>The Panthers publicly said they have no plans to move Kulikov, although there was a report earlier in the season that said Tallon had already talked to Colorado about such a deal. Tallon denied the trade fell apart.</p><p>As for other veteran players, such as Tim Thomas, Brad Boyes, Scott Gomez, Krys Barch, Marcel Goc and Scottie Upshall, they could be on the move north as the Panthers try and turn their fortunes around. Again.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-011397/9912143-1-eng-US/f0036-012.jpg" title="f0036-01" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>If the Oilers want to beef up their defense corps to supplement the skills of <b>Justin Schultz</b>, they&rsquo;ll have to part with their first-round draft pick this year or one of their young, skilled forwards. Sam Gagner would net the most in return. Gagner&rsquo;s points-per-game pace is the lowest of his seven NHL seasons, but he&rsquo;s just 24.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-02958/9912136-1-eng-US/f0036-022.jpg" title="f0036-02" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>GM Dale Tallon will be looking for prospects and picks to continue the rebuild. With solid contributors <b>Aleksander Barkov</b>, Jonathan Huberdeau and Nick Bjugstad 21 or younger, and another high draft pick likely coming this summer, the future isn&rsquo;t bleak for a team that&rsquo;s made the playoffs just once in 12 seasons.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-03792/9912129-1-eng-US/f0036-032.jpg" title="f0036-03" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The Kings need offense, offense and more offense. The second lowest-scoring team in the league went a six-game stretch in which only <b>Anze Kopitar</b> scored goals (three of them). To acquire a proven marksman, Los Angeles will have to sacrifice a first-round pick or a budding young sniper such as Tyler Toffoli.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-04633/9912122-1-eng-US/f0036-042.jpg" title="f0036-04" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JANA CHYTILOVA/FREESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Some far-fetched rumors have Minnesota on the hunt for another goalie because of <b>Josh Harding&rsquo;s</b> multiple sclerosis, but Niklas Backstrom and Darcy Kuemper were fine fallback options. The Wild are also expected to explore trades for more scoring help up front, as they sat in the NHL&rsquo;s bottom five in goals per game.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-05535/9912115-1-eng-US/f0036-052.jpg" title="f0036-05" width="305" height="463"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(DEREK LEUNG/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The Canadiens helped address their well-documented lack of size when they acquired <b>Dale Weise</b> from Vancouver, but that is just the start of the project to beef up the forward ranks. Weise fits in well on the fourth line, but GM Marc Bergevin will be looking for players who fit his dimensions and can play higher on the depth chart.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0036-08

THE CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG

<div class="byline">&#x2013; DAVID BOCLAIR</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-08334/9912244-1-eng-US/f0037-082.jpg" title="f0037-08" width="319" height="348"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-06493/9912237-1-eng-US/f0037-062.jpg" title="f0037-06" width="1017" height="184"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-07424/9912230-1-eng-US/f0037-072.jpg" title="f0037-07" width="1373" height="1030"><figcaption class="caption-body">SHEA WEBER <span class="photo-credit">(GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>A</span></b><b>LMOST FROM THE MOMENT THEY</b>&nbsp;matched the 14-year, $110-million offer sheet he signed with Philadelphia in July 2012, Nashville Predators&rsquo; leadership attempted to define Shea Weber&rsquo;s long-term future.</p><p>Just three weeks earlier, his long, successful partnership with Ryan Suter ended with the latter&rsquo;s decision to sign a free agent deal with Minnesota and it was as if the Predators wanted to send a message to the rest of the league that Weber was tethered to them by more than just the big contract.</p><p>First, it was decreed Roman Josi was Weber&rsquo;s defense partner and would be for years to come. The notion even was floated that Josi, then 22, was further along the learning curve than Suter was at the same age. Earlier this season, a pairing with 2013 fourth-overall pick Seth Jones showed early promise and created visions of a partnership that could last a decade or more.</p><p>The truth is Weber, a two-time Norris Trophy runner-up at 28, is a singular talent with a thunderous slap shot, a nasty disposition and the size and strength to make opposing forwards think twice about getting too close.</p><p>He&rsquo;s a player any one of the NHL&rsquo;s other 29 teams would love to have. And with the annual trade deadline not far beyond the end of the Olympic break many will talk about the possibility of adding him. Why not? &ldquo;It&rsquo;s really kind of a shame that he hasn&rsquo;t had a Norris so far in my opinion,&rsquo;&rsquo; said center Mike Fisher. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve played with a lot of great &lsquo;D&rsquo; and he&rsquo;s the most well rounded. He can do it all and he&rsquo;s having a great year, doing a lot of good things.&rdquo;</p><p>Coach Barry Trotz was more concise: &ldquo;He&rsquo;s having his best year ever.&rdquo;</p><p>On the eve of the Olympics, Weber&rsquo;s 15 goals were tied for the most by a defenseman and his shooting percentage (11.1) was tops among those with at least 10. His nine power play goals paced all blueliners, too.</p><p>He and Josi again are partners, but Weber&rsquo;s star has never shone as brightly and he has more responsibility than ever as captain and one of Nashville&rsquo;s leading scorers. Following the January trade of Kevin Klein, Weber is the team&rsquo;s only defenseman older than 25. In short, he&rsquo;s a player the Predators can&rsquo;t afford to be without, which is why management matched the offer sheet and why it has scoffed at any trade suggestion ever since.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-011248/9912223-1-eng-US/f0037-012.jpg" title="f0037-01" width="305" height="461"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(MARISSA BAECKER/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Established early as sellers, the Predators landed offensive defenseman <b>Michael Del Zotto</b> from the Rangers for Kevin Klein. Next up, it makes sense to pursue a young forward with scoring upside. GM David Poile pulled off a coup in landing Filip Forsberg from Washington in the Martin Erat trade last season. Can he repeat the magic?</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-02887/9912216-1-eng-US/f0037-022.jpg" title="f0037-02" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(DEREK LEUNG/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>While the Devils aren&rsquo;t in the basement, they really should aim to be at least modest sellers at the deadline. They are way too dependent on older players and the future will be a rude awakening. Jaromir Jagr and <b>Marek Zidlicky</b> have basically run the offense and both are pending free agents, with Zidlicky the &ldquo;baby&rdquo; at 37.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-03714/9912209-1-eng-US/f0037-032.jpg" title="f0037-03" width="309" height="470"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The Isles need to lock up some experienced blueliners to help future attempts at playoff runs. Lubomir Visnovsky and <b>Radek Martinek</b> are in the twilights of their careers and Martinek is a free agent this summer. New York has some nice upand-comers, but needs more teachers to bridge the gap as the young ones learn.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-04614/9912202-1-eng-US/f0037-042.jpg" title="f0037-04" width="298" height="459"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(SCOTT LEVY/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Having already made a big move in acquiring <b>Kevin Klein</b>, the New York Rangers will focus on pending free agents Ryan Callahan and Dan Girardi. New York would happily keep both, but if GM Glen Sather can&rsquo;t make it work, he should grab some draft picks in return. The Rangers made just nine selections the past two drafts.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-05555/9912195-1-eng-US/f0037-052.jpg" title="f0037-05" width="305" height="463"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>GM Bryan Murray has made no secret of his desire to acquire a winger to play with <b>Jason Spezza</b>. The best fit would be a player who can take advantage of Spezza&rsquo;s playmaking abilities, with Matt Moulson one of the most prominently mentioned possibilities. The Sens are well positioned to take on salary and have lots of young talent.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0037-08

FINDERS KEEPERS IN NASHVILLE

<div class="byline">&#x2013; SARAH MCLELLAN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-08298/9912324-1-eng-US/f0038-082.jpg" title="f0038-08" width="319" height="348"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-06432/9912317-1-eng-US/f0038-062.jpg" title="f0038-06" width="1017" height="184"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-07362/9912310-1-eng-US/f0038-072.jpg" title="f0038-07" width="1374" height="1042"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>KEITH YANDLE</b></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>C</span></b><b>OYOTES DEFENSEMAN KEITH YANDLE</b>hasn&rsquo;t been able to keep his name out of trade rumors the past few seasons and the lead-up to this year&rsquo;s deadline won&rsquo;t be any different.</p><p>Yandle&rsquo;s profile continues to increase, especially when he was in the mix for a spot on the blueline the United States would send to the Winter Olympics in Sochi &ndash; and perhaps even more since he was ultimately left off the roster. The reason why Yandle merited consideration by USA Hockey brass also explains why the 27-year-old can&rsquo;t shake the trade rumors.</p><p>He&rsquo;s played in two All-Star Games with the potential to be a cornerstone of a team&rsquo;s defense. While he shares that title with Oliver Ekman-Larsson for the Coyotes, it&rsquo;s still makes him an unlikely candidate to get moved. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s very fortunate for us in Phoenix that he&rsquo;s with us because he&rsquo;s a very good player,&rdquo; GM Don Maloney said.</p><p>After this season, Yandle is under contract for two more seasons with a cap hit of $5.25 million, which is not a bad price under a rising cap.</p><p>The Coyotes have watched his game improve this season, particularly in his own end. His offensive skills have always been there, but he&rsquo;s been criticized for not being able to fulfill shutdown defensive responsibilities. That has been an area of focus for Yandle and the Coyotes have noticed. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s just so much better without the puck,&rdquo; Maloney said. &ldquo;Defensively, I think he&rsquo;s just learning that you don&rsquo;t have to paint the Rembrandt every time you touch the puck. You can just make the simple play.&rdquo;</p><p>Yandle&rsquo;s play wavered after it was announced he didn&rsquo;t make the U.S. Olympic roster, but he didn&rsquo;t attribute the news to the cause of his struggles. &ldquo;You can&rsquo;t really show them,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;They&rsquo;ve already made up their minds. It&rsquo;s not like if I play well over those next few games, I would have made the team. I just wasn&rsquo;t playing my best.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;You go through streaks during the season where sometimes you&rsquo;re not playing your best and hopefully that was the last one.&rdquo;</p><p>The Coyotes hope so as well, because they&rsquo;re counting on Yandle to help them stay in playoff contention. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been simplifying things a little bit,&rdquo; Yandle said. &ldquo;Just trying to make little plays&hellip; and just trying to do what I can to help my team win.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-011355/9912303-1-eng-US/f0038-012.jpg" title="f0038-01" width="305" height="463"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The Flyers are back in the playoff picture after a horrid start, but since every point counts, they must improve their shootout acumen. While purists may groan, Philly is in the bottom half in shootout wins and only two players &ndash; Claude Giroux and <b>Vincent Lecavalier</b> &ndash; have scored more than one goal in the 1-on-1 contest.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-02949/9912296-1-eng-US/f0038-022.jpg" title="f0038-02" width="305" height="467"></div><p>For the first time in ages, scoring isn&rsquo;t an issue in Phoenix. The Coyotes are top-10 in goals per game and became the third team (after St. Louis and Chicago) to have seven players reach 30 points, paced by <b>Mike Ribeiro</b>. There is talk Phoenix will push for a playoff spot by adding a proven goal scorer to its offense-by-committee.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-03766/9912289-1-eng-US/f0038-032.jpg" title="f0038-03" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JAMIE SABAU/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>With <b>Pascal Dupuis</b> gone long-term due to a major knee injury, the Pens will once again hunt for a winger to augment superstar pivot Sidney Crosby. Pittsburgh has landed big names such as Chris Kunitz, James Neal and Jarome Iginla in the past, but a lack of cap space will make this year&rsquo;s task more difficult for GM Ray Shero.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-04623/9912282-1-eng-US/f0038-042.jpg" title="f0038-04" width="305" height="465"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>Brian</b>&nbsp;<b>Elliott</b> and Jaroslav Halak make a respectable tandem, but reports out of St. Louis suggest the Blues want an elite No. 1 goal-tender for a Stanley Cup push. One of Halak or Elliott, both pending UFAs, would have to go the other way in a trade for salary cap purposes. The Blues have been linked specifically to Buffalo&rsquo;s Ryan Miller.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-05502/9912275-1-eng-US/f0038-052.jpg" title="f0038-05" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(DEREK LEUNG/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The injury to <b>Logan Couture</b> derailed the Sharks juggernaut. They were near tops in the league at 3.14 goals per game with Couture in the lineup. San Jose averages just 1.87 goals in the 15 games without him. Having one fewer offensive dimension has allowed the opposition to hone in more on Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0038-08

TEMPTING TRANSACTION

<div class="byline">&#x2013; TIM CAMPBELL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-08298/9912404-1-eng-US/f0039-082.jpg" title="f0039-08" width="319" height="348"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-06401/9912397-1-eng-US/f0039-062.jpg" title="f0039-06" width="1016" height="184"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-07348/9912390-1-eng-US/f0039-072.jpg" title="f0039-07" width="1373" height="1039"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>EVANTER KANE</b></figcaption></div><p><b>THERE IS SOME LOGIC TO WINNIPEG</b>&nbsp;Jets left winger Evander Kane popping up in the NHL&rsquo;s rumor mill.</p><p>He&rsquo;s a bright star in the league&rsquo;s smallest market &ndash; some say a big personality for a small fishbowl. There&rsquo;s been some conflict and turmoil in Kane&rsquo;s first two-and-a-half years in Winnipeg, from allegations of restaurant bills unpaid and bar fights, to edgy comments about race, to a disagreement with his coach, to impertinent tweets he may or may not have regretted. All that fuels speculation of rifts and a potential move.</p><p>On the ice, Kane, 22, is an attractive commodity. He&rsquo;s a remarkable skater, strong on his feet with soft hands, a true power forward who scores goals. He produced 30 in 2011-12, kept that pace last season and in a 2013-14 interrupted four times by injury, had 15 in 42 games heading to the Olympic break.</p><p>Then there&rsquo;s the contract, which for a productive winger will seem more than palatable once the salary cap increases next season. Kane&rsquo;s deal runs through 2017-18 with a $5.3-million cap hit.</p><p>But for all the reasons moving Kane seems plausible, others make it unlikely. First, that any player is available if &ldquo;the perfect deal comes along&rdquo; is a dream mentioned too often. Rare isn&rsquo;t a strong enough word for that scenario.</p><p>Second, Kane&rsquo;s exit from Winnipeg doesn&rsquo;t fit GM Kevin Cheveldayoff&rsquo;s philosophy of developing his own and refusing to sacrifice young assets for a quick fix to barely make the playoffs.</p><p>Current management is near-skittish about the franchise&rsquo;s past deals of this sort. The price is still being paid on trades made in the Atlanta era, which sent Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk away and yielded weak returns.</p><p>At the deadline, it&rsquo;s unlikely a Kane suitor would part with the kind of player or players Cheveldayoff would want. The GM, in fact, is even more staunch in his views today, given the successful introduction of youth this season in Jacob Trouba and Mark Scheifele.</p><p>An overall mediocre Jets team may indeed need a change in the mix of its core players, hence likely inquiries on Dustin Byfuglien and Blake Wheeler, to name two. Cheveldayoff&rsquo;s track record, however, shows there&rsquo;s no itch in his trigger finger and it&rsquo;s wise to keep in mind other teams looking to improve at the deadline are unlikely to have the return he&rsquo;d require.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-011241/9912383-1-eng-US/f0039-012.jpg" title="f0039-01" width="305" height="463"></div><p>Tampa is up against the salary cap, which may prevent it from helping its defense corps with a rental or a longer-term player. The Lightning need blueline help more than anything else, but it&rsquo;s unlikely GM Steve Yzerman will use talented young players such as <b>Tyler Johnson</b>, Nikita Kucherov, Ondrej Palat or Radko Gudas to get it.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-02842/9912376-1-eng-US/f0039-022.jpg" title="f0039-02" width="305" height="459"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(CLAUS ANDERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The Maple Leafs hoped to address their penalty-killing and defensive shortcomings by acquiring <b>Tim Gleason</b>, but they still allow the most shots per game and regularly get outshot by double-digit margins. GM David Nonis will be looking for a classic shutdown defender, but Nazem Kadri almost certainly won&rsquo;t be going anywhere.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-03665/9912369-1-eng-US/f0039-032.jpg" title="f0039-03" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Mike Santorelli&rsquo;s season-ending injury and the inability of David Booth and <b>Alexandre Burrows</b> to chip in regularly (five goals in 66 games combined) have made Vancouver&rsquo;s attack a popgun. A proven sniper is sought. Newcomer Raphael Diaz will help the 29th-ranked power play from the point, but a triggerman is needed down low.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-04561/9912362-1-eng-US/f0039-042.jpg" title="f0039-04" width="305" height="461"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JEFF VINNICK/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>No matter what the Caps do at the deadline, cap space will be key. Washington doesn&rsquo;t have any. It walks a fine line of compliance thanks to players whose salaries are deferred on the long-term injury reserve. Finding a buyer for <b>Martin Erat&rsquo;s</b> $4.5-million stipend would help, but what team wants an offensive player who isn&rsquo;t scoring?</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-05478/9912355-1-eng-US/f0039-052.jpg" title="f0039-05" width="305" height="467"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(DEREK LEUNG/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>The Jets have an uphill battle to make the playoffs and are more likely to stand pat or sell than buy. An experienced veteran like Andrew Ladd would attract many teams, though he has a modified no-trade clause. The Jets would love to land a talented young forward to build around along with emerging star blueliner <b>Jacob Trouba</b>.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0039-08

KANE’S ADDRESS TO STAY THE SAME

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0040-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-02624/9912435-1-eng-US/f0040-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>TRADING PLACES?</b> Jordan Eberle may not be on the market, but he&rsquo;d yield a terrific return for the defense-weak Oilers. <span class="photo-credit">(ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-01950/9912442-1-eng-US/f0040-012.jpg" title="f0040-01" width="192" height="228"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>O</span>NE OF THESE DAYS, SOMETIME IN</b> the future, certainly before the NHL&rsquo;s new TV deal with Rogers runs out, maybe we&rsquo;ll come to a trade deadline where the Edmonton Oilers are serious about being contenders and approach the date as buyers.</p><p>When that day comes, Oilers fans better hope the members of Edmonton&rsquo;s brass were studious history observers. Because the franchise that has slumped its way to three No. 1 overall picks in the past four drafts &ndash; possibly four out of five this summer &ndash; should take a look at how the Pittsburgh Penguins became Stanley Cup champions in 2009 and how the Pens have maintained exalted status in the Eastern Conference ever since.</p><p>Oh sure, you can be pithy and say &ldquo;Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, that&rsquo;s how,&rdquo; but it took more than that. What Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero executed so well was the accumulation of assets he was willing to move to fill a need. Simply put, Oiler fans: don&rsquo;t fall in love with your own players if you want to win.</p><p>From 2002 to 2006, the Penguins drafted two players first overall (Crosby and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury), two players second overall (Malkin and Jordan Staal) and one player fifth overall (Ryan Whitney).</p><p>Whitney would turn out to be a crucial piece to the puzzle, even though he did so from Anaheim. Coming out of Boston University as a smooth-skating puck rusher who could quarterback a power play, Whitney ranked as high as 17th overall in THN&rsquo;s Future Watch edition and put up 14 goals and 59 points in his sophomore NHL campaign.</p><p>But with the Penguins knocking on Stanley&rsquo;s door, a Pittsburgh team with so much talent down the middle still needed some wingers to complement the pivot trifecta of Crosby, Malkin and Staal. That&rsquo;s when Shero pulled the trigger, sending Whitney to the Ducks for previous Cup winner Chris Kunitz and prospect Eric Tangradi. Kunitz became an integral part of the attack and the rest is history.</p><p>Two years later, Shero needed another top-end winger and went over to Dallas, where he landed James Neal, alongside defenseman Matt Niskanen, for blueliner Alex Goligoski. Like Whitney, Goligoski was entering his best years when Pittsburgh traded him, adding offense from the back end and playing more than 20 minutes a night. But you have to give in order to receive, so that&rsquo;s what Shero did. And though the Penguins didn&rsquo;t win the Cup, the emergence of Neal and Niskanen have still made the trade look great from a Pittsburgh perspective.</p><p>Which takes us to Edmonton.</p><p>The list of young offensive talent up front is great right now, with Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov all coming to town as No. 1 overall picks. Jordan Eberle was a steal with the 22nd choice in 2008 and plays like a top-five selection. If you stretch Edmonton&rsquo;s rebuild back a bit farther, you can add in skilled center Sam Gagner, who was the sixth overall pick in 2007.</p><p>Trade rumors surrounding Gagner have been omnipresent for more than a year, but the real return would come from one of the other scorers. But will GM Craig MacTavish pull the trigger?</p><p>The Oilers, as currently constructed, are terrible defensively and that&rsquo;s not limited to the blueliners. The top-end forwards are all on the smaller side, with Hall the biggest at 6-foot-1 and 201 pounds. In the West, this is not a group that can hang with the Ryan Getzlaf/Anze Kopitar/Joe Thornton crowd. But any team would love to add one of those players to its lineup if Edmonton were willing to part with an asset. Yakupov is the least experienced of the crew and has taken a lot of lumps from the local press and fans, though it&rsquo;s only fair to point out he&rsquo;s just 20. He would benefit most from a change of scenery, but would also bring the least return.</p><p>Ben Scrivens may be the answer in net for Edmonton and goaltenders seem to be easier to find these days, but the Oilers definitely need more NHL defensemen and top-six size up front.</p><p>It might sound like sacrilege to Oilers fans, but if Edmonton were to part with one of Hall or Eberle, the return would be substantial: a top-pairing defenseman, for sure.</p><p>The Oilers have holes to fill and some great assets, but need to look at what the Penguins did to connect the dots. It may not be pleasant, but it works.</p><p><b>CAN&rsquo;T GET ENOUGH KENNEDY?</b> GO TO <b><a href="http://TheHockeyNews.com">THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM</a></b> FOR DAILY UPDATES<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0040-02

DEALING TALENT TO GET TALENT

<div class="byline">BY GARETH BUSH</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0041-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-01828/9912473-1-eng-US/f0041-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>BURE&rsquo;S BUSY BODY</b> On top of launching his own wine, Valeri Bure won the figure skating reality show <i>Battle of the Blades.</i> <span class="photo-credit">(IAN TOMLINSON/ALLSPORT)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>VALERI BURE MADE A CAREER OUT OF BEATING NHL DEFENDERS</b> with blazing speed. Having been retired for a decade, he hasn&rsquo;t slowed down.</p><p>Bure played 10 seasons in the NHL, primarily with the Canadiens, Flames and Panthers, posting 407 points in 643 career games. After undergoing back surgery following 2003-04, he decided to retire. From the first time players lace up a pair of skates to the last time they take them off, hockey is the only thing most NHLers ever know. Understandably, many retirees choose to stay in the game, working in management, player development, coaching and anything in between. But not Bure, who had a thirst for something else. &ldquo;A few of my veteran teammates in Montreal enjoyed going out for a nice dinner and a glass of wine, so at the age of 20 I was introduced to the wine world,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;From there my passion for wine just kept growing.&rdquo;</p><p>Years later, Bure took an off-season trip to Napa Valley, a California-based wine region considered one of the world&rsquo;s best. It was there he decided he would create his own label. &ldquo;I fell in love with the behind-the-scenes work and being able to start from the vineyard and put it into a bottle,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s an amazing process.&rdquo;</p><p>In 2006, Bure Family Wines was born. Located in St. Helena, Calif., BFW produces five small-lot, handcrafted wines, including a cabernet sauvignon named Majesty. The title pays tribute to Bure&rsquo;s greatgrandfather, who was the watchmaker for the Russian czar. The company logo also symbolizes a Russian imperial seal that he placed on each watch. After six years of developing and crafting his product, Bure says business is finally starting to pick up. &ldquo;The brand is getting a lot stronger and industry critics are giving us pretty high scores,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s very fun to see that when I&rsquo;m travelling, people know me for my wine and not so much for hockey.&rdquo;</p><blockquote class="pullQuote">&ldquo;IT&rsquo;S FUN TO SEE THAT WHEN I TRAVEL, PEOPLE KNOW ME FOR MY WINE AND NOT SO MUCH FOR HOCKEY<br>&ndash; Valeri Bure</blockquote><p>Bure describes managing BFW as a full-time job, but winemaking isn&rsquo;t the only occupation Bure has added to his resume since leaving the NHL. He and his wife, Candace Cameron-Bure (best known for her role on <i>Full House</i>), opened a restaurant called The Milk and Honey Cafe in Florida in 2007, though it later closed when the family moved to California to focus on BFW. Aside from his marriage to a Hollywood actress, Bure returned to the public eye in 2010 when he participated on CBC&rsquo;s <i>Battle of the Blades</i>, a competitive reality show that pairs former NHL players with figure skaters. It was an experience he was originally reluctant to pursue and describes as the most difficult of his life. &ldquo;My wife convinced me to do it, but by the end of the show I actually started enjoying it because it gave me an adrenaline rush like hockey,&rdquo; Bure says. &ldquo;You&rsquo;re not performing in front of 20,000 people, but this was just more cunning.&rdquo;</p><p>Bure and his dance partner Ekaterina Gordeeva won the competition.</p><p>Of course, hockey is still a big part of his life. He coaches his three teenage children, all registered minor league players in California. More noticeably, Bure&rsquo;s brother Pavel was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012. &ldquo;Watching his highlight reel at the ceremony, the hair was standing up on my neck,&rdquo; Bure says. &ldquo;It was super cool and I couldn&rsquo;t believe my brother is in the Hall of Fame. He deserves it.&rdquo;</p><p><b>FOR MORE TALES</b> OF PLAYERS PAST, CLICK ON <b><a href="http://THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM/BACKCHECKING">THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM/BACKCHECKING</a></b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0041-01

A NEW KIND OF SUCCESS

<div class="byline">BY RYAN KENNEDY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-02578/9912518-1-eng-US/f0042-022.jpg" title="f0042-02" width="319" height="348"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-01880/9912511-1-eng-US/f0042-012.jpg" title="f0042-01" width="1732" height="1586"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>WEST IS SECOND-BEST</b> Bruins pick Peter Cehlarik feels playing in Sweden, not North America, is best for his growth. <span class="photo-credit">(FRANCOIS LAPLANTE/HHOF-IIHF IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>I</span></b><b>N 2004, SWEDEN&rsquo;S HOCKEY</b> minds came together to investigate why the country was failing at the junior level. The nation wasn&rsquo;t developing players the way it had hoped and failed to win a medal at the previous seven world junior tournaments. &ldquo;We weren&rsquo;t practising enough,&rdquo; said Per Nygards, Sodertalje&rsquo;s sporting director and assistant coach. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re weren&rsquo;t practising right and we weren&rsquo;t researching our junior game.&rdquo;</p><p>A bigger emphasis was also placed on coaching and now the Swedes are perennial contenders, winning the past two silver medals and a gold the year before that. It has caught the attention of the hockey world and now a number of high-end prospects from other European nations are plying their trade in Sweden. Nygards&rsquo; Sodertalje club has one of the best in right winger David Pastrnak, who came from the Czech Republic last season. Pastrnak is already a mainstay on the men&rsquo;s squad, where he has been one of the top junior-aged scorers in the Allsvenskan, the nation&rsquo;s second-best circuit behind the Swedish League. He gives a lot of credit to his new surroundings. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s different mentally, different practice,&rdquo; Pastrnak said. &ldquo;Sweden is better working with young players. Last year was my first year here and I already got some starts with the pro team, which was unbelievable for me and helped me up a step.&rdquo;</p><p>Pastrnak is eligible for the 2014 draft and also looked great when his Czech pals joined him in Sweden for the world juniors. Nygards described him as an elusive player who uses his creativity in 1-on-1 scenarios and when finding linemates with passes. In particular, Pastrnak worked well with fellow 2014 prospect Willie Nylander, now playing for Modo in the SHL. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re both really skilled with the puck and need little time to make plays,&rdquo; Nygards said. &ldquo;The speed of their minds fit each other.&rdquo;</p><p>Another speedy Czech who has found a home in Sweden is 2014 prospect Jakub Vrana. The right winger is now in his third season with the Linkoping organization, working his way up from the under-16 team to the men&rsquo;s squad. Leaving home at 15 was difficult, but Vrana had his professional development in mind and while Russia may have been closer to his Czech home culturally, Sweden won out in the end. &ldquo;I wanted to stay in Europe and in Sweden the junior league is really good, really fast,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve learned lots of new things in the offensive and defensive zones that have helped me a lot.&rdquo;</p><p>Despite being so young, Vrana actually lived on his own that first season, but had a lot of support from his teammates, which helped combat homesickness. &ldquo;The apartment was on a street with the other players, so they helped me a lot,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;From the beginning it was different, but I learned it and I like the Swedish culture. No soup here, though.&rdquo;</p><p>He&rsquo;ll have to settle for a hot bowl of NHL exposure. Like Pastrnak, Vrana has excellent speed and shooting is another strength. He still has two more seasons under contract with Linkoping after this year, but many prospects spend a few years after the draft in Europe before coming over.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-01857/9912504-1-eng-US/f0043-012.jpg" title="f0043-01" width="1032" height="1633"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>SWISS WATCH</b> Sweden gives Switzerland&rsquo;s Kevin Fiala better competition and more attention from scouts. <span class="photo-credit">(ANDRE RINGUETTE/HHOF-IIHF IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>One player who could have been in North America already is Slovakian left winger Peter Cehlarik. The towering offensive presence, selected 90th overall by the Boston Bruins in 2013, became a rising draft prospect with Sweden&rsquo;s Lulea last season. He tallied six points in eight games with the big squad after a call-up from the junior ranks. This year he has split time between the SHL&rsquo;s Lulea and Asploven of the Allsvenskan when Lulea loaned him out, resulting in a spike in points for the youngster. There&rsquo;s a great what-if when it comes to Cehlarik&rsquo;s development, In as he had contemplated playing in the United States League. &ldquo;I had the opportunity to go to the USA before the season, then I had the opportunity to come to Sweden, so I chose Sweden,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I like the style here more, on the big ice. They do well with the juniors up there in that region and I&rsquo;m on the ice a lot, so it&rsquo;s helping.&rdquo;</p><p>Thanks to European labor laws, there is no limit on the number of foreigners allowed to play on a team. &ldquo;You could have 20 Finns or a whole team of Canadians if you wanted to,&rdquo; Nygards said, &ldquo;as long as they are qualified to do the job.&rdquo;</p><p>In that case, there&rsquo;s no questioning 2014 Swiss prospect Kevin Fiala, who plays for HV71 in the SHL. He had 10 points in his first nine games after a successful run with the junior squad. Like the other three, he repped his nation at the world juniors in Malmo and really helped his stock with the NHL crowd. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s an artist,&rdquo; said one scout. &ldquo;Lots of similarities to Nylander, he&rsquo;s got that high-end skill, top-end creativity and excellent anticipation.&rdquo;</p><p>The son of a coach back in Switzerland, Fiala was one of the standouts for the Swiss at the world juniors and has enjoyed his time in Sweden overall. &ldquo;The level is much better and gives me more confidence,&rdquo; Fiala said. &ldquo;I thought it was a better organization and I wanted to try something new.&rdquo;</p><p>There&rsquo;s a counter-argument that having these kids ply their trade in Sweden weakens the domestic leagues in the nations they come from. While this has been the case in Slovakia and the Czech Republic in the past decade, Switzerland has almost always seen its players leave for the Canadian major junior ranks as teenagers, anyway.</p><p>When it comes to catching the eyes of NHL scouts, Sweden is a great destination because the level of competition is high and well known. That is truer now than in the past, when old ways of thinking hurt the judgment of some NHL teams. The best example comes from Sodertalje&rsquo;s most famous recent export, the Slovenianborn center for the Los Angeles Kings, Anze Kopitar. &ldquo;I watched that draft,&rdquo; Nygards said. &ldquo;I remember people saying he came from an odd country. But he was a top player in Sweden&rsquo;s junior league.&rdquo;</p><p>And we all know how that move by the Kings turned out.</p><p><b>34</b> Kevin Fiala&rsquo;s points total in 2013-14 for HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League. Fiala earned the points in 35 games spread between the junior and big squad. Thirteen of the points came on goals.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0042-02

TAKING THE SWEDISH ROUTE

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-02601/9912549-1-eng-US/f0043-022.jpg" title="f0043-02" width="491" height="695"><figcaption class="caption-body">ANTON KARLSSON</figcaption></div><h2><b>1. WILLIE NYLANDER</b></h2><h3><b>MODO</b></h3><p>The son of former NHLer Michael Nylander, Willie has top-end offensive skills and dazzles with the puck. Not the biggest kid.</p><h2><b>2. ANTON KARLSSON</b></h2><h3><b>FROLUNDA</b></h3><p>The bullish winger loves to throw his weight around and challenge opponents, but he can score, too. Had minor role at world juniors.</p><h2><b>3. DAVID PASTRNAK</b></h2><h3><b>SODERTALJE</b></h3><p>An elusive and technically sound player with great offensive tools, he&rsquo;s also a quick skater.</p><h2><b>4. ADRIAN KEMPE</b></h2><h3><b>MODO</b></h3><p>Very similar to Karlsson, Kempe brings a bruising attitude to the game and is developing fast.</p><h2><b>5. JAKUB VRANA</b></h2><h3><b>LINKOPING</b></h3><p>A speedster who can really wire the puck, the Czech had some great chances at the world juniors.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0043-02

SWEDISH DELIGHTS

<div class="byline">BY JOHN MATISZ</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-03376/9912594-1-eng-US/f0044-032.jpg" title="f0044-03" width="319" height="348"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-01759/9912587-1-eng-US/f0044-012.jpg" title="f0044-01" width="1649" height="1124"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>RAZZLE DAZZLE</b> Josh Ho-Sang attracts scouts&rsquo; attention with his speed and breathtaking repertoire of dekes. <span class="photo-credit">(AARON BELL/OHL IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>J</span>OSH HO-SANG CRADLES THE PUCK AT</b> center ice, trots toward the goaltender on his forehand, dekes to his backhand and casually flips the puck to the top corner.</p><p>The Windsor Spitfires win a late-January scorefest over the Sarnia Sting 8-7 in a shootout. Ho-Sang nets the clinching shootout goal, three others in regulation and an assist.</p><p>It&rsquo;s a glimpse into the right winger&rsquo;s capabilities as an elite offensive threat in the Ontario League and perhaps a sign of things to come at the NHL level. The Thornhill, Ont., native had 24 goals and 63 points through 49 games.</p><p>Chat with those who know the on-ice Ho-Sang best &ndash; teammates, coaches, scouts &ndash; and it&rsquo;s clear they believe the kid is ready to transition from a dynamic playmaker to an all-around asset. &ldquo;Everyone knows he can skate and shoot, make plays, but he&rsquo;s starting to put it all together now,&rdquo; said Spitfires GM Warren Rychel.</p><p>Rychel pointed to Jan. 15&rsquo;s Top Prospects Game in Calgary as an evolutionary checkpoint for Ho-Sang, 18. &ldquo;He went there and played the right way, did what the (Windsor) coaches have been preaching to him,&rdquo; Rychel said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s doing the little things right, that&rsquo;s what&rsquo;s contributing to his success.&rdquo;</p><p>Ho-Sang&rsquo;s goal and assist for Team Orr were accompanied by solid play away from the puck. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve seen him play defensive hockey as well as I&rsquo;ve seen him play offensive hockey,&rdquo; said an NHL scout. &ldquo;When he&rsquo;s in backchecking mode and wants that puck, he can get it from three zones away.&rdquo;</p><p>Ho-Sang sat 19th in International Scouting Services&rsquo; January rankings for the 2014 NHL draft. The 5-foot-11, 166-pounder was also rated 18th in NHL Central Scouting&rsquo;s mid-term ranking of North American skaters.</p><p>Ho-Sang, who counts all-world playmakers Matt Duchene and Patrick Kane as his favorite players, has undeniably slick puck skills, smooth skating and great vision. He has a slew of tricks to call on, including several variations of the toe-drag and spin-o-rama. &ldquo;Eventually, when you&rsquo;re at this level, the next level, guys are going to figure out your tendencies,&rdquo; Ho-Sang said. &ldquo;So if you can switch that up consistently, find new ways to be effective, then that&rsquo;s all that matters.&rdquo;</p><p>Fancy stickhandling and elusiveness is nothing new from Ho-Sang, a member of the Toronto Marlboros&rsquo; minor midget squad for two years before joining the OHL in 2012-13.</p><p>Spitfires netminder Alex Fotinos has a unique perspective on Ho-Sang. They played a midget season together, then against each other in major junior when Fotinos was a Barrie Colt, then together again after Fotinos arrived in an October trade. &ldquo;When he&rsquo;s 1-on-1, you never know if he&rsquo;s going to beat the defender or not,&rdquo; Fotinos said. &ldquo;You have to be careful. When he&rsquo;s on the ice, he&rsquo;s a presence that you know is there.&rdquo;</p><p>Ho-Sang has a Chilean mom and Jamaican father, but has always resided in Canada. His surname comes from his dad&rsquo;s grandfather, who was from Hong Kong. Ho-Sang was sought after as an OHL prospect. Rychel, a part-owner of the Spitfires along with another ex-NHLer Bob Boughner and others, is ecstatic he was able to nab Ho-Sang fifth overall in the 2012 draft. &ldquo;This is our eighth season of ownership, Bob and I, and he&rsquo;s probably the most skilled player we&rsquo;ve had come through here,&rdquo; Rychel said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s as simple as that.&rdquo;</p><p>That&rsquo;s high praise considering Rychel helped develop Taylor Hall en route to two Memorial Cups and a No. 1 overall selection the Edmonton Oilers in 2010. Like Hall, Ho-Sang is a game-changer who is also prone to high-risk plays. Ho-Sang&rsquo;s start to 2014, however, is a big step in the right direction. &ldquo;Not taking a shift off, working in all three zones, that&rsquo;s what National Hockey League players do,&rdquo; the scout said. &ldquo;And that&rsquo;s what he has to do.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>JOSH HO-SANG</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-02496/9912580-1-eng-US/f0044-022.jpg" title="f0044-02" width="273" height="167"></div><p><b>POSITION</b></p><p>Right winger</p><p><b>AGE</b> 18</p><p><b>HEIGHT</b> 5-11</p><p>&nbsp;<b>WEIGHT</b> 166 lbs</p><p><b>DRAFTED</b> 2014 eligible</p><p><b>+50</b> Improvement of Josh Ho-Sang&rsquo;s plus-minus from rookie year (-23) to this season (+27) in OHL<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0044-03

WOWING ’EM IN WINDSOR

<div class="byline">BY CHRIS KAZARIAN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0046-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-01674/9912639-1-eng-US/f0046-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>SISTER ACT</b> Kelly, Madi, Logan and Eden Murray draw comparisons to the famed Sutter and Staal siblings. <span class="photo-credit">(MURRAY FAMILY)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>G</span></b><b>EOGRAPHICALLY, THE MURRAY FAMILY</b> is more like hockey&rsquo;s Sutters. By numbers, they&rsquo;re closer to the Staals. By gender, however, they&rsquo;re unlike any other.</p><p>Logan, Madi, Kelly and Eden Murray are to women&rsquo;s hockey what the Sutters and Staals are to the NHL. The eldest three play elite college hockey and 18-year-old Eden, considered the best of the bunch, is set to join them next season, when she teams with Madi, 21, at Yale. Joakim Flygh, who will coach the pair for the Bulldogs, marvels at the talent in the Murray gene pool out of Medicine Hat, Alta., a four-hour drive from the birthplace of the Sutters. &ldquo;This is probably the first time I&rsquo;ve come across it where four kids have played at a very high level in women&rsquo;s hockey,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Certainly, they are a hockey family.&rdquo;</p><p>The Murrays sisters&rsquo; success is part genetics, part natural talent, but in large part pure work ethic, inherited from their parents. Their mother, Kim, played basketball at Brandon University in Manitoba, while their father, Paul, played hockey for the University of Calgary and professionally in Germany. Their athletic paths paved the way for their daughters, beginning with the eldest, Logan, 22, who plays for McGill University in Montreal, where she won a national title as a freshman in 2011. &ldquo;My parents were the kind of people that would sacrifice anything to help us achieve what we wanted in life,&rdquo; she says. &ldquo;If it was soccer or basketball, they would have put us in special sports schools to let us leave home and travel.&rdquo;</p><p>Compared to their peers, the Murray sisters came late to the game, instead dabbling in soccer, basketball and dance during their childhood. Until the 2002 Winter Olympics, hockey was never on their todo list, but that changed for all of them after watching Canada&rsquo;s women&rsquo;s team win gold in Salt Lake City. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what inspired us, but all the girls (on Team Canada) seemed really close on the ice,&rdquo; Eden says. &ldquo;The fact they lost eight exhibition games to the U.S. and then won in the gold medal game was really amazing&hellip;It was a really cool experience to see those girls work together and come up with an important win.&rdquo;</p><p>By that time, though, the Murray girls had some catching up to do. That&rsquo;s when their parental pedigree really kicked in. &ldquo;We were all at the age where we were deciding what we wanted to start doing with our lives and athletics is a big part of my family,&rdquo; Madi says. &ldquo;We saw the pace of the game and thought it would be a cool sport to go into.&rdquo;</p><p>It had been 20 years since their father had retired from pro hockey, choosing a less physically taxing career owning car dealerships. When his daughters started to show an interest in hockey, he began with the basics. &ldquo;Our dad taught us to love the game and for him skating was a big aspect,&rdquo; Kelly says. &ldquo;He isn&rsquo;t a big guy, about 5-foot-10, so he had to be fast and so skating for us was always important. And he always made sure that we respected the game and never thought we were better than other players.&rdquo;</p><p>Along with playing whenever and wherever possible, sometimes against boys, the Murray sisters were sent to the best hockey camps and schools, often based on the advice of their cousin (they call him &ldquo;uncle&rdquo;) Andy Murray, coach of the Western Michigan Broncos and former bench boss of the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues. That meant going to the Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy in Kelowna, B.C., before transferring to Shattuck-St. Mary&rsquo;s in Minnesota and ending their high school careers at the Edge School for Athletes in Calgary. Only Eden&rsquo;s path has been slightly different. She attended all those schools, but she has played the past three seasons at Edge, where she&rsquo;s currently a senior.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-02446/9912632-1-eng-US/f0046-022.jpg" title="f0046-02" width="859" height="802"><figcaption class="caption-body">MADI <b>MURRAY</b> <span class="photo-credit">(DAVID SILVERMAN/DSPICS.COM)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-01608/9912625-1-eng-US/f0047-012.jpg" title="f0047-01" width="1295" height="1030"><figcaption class="caption-body">KELLY <b>MURRAY</b> <span class="photo-credit">(PATRICK SHANAHAN)</span></figcaption></div><p>Through it all they&rsquo;ve played with each other (Kelly, 19, and Eden won gold at the Canada Winter Games in 2011 for Team Alberta at the under-18s) and occasionally against one another (Kelly and Madi face each other annually in the Cornell-Yale tilts) and together have made each other better players.</p><p>Scott Fukami, who has manned the bench for Edge the past five years, is the only one to coach each of the Murray sisters, other than their father. He credits their success to a combination of factors, from training to natural athleticism. &ldquo;All four girls are able and inclined, whether in hockey or another sport,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;They are athletes and would have been successful in any sport they chose.&rdquo;</p><p>Yet as with any successful athlete, there have been setbacks. Some have been large, like Logan&rsquo;s ACL surgery in high school and Kelly&rsquo;s concussion last season and broken collarbone this past October. Others are small by comparison. At the 2013 under-18 worlds in Finland, Eden made it but her hockey bag did not. She was unable to play with her teammates for the first five days of practice, though her equipment did arrive in time for the first game against Hungary. She scored her only goal of the tournament in the team&rsquo;s first of five wins en route to winning gold after defeating the United States 2-1 in overtime.</p><blockquote class="pullQuote">&ldquo;THIS IS THE FIRST TIME FOUR SISTERS HAVE PLAYED HIGH-LEVEL WOMEN&rsquo;S HOCKEY<br>&ndash; Joakim Flygh</blockquote><p>Seeing his children respond to such obstacles, Paul says, is perhaps his greatest thrill as a parent. And watching them all overcome them is more rewarding than anything he accomplished as a player. &ldquo;It is so wonderful when they persevere through it and have some success,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s really special and it&rsquo;s happened to them all. Even if I had played in the NHL for 10 or 15 years, you just love watching your kids play and have that success. There&rsquo;s no comparison between your own career and your kids, especially when they are all high-level players. It&rsquo;s awesome.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0046-01

FAMILY TIES THAT BIND

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-02359/9912760-1-eng-US/f0049-022.jpg" title="f0049-02" width="230" height="404"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JANA CHYTILOVA/FREESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>DALLAS EAKINS</b></h2><p>Twelfth coach of the Oilers, a storied NHL franchise. Left successful AHL Marlies to take a chance on Edmonton.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-03285/9912753-1-eng-US/f0049-032.jpg" title="f0049-03" width="231" height="405"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(STUART WILSON/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>DAVID TENNANT</b></h2><p>Tenth Doctor in <i>Dr. Who</i>, a storied TV franchise. Left successful series to take a chance on <i>Broadchurch</i>.</p><p><b>Submitted by:</b> Orry Syniak</p><p>Email your suggestions to <b><a href="mailto:sab@thehockeynews.com">sab@thehockeynews.com</a></b></p><p>WHO AM I: ED BELFOUR<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0049-02

Separated AT BIRTH

<div class="byline">By Larry Humber</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0049-05" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-05210/9912791-1-eng-US/f0049-052.jpg"></div><p><b>Answers available in the next issue and at <a href="http://THN.com/XWORD">THN.com/xword</a></b></p><h2><b>ACROSS</b></h2><p>1 An unlikely outcome</p><p>4 Site of the 2014 Olympics</p><p>7 ___ Larson was with six different teams in his 14 NHL seasons</p><p>8 Tie</p><p>10 ___-___ is a stick infraction</p><p>12 Where &lsquo;Stevie Y&rsquo; is GM</p><p>13 The U.S. won gold at the Lake Placid Games, dubbed &lsquo;The Miracle ___ ___&rsquo;</p><p>14 Calgary&rsquo;s only Smythe Trophy winner</p><p>18 An on-ice official</p><p>19 ___ Oates, pictured, calls the shots in D.C.</p><p>20 Defeats</p><p>21 A ___ game is likely to feature several fights</p><h2><b>DOWN</b></h2><p>1 Amateur player</p><p>2 An extra period or periods</p><p>3 Evaluated</p><p>4 City with an NBA team, but not an NHL franchise</p><p>5 Hall of Famers Bill and &lsquo;Bun&rsquo; ___</p><p>6 Al ___ was a Leaf from 1984-91</p><p>9 Those who finish first, second or third at the Olympics</p><p>11 Hired: two words</p><p>12 Was behind</p><p>15 Paul MacLean was Jack ___ Award winner in 2013</p><p>16 One of Dave Semenko&rsquo;s nicknames</p><p>17 Garth ___ is Isles GM</p><p><b>LAST WEEK&rsquo;S CROSSWORD SOLUTION ACROSS</b> 1. JOHANSSON, 8. EMERY, 9. CHANCES, 10. NASSAU, 11. SETTLE, 12. ERROL, 14. NEELY, 17. CRAVEN, 19. EKLUND, 20. COLLEGE, 21. LORNE, 22. DEFENDERS <b>DOWN</b> 2. OSHIE, 3. ARNOTT, 4. STEVE, 5. NEGATE, 6. BERSERK, 7. BYFUGLIEN, 11. SCANDELLA, 13. DEALERS, 15. YANKED, 16. CALLED, 17. CHOKE, 18. EAGER<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0049-05

CROSSWORD

<div class="byline">&#x2013; MATT LARKIN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-06133/9912822-1-eng-US/f0049-062.jpg" title="f0049-06" width="876" height="879"><figcaption class="caption-body">MARLENE ROSS/MARLENEROSSDESIGN.COM</figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>F</span>or the Sochi Games, Luongo again turns to lumberjack Johnny Canuck in this design by his longtime mask artist, Marlene Ross. The Canadian flag adorns the side and the chin sports &ldquo;Canada&rdquo; instead of his jersey number, 1, which was on the Vancouver 2010 lid.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0049-06

Behind THE MASK

<div class="byline">&#x2013; RYAN KENNEDY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-04265/9912853-1-eng-US/f0049-042.jpg" title="f0049-04" width="622" height="612"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(LAKE ERIE MONSTERS)</span></figcaption></div><p>The luxury of being a minor league team is that you can have a little more fun than the franchises in the NHL when it comes to your look.</p><p>The American League&rsquo;s Monsters came out with a special &ldquo;neon&rdquo; sweater that harkens back to the 1980s with its bold use of colors and early arcade game-style lines. Lake Erie has been rolling out seven specialty jerseys this season, from &ldquo;ugly Christmas sweaters&rdquo; to throwbacks from the outdoor game against Rochester. And no, the neon duds don&rsquo;t glow in the dark.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0049-04

JerseyHOUND

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-02342/9912884-1-eng-US/f0050-022.jpg" title="f0050-02" width="672" height="912"><figcaption class="caption-body">TODD <b>BERTUZZI</b> <span class="photo-credit">(GRAIG ABEL/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-01451/9912891-1-eng-US/f0050-012.jpg" title="f0050-01" width="194" height="219"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>I</span>F IT&rsquo;S TRUE TIME REALLY ONLY FLIES</b> when you&rsquo;re having fun, this past decade must have seemed like a long nightmare for Steve Moore, one from which he will almost certainly never awaken. That&rsquo;s because March 8 marks 10 years since Todd Bertuzzi hunted him down, attacked him from behind and brutally ended his career.</p><p>Let&rsquo;s take stock of what we&rsquo;ve learned since then. First thing is that the wheels of justice, in civil court at least, grind very slowly. The long awaited trial stemming from Moore&rsquo;s $60-million lawsuit against Bertuzzi is scheduled to begin Sept. 8, exactly 10 years and six months after the on-ice attack.</p><p>We&rsquo;ve also learned not much has changed since that night in Vancouver when Bertuzzi, seeking revenge for a previous dirty hit from Moore on Markus Naslund, jumped Moore from behind, punched him and drove him face first into the ice. Moore sustained three broken vertebrae, a concussion and lasting brain damage that still hampers his ability to live a normal life today. In the intervening 10 years, Bertuzzi did his 80 hours of community service, resumed his NHL career and after this season will have earned $27,819,454 in the nine seasons since the attack.</p><p>We also know that as much as Gary Bettman respects and emulates David Stern, he is no David Stern when it comes to turning moments like this one into an opportunity to shift course. The Bertuzzi attack on Moore was as close as the NHL has ever come to its Kermit Washington-Rudy Tomjanovich moment. In a game in 1977, shortly after an on-court scuffle, Washington of the Los Angeles Lakers sucker-punched Tomjanovich of the Houston Rockets with such devastating force that Tomjanovich could taste the spinal fluid leaking from his brain and required reconstructive facial surgery.</p><p>It was a seminal moment for the NBA and Stern, when he became commissioner seven years later, used the incident to crack down on fighting in the NBA and effectively eliminate the enforcer role that was occupied by players such as Washington. Instead of marketing the game on fighting, Stern took it out of the game and hinged his league&rsquo;s popularity on stars Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Bettman, on the other hand, has never displayed leadership in cleaning up the game and eliminating ugly incidents from happening. He continues to head up a league that &ldquo;sells hate&rdquo; in the words of senior vice-president Colin Campbell and often features fights as &ldquo;must see&rdquo; elements on its website.</p><p>(And let&rsquo;s not start with this nonsense the Bertuzzi attack on Moore had nothing to do with fighting. It had everything to do with fighting. The main reason Bertuzzi attacked Moore in the first place was that Moore had rebuffed Bertuzzi on several previous occasions when Bertuzzi tried to goad him into a fight.)</p><p>It&rsquo;s remarkable, really, how little has changed since what should have been such a seismic event on the hockey landscape. All you have to do is turn the clock back to a game between Pittsburgh and Boston. In that December game, Bruins fourth-liner Shawn Thornton attacked an unsuspecting Brooks Orpik, knocking him to the ice and punching him repeatedly in the head. It was astounding in its cowardice and its similarity to the Bertuzzi incident. And why did Thornton, one of those supposed high-character guys who are supposed to keep things safe on the ice, go after Orpik? In retaliation for a hit by Orpik on Boston&rsquo;s Loui Eriksson that left Eriksson with a concussion. Like Moore, Orpik turned down invitations to fight earlier in the game.</p><p>Heck, you don&rsquo;t even have to go back that far. Vancouver coach John Tortorella just cooled his heels for 15 days for trying to go after Calgary coach Bob Hartley between periods, which stemmed from a line brawl off the opening faceoff. The reason it all happened was Hartley put out his goon squad to start the game and Tortorella responded in kind. During the pre-season, ex-Buffalo coach Ron Rolston was fined for &ldquo;player selection&rdquo; for putting dancing bear John Scott out to intimidate Toronto&rsquo;s star Phil Kessel.</p><blockquote class="pullQuote">&ldquo;THE GAME AND CULTURE OF VIOLENCE IN IT COULD BE ON TRIAL EVERY BIT AS MUCH AS BERTUZZI IS</blockquote><p>Every time these kinds of things happen, those who think fighting still has a place in the game cluck their tongues and wag their fingers and claim there is no place for that kind of thing. But when you&rsquo;re part of a league and a culture that doesn&rsquo;t provide any sort of deterrent to fighting, it&rsquo;s only a matter of time before you start descending that slippery slope into madness. The NBA realized that almost 40 years ago. The NHL still has to come to that realization.</p><p>So where are we 10 years after the Bertuzzi-Moore incident? It appears we&rsquo;re on our way to getting legal closure on this in a lawsuit in which the game and culture of violence in it could be on trial every bit as much as Bertuzzi is. But in terms of doing anything about it, the NHL remains mired in the muck.</p><p><b>CAN&rsquo;T GET ENOUGH CAMPBELL?</b> GO TO <b><a href="http://TheHockeyNews.com">THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM</a></b> FOR DAILY UPDATES<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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March 3, 2014

BULL MARKET GOES BEARISH

Guess Who!

MEET THE MURRAYS

HIT ’EM EARLY