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October 27, 2014
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.
A BUTTERFLY EFFECT?
I was part of the whole movement where it felt like every year someone coming from Quebec was a first-rounder or a No, 1 pick. It’s important to me that people read about why something they’d seen in the past wasn’t happening anymore. A POPULAR NOTION IS THE IMPACT of Quebec on goaltending has diminished significantly. That’s not true, not at all. After all, almost a third of NHL teams – eight to be exact – employ Quebec-born goaltending coaches. The shocking, and blasphemous if you’re from La Belle Province, fact is that total represents double the number of goalies from Quebec who are actually playing in the NHL. Not including Martin Brodeur, who may or may not find NHL employment, the NHL’s Quebec goaltending fraternity could easily hold its meetings in…
MOTOR CITY MALADIES
THE DETROIT RED WINGS REALIZE any chance they have of moving up the ladder depends upon whether their 1-2 punch of Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg can still shoulder their usual load. Last season, Datsyuk (wonky knee) and Zetterberg (back surgery) each played in just 45 games for the Red Wings. That’s why the early returns are so disheartening. Datsyuk suffered a second-degree separation of his right shoulder in Detroit’s pre-season opener when he was hit by Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi. He’s expected to be out until November. Datsyuk, who hasn’t missed a season opener since joining the Wings in 2001, tried to downplay his latest ailment. “Everything can happen, but I don’t worry about some things,” Datsyuk said. “It’s hockey.” Zetterberg also spun the situation positively: “I’d rather have it…
MIND OVER LUMBER
WHEN YOU’RE a rookie goalie coming off a stick-swinging suspension and the GM giving you the “learn from your mistakes” lecture is named Ron Hextall, don’t you pay a little extra attention? After all, Hextall forever will be known as the “masked madman” who chopped down Edmonton’s Kent Nilsson in the 1987 Stanley Cup final, even though it was the Oilers’ Glenn Anderson who started the disturbing incident. Hextall was suspended the first eight games of the following season, and 26 years later he still cracks a rueful smile about the whole thing, especially when an interviewer asks if perhaps he’s the most (or least) qualified man on the planet to give advice about such matters to rookie Anthony Stolarz. Stolarz had some lumber problems of his own last season. Playing for…
PACIORETTY GOES ON THE OFFENSIVE
MAX PACIORETTY ARRIVED AT AN opening in the slot at the same time as a precision pass from David Desharnais. The goaltender had no chance as Pacioretty found the far top corner with a wrist shot. It was only an intra-squad scrimmage, but coach Michel Therrien was smiling as he reviewed the play. “The Desharnais line has been our best line so far,” he said. “We’re expecting big things from them this season.” Pacioretty also has high expectations after scoring 39 goals last season – the fourth highest total in the NHL and the best for a Canadien since Vincent Damphousse scored 40 in 1993-94 – but he isn’t focused on numbers. “I don’t want to say I’m looking at 40 goals or 50 goals,” Pacioretty said. “Last year, I started expanding…
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