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.

April 11, 2006

The Hockey News - Apr-11-06

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DEPARTMENTS

hockeysockpuppettheatre

<div class="byline">By PHILIP COLVIN</div><p class="dropcap"><span>A</span>fter legendary Michigan State coach <b>Ron Mason</b> retired at the end of 2001-02 to become the Spartans director of athletics, the first thing he did was hire another legend to replace him. Mason, the winningest coach in college hockey history with 924 victories in 36 seasons, tabbed <b>Rick Comley</b>, himself fifth on the list with 688 wins in 32 seasons, to take over. Michigan State missed the NCAA tournament last year, but rebounded this season to win the CCHA&rsquo;s Mason Cup playoff title with a 2-1 win over Miami. The Spartans advanced to the East Region final, before losing 5-4 to Maine March 25. Even after enduring three decades worth of pressure behind the bench, Comley, 58, can&rsquo;t imagine doing anything else. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s never been a grind,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Even the days I don&rsquo;t need to go to the rink, I still go. There&rsquo;s no greater thrill than walking into an arena. The excitement of games, the players &ndash; some of which drive you crazy and some which bring you great reward. Every day is a new challenge. The only tough day is the day you&rsquo;ve played your last game of the year. Then I can hardly wait to get going again. So I hope to do it a long while yet.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-04471/8835240-1-eng-US/f0037-042.jpg" title="f0037-04" width="205" height="77"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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Comley continues to enjoy time behind MSU bench

<div class="byline">&#x2013; ELLIOTT PAP</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> There has been a changing of the guard in Vancouver this season, with Henrik Sedin emerging as the team&rsquo;s top center, top playmaker, top plus-minus forward and a vital member of both special teams. Pivoting a line with brother Daniel and Anson Carter, Henrik has been the glue on the Canucks&rsquo; most productive unit this season.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-08187/8834397-1-eng-US/f0030-082.jpg" title="f0030-08" width="144" height="202"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> With long-term injuries to both Ed Jovanovski and Sami Salo, Mattias Ohlund gets the nod virtually by default. The big Swede logs the most ice time, plays in all situations and is usually partnered with the team&rsquo;s least experienced D-men to help bring them along.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> In addition to his career-best offensive numbers, Henrik Sedin has also emerged as a top penalty-killer and a much-improved faceoff man. He often plays against the opposition&rsquo;s top line because of his ability to read breakouts and pick off passes.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

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Henrik takes charge of new first unit

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Depth Charts

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-012041/8832275-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>Sidewalk Slam</b></p><p>Calgary tough guy Chris Simon slams Kings enforcer George Parros during a first period bout in a 2-1 Flames win at the Saddledome.</p><span class="photo-credit">(COVER: JAGR: BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES; KIPRUSOFF: DALE MACMILLAN/GETTY IMAGES; THORNTON: NOAH GRAHAM/GETTY IMAGES; CONTENTS: BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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IN THIS ISSUE

Opening Faceoff

<div class="byline">Jason Kay</div><p><b>S</b>ome of history&rsquo;s greatest discoveries happened by accident. Penicillin. X-Rays. Viagra. Potato chips. (Mmmmm, potato chips).</p><p>Hockey enthusiasts may want to add the decline of fighting to the list. Notice we said &ldquo;decline&rdquo; and not &ldquo;eradication&rdquo;; there&rsquo;s a significant difference. More on that later.</p><p>Of all the benefits the new NHL was supposed to deliver, fewer fisticuffs wasn&rsquo;t one of them. But by opening up the game, a natural correction has taken place on the meathead market. More than ever, players have to be able to play or they&rsquo;re not going to see the ice.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-012009/8832320-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="340" height="498"></div><p>The serendipitous by-product has been a 40 percent decrease in punch-ups. Through late March, there had been 0.76 fighting majors per game compared to 1.27 in 2003-04. (Remember, it takes two fighting majors to equal one fight. Most of the time.)</p><p>If you&rsquo;re fan of on-ice pugilism, don&rsquo;t fret. The chances of it being completely eliminated anytime soon are about the same as the Blues winning the Cup this year. It will only disappear if it&rsquo;s legislated out of competition. Every survey The Hockey News has ever done on the subject has shown the majority of the people in the game believe fighting belongs. It&rsquo;s not a hot-button issue.</p><p>Our magazine&rsquo;s official position reflects the consensus &ndash; we&rsquo;re tolerant. We understand the appeal it has for some and are prepared to continue accepting it.</p><p>That said, there is one aspect of brawling that remains thorny: injuries. While some conjecture that fighting, and the specter of it, is a deterrent for stickwork, cheap shots and the accompanying potential injuries, there is real proof that striking an opponent in the head with your bare fists forces players out of lineups.</p><p>So far this season, core players such as Zdeno Chara (Ottawa), Barret Jackman (St. Louis), Brad May (Colorado) and Jason Allison (Toronto) have spent time on the sidelines after getting hurt in fights. Ditto for several other less prominent players, such as Ryan Flynn (L.A.), Travis Moen (Anaheim) and Andre Roy (Pittsburgh). If I&rsquo;m a fan of the Sens and my team&rsquo;s chances are jeopardized because one of the best defensemen in the league can&rsquo;t play due to a fighting-related injury, I&rsquo;m bitter. NHL hockey is still extremely physical and there are enough ways to get hurt &ndash; brawling needn&rsquo;t be one of them.</p><p>The problem is, fighting is deeply embedded in the code; it&rsquo;s part of the culture of the game. So if you&rsquo;re Jarome Iginla and Vinny Lecavalier and you&rsquo;re at the end of your emotional tethers, dropping the gloves is a viable option for release, even if it is Game 6 of the 2004 Stanley Cup final. Your team may be without you for five minutes, but the opponent is losing a key player for the same stretch, too.</p><p>But what if your team loses you to sick bay for the remainder of the game and the series because you decided to throw punches? Or you lose your effectiveness due to a hand injury you haven&rsquo;t disclosed?</p><p>Because stiffer deterrents aren&rsquo;t on anyone&rsquo;s agenda, it has to be about changing a mindset and exercising discipline. We aren&rsquo;t holding our breath.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-021689/8832313-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="459" height="246"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-031380/8832306-1-eng-US/f0004-032.jpg" title="f0004-03" width="929" height="1420"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Rick DiPietro</b> <span class="photo-credit">(ANDY MARLIN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>IN THE NEWSROOM</b></h2><p><b>WHAT WE CAN&rsquo;T STOP TALKING ABOUT THIS WEEK</b></p><p><b>Who do you love?</b></p><p>Sports journalism has an inherent paradox. Reporters are trained to be neutral, yet we&rsquo;re all fans who grew up passionate about the teams we followed. Because The Hockey News offices are in Toronto, some assume we have a Maple Leafs bias. That&rsquo;s not the case. While we&rsquo;re surrounded by wall-to-wall coverage of the Leafs due to a rabid local media, NHL team allegiances among the staff vary. The Islanders, Blackhawks, Flames, Lightning, Senators, Canadiens and Sharks are among the clubs different editors and writers root for when not in work mode. There are a couple &ldquo;Toronto guys&rdquo;&hellip;and one former Leaf lover who has been turned off by years of mismanagement. &ldquo;I used to love them as a kid,&rdquo; said the staffer. &ldquo;Now I want them to lose until they smarten up.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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Pains and gains

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-012015/8832389-1-eng-US/f0005-012.jpg" title="f0005-01" width="608" height="598"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Mario Lemieux</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>IT&rsquo;S THE PITTS</b></h2><h3><b>PENS MIGHTIER THAN NOTHING</b></h3><p class="dropcap"><span>A</span>m I the only one who sees something other than just a bad team being iced in the past due to many excuses put forth by Pittsburgh management? Or is this just another way of Pittsburgh saying it can&rsquo;t finish any higher due to lack of talent? This from the same team that &ldquo;didn&rsquo;t tank the season,&rdquo; in order to draft Mario Lemieux first? How many more years can Pittsburgh keep pulling this scam?</p><p>How many more years will Pittsburgh draft in the top 1-3 positions before it has enough talent to finish out of the high first round picks?</p><p>I must admit, if Pittsburgh is anything, it is shrewd. Just wait until they move to another city and wind up being a powerhouse.</p><p>Again, just a thought, but things do look &lsquo;fishy&rsquo; to me in Pittsburgh.</p><p><b>Fred Bartsch, Lynbrook, N.Y.</b></p><h3><b>PEGGED FOR NEW HOME</b></h3><p>I find it sad Pittsburgh still has the Penguins. After years of being at the bottom of the standings with an old building that has had an in-game power failure (twice), the team should head to a more hockey appreciative city.</p><p>So why not give Winnipeg the Jets back? We do not need any more hockey teams in an already crowded area or even in the South for that matter. Winnipeg deserves a team and why not the one that is losing and struggling to stay alive?</p><p><b>Keith Mitchell, Winnipeg</b></p><h2><b>STATS ALL, FOLKS</b></h2><h3><b>INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR</b></h3><p>My favorite day of the week is Tuesday. I get home from work and my wife says The Hockey News came. I read it during breakfast, when I am on lunch at work and usually just before bed. I am a huge stats guy, so of course my favorite issue is always the stats spectacular.</p><p>Currently, every issue includes NHL stats and profiles on other leagues, like the AHL, ECHL, CHL the &lsquo;O,&rsquo; the &lsquo;Q,&rsquo; and the WHL. You always have the standings in the back and usually the top five scorers in each league, respectively.</p><p>My wish would be to have all the leagues&rsquo; stats issued at least once per month. Right now I have to log onto the Internet all the time to follow all the other league stats as they are only covered every few months or so. I would also, once in a while, like to see how guys are doing in Europe. Anyway, love The Hockey News either way. I will always be a subscriber. Keep up the great work.</p><p><b>Jason Johnston, Toronto</b></p><h2><b>GET THE POINT</b></h2><h3><b>NOT HALF BAD</b></h3><p>The NHL needs to adjust its regular season point-scoring system. Handing out a total of three points to two teams in games that go beyond regulation skews the standings. Teams that don&rsquo;t participate in as many overtime or shootout games will find the playoff race that much more difficult with all of these &ldquo;extra points&rdquo; being thrown around.</p><p>The simple solution is to award a constant two points per game. If a game is tied after regulation, each team should be given half a point. The overtime or shootout winner would then be awarded with the one additional point for a total of 1.5 points for the game.</p><p>I don&rsquo;t think there is any problem with having half points in the standings.  This system also better rewards teams for winning in regulation.</p><p><b>David Lee-Son, Vancouver</b></p><h3>CUT OUT &lsquo;LOSER POINT&rsquo;</h3><p>Why on earth is the NHL rewarding teams with a point for losing in OT or in the shootout?</p><p>The &lsquo;loser point&rsquo; has distorted the standings. As of March 27, the last two playoffs spots in the West belonged to Edmonton (84) and San Jose (82), with Vancouver (82) and Los Angeles (81) sitting in ninth and 10th place.</p><p>Without the &lsquo;loser point,&rsquo; Vancouver and L.A. would be in seventh and eighth place with 76 points a piece, while the Oilers and Sharks would be on the outside looking in with 72 points each.</p><p>Jumping to the East, the clear beneficiary of the &lsquo;loser point&rsquo; is the Rangers, who would drop from a very comfortable 90 points, to fighting for their playoff lives at 78 points. Lose the &lsquo;loser point.&rsquo;</p><p><b>Eric Macramalla, Ottawa</b></p><h2><b>GOT SOMETHING TO SAY?</b></h2><p><b>CANADA</b> Letters, The Hockey News, 25 Sheppard Avenue West, Suite 100, Toronto, Ont., M2N 6S7</p><p><b>USA</b> Letters, The Hockey News, P.O. Box 904, Buffalo, N.Y., 14240-9947</p><p><b>E-MAIL</b> <a href="mailto:letters@thehockeynews.com">letters@thehockeynews.com</a></p><p><b>WEB</b> <a href="http://www.thehockeynews.com">www.thehockeynews.com</a></p><p>Include your name, hometown, & province/state. Submissions will be edited.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-021446/8832382-1-eng-US/f0005-022.jpg" title="f0005-02" width="508" height="776"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Bobby Hull</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>LETTER OF THE WEEK</b></h2><h3><b>Bobby Hull&rsquo;s nightmare</b></h3><p>Since the chances of the shooter receiving a head injury during the shootout are next to nil, I suggest the NHL give them the option of not wearing helmets.</p><p>Firstly, this will bring a little more personality back into the game. It will give the players something to do (comb their hair) while their sticks are being measured, and also it will give traditionalists the illusion of old-time hockey.</p><p>I suggest making it an option because some of the players who don't have as much hair as they once had may not want to be shooters. It might lead to more Jose Theodore situations.</p><p><b>Ray Couture, Tustin, Calif.</b></p><h2><b>POLL RESULTS</b></h2><p><b><a href="http://TheHockeyNews.com">thehockeynews.com</a></b></p><p><b>Who is the leading candidate for the Selke Trophy?</b></p><p>Rod Brind&rsquo;Amour <b>43%</b></p><p>Jere Lehtinen <b>20%</b></p><p>Mike Fisher <b>12%</b></p><p> Kris Draper <b>11%</b></p><p>Steve Rucchin <b>7%</b></p><p>Wes Walz <b>4%</b></p><p> Martin Gelinas <b>3%</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-03942/8832375-1-eng-US/f0005-032.jpg" title="f0005-03" width="502" height="368"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Rod Brind&rsquo;Amour</b><span class="photo-credit">(LEMIEUX & HULL: BBS/GETTY IMAGES; BRIND&rsquo;AMOUR: LEN REDKOLES/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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Letters

<div class="byline">&#x2013; DAN WOOD</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0006-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-021471/8832434-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(MCDONALD: DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>I</span></b>f not for a crushing, open-ice hit from then-Colorado defenseman Adam Foote in January of 2003, Anaheim center Andy McDonald might have become well known around the NHL long before now.</p><p>Instead, the concussion that forced McDonald to miss the 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs &ndash; when the Ducks advanced to Game 7 of the final before losing to New Jersey &ndash; halted what had been shaping up as a breakout season. It also set back his career significantly.</p><p>But after returning to play 79 games for Anaheim in 2003-04 and suiting up in Germany during the lockout, McDonald has come into his own in &rsquo;05-06.</p><p>Thrust into the role as the Ducks No. 1 center after the November trade of Sergei Fedorov, McDonald has combined with right winger Teemu Selanne to provide a 1-2 scoring punch not seen in Anaheim since the heyday of Selanne and former Ducks left winger Paul Kariya in the late 1990s. With 28 goals and 68 points through 71 games, McDonald has set a new team scoring record for a center, passing Steve Rucchin&rsquo;s 67 points in 1996-97.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-012232/8832441-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="224" height="256"></div><p>&ldquo;Andy reminds you of Paul Kariya a little bit, the way he plays,&rdquo; said goalie J-S Giguere. &ldquo;He is the hardest-working guy on this team. He&rsquo;s always the first one on the ice, the last one off&hellip;He definitely deserves what&rsquo;s happening to him.&rdquo;</p><p>A 5-foot-11, 186-pound native of Strathroy, Ont., McDonald signed a free agent contract with the Ducks in 2000 after a starry four-year U.S. college career at Colgate. He is one of many lower-profile players who have helped Anaheim post a 29-10-8 record since late November, second only to first-place Detroit in the Western Conference.</p><p>With blazing speed, outstanding playmaking skills and an underrated goal-scoring knack, McDonald has been a perfect complement to Selanne, who is rejuvenated after 2004 knee surgery. Together, they typify the quick-skating, forechecking team the Ducks have become under coach Randy Carlyle.</p><p>Perhaps no one in Anaheim wants to see the Ducks return to the playoffs more than McDonald, who could only watch the Cinderella run three years ago, with a still-cloudy head at that.</p><p>&ldquo;That first half of (2002-03), things were going well for me, until that injury,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It took me a while to get back to where I was, not only physically, but mentally as well. When you have that type of injury, it kind of messes with you a little bit.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m feeling good, but I try not to analyze it too much. I&rsquo;ll do that in the summer. Right now, it&rsquo;s just helping the team get in the playoffs.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>47 WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS</b></h2><p>Man-games lost to injury by Tampa Bay up to March 26. Then, key defensemen Dan Boyle, Pavel Kubina and Darryl Sydor all got hurt.</p><h2><b>100 CENTURY MARK</b></h2><p>Points for Carolina after a 2-1 win over Tampa March 27. It marks the first time in franchise history the team reached triple-digits.</p><h2><b>424 OLD DOG&rsquo;S NEW TRICK</b></h2><p>Wins for Phoenix goaltender Curtis Joseph, courtesy of a 5-3 decision over Nashville March 28. Cujo passed Tony Esposito for sixth all-time.</p><h2><b>WING SHOT</b></h2><p>From the department of significant stats, Detroit had outshot opponents a league-high 57 times through its first 71 games, led by 245 shots from quick-shooting veteran <b>Brendan Shanahan</b>.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-03861/8832427-1-eng-US/f0006-032.jpg" title="f0006-03" width="675" height="603"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(SHANAHAN: JEFF VINNICK/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>STUMPEL HOT</b></h2><p>The Florida Panthers&rsquo; desperate 10-1-0 run for an unlikely playoff spot was being fuelled in part by hot play from center Jozef Stumpel, who posted 22 points in 16 games after the Olympic break.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-04531/8832420-1-eng-US/f0006-042.jpg" title="f0006-04" width="485" height="458"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(PECA: BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>PECA NOT</b></h2><p>If <b>Mike Peca</b> had played up to his potential this year, Edmonton probably wouldn&rsquo;t be scrapping for a final playoff spot. Nine shots over nine pointless games down the stretch doesn&rsquo;t cut it.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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Return to form

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0008-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-021587/8832486-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>TIDES TURNING?</b></p><p><b>Prior to 2005-06, the Devils had scored more goals than they allowed for 15 straight seasons. They were minus-6 this year with 10 games remaining.</b></p></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-012122/8832493-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="95" height="106"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-031115/8832479-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg" title="f0008-03" width="183" height="155"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>R</span>aise a glass for <b>Warren Strelow</b>, the San Jose Sharks goalie coach who has been recovering from serious health issues at his home near Minneapolis. Strelow made it out to two practices when the Sharks were in town March 25 to play the Wild. It was the first time he had seen his goalies on the ice since the spring of 2003.</p><p>When Minnesota decided to trade goalie <b>Dwayne Roloson</b>, it had no qualms about sending him to Edmonton for a first round draft pick, even though the Wild was in a playoff race and had three games left against the Oilers. What happened? The Wild beat Edmonton all three times with Roloson between the pipes. Good move, <b>Doug Risebrough</b>.</p><p>Eye-opener of the week: Carolina&rsquo;s <b>Rod Brind&rsquo;Amour</b> has taken (1,872) &ndash; and won (1,126) &ndash; about 300 more faceoffs than anyone in the NHL. He&rsquo;s the trigger man on 44 per cent of all Hurricane draws; next closest is <b>Joe Thornton</b>, who takes nearly 37 per cent of San Jose&rsquo;s faceoffs.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-04600/8832472-1-eng-US/f0008-042.jpg" title="f0008-04" width="765" height="979"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Dwayne Roloson</b> <span class="photo-credit">(ROLOSON: BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>An East St. Louis, Ill., court denied <b>Mike Danton&rsquo;s</b> request to be transferred to a Canadian prison to serve out the rest of his his seven-and-a-half-year sentence. Danton&rsquo;s lawyer is reportedly planning an appeal. The best part of a continuing sad story: No comment yet from <b>David Frost</b>.</p><p><b>Chris Chelios</b> told the Toronto <i>Sun</i> that &ldquo;14 teams&rdquo; want NHLPA head <b>Ted Saskin</b> to resign. How does he know this? Has a vote been taken? Since when do &ldquo;teams&rdquo; make this kind of decision instead of players?<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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SNAPSHOTS from around the NHL

<div class="byline">&#x2013; RYAN DIXON</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0008-05" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-05421/8832524-1-eng-US/f0008-052.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>Maurice Richard</b></p><p><b>Emile Bouchard</b></p> <span class="photo-credit">(RICHARD: ROGER ST. JEAN/COURTESY OF EMILE BOUCHARD)</span></figcaption></div><p>For all his on-ice accomplishments, it&rsquo;s possible hockey fans never got to see the best side of Maurice &lsquo;Rocket&rsquo; Richard.</p><p>Some say the best side only came out when the Rocket, who passed way in the spring of 2000, was miles away from the Forum doing what he loved most &ndash; casting his fishing line into Quebec&rsquo;s many lakes and rivers.</p><p>Richard&rsquo;s legendary intensity fuelled his Hall of Fame career, but having a job that served to accentuate his darker characteristics meant he came to rely on some form of reprieve.</p><p>&ldquo;His insecurity, his bad temper and his extreme competitiveness, all those things made him a great hockey player, but were character flaws,&rdquo; said Charlie Wilkins, author of an article set to appear in the May issue of <i>Outdoor Canada</i> which focuses on Richard&rsquo;s lifelong love affair with fishing. &ldquo;Fishing brought out another side. A sunnier, more moderate and loving side of his personality.&rdquo;</p><p>Wilkins first met Richard while writing a book in 1989 called After the Applause, which explored the lives of athletes in their post-playing career days.</p><p>Richard, shoved into retirement by Canadiens GM Frank Selke in 1960, made his living for 25 years by running a company called General Fishing Lines, which he purchased in 1966. It wasn&rsquo;t until being offered a public relations job by then-Habs president Ronald Corey in the early 1980s that Richard returned to the Canadiens&rsquo; fold.</p><p>Speaking with Richard&rsquo;s former teammates and fishing buddies like Emile &lsquo;Butch&rsquo; Bouchard, Elmer Lach and Ken Mosdell (who passed away in January), Wilkins learned that on the rare occasion Richard felt compelled to talk during fishing trips, the conversation rarely centered around hockey. There was good reason for that.</p><p>&ldquo;His brooding, reflective nature, I think, was sort of corroborated by the silence and remoteness of fishing and getting out into nature,&rdquo; Wilkins said. &ldquo;I also think it was, in basic terms, an escape hatch.</p><p>&ldquo;As much as he enjoyed his celebrity status in Montreal, he grew impatient with the demands of being famous.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0008-05

Rocket’s hobby eased glare

<p><b><a href="http://TheHockeyNews.com">thehockeynews.com</a></b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-06334/8832555-1-eng-US/f0008-062.jpg" title="f0008-06" width="560" height="583"></div><p><b>JASON PARKS, FROM COLUMBUS, ASKS What&rsquo;s the best save you ever made?</b></p><p>&ldquo;Against Mario Lemieux in Pittsburgh. We lost 2-1. Someone took a shot from the corner and I had my paddle down, and it came to Mario. It&rsquo;s one of the only times I've gone backwards and it caught the back of my glove, and even Mario had his arms up.&rdquo;</p><p><b>BENJI NOON, FROM TURTLEFORD, SASK., ASKS If you could face any three players of all time in a shootout, who would they be?</b></p><p>&ldquo;Mario would be one. Wayne Gretzky, and my uncle (Wild coach Jacques Lemaire).&rdquo;</p><p><b>JAMIE WILLIS, FROM SEATTLE, WASH., ASKS Does the trade deadline affect guys in the dressing room?</b></p><p>&ldquo;A lot of guys are focused on the game, but everybody understands that everybody can be traded and it&rsquo;s part of the job. We're all ready mentally for something like that to happen.&rdquo;</p><p><b>BLAKE MOORE, FROM SIOUX LOOK-OUT, ONT., ASKS How safe do you think having all those 5-on-3s is this year for a goalie?</b></p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s been challenging. If you can get away with it, that becomes really big in a game. Just recently we've tried them in practice to get ready for them. Those are tough, because you get a couple shots, a couple of rebounds and you're done.&rdquo;</p><p><b>VISIT <a href="http://TheHockeyNews.com">thehockeynews.com</a> TO ASK YOUR QUESTIONS OF NHL STARS!</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0008-06

FAN SHOOTOUT WITH Manny Fernandez

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0009-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-011925/8832593-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Legendary Igor Larionov might be the next head of Russian hockey.</figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-15110/8832600-1-eng-US/f0009-152.jpg" title="f0009-15" width="95" height="106"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>RUSSIANS TO REPLACE DEPOSED STEBLIN</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>gor Larionov and Vladislav Tretiak are among the names mentioned as possible successors to Alexander Steblin as head of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation. Steblin, a former KGB employee, resigned his post March 24 under heavy pressure from a variety of sources. A new president will be named April 25. In January, Steblin, who also was president of the Russian Professional League, was fired from that job following an embarrassing incident at the European Cup tournament in St. Petersburg, where he reportedly was drunk, punched a reporter and insulted International Ice Hockey Federation president Rene Fasel. Steblin later claimed his violent behavior resulted from someone putting drugs in his drink. While Steblin was president, Russia refused to sign a new agreement with the NHL for compensation of players signed. At present, NHL teams who have drafted Russian players must deal directly with the Russian teams those players are with. But many NHL teams now hesitate before drafting Russian players. Fetisov, who has been calling for Steblin&rsquo;s resignation for two years, welcomed the news, saying it will result in much-needed new blood being injected into the Russian system.</p><h2><b>GOLDEN BEARS ROAR AGAIN</b></h2><p>It&rsquo;s back-to-back Bear triumphs. The Alberta Golden Bears successfully defended their University Cup crown, claiming a second straight national title with a 3-2 win over Thunder Bay&rsquo;s (Ont.) Lakehead Thunderwolves on home ice in Edmonton March 26. Freshman left winger Dylan Stanley scored the winner for Alberta, while teammate Harlan Anderson claimed MVP honors. The championship marks Alberta&rsquo;s 12th title, the most by any Canadian university.</p><h2><b>BAUER CLAIMS KAZMAIER</b></h2><p>With a hockey name like Bauer, it&rsquo;s no wonder she can play the game. Wisconsin junior forward Sara Bauer took home the 2006 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as the best female player in NCAA Div. I hockey. Bauer edged out fellow forward Sabrina Harbec, a sophomore from St. Lawrence University, and Swiss goalie Riitta Schaublin from Minnesota-Duluth.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-021327/8832586-1-eng-US/f0009-022.jpg" title="f0009-02" width="238" height="321"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Billy Bridges</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>SLEDGE HOCKEY GOLD FOR CANADA</b></h2><p>Canada&rsquo;s sledge hockey team beat Norway 3-0 in the final of the 2006 Paralympic Games for Canada&rsquo;s first-ever gold medal in the event. The defending gold medalist Americans won bronze. Paul Rosen, who has his right leg amputated below the knee in 1999 because of an infection, was brilliant in net for the Canadians, stopping 18 shots. Billy Bridges, who is living with the effects of spina bifida which limits his mobility, scored a tournament-leading 11 goals and finished with a Games-best 17 points.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0009-01

HOCKEY WORLD IN BRIEF

<div class="byline">&#x2013; NANCY MARRAPESE-BURRELL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-04616/8832631-1-eng-US/f0009-042.jpg" title="f0009-04" width="346" height="502"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Boston Bruins&rsquo; troubles began prior to the lockout when they gambled the post-lockout world would be a buyer&rsquo;s market. It turned out to be a seller&rsquo;s market instead and Boston was caught short.</p><p>Those miscalculations wound up costing GM Mike O&rsquo;Connell his job. He was fired March 25 and assistant GM Jeff Gorton was installed as the interim GM.</p><p>Both O&rsquo;Connell and president Harry Sinden said their business plan coming out of the work stoppage was flawed. But owner Jeremy Jacobs didn&rsquo;t buy it, saying the front office should have done a better job of signing players under the new salary cap.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-03810/8832638-1-eng-US/f0009-032.jpg" title="f0009-03" width="236" height="362"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Mike O&rsquo;Connell</b></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;No one had a cleaner platter to build the team they wanted,&rdquo; said Jacobs to the Boston <i>Globe</i>. &ldquo;A lot of performances (of the players signed) fell far short of what was expected of them. So I don&rsquo;t share that belief.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><p>Because they allowed so many free agents to walk away after the 2003-04 season, O&rsquo;Connell was charged with putting together a full roster in a short amount of time, and it never jelled.</p><p>&ldquo;Prior to the Olympic break, it appeared that we had a chance to get back in the playoff hunt,&rdquo; Sinden said. &ldquo;And when we fell out of it very substantially in the last 10 days, we went back to our original thinking in that we&rsquo;d probably have to make some changes.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><p>Sinden acknowledged the team&rsquo;s troubles extend far beyond O&rsquo;Connell. &ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t expect to start the season with three signed players and really not have an opportunity to select a team from a group of players that we thought we would have available to us,&rsquo;&rsquo; Sinden said.</p><p>Gorton is a strong candidate to fill the GM position permanently. Names rumored to be in the mix are Dean Lombardi, Steve Tambellini, Jim Nill and John Weisbrod.</p><h2><b>QUOTE <i>of the</i> WEEK</b></h2><blockquote class="pullQuote">&ldquo;Two straws and a milkshake. Nice and romantic, me and the Boogeyman.&rdquo;<br>&ndash; Wild blueliner <b>Brent Burns</b>, on his post-game routine with enforcer Derek Boogaard</blockquote><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0009-04

Flawed game plan O’Connell’s demise

<p><b>THIS WEEK WE ASKED OURSELVES</b></p><p>Which NHL award winners didn&rsquo;t have staying power?</p><h2><b>10 TEN</b></h2><p><b>Andrew Raycroft</b> Top NHL rookie in 2004 battling injuries, inconsistency coming off lockout year.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-05461/8832732-1-eng-US/f0009-052.jpg" title="f0009-05" width="184" height="208"></div><h2><b>9 NINE</b></h2><p><b>Bill Barber</b> Lasted just one more season in Philly after winning coach-of-the-year honors in 2001.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-06387/8832725-1-eng-US/f0009-062.jpg" title="f0009-06" width="183" height="208"></div><h2><b>8 EIGHT</b></h2><p><b>Roman Turek</b> Won Jennings in 2000, career nosedived after signing lucrative contract.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-07335/8832718-1-eng-US/f0009-072.jpg" title="f0009-07" width="183" height="208"></div><h2><b>7 SEVEN</b></h2><p><b>Milan Hejduk</b> &lsquo;Rocket&rsquo; Richard winner with 50 goals in 2002-03, 56 goals in two NHL years since.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-08304/8832711-1-eng-US/f0009-082.jpg" title="f0009-08" width="183" height="208"></div><h2><b>6 SIX</b></h2><p><b>Jack Gelineau</b> Top rookie in 1950, led goalies with 70 games the next year&hellip;then played senior hockey.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-09288/8832704-1-eng-US/f0009-092.jpg" title="f0009-09" width="182" height="204"></div><h2><b>5 FIVE</b></h2><p><b>Roman Cechmanek</b> Jennings winner in 2003 with Philly had trouble stopping beachballs in L.A.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-10265/8832697-1-eng-US/f0009-102.jpg" title="f0009-10" width="183" height="207"></div><h2><b>4 FOUR</b></h2><p><b>Orval Tessier</b> Top coach in 1983 lost credibility when he told his Blackhawks they had no heart.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-11231/8832690-1-eng-US/f0009-112.jpg" title="f0009-11" width="159" height="207"></div><h2><b>3 THREE</b></h2><p><b>John Quilty</b> Top rookie in &lsquo;41 played two seasons before military service robbed him of his prime.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-12191/8832683-1-eng-US/f0009-122.jpg" title="f0009-12" width="173" height="208"></div><h2><b>2 TWO</b></h2><p><b>Jim Carey</b> Runner-up for Calder in &lsquo;95, won Vezina in 1996 and then played just 73 more games.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-13171/8832676-1-eng-US/f0009-132.jpg" title="f0009-13" width="183" height="207"></div><h2><b>1 ONE</b></h2><p><b>Ted Nolan</b> From top coach in &lsquo;97 to out of work in a month. Poster boy for conspiracy theorists.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-14141/8832669-1-eng-US/f0009-142.jpg" title="f0009-14" width="179" height="208"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(LARIONVOV: TATYANA MAKEYEVA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0009-05

COUNTDOWN

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0011-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-011835/8832784-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-04673/8832777-1-eng-US/f0011-042.jpg" title="f0011-04" width="95" height="106"></div><p><b>FOR COMPLETE RESULTS VISIT <a href="http://TheHockeyNews.com">thehockeynews.com</a></b></p><p><b>WE ASKED 30 NHL PLAYERS</b></p><p>Q Who is the best defenseman in the NHL this season?</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>TOP VOTE GETTERS</b></h2><p><b>NICKLAS LIDSTROM 43.3%</b></p><p><b>ZDENO CHARA 33.3%</b></p><p><b>LUBOMIR VISNOVSKY 6.7%</b></p><p><b>FIVE PLAYERS 3.3%</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-021321/8832770-1-eng-US/f0011-022.jpg" title="f0011-02" width="521" height="454"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Zdeno Chara</b></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-03884/8832763-1-eng-US/f0011-032.jpg" title="f0011-03" width="1347" height="1172"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(LIDSTROM: RONALD MARTINEZ/GETTY IMAGES; CHARA: DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGESQ)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>NICKLAS LIDSTROM 43.3%</b></p><p>If the opinions of NHL players are any indication, the battle for the Norris Trophy as top defenseman is shaping up as a two-man race.</p><p>In a poll of 30 players, one from each team, Detroit Red Wings blueliner Nicklas Lidstrom was the most popular selection, named 13 times.</p><p>Towering Ottawa Senators rearguard Zdeno Chara, with 10 votes, was the only other player even close.</p><p>Lubomir Visnovsky of the Los Angeles Kings received two votes in recognition of his outstanding season, while Chris Chelios (Detroit), Scott Niedermayer (Anaheim), Wade Redden (Ottawa), Mathieu Schneider (Detroit) and Sergei Zubov (Dallas) received one vote each.</p><p>Players were not allowed to select a defenseman on their own team.</p><p>Whenever Lidstrom&rsquo;s name came up, the word &ldquo;consistent,&rdquo; or some similar sentiment, was never far behind. Lidstrom won three straight Norris trophies from 2001 through 2003 and is having an outstanding post-lockout year after a sub-par 2003-04.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s complete, good on the power play,&rdquo; said Montreal&rsquo;s Mike Ribeiro. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s been like that ever since I remember.&rdquo;</p><p>Chara&rsquo;s 6-foot-9 frame poses obvious challenges for opposing forwards, but it&rsquo;s how he uses it that impresses Buffalo&rsquo;s J-P Dumont.</p><p>&ldquo;You have to figure out a different game plan to play around him,&rdquo; Dumont said. &ldquo;I don't know how you can be that big and that mobile, and he&rsquo;s pretty good with the puck. He makes you pay the price, too.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0011-01

Player Poll

<p class="dropcap"><b><span>S</span></b>trong decision-making is supposed  to be one of the many strengths of University of Michigan defenseman Jack Johnson. It&rsquo;s safe to say a lot of hockey people are waiting with raised eyebrows to see how this one turns out.</p><p>Presented with a chance to step directly out of college hockey and into the lineup of one of the top contenders for the Stanley Cup, Johnson took a pass.</p><p>Through his family advisor, Pat Brisson, the third overall pick in the 2005 draft declined contract overtures from Carolina GM Jim Rutherford, in effect saying &ldquo;no thanks&rdquo; to the kind of opportunity most young players dream of.</p><p>Johnson&rsquo;s reasons are still unclear. There is no indication the decision had anything to do with money.</p><p>&ldquo;He felt personally that he wanted to wait a little longer, perhaps this summer or even play another year at Michigan,&rdquo; Brisson said. &ldquo;He hasn&rsquo;t made his mind. He wanted to make sure he&rsquo;s completely ready to make the jump and I don&rsquo;t blame him.&rdquo;</p><p>Perhaps not, but it&rsquo;s hard to think of a player of Johnson&rsquo;s stature who has ever made a similar decision. It would be one thing if the suitor NHL team were a non-playoff club, or if the offer were to join an AHL team for the remainder of the season. Neither is the case. The Hurricanes had been pushing hard in recent weeks trying to convince Johnson to sign.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-012037/8832822-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg" title="f0012-01" width="344" height="366"></div><blockquote class="pullQuote"><b>Through his family advisor, Johnson in effect said &ldquo;no thanks&rdquo; to the kind of opportunity most young players dream of.</b></blockquote><p>&ldquo;I do not agree with his decision,&rdquo; Rutherford said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve always come from the world that when you get the opportunity to be in the NHL, tell me what time I have to be on the plane.&rdquo;</p><p>Rutherford said he would understand if Johnson wanted to stay at Michigan to get an education and graduate. &ldquo;If it&rsquo;s anything short of that, then I totally don&rsquo;t understand it.&rdquo;</p><p>A 19-year-old freshman, Johnson would likely need three more years to earn his degree. As for the player not being sure he&rsquo;s ready, Rutherford said: &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know if that&rsquo;s really for the player to decide if he&rsquo;s ready or not. I think that&rsquo;s for the team to decide&hellip; We&rsquo;re certainly not going to put him into a situation he&rsquo;s not ready for.&rdquo;</p><p>The Hurricanes&rsquo; plan was to insert him into NHL regular season games right away as a warm-up to possible playoff action. Rutherford believes he is strong and skilled enough to make the jump.</p><p>Johnson has a disability insurance policy through the NCAA, likely for several million dollars, so he wouldn&rsquo;t be putting his livelihood at risk by staying in school. Furthermore, we&rsquo;re not about to criticize any student-athlete for staying in school, even one as talented as this.</p><p>Still, opportunities to play for the Stanley Cup don&rsquo;t come around every day. Here&rsquo;s hoping this isn&rsquo;t one pass Johnson lives to regret.</p><h2><b>Elston</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-021594/8832815-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="1645" height="2210"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0012-01

Saying ‘no’ to Stanley

<div class="byline">SCOTT BURNSIDE </div><div class="byline">Guest Columnist</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0013-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-011841/8832867-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>Marian Hossa</b></p><p>Atlanta Thrashers</p></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-03947/8832874-1-eng-US/f0013-032.jpg" title="f0013-03" width="200" height="235"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>A</span></b>lmost lost in the aftermath of Dany Heatley&rsquo;s first return visit to Philips Arena in early January was a perhaps more significant event. It took place late in the Thrashers&rsquo; 8-3 win over the powerful Ottawa Senators.</p><p>At first it was hard to understand what the fans were chanting, in part because it was the first time they had given voice to such sentiment. But there it was. Again and again.</p><p>&ldquo;Hossa! Hossa! Hossa!&rdquo;</p><p>It would be stretching the limits of hyperbole to suggest that on that night, in that moment, this evolving Thrashers squad became Hossa&rsquo;s team. But it&rsquo;s fair to say that on that night, the past became the past for this hard-luck franchise, and the future became Hossa&rsquo;s to help forge.</p><p>When Hossa was traded to the Thrashers last August, hours after signing a three-year contract extension, the buzz out of Ottawa was that he didn&rsquo;t have the stuff to take the Senators where they felt they should have gone already &ndash; to the Stanley Cup final.</p><p>Fair? Not really. Hossa, after all, didn&rsquo;t allow two inexplicably soft goals in Game 7 against Toronto two years ago.</p><p>Still, many believed he had failed to follow up strong regular seasons in Ottawa with commensurate work in the playoffs. Never mind that has become a rite of spring for most Senators players.</p><p>When Heatley asked for and was granted a trade out of Atlanta, in large part because of the lingering memories of the Dan Snyder accident, the gap-toothed Canadian boy with the unruly hair was to Ottawa fans the perfect counterpoint to the understated Hossa.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-04784/8832860-1-eng-US/f0013-042.jpg" title="f0013-04" width="235" height="359"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Marian Hossa</b></figcaption></div><p>And Heatley did not disappoint. He recorded points in his first 22 games as a Senator, one point off Wayne Gretzky&rsquo;s mark for consecutive games with a point with a new team. Playing with Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson, Heatley has helped form one of the league&rsquo;s most prolific forward units for much of the season. With 11 games left on the schedule, Heatley had already matched his career-best of 89 points and the Sens looked primed to earn the top seed in the Eastern Conference.</p><p>Meanwhile, south of the Mason Dixon Line, the Thrashers struggled through the first half, forced by injury to use five goalies before the end of December.</p><p>When the team righted the ship and launched its first legitimate playoff challenge, Hossa&rsquo;s steady, determined play was a major factor.</p><p>Coach Bob Hartley says Hossa &ldquo;plays the book.&rdquo; That is, he understands all aspects of the game and can adapt to whatever the situation demands.</p><p>GM Don Waddell said he knew Hossa was a talent, but he continues to be amazed at Hossa&rsquo;s puck control and strength.</p><p>They don&rsquo;t keep stats for on penalties drawn, but if they did Hossa would surely be among the league leaders. His work at retrieving and then controlling the puck along the boards almost invariably leads to one of two outcomes: he either uses his quick shot or deft passing ability to create a scoring chance or is fouled by a defender.</p><p>As for the intangibles, Waddell said he didn&rsquo;t know what kind of character Hossa might bring to the dressing room. He knows now.</p><p>In a room dominated by Europeans, Hossa has become Atlanta&rsquo;s most important player.</p><p>There is no way to know what might have happened had Heatley stayed in Atlanta. There will be some who label the Hossa-for-Heatley trade a failure if the Thrashers don&rsquo;t make the playoffs. That would be short-sighted.</p><p>Among those who see him play regularly, there are many who believe Hossa is an elite player around whom a championship can be built.</p><p>It may not happen this year, but it&rsquo;s coming.</p><p><b>&ndash; Scott Burnside is a freelance hockey writer based in Atlanta</b></p><h2><b>SPRING STARS?</b></h2><p>Dany Heatley&rsquo;s goals-per-game average is superior, but no one in Atlanta will care if Marian Hossa delivers the Thrashers into the post-season.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-021293/8832853-1-eng-US/f0013-022.jpg" title="f0013-02" width="537" height="842"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(SCOTT CUNNINGHAM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0013-01

Atlanta’s fire man

<div class="byline">MARK BRENDER </div><div class="byline">Senior Writer</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0014-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-012011/8832905-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>JOLT OF JOE?</b></p><p><b>Here are records and point percentages for Boston and San Jose before and after his Nov. 30 trade to the Sharks.</b></p> <span class="photo-credit">(SPORTS ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-021520/8832912-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg" title="f0014-02" width="214" height="258"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>T</span></b>he San Jose Sharks&rsquo; late-March charter flight into Detroit was delayed taking off, so naturally Joe Thornton figured he&rsquo;d do something to assist. He strolled up to coach Ron Wilson and made his pitch.</p><p>&ldquo;Hey, coach,&rdquo; Thornton said, surely with that boyish gleam in his eye, &ldquo;I promise if we get in on time, I won&rsquo;t take the boys out tonight.&rdquo;</p><p>And to think, one of the criticisms of Thornton in Boston was that he never took charge of situations. The anti-Thornton brigade in Bruin country &ndash; a faction that did not exist in any significant measure inside the Bruins dressing room &ndash; said he was never able to carry the boys to where they all wanted to go.</p><p>In San Jose he&rsquo;s taking charge plenty. And he has the credit card bills to prove it.</p><p>&ldquo;Our group goes out to dinner a lot,&rdquo; says GM Doug Wilson, &ldquo;and it seems to often be on his nickel.&rdquo;</p><p>Thornton, he of the three-year, $20-million contract, doesn&rsquo;t deny it: &ldquo;Whoever makes the most has to pay the most, you know?&rdquo;</p><p>That&rsquo;s the kind of team-building swagger the NHL&rsquo;s runaway assist leader has brought to the Sharks, who were floundering before GM Wilson pulled off the trade of the season Nov. 30, acquiring him from Boston for Marco Sturm, Wayne Primeau and Brad Stuart. Nearly five months later, with Thornton in the running for the Hart Trophy as league MVP and a shoo-in to be named first-team all-star center, it seems just as ridiculous a trade as it did at the time.</p><p>The standings say both teams have benefitted from the deal (<i>see graphic</i>), although with a few weeks left in the season San Jose had gained 13 more points since the trade than the Bruins. More telling is that the Sharks are also in the thick of the playoff hunt. More telling still is that the GM who advocated letting Thornton get away, Boston&rsquo;s Mike O&rsquo;Connell, no longer has a job.</p><p>And if Doug Wilson had ever turned down a trade like this, no matter what shape the Sharks were in at the time, the same should have been said for him.</p><p>To his credit, the GM knew opportunities like this one don&rsquo;t come along often: If Thornton, with 106 points and a remarkable 81 assists through 70 games, manages to edge out Jaromir Jagr for the scoring title, it would be the first time in history that a player was traded during the season in which he captures the Art Ross.</p><p>Only now entering the prime of his career, Thornton gives the Sharks a one-two punch down the middle along with fellow 26-year-old Patrick Marleau that could well turn out to be the Sakic-Forsberg or Yzerman-Fedorov or Modano-Nieuwendyk of the NHL&rsquo;s open-ice generation.</p><p>Big and powerful, yet with the creative touch of a small-brush artist, Thornton has helped elevate Jonathan Cheechoo from promising second-liner to goal-scoring phenom. Thornton is likely to finish the season with 25 per cent more assists than his closest pursuers, Jagr and Atlanta&rsquo;s Marc Savard; no player has had that margin of playmaking superiority since Wayne Gretzky in 1991.</p><p>&ldquo;I think we all have confidence in one another,&rdquo; he says, &ldquo;and confidence is contagious.&rdquo;</p><p>Yet Thornton insists he is doing nothing different in a Sharks uniform on-ice than what he did for the Bruins. The stats say Thornton is right, he is still playing the same; his 1.55 points per game with the Sharks is only marginally better than the 1.43 he posted during 23 games with the Bruins.</p><p>Nor, he says, is the more laid-back hockey culture in California any more conducive to on-ice success for his laid-back personality. The feeling around the team is what has changed.</p><p>&ldquo;I haven&rsquo;t changed my game. Still play the same way,&rdquo; Thornton says. &ldquo;Just the atmosphere, the atmosphere is totally different. Being at the rink, it&rsquo;s just enjoyable every day&hellip;Doug and Ron, they&rsquo;re just real positive people.&rdquo;</p><p>Because Thornton is much the same, they mesh. But the Bruins hierarchy didn&rsquo;t always have such a benefit-of-the-doubt attitude towards Thornton&rsquo;s easygoing manner. And there are stats to suggest that perhaps Thornton picked things up in San Jose in other ways; on teams with similar save percentage figures, he had been on ice for fewer goals against at even strength this season in 47 games with San Jose (21) than in 23 games with Boston this season (23).</p><p>&ldquo;In all areas of the game, this is as well as I&rsquo;ve ever seen him play, and I&rsquo;ve been following him for a long time,&rdquo; Doug Wilson said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been very impressed with everything he&rsquo;s done. But we had high expectations of him coming in, too.&rdquo;</p><p>Back in Boston, Thornton&rsquo;s house hasn&rsquo;t sold yet. Far as he knows, it hasn&rsquo;t even been put on the market. He thinks that&rsquo;s supposed to happen sometime soon. Somebody will take care of it. No reason to sweat the details.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0014-01

Joe’s dime goes long way

<div class="byline">By MIKE BROPHY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0016-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-011788/8832950-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>Without Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary misses the playoffs. With him, they win their division &ndash; and maybe more.</b></p><p><b>Y</b>ou wouldn&rsquo;t guess it by his never-changing expression, but Miikka Kiprusoff really wants to be known as the best goaltender in the NHL.</p><p>He just doesn&rsquo;t go around shouting it from the mountain tops.</p><p>Asked about it, Kiprusoff laughs, almost out of embarrassment, and says, &ldquo;I would like that. It would be a great honor, but still, it&rsquo;s a team sport. There are a lot of things that need to go right for one person to be judged the best. But, yes, I would like that.&rdquo;</p><p>Well, that day has finally arrived.</p><p>Not only is he our clear-cut choice as the Vezina Trophy winner, with a little twist of the arm you might be able to convince us he deserves the Hart Trophy, too. That award will go to the Rangers Jaromir Jagr, but Kiprusoff is a close second. He has been that good this season.</p><p>This is the time of year when speculation about who will be the major award winners runs rampant. Often times the winners are obvious. Such is the case with Kiprusoff and the Vezina. There are a number of other goalies who have enjoyed great seasons, but without Kiprusoff, the team would have no chance of making the playoffs. The Flames did not address their lack of scoring punch at the trade deadline and will now ride their goalie for as far as he can carry them.</p><p>None of the league&rsquo;s other top goalies receive as little scoring help as Kiprusoff. Calgary&rsquo;s top point-producer, right winger Jarome Iginla, ranks 66th in the league with a mere 57 points in 72 games. You need to go all the way down to 106th to find the Flames&rsquo; next highest scorer, Daymond Langkow, who has but 49 points in 72 games.</p><p>Marty Turco of the Dallas Stars has delivered his typical strong regular season performance, but even if he has an off night, the Stars offer him tremendous scoring support. As do the Detroit Red Wings with Manny Legace and the Ottawa Senators with either Dominik Hasek or Ray Emery between the pipes.</p><blockquote class="pullQuote"><u>What you need to know: if he doesn&rsquo;t play well, the Flames don&rsquo;t win</u></blockquote><p>And in New York, where Rangers rookie Henrik Lundqvist has come out of nowhere to make his mark, he has one of the highest-scoring teams in the league skating in front of him. Even Nashville&rsquo;s Tomas Vokoun, another legitimate candidate playing on a defense-first team, gets more scoring support than Kiprusoff could dream of in Calgary.</p><p>What you basically need to know about Kiprusoff is this: if he doesn&rsquo;t play well, the Flames don&rsquo;t win. Calgary has 40 wins this season; 36 of those are on Kiprusoff&rsquo;s resume. He leads the NHL with eight shutouts, ranks fifth in goals-against average at 2.18 and sixth in save percentage at .918.</p><p>On a team that scores about as often as Cliff Clavin of <i>Cheers</i> fame, Kiprusoff saves the day more often than Superman.</p><p>&ldquo;In terms of his impact on the team, I can&rsquo;t think of any other goalie who has had a bigger impact that Kiprusoff,&rdquo; says a pro scout. &ldquo;He doesn&rsquo;t have the luxury of knowing his team will score enough goals to get him the win. There&rsquo;s a lot of pressure on him and he has responded.&rdquo;</p><p>Pressure is nothing new to the mild-mannered stopper. San Jose&rsquo;s fifth round pick in 1995, he arrived in North America in 1999 and played 47 games with Kentucky in the American League. Although Kiprusoff flirted with earning the No. 1 job with the Sharks, that ultimately went to Evgeni Nabokov and Kiprusoff was dealt to the Flames in 2003 for a second round draft pick. He made an immediate impact, leading Calgary through the 2004 playoffs to the Stanley Cup final and finishing second to Martin Brodeur of the Devils in voting for the Vezina.</p><p>A workhorse, Kiprusoff plays the majority of Flames games and would have it no other way. His backup at the start of the season, Philippe Sauve, was unreliable, so the Flames traded for the more experienced Brian Boucher. He, too, has not been the answer, which means the Flames will have to get the most out of Kiprusoff. When Calgary decided to give Kiprusoff a rare night off March 18 against Nashville, they were slaughtered 9-4 with Boucher in goal.</p><p>Kiprusoff, who has worked hard on his puck-handling this season, knows he will be relied on heavily for the remainder of the season.</p><p>&ldquo;For years I have been saying I want to play in the NHL and I want to play a lot, so now I have that opportunity and I&rsquo;m happy,&rdquo; he says.</p><p>Though he is under a lot of pressure, you would never know it by watching him.</p><p>&ldquo;He has a very good base of emotional control,&rdquo; says Calgary goalie coach Dave Marcoux.</p><p>&ldquo;He has a lot of experience in that regard. We have worked on him refocusing after a goal. If you watch him, you may see that he looks the same whether it&rsquo;s a save or a goal. That&rsquo;s the way it has to be. You cannot let the opposition think you are vulnerable and that they are getting to you.&rdquo;</p><p>Kiprusoff says what you see is what you get.</p><p>&ldquo;Some goalies want to get real pumped before the game, but I try to stay calm,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s what works for me.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-011591/8832943-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="2032" height="2284"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>GAME-SAVERS</b></p><p>Here is the save percentage (and NHL rank) of Miikka Kiprusoff &ndash; our pick to win the Vezina Trophy &ndash; and three other top NHL goalies this season.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(DALE MACMILLAN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0016-01

COVER STORY

In the Spotlight

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0018-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-021284/8832988-1-eng-US/f0018-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>R</span></b>ight from the get-go, when he scored two goals and set up another as the Rangers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in a telltale road game on opening night, it was apparent there was something quite different about Jaromir Jagr.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a wonderful player; he&rsquo;s a great teammate and he cares tremendously about how well the team is doing,&rdquo; says Rangers coach Tom Renney. &ldquo;This guy has a lot of hockey left in him.&rdquo;</p><p>Amen!</p><p>Those who had grown accustomed to watching the big winger float through games seemingly without a care, barely tapping into his considerable talent base, as though he didn&rsquo;t give a damn he was perceived as a pouting, underachieving coach killer, was playing with a renewed passion. Nobody has ever questioned Jagr&rsquo;s talent, but his commitment to success? Well, that&rsquo;s quite a different story.</p><p>His indifference was a major reason why he ranked only 12th on The Hockey News&rsquo; list of top-50 NHL players prior to this season.</p><p>Jagr did enjoy a wonderful season playing in Russia during the lockout. The big question was, could he play to the best of his ability in the new NHL? The rule changes that allow skilled players more freedom have certainly played into his hands.</p><p>With a handful of games remaining, Jagr was well on his way to winning his sixth scoring championship &ndash; but first since 2000-01. He is back to being one of the most dangerous players, shift to shift, in the league and is The Hockey News&rsquo; choice to win the Hart Trophy as the NHL&rsquo;s most valuable player. It would be the second of his career, the first coming in 1998-99 when he was with the Pittsburgh Penguins.</p><p>&ldquo;When he wants to, he can control  a game like no other skater in the league,&rdquo; says a pro scout. &ldquo;He is so big and strong and driven, it is nearly impossible to check him when he makes his mind up to control the puck or drive it to the net.&rdquo;</p><p>Adds another pro scout: &ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t say it&rsquo;s automatically Jagr, but if you look at the impact he has had on his team night in and night out, he has been the best. Everybody talks about (Alex) Ovechkin leading his team in scoring by a wide margin (47 points), well, Jagr leads his team by (42) points.&rdquo;</p><p>The Rangers discovered that a happy Jagr is a productive Jagr. As has been well documented, the Rangers surrounded the big Czech with several countrymen and, perhaps even more importantly, allowed him to flex his muscles on offense.</p><p>Jagr will never win the Selke Trophy, but when given the freedom to do what comes naturally, the Hart and Art Ross are certainly within his grasp. The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder has had three four-point games and 12 three-point games this season.</p><p>He enjoyed a 12-game point streak early in the season and has been held pointless in just 16 games, only five of which the Rangers managed a victory.</p><p>His 52 goals, with nine games remaining, tied the team record set by Adam Graves in the Rangers&rsquo; Stanley Cup year, 1993-94. And with 113 points, Jagr broke the team record (109) established by Jean Ratelle in 1971-72.</p><p>Earlier this year, Jagr told The Hockey News senior writer Mark Brender how happy he was.</p><p>&ldquo;I love it here,&rdquo; Jagr said. &ldquo;Why? I don&rsquo;t know, just the coaches and the players and the whole organization, the trainers, it&rsquo;s just great. They just let you worry about hockey and that&rsquo;s a big change.&rdquo;</p><p>As good as Jagr has been this season, others rate consideration for the Hart, too. Calgary Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff and San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton also have enjoyed tremendous campaigns.</p><p>&ldquo;Jagr has had a great year, but what about the guy in Calgary?&rdquo; says one pro scout. &ldquo;Without Kiprusoff, they don&rsquo;t stand a chance at making the playoffs.&rdquo;</p><p>Adds another scout: &ldquo;Thornton gave the Sharks a legitimate chance to make the playoffs. He saved their season.&rdquo;</p><p>Kiprusoff, our choice to win the Vezina Trophy, has become the best goalie in the league. Thornton, who has been on the path to winning a Hart Trophy for quite some time, was dealt to the Sharks by Boston and has become the league&rsquo;s top playmaker.</p><h2><b>HART ATTACK</b></h2><p>Here&rsquo;s a stats crunch comparison of the players we feel merit the most Hart Trophy consideration.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-011671/8832981-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="502" height="717"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0018-02

Most valuable commodity

<h2><b>THE DEFENSE</b></h2><p>Nicklas Lidstrom is The Hockey News&rsquo; pick to win the Norris Trophy; here&rsquo;s how he compares with other top D-men:</p><p><b>LIDSTROM - 28:19</b></p><p><b>CHARA - 21:01</b></p><p><b>NIEDERMAYER - 25:34</b></p><p><b>PRONGER - 28:11</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-011526/8833096-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg" title="f0019-01" width="244" height="375"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Nicklas Lidstrom</b></figcaption></div><h3><b>TIME</b>&nbsp;<b>ON ICE</b></h3><p><b>28:19</b></p><p><i>1st amongst defenders</i></p><h3><b>PTS. PER GAME</b></h3><p><b>1.03</b></p><p><i>1st amongst defenders</i></p><h3><b>EVEN STRENGTH</b></h3><p><b>25 pts.</b></p><p><i>4th amongst defenders</i></p><h3><b>PLUS/MINUS</b></h3><p><b>+14</b></p><p><i>T-51st amongst NHLers</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-021156/8833089-1-eng-US/f0019-022.jpg" title="f0019-02" width="233" height="359"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Zdeno Chara</b></figcaption></div><h3><b>TIME ON ICE</b></h3><p><b>21:01</b></p><p><i>5th amongst defenders</i></p><h3><b>PTS. PER GAME</b></h3><p><b>0.61</b></p><p><i>23rd amongst defenders</i></p><h3><b>EVEN STRENGTH</b></h3><p><b>17 pts.</b></p><p><i>T-26th amongst defenders</i></p><h3><b>PLUS/MINUS</b></h3><p><b>+17</b></p><p><i>T-41st amongst NHLers</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-03811/8833082-1-eng-US/f0019-032.jpg" title="f0019-03" width="236" height="361"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Scott Niedermayer</b></figcaption></div><h3><b>TIME ON ICE</b></h3><p>&nbsp;<b>25:34</b></p><p><i>8th amongst defenders</i></p><h3><b>PTS. PER GAME</b></h3><p><b>0.80</b></p><p><i>8th amongst defenders</i></p><h3><b>EVEN STRENGTH</b></h3><p><b>22 pts.</b></p><p><i>T-6th amongst defenders</i></p><h3><b>PLUS/MINUS</b></h3><p><b>+7</b></p><p><i>T-117th amongst NHLers</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-04627/8833075-1-eng-US/f0019-042.jpg" title="f0019-04" width="236" height="367"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Chris Pronger</b></figcaption></div><h3><b>TIME ON ICE</b></h3><p><b>28:11</b></p><p><i>3rd amongst defenders</i></p><h3><b>PTS. PER GAME</b></h3><p><b>0.69</b></p><p><i>14th amongst defenders</i></p><h3><b>EVEN STRENGTH</b></h3><p><b>12 pts.</b></p><p><i>T-71st amongst defenders</i></p><h3><b>PLUS/MINUS</b></h3><p><b>+2</b></p><p><i>T-239th amongst NHLers</i></p><h2><b>THE GOALIES</b></h2><p>Miikka Kiprusoff is The Hockey News&rsquo; pick to win the Vezina Trophy; here&rsquo;s how he compares with other top goaltenders:</p><p><b>KIPRUSOFF - 26.7</b></p><p><b>LEGACE - 25.5</b></p><p>&nbsp;<b>LUNDQVIST - 28.7</b></p><p><b>VOKOUN - 33.0</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-06352/8833068-1-eng-US/f0019-062.jpg" title="f0019-06" width="240" height="372"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Miikka Kiprusoff</b></figcaption></div><h3><b>SHOTS/60 MINS</b></h3><p><b>26.7</b>&nbsp;<i>4</i></p><p><i>9th amongst goalies</i></p><h3><b>1-GOAL GAMES</b></h3><p><b>19-7-8</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-07296/8833061-1-eng-US/f0019-072.jpg" title="f0019-07" width="236" height="365"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Manny Legace</b></figcaption></div><h3><b>SHOTS/60 MINS</b></h3><p><b>25.5</b></p><p><i>53rd amongst goalies</i></p><h3><b>1-GOAL GAMES</b></h3><p><b>11-3-3</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-08253/8833054-1-eng-US/f0019-082.jpg" title="f0019-08" width="236" height="363"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Henrik Lundqvist</b></figcaption></div><h3><b>SHOTS/60 MINS</b></h3><p><b>28.7</b></p><p><i>34th amongst goalies</i></p><h3><b>1-GOAL GAMES</b></h3><p><b>9-5-9</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-09208/8833047-1-eng-US/f0019-092.jpg" title="f0019-09" width="236" height="362"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Tomas Vokoun</b></figcaption></div><h3><b>SHOTS/60 MINS</b></h3><p>&nbsp;<b>33.0</b></p><p><i>9th amongst goalies</i></p><h3><b>1-GOAL GAMES</b></h3><p><b>22-3-7</b></p><h2><b>THE FORWARDS</b></h2><p>Jaromir Jagr is The Hockey News&rsquo; pick to win the Hart and we like Alex Ovechkin for the Calder; here&rsquo;s how they compare with the competition:</p><p><b>JAGR - 14:21</b></p><p><b>THORNTON - 14:07 O</b></p><p><b>VECHKIN - 16:11</b></p><p><b>CROSBY - 17:38</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-11157/8833040-1-eng-US/f0019-112.jpg" title="f0019-11" width="244" height="375"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Jaromir Jagr</b></figcaption></div><h3><b>TIME</b>&nbsp;<b>ON ICE</b></h3><p><b>24:42</b></p><p><i>4th amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>LONGEST SLUMP</b></h3><p><b>2 games (twice)</b></p><p><i>no points</i></p><h3><b>LONGEST SLUMP</b></h3><p><b>5 games (twice)</b></p><p><i>no goals</i></p><h3><b>3RD PERIOD</b></h3><p><b>36 pts.</b></p><p><i>T-2nd amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>MINUTES/POINT</b></h3><p><b>14:21</b></p><p><i>2nd amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>EVEN STRENGTH</b></h3><p><b>60 pts.</b></p><p><i>2nd amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>EVEN STRENGTH</b></h3><p><b>28 goals</b></p><p><i>2nd amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>GAME-WINNERS</b></h3><p><b>9 GWG</b></p><p><i>T-1st amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>TEAM PTS. GAP</b></h3><p><b>39 pts. (56%)</b></p><p>&nbsp;<i>3rd amongst NHLers</i></p><h3><b>HELD POINTLESS</b></h3><p><b>16 of 72 games</b></p><p><i>22.2%</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-12146/8833033-1-eng-US/f0019-122.jpg" title="f0019-12" width="237" height="364"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Joe Thornton</b></figcaption></div><h3><b>TIME ON ICE</b></h3><p><b>21:21</b></p><p><i>9th amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>LONGEST SLUMP</b></h3><p>&nbsp;<b>2 games (twice)</b></p><p><i>no points</i></p><h3><b>LONGEST SLUMP</b></h3><p><b>9 games</b></p><p><i>no goals</i></p><h3><b>3RD PERIOD</b></h3><p><b>41 pts.</b></p><p><i>1st amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>MINUTES/POINT</b></h3><p><b>14:07</b></p><p><i>1st amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>EVEN STRENGTH</b></h3><p>&nbsp;<b>64 pts.</b></p><p><i>1st amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>EVEN STRENGTH</b></h3><p><b>16 goals</b></p><p><i>T-36th amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>GAME-WINNERS</b></h3><p><b>5 GWG</b></p><p>&nbsp;<i>T-30th amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>TEAM PTS. GAP</b></h3><p><b>28 pts. (36%)</b></p><p>&nbsp;<i>6th amongst NHLers</i></p><h3><b>HELD POINTLESS</b></h3><p><b>12 of 70 games</b></p><p>&nbsp;<i>17.1%</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-13119/8833026-1-eng-US/f0019-132.jpg" title="f0019-13" width="242" height="373"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Alex Ovechkin</b></figcaption></div><h3><b>TIME ON ICE</b></h3><p><b>21:20</b></p><p><i>10th amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>LONGEST SLUMP</b></h3><p><b>2 games (4 times)</b></p><p><i>no points</i></p><h3><b>LONGEST SLUMP</b></h3><p><b>6 games</b></p><p><i>no goals</i></p><h3><b>3RD PERIOD</b></h3><p><b>31 pts.</b></p><p>&nbsp;<i>T-7th amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>MINUTES/POINT</b></h3><p><b>16:11</b></p><p><i>11th amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>EVEN STRENGTH</b></h3><p><b>45 pts.</b></p><p><i>T-9th amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>EVEN STRENGTH</b></h3><p><b>24 goals</b></p><p><i>T-3rd amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>GAME-WINNERS</b></h3><p><b>4 GWG</b></p><p><i>T-49th amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>TEAM PTS. GAP</b></h3><p><b>47 pts. (107%)</b></p><p><i>1st amongst NHLers</i></p><h3><b>HELD POINTLESS</b></h3><p><b>15 of 69 games</b></p><p><i>21.7%</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-14106/8833019-1-eng-US/f0019-142.jpg" title="f0019-14" width="236" height="363"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Sidney Crosby</b></figcaption></div><h3><b>TIME ON ICE</b></h3><p><b>20:09</b></p><p>&nbsp;<i>26th amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>LONGEST SLUMP</b></h3><p><b>2 games (3 times)</b></p><p>&nbsp;<i>no points</i></p><h3><b>LONGEST SLUMP</b></h3><p><b>7 games</b></p><p><i>no goals</i></p><h3><b>3RD PERIOD</b></h3><p><b>31 pts.</b></p><p><i>T-7th amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>MINUTES/POINT</b></h3><p>&nbsp;<b>17:38</b></p><p><i>25th amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>EVEN STRENGTH</b></h3><p><b>42 pts.</b></p><p><i>T-16th amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>EVEN STRENGTH</b></h3><p>&nbsp;<b>17 goals</b></p><p><i>T-28th amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>GAME-WINNERS</b></h3><p><b>5 GWG</b></p><p>&nbsp;<i>T-30th amongst forwards</i></p><h3><b>TEAM PTS. GAP</b></h3><p><b>35 pts. (78%)</b></p><p>&nbsp;<i>2nd amongst NHLers</i></p><h3><b>HELD POINTLESS</b></h3><p><b>19 of 70 games</b></p><p><i>27.1%</i><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0019-01

The Trophy Race Cover Story

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0020-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-021048/8833134-1-eng-US/f0020-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(LIDSTROM: BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>M</b>ontreal Canadiens coach-GM Bob Gainey likes to say, &ldquo;Just because a guy has one bad season doesn&rsquo;t mean he has to have two.&rdquo;</p><p>Rather simply stated, perhaps. But it applies rather profoundly to Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom.</p><p>The Swede did indeed struggle through an unusually poor 2003-04 when, in 81 games, he managed just 10 goals and 38 points, his lowest total in a full NHL season. Then he took the lockout year off completely.</p><p>Many wondered if he&rsquo;d be able to get back to the form that enabled him to win three consecutive Norris Trophies as the NHL&rsquo;s best defenseman from 2001 to 2003. (He finished sixth in Norris voting in 2003-04). They needn&rsquo;t have worried.</p><p>The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder is once again a force on the blueline and is The Hockey News&rsquo; choice to win his fourth Norris.</p><p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think there is any question it is Nick Lidstrom,&rdquo; says a pro scout when asked to handicap the Norris. &ldquo;With (Jiri) Fischer going out, he has turned Andreas Lilja into a good player. I&rsquo;ve seen him lots and he has been terrific.&rdquo;</p><p>That is an understatement. Lidstrom again leads NHL defenders in assists (58) and points (72) and the entire league in ice time at an average of 28:19 per game.</p><p>&ldquo;Not only has he always been special,  but even under the new rules he is even more effective because of his hockey sense,&rdquo; says a pro scout. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s unbelievable how special a player he is.&rdquo;</p><p>Teammates have been saying that for a decade. Veteran Wing Brendan Shanahan says a big difference in Lidstrom&rsquo;s game this year is the fact he shoots more often.</p><p>&ldquo;Nick is a very unselfish player who tended to give the puck up more often than he shot it, particularly on the power play,&rdquo; Shanahan says. &ldquo;Our coach (Mike Babcock) told him he wanted him to shoot more and Nick responded.&rdquo;</p><p>While the majority of pro scouts contacted by The Hockey News agreed Lidstrom, 35, will win the Norris, there are others who garnered serious consideration. The huge frame of Ottawa&rsquo;s Zdeno Chara, runner-up in 2003-04 to winner Scott Niedermayer, caught the eye of one scout in particular.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not just about points with Chara,&rdquo; the scout says. &ldquo;Whatever way you need to play, he can play it. If you need to defend, he&rsquo;ll defend. If you need physical, he can be physical.&rdquo;</p><p>Niedermayer and Edmonton&rsquo;s Chris Pronger receive honorable mention, though many felt both players took time to become acclimatized to new surroundings.</p><h2><b>DEFENDING NORRIS</b></h2><h3><b>THREE STARS</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-011435/8833127-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg" title="f0020-01" width="490" height="220"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0020-02

Nicklas Norris

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0020-04" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-04535/8833172-1-eng-US/f0020-042.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(OVECHKIN: DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>W</b>hat started off as a two-horse  race got a little crowded at the midway point, but was virtually decided by the Olympic break.</p><p>In the most highly anticipated battle of freshmen in years, it was pretty much acknowledged from the outset the Calder Trophy would go to one of either Sidney Crosby, the odds-on favorite, or Alex Ovechkin, the Russian whiz kid.</p><p>Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf and Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist made some serious noise, but in the end, most agree it was still a race between Crosby and Ovechkin.</p><p>Although Crosby, at 18, was almost two years younger than Ovechkin, it was felt playing on a better team would give him a decided advantage. The Pittsburgh Penguins loaded up with offensive talent and with Mario Lemieux supposedly healthy and looking forward to skating with &lsquo;Sid The Kid,&rsquo; how could Crosby miss?</p><p>Ovechkin, meanwhile, would be the lone offensive gun for a noname Washington team just about everyone agreed would finish last.</p><p>Funny how things turn out.</p><p>Crosby has been spectacular, but his Penguins have been awful. The team&rsquo;s offense fizzled early and the defense was abysmal. The Penguins, not the Capitals, are the NHL&rsquo;s worst team in spite of Crosby&rsquo;s efforts. While Crosby has put up impressive numbers, his over-the-top intensity has rubbed some the wrong way.</p><p>Ovechkin, meanwhile, is a human highlight film who plays with passion &ndash; and a smile on his face. If you haven&rsquo;t seen the video of his season highlights set to the music of Aerosmith&rsquo;s <i>Dream On</i>, then do your-self a favor and Google it.</p><p>&ldquo;To me it&rsquo;s Ovechkin (for the Calder) and it&rsquo;s not even close&hellip;not even close,&rdquo; says a pro scout. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s the (third)-leading scorer in the league (Crosby is 10th) and every time he&rsquo;s on the ice he impacts the game in some way. You&rsquo;re on the edge of your seat waiting for him to do something.&rdquo;</p><p>Adds another pro scout: &ldquo;He&rsquo;s one of those players who keeps the other team on the back of their heels. Can you imagine how good you have to be to do that?&rdquo;</p><p>Many sympathize with Crosby.</p><p>&ldquo;He would have done better in a more functional situation,&rdquo; one scouts says. &ldquo;Washington&rsquo;s team may not be very good, but I think they are more functional. (Coach) Glen Hanlon has them working.</p><p>&ldquo;Sidney Crosby will be one of the top players in this league for many years to come, but two years (age difference) is huge at this point.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>CALDER CHASE</b></h2><h3><b>THREE STARS</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-03762/8833165-1-eng-US/f0020-032.jpg" title="f0020-03" width="490" height="220"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0020-04

What rookie race?

<p><b>I</b>n the wake of the NHL&rsquo;s determination to increase scoring this season, the role of the defensive forward became that much more difficult.</p><p>Gone was the ability to hook an opponent or let go of your stick to grab his jersey. There was no more room for cheating, but there was a job that had to be done.</p><p>And no one has done it better than Carolina Hurricanes captain Rod Brind&rsquo;Amour, The Hockey News&rsquo; choice to win the Selke Trophy as the NHL&rsquo;s best defensive forward.</p><p>&ldquo;To me, it&rsquo;s not even close,&rdquo; says a pro scout when asked about the Selke Trophy candidates. &ldquo;Brind&rsquo; Amour is the guy.&rdquo;</p><p>Once a 100-point scorer with the Philadelphia Flyers, Brind&rsquo;Amour is still a significant offensive contributor on one of the NHL&rsquo;s most surprising teams this season, scoring 28 goals and 61 points in 68 games.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-011167/8833203-1-eng-US/f0021-012.jpg" title="f0021-01" width="233" height="359"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Rod Brind&rsquo;Amour</b></figcaption></div><p>His five game-winners ranked No. 2 on the Hurricanes behind Erik Cole&rsquo;s eight. Oh, he&rsquo;s also plus-6.</p><p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s no question in my mind he&rsquo;s the best defensive forward in the league,&rdquo; says Carolina coach Peter Laviolette. &ldquo;What is most impressive is all his minutes are against the other team&rsquo;s top line. Faceoffs figure into that and so does penalty killing.</p><p>&ldquo;What makes him so special is that he accumulates all those defensive-purpose minutes, but he still manages to produce on offense, too.&rdquo;</p><p>Also impressive is the amount of playing time the 35-year-old Brind&rsquo;Amour amasses. He tops NHL forwards with an average of 24:30 per game. That&rsquo;s nearly four minutes per game more than in 2003-04.</p><p>Some observers might even argue Brind&rsquo;Amour is worthy of Hart Trophy consideration. It&rsquo;s a tough field to be sure, but he&rsquo;s the leading performer on one of the league&rsquo;s top teams. The 16-year veteran leads by example, is the league&rsquo;s top faceoff man and never takes a game off.</p><p>That Hart fodder will surely rub off on Brind&rsquo;Amour when voters are thinking about Selke names.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0021-01

Cane contender

<p>Just because you don&rsquo;t pile up the penalty minutes doesn&rsquo;t mean you are soft.</p><p>Nobody would ever accuse the most recent winners of the Lady Byng Trophy &ndash; Brad Richards of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Alexander Mogilny of the Toronto Maple Leafs or Ron Francis of the Carolina Hurricanes &ndash; of not paying the price to get points.</p><p>And nobody would ever say that about Detroit&rsquo;s Pavel Datsyuk, The Hockey News&rsquo; choice for the Byng this year.</p><p>The fourth-year NHLer is enjoying a career year with 84 points, ninth-best in the league and best on a Red Wings team which has dominated the Western Conference standings all season, and was well on his way to breaking his single-season best of 30 goals set in 2003-04.</p><p>Datsyuk, 27, has done all of this while being assessed just 18 minutes in penalties, the fewest of any player among the NHL&rsquo;s top 10 scorers.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-02762/8833234-1-eng-US/f0021-022.jpg" title="f0021-02" width="237" height="360"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Pavel Datsyuk</b></figcaption></div><p>Datsyuk has not taken penalties in back-to-back games this season and only once took two minors in one game.</p><p>His stiffest competition for the award comes from linemate Henrik Zetterberg, who has just 28 penalty minutes while racking up a team-high 35 goals and 77 points.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0021-02

Slick gentleman

<div class="byline">BY THN CORRESPONDENTS</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0022-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-02980/8833272-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Teemu Selanne</b> <span class="photo-credit">(SHELLY CASTELLANO)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-011317/8833279-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="113" height="96"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>T</span></b>he Mighty Ducks of Anaheim became the first team since the 1992 Islanders to score three power play goals in three consecutive games, clicking against Colorado, Nashville and Phoenix March 22-25. &ldquo;I really believe it&rsquo;s pride,&rdquo; said winger <b>Teemu Selanne</b>. &ldquo;For the guys who are lucky enough to play on the power play, it has to be a bonus for everyone out there.&rdquo;</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>CENTRAL DIVISION</b></h2><p><b>CHICAGO</b> Injured winger <b>Tuomo Ruutu</b> was getting closer to returning  to the lineup. He has been out since January with a torn tendon in his ankle. Coach <b>Trent Yawney</b> liked the idea of Ruutu getting at least some action. &ldquo;If just to get him some peace of mind,&rdquo; Yawney said&hellip; Left winger <b>Mark Cullen</b> was making a good impression for next year as the season wound down. &ldquo;In a perfect world he probably should have been here the whole time,&rdquo; Yawney said.</p><p><b>COLUMBUS</b> The Jackets ended a five-game losing streak with wins over Calgary, Detroit and San Jose, three of the best teams in the West&hellip; Columbus is 8-2 in shootouts, with right winger <b>Jaroslav Balastik</b> scoring three shootout winners on six of eight shootout attempts.</p><p><b>DETROIT</b> Captain <b>Steve Yzerman</b> scored his 690th goal March 27 at St. Louis, tying <b>Mario Lemieux</b> for eighth place on the NHL&rsquo;s career list. &ldquo;It shows how good (Lemieux) is; he played almost five years less than I did,&rsquo;&rsquo; Yzerman said&hellip;Right winger <b>Mikael Samuelsson</b>, who started the season as a fourth-line grinder and quickly became a first-line scorer, signed a three-year, $3.6-million contract extension.</p><p><b>NASHVILLE</b> The Preds lost 6-3 at Anaheim March 24 and 6-4 at Los Angeles the next night. It was just the second time in franchise history (the first without overtime) that Nashville allowed more than five goals in consecutive games&hellip;Left winger <b>Paul Kariya</b>&nbsp;surprised even himself with 14 points in the first 14 games after the Olympics. &ldquo;I felt a little sluggish after the break,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Ten days off &ndash; I&rsquo;ve never done that before mid-season.&rdquo;</p><p><b>ST. LOUIS</b> The Blues were outscored 20-5 while losing all four games in a recent homestand. &ldquo;This homestand is the most embarrassing of my career,&rdquo; said left winger <b>Keith Tkachuk</b>.</p><h2><b>NORTHWEST DIVISION</b></h2><p><b>CALGARY</b> After 82 scoreless games, plus 26 more in the 2004 playoffs, <b>Jordan Leopold</b> snapped his goal drought March 23 against St. Louis. The defenseman, who soon after celebrated the birth of his second child, scored again two games later&hellip; <b>Dustin Boyd</b>, a third round pick in 2004, signed an entry-level contract. A standout for Canada at the WJC, Boyd, had 48 goals and 98 points with Moose Jaw (WHL).</p><p><b>COLORADO</b> Newly acquired goalie <b>Jose Theodore&rsquo;s</b> status remains a large question mark for the playoffs. Theodore did not arrive full-time to Denver until March 31, after his girlfriend gave birth, and had yet to rehabilitate his fractured right heel with the Avs medical staff&hellip;Left winger <b>Andrew Brunette</b> became the fifth Avs player to reach 20 goals when he scored twice in a 4-3 win over Anaheim March 29.</p><p><b>EDMONTON</b> The Oilers lost five of their first seven games to Minnesota this season, including all four home games. They had lost 13 of 20 games against teams 11th or lower in the West&hellip;Forwards <b>Ales Hemsky</b> and <b>Shawn Horcoff</b> became the first Oilers since <b>Doug Weight</b> in 2000-01 to get 50 assists in a season&hellip;Left winger <b>Sergei Samsonov</b> had three goals and 10 points in his first nine games as an Oiler.</p><p><b>MINNESOTA</b> Only eight players scored in the first 13 games after the Olympic break, as Minnesota went 4-8-1 to fall out of the playoff race.</p><p><b>VANCOUVER</b> Left winger <b>Alex Burrows</b> became the first Canuck rookie since <b>Trevor Linden</b>&nbsp;to net a hat trick when he put three past Los Angeles goalie <b>Mathieu Garon</b> March 27.</p><h2><b>PACIFIC DIVISION</b></h2><p><b>ANAHEIM</b> The Ducks gained 15 of 16 points against Phoenix this season, going 7-0-1&hellip;Center <b>Ryan Getzlaf</b>, installed as a point man on the top power play, set a team rookie record with four assists in a 6-3 win over Nashville March 24.</p><p><b>DALLAS Marty Turco</b>&nbsp;set the franchise record for wins in a season with 38 on March 26. He&rsquo;s also 24 shy of <b>Ed Belfour&rsquo;s</b> franchise mark (160)&hellip; The Stars extended the contracts of coach <b>Dave Tippett</b> and his staff through the end of 2007-08.</p><p><b>LOS ANGELES</b> It&rsquo;s been a frustrating year for <b>Jeremy Roenick</b>, who sustained a chip fracture in his right ankle March 25. Initial reports had Roenick missing all but the end of the season, but with playoff hopes fading, he missed only one game.</p><p><b>PHOENIX Curtis Joseph</b> stopped 28 shots vs. Nashville March 28 for his 424th career win, moving ahead of Hall of Famer <b>Tony Esposito</b>&nbsp;into sixth place all-time&hellip;<b>Paul Mara</b> scored his 15th goal March 23, the most goals by a defenseman since the team moved to Phoenix in 1996.</p><p><b>SAN JOSE</b> Winger <b>Jonathan Cheechoo</b> surpassed <b>Owen Nolan&rsquo;s</b> franchise record of 44 goals with No. 45 in Minnesota March 25&hellip; Defenseman <b>Matt Carle</b>&nbsp;became the eighth Shark to make his NHL debut this season March 25; and, he scored his first goal.</p><h2><b>POWER RANKINGS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-04550/8833265-1-eng-US/f0022-042.jpg" title="f0022-04" width="580" height="2551"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0022-02

Mighty fine power play

<div class="byline">BY THN CORRESPONDENTS</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0023-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-02840/8833310-1-eng-US/f0023-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Dan Boyle</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-011181/8833317-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg" title="f0023-01" width="113" height="96"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>A</span></b>fter being slammed into the boards and injured day-to-day in a race for the puck against the Rangers, defenseman <b>Dan Boyle</b> was asked if he was a proponent for no-touch icing. &ldquo;I am now,&rdquo; he said. But coach <b>John Tortorella</b> said he isn&rsquo;t. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to see a hybrid system where it would be up to the linesman. But I still like to see players rewarded for hustling.&rdquo;</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>NORTHEAST DIVISION</b></h2><p><b>BOSTON</b> Despite the Bruins&rsquo; disappointing season, one of the highlights has been the play of rookie <b>Brad Boyes</b>. &ldquo;There have definitely been ups and downs, things I&rsquo;ve never experienced,&rsquo;&rsquo; Boyes said. &ldquo;A (GM) getting fired, our captain for awhile (<b>Joe Thornton</b>) getting traded,  then (<b>Sergei Samsonov</b> being dealt), a real big winning streak and getting back in the hunt to losing more one-goal games than I can remember and (going 1-8 in nine shootouts), I really don&rsquo;t want to talk about that.&rdquo;</p><p><b>BUFFALO</b> Gritty center <b>Adam Mair</b>, out since Jan. 12 with a concussion, was cleared for contact. The Sabres had lost six straight when Mair was given the OK.</p><p><b>MONTREAL</b> Ten years after <b>Vincent Damphousse</b>&nbsp;scored the Canadiens&rsquo; first goal at the Molson Centre, <b>Chris Higgins</b> scored the team&rsquo;s 1,000th goal at the arena &ndash; now called the Bell Centre&hellip; Captain <b>Saku Koivu</b>&nbsp;had 16 assists during a 23-game &ndash; and counting &ndash; stretch in which he had no goals&hellip; Center <b>Radek Bonk</b>, held to two goals through mid-March, scored four in a three-game span.</p><p><b>OTTAWA</b> After losing <b>Zdeno Chara</b> with a deep bone bruise in his hand from fighting Pittsburgh&rsquo;s <b>Eric Cairns</b> March 22, Ottawa lost <b>Chris Phillips</b> until at least mid-April with a knee strain March 28.</p><p><b>TORONTO</b> Goalie <b>Ed Belfour</b> was placed on long-term injured reserve then announced through his agent he was finished for the season. Coach <b>Pat Quinn</b>&nbsp;knew little of the developments, prompting speculation of a rift between him and GM <b>John Ferguson</b>&hellip;<b>Jason Allison</b> broke his hand, likely while fighting <b>Mathieu Dandenault</b>, in a 6-2 loss to Montreal March 25. Allison, who had an incentive-laden contract, will miss out on $1.5 million of a possible $4.5-million salary.</p><h2><b>ATLANTIC DIVISION</b></h2><p><b>NEW JERSEY Brian Gionta&rsquo;s</b> goal March 28 in Ottawa made him New Jersey&rsquo;s first 40-goal scorer since <b>Alexander Mogilny</b>&nbsp;(43) and <b>Patrik Elias</b> (40) in 2000-01&hellip;Ex-coach <b>Pat Burns</b>, whose mother passed away in late March, said his blood-count levels were encouraging after completing chemotherapy for liver cancer. Burns has an exam in April to determine if he is cancer-free.</p><p><b>NY ISLANDERS</b> The Islanders&rsquo; slim playoff hopes ostensibly ended in a 2-0 loss to Montreal March 28, dropping them a season-high 10 points out of the eighth spot in the East&hellip;The Isles came to terms with center <b>Ryan O&rsquo;Marra</b>, their 2005 first round pick out of Erie (OHL).</p><p><b>NY RANGERS Jaromir Jagr</b>&nbsp;broke the team record for points with a four-assist game March 29, giving him 113 and passing <b>Jean Ratelle</b>, who had 109 in 1971-72&hellip; <b>Henrik Lundqvist</b> established a team record for wins by a rookie goalie when he won his 30th game March 29.</p><p><b>PHILADELPHIA Robert Esche</b>&nbsp;said he sees the &ldquo;writing on the wall&rdquo; and is conceding the starting playoff goalie job to rookie <b>Antero Niittymaki</b>. Coach <b>Ken Hitchcock</b> insisted he had not yet made up his mind&hellip;Through 72 games, the Flyers had been outscored 84-69 in the third period.</p><p><b>PITTSBURGH</b> Left winger <b>John LeClair</b> became the seventh U.S.-born player to score 400 NHL goals March 29 against Florida&hellip;Right winger <b>Colby Armstrong</b>&nbsp;had 14 points in 10 games on <b>Sidney Crosby&rsquo;s</b> line&hellip;In his second NHL game, defenseman <b>Noah Welch</b> accidentally put the puck in his own net against Montreal, then scored a goal in the third period.</p><h2><b>SOUTHEAST DIVISION</b></h2><p><b>ATLANTA</b> If goalie <b>Kari Lehtonen</b> starts the final 34 games of the season  &ndash; as it appears he will &ndash; it would be the longest streak in the NHL since Nashville&rsquo;s <b>Tomas Vokoun</b> started 38 straight in 2002-03&hellip; Center <b>Patrik Stefan</b> returned from a hernia March 23 and scored in his first game back.</p><p><b>CAROLINA</b> The Canes clinched a playoff spot and the first 100-point season in franchise history with 11 games to play&hellip;At one point in late March, Carolina had seven players on the injured list and were dressing only 19 skaters. With 233 man-games lost through 72 games, only the last-place 2002-03 team that lost 290 man-games ranks worse.</p><p><b>FLORIDA</b> The Panthers&rsquo; 5-3 win at Pittsburgh March 29 was their seventh straight, tying the franchise record set in November, 1995. It also made them 10-1-0 in 11 games, the best record in the NHL over that span&hellip;Center <b>Jozef Stumpel</b> scored his 600th NHL point against the Bruins, his former team.</p><p><b>TAMPA BAY</b> Center <b>Brad Richards</b> set a team record with his 58th assist March 27.</p><p><b>WASHINGTON Dainius Zubrus</b> tied his single-season career-highs for goals (17) and points (44)&hellip;Left winger <b>Matt Pettinger</b> has five shorthanded goals, one shy of the team record.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0023-02

Boyle likes icing fix

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-04464/8833355-1-eng-US/f0023-042.jpg" title="f0023-04" width="563" height="587"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Henrik Lundqvist</b> <span class="photo-credit">(LUNDQVIST: ANDY MARLIN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>ROCKIN&rsquo; RANGERS</b></h2><p>New York&rsquo;s duo of Jaromir Jagr (goals, points) and Henrik Lundqvist (rookie wins) set team records on same night.</p><h2><b>PROWLING PANTHERS</b></h2><p>Florida posts franchise-best seven-game winning streak and climbs back into Eastern Conference playoff picture.</p><h2><b>HOLY MOLY!</b></h2><p>Holy Cross pulls off one of the biggest upsets in NCAA history as the Crusaders shock No. 1 seed Minnesota.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-05344/8833348-1-eng-US/f0023-052.jpg" title="f0023-05" width="562" height="585"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Tony Amonte</b> <span class="photo-credit">(BOYLE & AMONTE: JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>TONY OH NO</b></h2><p>Calgary&rsquo;s Tony Amonte, acquired for his offense, fails to score in 27 games &ndash; and counting &ndash; going back to Jan. 14.</p><h2><b>OIL FOIL</b></h2><p>Edmonton loses all four home meetings with the Minnesota Wild, a team not in playoff contention.</p><h2><b>BENCH MAJOR</b></h2><p>Nashville&rsquo;s Darcy Hordichuk receives a three-game suspension for instigating an altercation against Los Angeles.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0023-04

+ PLUS - MINUS

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0024-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-011279/8833393-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>WATCH DOG</b></p><p>Veteran Coyotes&rsquo; center Mike Ricci gets the nod as Phoenix&rsquo;s top checking forward, despite only seeing about 13 minutes of ice time per game.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(DONALD MIRALLE/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-08182/8833400-1-eng-US/f0024-082.jpg" title="f0024-08" width="95" height="106"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p><b>TEAM TROPHIES</b> This season has seen many stars landing in new locales, but who is Hart Trophy-worthy?</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-06266/8833386-1-eng-US/f0024-062.jpg" title="f0024-06" width="137" height="209"></div><p>Up in San Jose, Joe Thornton has found his West Coast swagger, and Jaromir Jagr has been singing &ldquo;I love New York,&rdquo; all year.</p><p>We also look at who is stepping up on the blueline, from perennial Norris candidate Chris Pronger to developing talents such as his replacement in St. Louis, Christian Backman.</p><p>And don&rsquo;t forget the grinders. Get a sneak peek at the defensive forwards vying for the Selke Trophy. Mike Ricci is blocking plenty of shots in Phoenix, while Detroit&rsquo;s Henrik Zetterberg, known as more of a scorer, is keeping his own end tidy as well.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0024-01

Best by team: Mix of big stars and big surprises

<div class="byline">&#x2013; DAN WOOD</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> While goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere, right winger Teemu Selanne and center Andy McDonald have been key performers for Anaheim, defenseman Scott Niedermayer has been absolutely critical. &ldquo;I think he&rsquo;s the best player in the league,&rdquo; Selanne said. Niedermayer&rsquo;s ability to control a game at both ends has been invaluable for the young Ducks.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-02913/8833431-1-eng-US/f0024-022.jpg" title="f0024-02" width="168" height="208"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> Niedermayer won the 2003-04 Norris Trophy with New Jersey, and again is a leading candidate. He provides a huge offensive presence and has remarkable poise on the back end. He may be the best skater in the league and has uncanny anticipation, plus great 1-on-1 defensive skills.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> Checking center Samuel Pahlsson&rsquo;s value is not lost on anyone in Anaheim. He is often first out on the penalty kill, takes important defensive-zone faceoffs and matches up against opponents&rsquo; top scoring threats.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0024-02

Elder Niedermayer leads rising flock

<div class="byline">&#x2013; JOHN MANASSO</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> Coach Bob Hartley calls Marian Hossa the Thrashers&rsquo; most complete forward, and that&rsquo;s good enough to earn the dazzling right winger team MVP honors. Through March 29, Hossa was second among Thrashers in goals, with 33. (Ilya Kovalchuk was third in the NHL with 45). Had Kari Lehtonen stayed healthy, he&rsquo;d surely be the MVP. The 35 games the goalie missed (groin) is the biggest reason the Thrashers are clawing for a playoff spot.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-03655/8833462-1-eng-US/f0024-032.jpg" title="f0024-03" width="168" height="191"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> Niclas Havelid has been Atlanta&rsquo;s best blueliner. He has played every game and leads in ice time at 24:31. Havelid is minus-1, but always plays against the opposition&rsquo;s top line. It&rsquo;s rarely his fault when a goal is surrendered.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> With his five short-handed goals, Hossa is tied for second in the league. Since an early transition period, he has been the team&rsquo;s most consistent forward in every phase of the game.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0024-03

Hossa brings Atlanta the total package

<div class="byline">&#x2013; NANCY MARRAPESE-BURRELL</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> He&rsquo;s only 20, but center Patrice Bergeron plays with the savvy and maturity of a veteran. While Glen Murray has struggled since the Joe Thornton trade, Bergeron has thrived with new left winger Marco Sturm, who came from San Jose in the deal, and rookie right winger Brad Boyes, whom he played with in Providence (AHL) during the lockout. Bergeron was the steal of the 2003 draft, selected 45th overall, and will only get better.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-04469/8833493-1-eng-US/f0024-042.jpg" title="f0024-04" width="137" height="202"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> Brad Stuart came into a tough situation, as part of the multi-player deal that sent Thornton to San Jose, but he has done everything management hoped he would. He has shored up the Bruins&rsquo; anemic defense and has provided pop on the power play.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> Left winger P-J Axelsson missed several weeks with a knee injury, but when he plays, he shuts down other teams&rsquo; best players.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0024-04

Bergeron proving to be steal for B’s

<div class="byline">&#x2013; TIM GRAHAM</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> Although Daniel Briere missed nearly half the season after sports hernia surgery, the fiery co-captain still could finish as the team leader in goals and points. While the Sabres had played 71 times, Briere, the most dynamic offensive talent on a balanced team, had 22 goals (two off the lead) and 46 points (11 off the lead) in 39 games.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-05333/8833524-1-eng-US/f0024-052.jpg" title="f0024-05" width="160" height="200"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> Toni Lydman has quietly put together an effective campaign. He doesn&rsquo;t boast flashy statistics, but he&rsquo;s the club&rsquo;s most reliable defenseman. The Finnish Olympian topped the Sabres in average ice time at 21:34 and led the team with a plus-14.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> Versatile center Chris Drury is on the ice in every critical shorthanded situation. With 11 games left, he ranked sixth in the league in faceoff percentage (56.8) and was third in blocked shots among forwards (72). He was leading the team with 13 power play goals.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0024-05

Drury stands out in special situations

<div class="byline">&#x2013; RANDY SPORTAK</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> The offensively anemic Flames remain competitive for a division title thanks to one of the best goalies in the game, Miikka Kiprusoff. Under pressure to win night after night with very little goal support, Kiprusoff is the league leader in shutouts and near the top in every other goaltending category.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-07222/8833555-1-eng-US/f0024-072.jpg" title="f0024-07" width="161" height="198"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> Rookie Dion Phaneuf has been Calgary&rsquo;s best skater all season. On pace to become just the third rookie defenseman in NHL history to reach 20 goals, Phaneuf&rsquo;s point shot has boosted Calgary&rsquo;s power play into the NHL&rsquo;s top third. The hard-hitter will be one of the best in coming years.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> Stephane Yelle is on the ice in the dying moments of almost every close game. He&rsquo;s strong on faceoffs, fearlessly blocks shots and is smart in providing defensive zone coverage. Yelle has become a fan favorite for his gritty mentality.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0024-07

Flames give a Yelle when game on line

<div class="byline">&#x2013; LUKE DECOCK</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0025-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-011146/8833593-1-eng-US/f0025-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>LIGHTNING ROD</b></p><p>Carolina&rsquo;s Rod Brind&rsquo;Amour is one of the quickest men in the NHL on the draw.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(RICK STEWART/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-05275/8833600-1-eng-US/f0025-052.jpg" title="f0025-05" width="95" height="106"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> With apologies to Eric Staal, whose season has sensational, no one is more valuable to Carolina than Rod Brind&rsquo;Amour. The captain&rsquo;s leadership and play at both ends of the ice have been critical to the Canes&rsquo; success this season. He&rsquo;s also on pace for his best offensive season in a decade.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-02795/8833586-1-eng-US/f0025-022.jpg" title="f0025-02" width="168" height="159"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> With eight defensemen playing between 15 and 20 minutes per game, it&rsquo;s tough to single one out, but Frantisek Kaberle leads the pack. He has contributed on offense even more than expected, and he&rsquo;s also an excellent fit for the new rules.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> A frontrunner for the Selke Trophy, Brind&rsquo;Amour leads all NHL forwards in ice time, has taken and won more faceoffs than any other player, and at a higher percentage than everyone but Nashville&rsquo;s Yanic Perreault.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0025-01

Brind’Amour drives Hurricane machine

<div class="byline">TIM SASSONE</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> On a Chicago team that does not score a lot, center Mark Bell has stood out. But his 20-plus goals were only part of his value to the Hawks this season. He successfully made the move from left wing to center and helped inject some much-needed life into the power play with a mid-season move to the point. The Hawks thought they had seven forwards with the potential to score 20 goals, but Bell might be the only one who gets there.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-03555/8833631-1-eng-US/f0025-032.jpg" title="f0025-03" width="153" height="194"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> At the start of camp, the Hawks weren&rsquo;t sure what they had in rookie defenseman Brent Seabrook. Now they know. The 20-year-old has been the most consistent and heady defenseman and has the team&rsquo;s best outlet pass.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> This has been a forgettable season offensively for center Curtis Brown, but his penalty-killing has been what the Hawks expected.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0025-03

Seabrook bright spot of dreadful season

<div class="byline">&#x2013; ADRIAN DATER</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> Alex Tanguay was Colorado&rsquo;s most consistent player all year, until a sprained knee took him out of the lineup. Still, he deserves the honor. The left winger posted 74 points (26 goals) in 67 games with a plus-7 rating. He was a stalwart on the power play and took more of a leadership role in the dressing room. He would have gotten stiffer competition for the honor if rookie Marek Svatos hadn&rsquo;t sustained a season-ending shoulder injury.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-04375/8833662-1-eng-US/f0025-042.jpg" title="f0025-04" width="168" height="202"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> After a subpar start, veteran Rob Blake returned to his star form in the second half. He was a league-worst minus-14 at one point, but was safely in the plus numbers by the time April rolled around.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> A major surprise offensively, Ian Laperriere has been his usual solid self in the defensive zone, constantly laying down in front of booming shots.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0025-04

Bigger role in room for talented Tanguay

<div class="byline">&#x2013; AARON PORTZLINE</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0027-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-011230/8833700-1-eng-US/f0027-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>RED &lsquo;Z&rsquo;</b></p><p>Henrik Zetterberg&rsquo;s offensive talents overshadow his dedication to the defensive side of the puck.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(JEFF GROSS/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-05303/8833707-1-eng-US/f0027-052.jpg" title="f0027-05" width="95" height="106"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> Nikolai Zherdev had a tough start to the season, earning a healthy scratch when coach Gerard Gallant grew tired of his selfish play in early November. Maybe it was the acquisition of Sergei Fedorov, but Zherdev has developed into a very good player &ndash; not just a human highlight reel. He has been the team&rsquo;s only consistent scoring threat. Mark this down: Zherdev will be a 100-point player within the next three seasons.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-02851/8833693-1-eng-US/f0027-022.jpg" title="f0027-02" width="168" height="207"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> Adam Foote was hampered by injuries early this season. But he&rsquo;s resumed his physical, relentless play the past few months. Off the ice, as captain, he has held a fragile team together through some difficult times.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> Fedorov deserves a lot of credit for his two-way game. It&rsquo;s not always easy playing between Nash and Zherdev, and Fedorov has said so publicly. He sets a great example for other forwards.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0027-01

Zherdev gearing up for future stardom

<div class="byline">&#x2013; MIKE HEIKA</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> Mike Modano is back, and so are the Stars. It is no coincidence the fate of the team is tied to its superstar; that&rsquo;s the definition of an MVP. &ldquo;In addition to his numbers, I honestly think you can make an argument for him as one of the best defensive forwards in the league,&rsquo;&rsquo; said coach Dave Tippett.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-03615/8833738-1-eng-US/f0027-032.jpg" title="f0027-03" width="169" height="169"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> Despite an amazing offensive decade, Sergei Zubov has never been a finalist for the Norris Trophy. That may change this year. He&rsquo;s among the NHL&rsquo;s top five defensemen in points and is the head of a defense that leads the league in fewest shots against (24.9).</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> In Year 1 of the new NHL, Jere Lehtinen proved you can play great defense without hooking or holding. &ldquo;He defends with his feet, not with his stick,&rdquo; Tippett said. &ldquo;If he gets behind a player, he just works that much harder to get position back.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0027-03

Lehtinen’s footwork keeps foes at bay

<div class="byline">&#x2013; ANSAR KHAN</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> On a team full of stars, defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom is unquestionably Detroit&rsquo;s most indispensable player. He logs more ice time than any other NHLer, quarterbacks the league&rsquo;s best power play and is a crucial penalty killer. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s unbelievable how good he is,&rsquo;&rsquo; said coach Mike Babcock. &ldquo;Anybody can be good once in the while; he&rsquo;s good all the time.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-04444/8833769-1-eng-US/f0027-042.jpg" title="f0027-04" width="168" height="193"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> The 2003-04 season was unusual for Lidstrom; for the first time since 1997 he wasn&rsquo;t a Norris Trophy finalist. He&rsquo;s sure to get a nod this year, eyeing his fourth Norris in five seasons. Lidstrom has been red-hot since late November and leads all defensemen in points.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> Henrik Zetterberg&rsquo;s offense overshadows his strong defensive abilities. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s very conscientious,&rdquo; said GM Ken Holland. &ldquo;Rarely do you see him get outmuscled; he just knows how to position, how to angle.&rsquo;&rsquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0027-04

Slick Nick chases fourth Norris nod

<div class="byline">&#x2013; ROB TYCHKOWSKI</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-011270/8833807-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg" title="f0028-01" width="563" height="733"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Chris Pronger</b> <span class="photo-credit">(PRONGER: TIM SMITH/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-11166/8833814-1-eng-US/f0028-112.jpg" title="f0028-11" width="95" height="106"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> Nobody has meant more to the Oilers than Chris Pronger. A work-horse on the ice and a leader in the dressing room, the 6-foot-6 rearguard has turned into the best investment GM Kevin Lowe ever made. He plays 28:11 a night (third-most in the league), ranks fifth on the team in points (and 10th among NHL defensemen) and provides a physical presence and a steadying influence.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-02891/8833800-1-eng-US/f0028-022.jpg" title="f0028-02" width="137" height="207"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> It&rsquo;s no coin-cidence St. Louis&rsquo;s power play dove 15 spots (ninth in the NHL to 24th) when Pronger left, or that the Oilers improved 15 spots (29th to 14th) when he arrived. He never shows fatigue and rarely makes a mistake.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> When there&rsquo;s an important penalty to be killed or a lead to be protected, Ethan Moreau is the man. He&rsquo;s feisty and physical and leads the team with four shorthanded goals.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0028-01

Pronger producing in many ways

<div class="byline">&#x2013; BRIAN BIGGANE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-03668/8833852-1-eng-US/f0028-032.jpg" title="f0028-03" width="565" height="733"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Olli Jokinen</b> <span class="photo-credit">(JOKINEN: MIKE STOBE / GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> Captain Olli Jokinen was on track to become the second player in team history (Pavel Bure) to average more than a point a game in a season. He never went more than three games without a point, scored eight game-winners &ndash; including an NHL-best four in overtime &ndash; and was plus-19 on a team with more than a dozen minus players.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-04476/8833845-1-eng-US/f0028-042.jpg" title="f0028-04" width="152" height="203"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> Jay Bouwmeester went a long way toward growing into the role of No. 1 defenseman this season, improving his offensive productivity while cutting way down on what were disappointing plus-minus numbers in his first two NHL campaigns.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> Age, experience and a never-say-die work ethic have helped Martin Gelinas become an asset to any line on which he plays. Through 70 games Gelinas was plus-24 and had 15 goals and 34 points.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0028-03

Captain Olli a model of consistency

<div class="byline">&#x2013; RICH HAMMOND</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-05368/8833890-1-eng-US/f0028-052.jpg" title="f0028-05" width="563" height="734"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Mattias Norstrom</b> <span class="photo-credit">(NORSTROM: SHELLY CASTELLANO)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> It&rsquo;s only fitting the Kings&rsquo; most valuable player is out of the lineup with an injury. The Kings have been staggered by injuries, none bigger than to Pavol Demitra, who had missed 21 games (and counting) because of various wounds. But when healthy, he brings a combination of playmaking and scoring ability that is unparalleled in Los Angeles.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-06317/8833883-1-eng-US/f0028-062.jpg" title="f0028-06" width="153" height="210"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> Respected by opponents, adored by coaches, but relatively ignored by the hockey world at large, captain Mattias Norstrom plugs on and is finishing up yet another solid year. Norstrom is a strong skater, a fearless shot-blocker and a master of positioning.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> A strong case could be made for Craig Conroy, but Eric Belanger has enjoyed a breakout season. His line draws the toughest defensive matchups, but he has maintained a plus-minus rating around even.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0028-05

Warrior Norstrom given little credit

<div class="byline">&#x2013; BRIAN MURPHY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-07271/8833928-1-eng-US/f0028-072.jpg" title="f0028-07" width="563" height="733"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Brian Rolston</b> <span class="photo-credit">(ROLSTON: BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> Left winger Brian Rolston more than filled the scoring vacuum left by Marian Gaborik&rsquo;s early season injury hiatus. He became the undisputed leader and brought a swagger into the dressing room. The versatile winger delivers big goals (six game-winners) playing big minutes to lead the team in points (72), power play (14) and shorthanded goals (four), and a plus-13 rating as of March 27.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-08231/8833921-1-eng-US/f0028-082.jpg" title="f0028-08" width="169" height="168"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> Losing top rearguard Willie Mitchell at the trade deadline was brightened by Kurtis Foster&rsquo;s emergence as a desperately needed offensive threat. The rookie became the first blueliner to reach double-digits in goals.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> Wes Walz thrives in thwarting opposing stars. He recovered from a career-threatening hernia and was on pace to set personal highs in goals and points in his first full season since 2000-01.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0028-07

Rolston’s wild year rocks Minnesota

<div class="byline">&#x2013; HERB ZURKOWSKY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-09204/8833966-1-eng-US/f0028-092.jpg" title="f0028-09" width="563" height="733"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Cristobal Huet</b> <span class="photo-credit">(HUET: JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> He has appeared in a modest 30 games this season, but goalie Cristobal Huet carried Montreal on his back in the team&rsquo;s stretch run for a playoff berth. He had an incredible six shutouts, a league-leading save percentage of .930 and a goals-against average of 2.14, putting him just behind Ottawa&rsquo;s Dominik Hasek.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-10184/8833959-1-eng-US/f0028-102.jpg" title="f0028-10" width="168" height="171"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> If Andrei Markov isn&rsquo;t the team MVP, he&rsquo;s certainly the best defenseman. The fact Montreal&rsquo;s record without Markov this season is 3-11-1 speaks volumes. Bothered by back spasms this year, Markov is a smooth skater and effortless passer. His offensive skills help Montreal&rsquo;s power play.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> Steve Begin always seems to be on the ice when the game is on the line. He provides the Habs with versatility, is a heavy bodychecker and all-around pest, and he chips in on offense.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0028-09

Huet keeps Habs in playoff race

<div class="byline">&#x2013; DAVID BOCLAIR</div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-08179/8834004-1-eng-US/f0029-082.jpg" title="f0029-08" width="95" height="106"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> While Steve Sullivan and Paul Kariya gave the Predators the type of skill they&rsquo;ve never had previously, Nashville remains a team that wins with defense &ndash; beginning with Tomas Vokoun. The Preds had allowed more shots than any of the other top eight teams in either conference, yet Vokoun set a franchise record with his 35th win March 21 at Detroit. Twenty-two of those wins were in one-goal games.</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-011130/8833997-1-eng-US/f0029-012.jpg" title="f0029-01" width="169" height="169"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> Kimmo Timonen&rsquo;s ice time has been reduced to a five-season low to lessen the physical toll, but he&rsquo;s still among the top 30 in power play points and has a plus rating while playing against opposing teams&rsquo; top lines.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> In a season when players such as Scott Hartnell and Vern Fiddler have been used in offensive roles, Greg Johnson has anchored the third line. He&rsquo;s reliable in the faceoff circle (54 per cent) and has four shorthanded goals.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0029-01

Vokoun stands tall when Preds need it

<div class="byline">&#x2013; RICH CHERE</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> The Devils would already be talking about next year if it weren&rsquo;t for Brian Gionta. It was the speedy right winger who kept the team afloat during a poor start (without Patrik Elias) that affected coach Larry Robinson&rsquo;s health. It has been Gionta whose best NHL season has kept the Devils in the playoff race. His seven game-winning goals easily led the team.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-03537/8834035-1-eng-US/f0029-032.jpg" title="f0029-03" width="153" height="203"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> Paul Martin has teamed with Colin White as the defense pairing matched against the top opposing lines. In only his second NHL season, Martin&rsquo;s skating skill, poise and offensive ability have at least helped the Devils try to forget Scott Niedermayer.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> Linemate John Madden is a former Selke winner, but left winger Jay Pandolfo has been the Devils&rsquo; best defensive forward all season, shadowing star players and contributing with his expert knack for killing penalties.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0029-03

Devils stay in race thanks to Gionta

<div class="byline">&#x2013; PETER BOTTE</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0029-07" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-07212/8834066-1-eng-US/f0029-072.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>SIX SHOOTER</b></p><p>Miroslav Satan has been deadly in the shootout, scoring six times.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> Right winger Miroslav Satan had a team-high 29 goals through March 27, plus another half-dozen shootout tallies that helped earn the Isles a few extra points over the course of the season. His best work has come since a mid-season separation from Alexei Yashin; Satan has skated most of the second half with center Mike York and left winger Trent Hunter.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-05325/8834073-1-eng-US/f0029-052.jpg" title="f0029-05" width="153" height="203"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> Alexei Zhitnik, but only by default. Zhitnik mixed in some excellent moments in what was mostly an inconsistent and penalty-filled first season on Long Island before he sustained a season-ending broken ankle March 14. The team got rid of several unproductive vets, while Radek Martinek and rookie Chris Campoli emerged as consistent D-men.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> Whenever the Isles need to win a faceoff or kill a penalty, Shawn Bates is usually the forward they lean upon.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0029-07

Satan gets boost with new linemates

<div class="byline">&#x2013; LARRY BROOKS</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> The first-place Rangers had lost six in a row after a March 14 defeat in Carolina and, when it was over, Jaromir Jagr said of an upcoming four-game homestand: &ldquo;This is our season.&rdquo; Since that proclamation, Jagr has turned his outstanding season into one of the most memorable in Rangers history. He tied the franchise record for goals (52) and points (109) in a season.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-02765/8834104-1-eng-US/f0029-022.jpg" title="f0029-02" width="152" height="203"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> Marek Malik has been the team&rsquo;s best defenseman over the course of the year. He has fit comfortably into the simple game that Tom Renney prefers from his defense, and while he&rsquo;s rarely flashy (except in the 15th round of a shootout, that is), he&rsquo;s even more rarely caught out of position.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> Blair Betts is the choice when the Blueshirts opt for the nullification route (they usually prefer power-on-power line matchups). He&rsquo;s the only center who has won more than half his draws.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0029-02

Malik keeps it simple on Rangers blueline

<div class="byline">&#x2013; BRUCE GARRIOCH</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> Captain Daniel Alfredsson has led the charge for the Senators all season and has been solid at both ends of the ice. He scores the big goal when needed, makes the defensive plays and should be a Hart Trophy candidate.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-04393/8834135-1-eng-US/f0029-042.jpg" title="f0029-04" width="165" height="196"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> Zdeno Chara is a big presence every night. The 6-foot-9 blueliner makes things happen at both ends, delivers devastating bodychecks and makes opponents pay the price if they try to drive to the net. He plays nearly 30 minutes a night and would play more if they&rsquo;d let him.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> Antoine Vermette was seen as a guy who might not be able to play for Bryan Murray. But he has gotten into a comfort zone with center Chris Kelly and is on the verge of a 20-goal season. Why does that make him so good defensively? He leads the NHL with six shorthanded goals playing mostly in a checking role.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0029-04

Vermette emerges as key role player

<div class="byline">&#x2013; WAYNE FISH</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> Despite recently missing five weeks with a torn labrum in his right shoulder, Michal Handzus has been Philadelphia&rsquo;s most consistent two-way player all year. Coach Ken Hitchcock calls him his &ldquo;glue guy.&rdquo; Handzus is perhaps the team&rsquo;s best penalty-killer as well as a key component on the power play.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-06266/8834166-1-eng-US/f0029-062.jpg" title="f0029-06" width="160" height="168"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> New captain Derian Hatcher leads the Flyers in minutes (24:06) and hits (110). When Keith Primeau gave up the captaincy due to post-concussion symptoms, Hatcher stepped into the breach in late January. He has been the emotional leader since and pulled the team together after a rough stretch around the Olympics.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> Almost always matched up against the other team&rsquo;s top line and/or scorer, Sami Kapanen uses his quick first step to pounce on loose pucks and intercept passes. He also has three short-handed goals.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0029-06

Hatcher takes over for ailing Primeau

<div class="byline">&#x2013; DAVID VEST</div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-10141/8834204-1-eng-US/f0030-102.jpg" title="f0030-10" width="95" height="106"></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> Coach Wayne Gretzky anointed goalie Curtis Joseph the team&rsquo;s MVP by mid-season, and despite a few lulls, the 38-year-old has played well enough in the second half to keep the title. Playing behind a young defense corps and a team that averages barely three goals per outing, Joseph has kept the Coyotes in almost every game.</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/f0030-011279/8834197-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg" title="f0030-01" width="145" height="207"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> Phoenix acquired Zbynek Michalek from Minnesota in August and hid him during the pre-season so other teams wouldn&rsquo;t see how good he is. The 23-year-old rookie is a confident and reliable puckhandler who leads the team in ice time and blocked shots, and his plus/minus rating has been positive all season.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> Mike Ricci has been an anchor on the checking line and a valuable penalty killer and faceoff man. Ricci plays just 13 minutes per game, but no Coyote forward has blocked more shots.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0030-10

Rookie Michalek prowls with the best

<div class="byline">&#x2013; JOE STARKEY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0030-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-02861/8834242-1-eng-US/f0030-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>SMILE, KID</b></p><p>Sidney Crosby has reason to celebrate an outstanding rookie season.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(MITCHELL LAYTON/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> Sidney Crosby. There is no other candidate. Crosby was the team&rsquo;s best player beginning with the third period of the season opener at New Jersey. He might double the next-leading scorer&rsquo;s output. Coach Michel Therrien recognized Crosby&rsquo;s supremacy by awarding him an &lsquo;A&rsquo; upon replacing Eddie Olczyk. Some resented the move, but the next logical step is the &lsquo;C.&rsquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-03626/8834235-1-eng-US/f0030-032.jpg" title="f0030-03" width="160" height="207"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> Ryan Whitney has shown steady improvement and started to come into his own after the Olympics. An excellent skater and breakout passer, he&rsquo;s living up to his pedigree as a first round pick. Sergei Gonchar was headed for 50-plus points, but continued to struggle defensively.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> Colby Armstrong is the pick on a team with the worst goals-against average in the NHL. Armstrong is a smart skater and gritty penalty killer who is getting better offensively, too.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0030-02

Crosby gets an ‘A’ for jersey and play

<div class="byline">&#x2013; ROSS MCKEON</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> While Jonathan Cheechoo and Patrick Marleau are having break-through offensive seasons, Joe Thornton&rsquo;s arrival has made that all possible, and the hulking center also has turned around the team&rsquo;s fortunes. He has established new career highs in assists and points and lifted San Jose from the depths of the Western Conference standings into playoff contention.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-04457/8834273-1-eng-US/f0030-042.jpg" title="f0030-04" width="152" height="200"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> Physically intimidating Kyle McLaren has been the most steady rearguard since Day 1. He is a versatile defenseman and a calming influence on a number of young Sharks defensemen this year. McLaren also has taken on more of a leadership role.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> Joe Thornton has not only exceeded past offensive exploits, he has become a go-to guy on the penalty kill, during the final minutes of one-goal games and in the faceoff circle at key moments.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0030-04

Thornton piling up points in the West

<div class="byline">&#x2013; TOM TIMMERMANN</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> Even though he started the season in the AHL and played only 34 NHL games before hurting his knee and being lost for the season, goalie Curtis Sanford was the biggest difference-maker for the Blues. He had a 13-13-5 record, while the other goalies went 7-25-7. His goals-against average (2.66) was more than a goal lower than any of the other goalies and his save percentage (.908) was significantly higher.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-05344/8834304-1-eng-US/f0030-052.jpg" title="f0030-05" width="168" height="201"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> In his third NHL season, Christian Backman has blossomed into St. Louis&rsquo;s best blueliner. He has been a strong two-way player, skates on both the penalty kill and the power play and is the team leader in ice time (24:15).</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> Winger Dallas Drake continues to throw his body at players and in front of pucks with abandon. He leads Blues forwards in blocked shots and has a good plus-minus despite often playing against the opponent&rsquo;s top line.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0030-05

Sanford stepped up in tough campaign

<div class="byline">&#x2013; TOM JONES</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> A strong case could be made for defenseman Dan Boyle, but center Brad Richards is the pick for his consistency at both ends of the ice. He has set the franchise record for assists (58) on his way to a third consecutive season with at least 70 points. And he has done it while playing the opponent&rsquo;s best centers.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-06278/8834335-1-eng-US/f0030-062.jpg" title="f0030-06" width="168" height="200"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> Boyle has gone from a Florida Panthers&rsquo; castaway to a No. 1 blueliner and one of the top defenders in the game. He averages more than 23 minutes per game and is on pace to set career marks for goals and points. Despite his small frame (5-foot-10, 180 pounds), the Bolts don&rsquo;t hesitate to match him against anyone.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> Tampa believes the best defense is a good offense. When Peter Forsberg or Ilya Kovalchuk climb over the boards, so does Richards, who isn&rsquo;t big, but has become a top-notch defender with hockey sense and positioning.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0030-06

Richards controls play at both ends

<div class="byline">&#x2013; KEN CAMPBELL</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> Though he tailed off badly after the Olympics, defenseman Bryan McCabe was having a career season and was one of the major reasons Toronto&rsquo;s power play was near the top of the league all year. When McCabe sustained a groin injury in early January, the Leafs won just one of the nine games he missed.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-07227/8834366-1-eng-US/f0030-072.jpg" title="f0030-07" width="136" height="201"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> By virtue of his MVP status, it would have to be McCabe, but that&rsquo;s hollow praise given the performance of the Leafs&rsquo; defense corps this season. And it&rsquo;s clear management thinks Tomas Kaberle is better, since it signed Kaberle to a long-term deal and will likely let McCabe test unrestricted free agency this summer.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> Very slim pickings here, but Matt Stajan led the team in shorthanded goals (five) and the league in shorthanded points (nine). The problem is he has almost completely forsaken his offensive game in the process.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0030-07

McCabe to cash in on career year

<div class="byline">&#x2013; DAVE FAY</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>VP</b> Alex Ovechkin took over Washington&rsquo;s scoring lead on opening day and was never threatened. The rookie, 20, plays more than 21 minutes a game; had more than twice as many goals as any teammate; also led in assists, points, power play goals; was a plus defensively; and, he picked up the tab at the rookie dinner.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-09157/8834428-1-eng-US/f0030-092.jpg" title="f0030-09" width="153" height="187"></div><p><b>BEST DEFENSEMAN</b> Shaone Morrisonn started slowly this season, but eventually showed why he was a first-rounder in 2001. Smart and competitive, his ice time grew weekly as did his confidence, moving him from a spare part to a solid top four defenseman.</p><p><b>DEFENSIVE FORWARD</b> Dainius Zubrus learned over the years how to conserve energy and put it to good use. His plus-7 on a bad defensive squad was second on the Capitals. His average of 20 minutes a game belies the job he does defensively and clearing a path for Ovechkin.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0030-09

From post to post, Ovechkin was tops

<div class="byline">By TOM TIMMERMANN</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0031-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-011179/8834459-1-eng-US/f0031-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>MO&rsquo; BETTER BLUES</b></p><p>With only four players under contract, St. Louis will surely have a drastically different roster.</p> <span class="photo-credit">(ELSA/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-02783/8834466-1-eng-US/f0031-022.jpg" title="f0031-02" width="95" height="106"></div><p><b>J</b>ust one day after the Blues&rsquo; run of 25 straight post-season appearances officially ended, the team finally got a new owner.</p><p>Dave Checketts, a Utah native who lives in Connecticut and once ran the New York Rangers, headed a group of investors who bought the team from Bill Laurie for $150 million, and promised better days ahead for one of the league&rsquo;s worst teams.</p><p>&ldquo;Next season,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;we&rsquo;ll move ahead as one &ndash; our team, our fans &ndash; and begin working for the ultimate goal of a Stanley Cup championship. That&rsquo;s what I think is very possible and I want our fans to clearly know that.&rdquo;</p><p>Checketts&rsquo; ownership group includes three investors: Sports Capital Partners, which he heads; Towerbrook Capital Partners; and a third, unnamed group. Checketts is also seeking a local ownership group. The deal still needs to be approved by the league&rsquo;s board of governors, though that looks to be a formality.</p><p>Checketts said the team will stay in St. Louis &ndash; a stipulation in the deal requires the team to stay there through 2011 &ndash; and wouldn&rsquo;t speak to possible changes in management, thought it&rsquo;s likely team president Mark Sauer and GM Larry Pleau will be replaced.</p><p>With Checketts&rsquo; ties to the Rangers, it&rsquo;s possible the front office will have a New York accent. Neil Smith, Colin Campbell and broadcaster John Davidson all worked under Checketts in New York.</p><p>Laurie, who bought the team in 1999 and spent heavily in an unsuccessful effort to grab the Stanley Cup, put the team up for sale in June after claiming losses of $60 million in the previous two seasons.</p><p>&ldquo;We went about as far as we could,&rdquo; said Laurie, &ldquo;and did everything possible there, and it didn&rsquo;t happen for whatever reason&hellip; injuries, sickness, wrong personnel, who knows? But we&rsquo;ve had a good run and enjoyed it. But right now, our family is just ready to move on.&rdquo;</p><p>Checketts, 49, and his partners are acquiring a bare-bones outfit with only four players under contract for next season. With the new CBA, Checketts thinks the team should be able to turn itself around in a hurry.</p><p>&ldquo;The new collective bargaining agreement allows you to move quickly and sign players and develop,&rdquo; Checketts said, &ldquo;but frankly the way that Mark and Larry and Bill have left things, it gives us tremendous flexibility going forward, so I like our chances.&rdquo;</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p>Checketts was 28 when he became president-GM of the Utah Jazz in 1984, making him the youngest chief executive in NBA history. He became president of the NBA Knicks in 1991, then president and CEO of MSG, which owns the Knicks and Rangers, in 1994, shortly after the Rangers won the Stanley Cup. Checketts&rsquo; years with the Rangers were tough ones. From 1997 to 2001, the team failed to make the playoffs despite having one of the NHL&rsquo;s highest payrolls.</p><p>But there&rsquo;s a blank slate in St. Louis next season.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0031-01

Starting over

<div class="byline">&#x2013; KEVIN OKLOBZIJA</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-04478/8834549-1-eng-US/f0033-042.jpg" title="f0033-04" width="272" height="280"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-011131/8834542-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg" title="f0033-01" width="559" height="570"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-02763/8834535-1-eng-US/f0033-022.jpg" title="f0033-02" width="164" height="164"></div><p>Josh Hennessy isn&rsquo;t going to dazzle by dashing end-to-end to score goals.</p><p>He&rsquo;s not going to be the trigger man on the power play, unleashing lasers that zip consistently into the corners of the net.</p><p>But the rookie center will leave opponents a little awestruck on occasion simply from the decisions he makes.</p><p>A native of Brockton, Mass., and a product of the Quebec League&rsquo;s Quebec Remparts, Hennessy is a thinking man&rsquo;s player.</p><p>&ldquo;He has a lot of hockey sense,&rdquo; said Cleveland coach Roy Sommer. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a very smart player.&rdquo;</p><p>In a recent game, Sommer was impressed by what at first glance looked like nothing more than a shot from in tight.</p><p>&ldquo;He didn&rsquo;t have much he could do so he just threw it off the goalie, knowing the puck was coming right back to him so he could get another shot,&rdquo; Sommer said. &ldquo;Not many guys can think of that in traffic.&rdquo;</p><p>That explains why Hennessy was fourth in rookie scoring with 22 goals and 59 points in 72 games.</p><p>A good skater but of average size, Hennessy will need all his mental toughness to crack San Jose, which drafted him 43rd overall in 2003. He was listed as the Sharks&rsquo; No. 8 prospect in Future Watch 2006.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s not overpowering, but the biggest thing he&rsquo;s really learned this year is to compete,&rdquo; Sommer said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s good on faceoffs and he has really improved his overall game.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0033-04

Headstrong Hennessy

<div class="byline">By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA</div><p class="dropcap"><span>W</span>hen the Toronto Marlies defense corps consisted of <b>Carlo Colaiacovo</b>, <b>Andy Wozniewski</b>, <b>Ian White</b>, <b>Brendan Bell</b>, <b>Jay Harrison</b> and <b>Marc Moro</b>, coach <b>Paul Maurice</b> could feel comfortable most nights.</p><p>There was experience and talent. But when crunch time arrived, only Moro remained. Injuries and recalls stripped away everyone else from the blueline. Bell and Harrison were hurt. Wozniewski, Colaiacovo and White were with the Toronto Maple Leafs.</p><p>Thus, as the Marlies tried to secure the final playoff spot in the North Division, their defense included a tryout from the Ontario League&rsquo;s Oshawa Generals (<b>Justin Sawyer</b>), a tryout from York University (<b>Steve Chabbert</b>), an ECHL call-up (<b>David Turon</b>) and a player who missed the first five months of the season recovering from abdominal surgery (<b>Tyson Marsh</b>).</p><p>All the Marlies did was go 7-2-1 in a 10-game stretch to sew up a playoff berth.</p><p>&ldquo;(Assistant coach) <b>Joe Paterson</b> has some magic stuff going on back there,&rdquo; Maurice said. &ldquo;We notice (the shortage) when we get into the three (games)-in-threes (nights), but they&rsquo;ve actually excelled.&rdquo;</p><p>Before White&rsquo;s recall, he and Moro were playing upwards of 30 minutes a night.</p><p><b>HE RAISES SHARKS</b> The San Jose Sharks extended the contract of Cleveland coach <b>Roy Sommer</b> two more years, meaning he&rsquo;ll be behind the bench when the franchise shifts to Worcester next season.</p><p>Sommer, 49, is in his eighth season as the Sharks development coach (275-299-58). While the Barons have one of the AHL&rsquo;s worst records (24-44-2-2 through 72 games), kids continue to advance. Rookie winger <b>Steve Bernier</b> graduated to the Sharks at mid-season.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-05397/8834587-1-eng-US/f0033-052.jpg" title="f0033-05" width="272" height="280"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-03600/8834580-1-eng-US/f0033-032.jpg" title="f0033-03" width="1095" height="1392"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>DOCK THE BOAT</b> Rivermen stopper Chris Beckford-Tseu was lifted in favor of shootout specialist Gregg Naumenko in Peoria&rsquo;s win over Omaha. <span class="photo-credit">(ROSS DETTMAN)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>Jonathan</b>&nbsp;<b>Cheechoo</b>, <b>Grant Stevenson</b>, <b>Mark Smith</b>, <b>Marcel Goc</b>, <b>Rob Davison</b>, <b>Josh Gorges</b> and <b>Jim Fahey</b> all spent significant time under Sommer, as did goalies <b>Evgeni Nabokov</b> and <b>Vesa Toskala</b>, and Calgary Flames goalie <b>Miikka Kiprusoff</b>.</p><p><b>SHOOTOUT SWAP</b> Big saves by <b>Chris Beckford-Tseu</b> were why Peoria even got to a shootout, but when it came time to break the 2-2 tie with Omaha March 25, Rivermen coach <b>Steve Pleau</b> turned to backup goalie <b>Gregg Naumenko</b>.</p><p>The strategy worked. The first two shooters for both teams scored, then Naumenko stopped the next six shots he faced as Peoria won 3-2 in eight rounds.</p><p>&ldquo;If the shootout isn&rsquo;t one guy&rsquo;s strong point and the other guy&rsquo;s comfortable with it, why not do it?&rdquo; Pleau said. &ldquo;My dad (Blues GM <b>Larry Pleau</b>) had mentioned a month or so ago that it used to be done quite a bit.&rdquo;</p><p><b>NOTES</b> Chicago rookie right winger <b>Pat Dwyer&rsquo;s</b>&nbsp;first two-goal game in three months helped the Wolves defeat Houston. Dwyer was playing at a point-a-game clip in March&hellip;Goalie <b>Jean-Francois Racine</b>, out more than six weeks with a groin injury, stopped 46 shots in his return to lead Toronto past Milwaukee 5-2 March 26.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0033-05

Marl-velous defense

<h2><b>As of March 29, 2006 AHL WEST</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-06347/8834653-1-eng-US/f0033-062.jpg" title="f0033-06" width="526" height="656"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-07304/8834646-1-eng-US/f0033-072.jpg" title="f0033-07" width="207" height="312"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Pekka Rinne</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-08247/8834639-1-eng-US/f0033-082.jpg" title="f0033-08" width="125" height="124"></div><p><b>50 GP</b></p><p><b>2.86 GAA</b></p><p><b>.902 SP</b></p><p><b>2 SO</b></p><p><b>TOP WEST GOALIE WINS</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-09206/8834632-1-eng-US/f0033-092.jpg" title="f0033-09" width="524" height="507"></div><h2><b>AHL PROFILE</b></h2><h3><b>Houston Aeros</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-10174/8834625-1-eng-US/f0033-102.jpg" title="f0033-10" width="189" height="189"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-11154/8834618-1-eng-US/f0033-112.jpg" title="f0033-11" width="235" height="366"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Kirby Law</b></figcaption></div><p><b>5th Season in AHL</b></p><p><b>Best Season</b>&nbsp;Calder Cup in 2003</p><p><b>Arena</b>&nbsp;Toyota Center</p><p><b>GM</b> Tom Lynn</p><p><b>Coach</b>&nbsp;Rob Daum</p><p><b>2005-06 Leaders</b> (GP-G-A-<b>Points</b>)</p><p><b>Kirby Law</b></p><p>71 38 61 <b>99</b></p><p><b>Erik Westrum</b></p><p>68 31 61 <b>92</b></p><p><b>Patrick O&rsquo;Sullivan</b></p><p>69 42 39 <b>81</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0033-06

POWER RANKINGS

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-08311/8834726-1-eng-US/f0034-082.jpg" title="f0034-08" width="280" height="272"></div><h2><b>As of March 29, 2006 AHL EAST</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-011271/8834719-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg" title="f0034-01" width="526" height="663"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-02857/8834712-1-eng-US/f0034-022.jpg" title="f0034-02" width="206" height="303"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Frederic Cassivi</b></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-03678/8834705-1-eng-US/f0034-032.jpg" title="f0034-03" width="123" height="123"></div><p><b>56 GP</b></p><p><b>2.47 GAA</b></p><p><b>.913 SP</b></p><p><b>3 SO</b></p><p><b>TOP EAST GOALIE WINS</b></p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-04537/8834698-1-eng-US/f0034-042.jpg" title="f0034-04" width="526" height="508"></div><h2><b>AHL PROFILE</b></h2><h3><b>Lowell Lock Monsters</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-05440/8834691-1-eng-US/f0034-052.jpg" title="f0034-05" width="189" height="189"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-06395/8834684-1-eng-US/f0034-062.jpg" title="f0034-06" width="236" height="358"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Keith Aucoin</b></figcaption></div><p><b>8th Season in AHL</b></p><p><b>Best Season</b>&nbsp;47-27-1-5 in &rsquo;04-05</p><p><b>Arena</b>&nbsp;Tsongas Arena</p><p><b>GM</b> Tom Rowe</p><p><b>Coach</b>&nbsp;Tom Rowe</p><p><b>2005-06 Leaders</b> (GP-G-A-<b>Points</b>)</p><p><b>Keith Aucoin</b></p><p>66 26 51 <b>77</b></p><p><b>Paul Healey</b></p><p>59 19 21 <b>40</b></p><p><b>David Gove</b></p><p>57 15 20 <b>35</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0034-08

<div class="byline">By PHIL JANACK</div><p>After four straight first round exits, the Manchester Monarchs are taking a different approach to this year&rsquo;s Calder Cup playoffs.</p><p>The AHL&rsquo;s least-penalized team beefed up for the post-season by adding 6-foot-3, 201-pound right winger <b>Tim Jackman</b> on March 9. Four days, later the Monarchs brought 6-foot-3, 230-pound defenseman <b>Joe Rullier</b> on board.</p><p>At the time of their arrivals, no Monarchs player had more than 99 penalty minutes. Rullier, who was in his first season in Hartford after four with Manchester, and Jackman, Columbus&rsquo; second round pick in 2001, had combined for 250 penalty minutes.</p><p>&ldquo;This is our fifth year now,&rdquo; said director of operations <b>Hubie McDonough.</b> &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been in the playoffs four years in a row and out in the first round four years in a row. The pressure is on a little bit for us to try to succeed and make it through a round or two.&rdquo;</p><p>Manchester went 3-4 in its first seven games with both players in the lineup, all three wins coming after regulation, two in a shootout.</p><p>Rullier cost the Monarchs leading scorer <b>Brad Smyth</b> on loan from Hartford. Jackman was acquired for <b>Yanick Lehoux</b>, who had struggled to regain the form that had him among the AHL&rsquo;s top scorers last year after being sidelined by a knee injury.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a gamble whenever you make a move whether it&rsquo;s going to work out or not,&rdquo; McDonough said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re looking at it over the games we have left to make sure we&rsquo;re going in the right direction come playoff time. We feel we&rsquo;re going to win with goaltending and defense, and we wanted to shore it up a bit.&rdquo;</p><p><b>END OF AN ERA</b> After 13 years together, the Albany River Rats and New Jersey Devils are formally parting ways.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-11219/8834764-1-eng-US/f0034-112.jpg" title="f0034-11" width="272" height="280"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-07350/8834757-1-eng-US/f0034-072.jpg" title="f0034-07" width="1095" height="1393"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p><b>END OF AN ERA</b></p><p>Albany and New Jersey officially severed ties, meaning David Clarkson and other Devil prospects won&rsquo;t be back with the River Rats.</p></figcaption></div><p>The league&rsquo;s third-longest active marriage behind Rochester-Buffalo (27 years) and Providence-Boston (14) ended March 22 when the Devils announced plans to purchase the Lowell franchise.</p><p>The AHL&rsquo;s winningest team in the 1990s and the 1995 Calder Cup champion, the Rats have had seven consecutive losing seasons and an AHL-record six straight out of the playoffs.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s very difficult, because we&rsquo;ve had some really great times here,&rdquo; said <b>Robbie Ftorek</b>, the team leader in games coached (418) and won (197). &ldquo;It&rsquo;s very difficult leaving, period. But leaving the way we&rsquo;re playing right now is worse. It&rsquo;s too bad it couldn&rsquo;t continue.&rdquo;</p><p><b>COMEBACK KIDS Graham Mink</b> returned from a 22-game injury absence to score the overtime winner in Hershey&rsquo;s 3-2 victory over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton March 26.</p><p><b>Mike Omicioli</b>, whose last AHL action came for the Bears in 2001-02, had a goal and four assists in three games for Bridgeport.</p><p><b>NOTES</b> Springfield&rsquo;s <b>Morgan Cey</b> blanked Lowell with 37 saves March 25 in his first career AHL start&hellip; Albany&rsquo;s <b>Frank Doyle</b> had 38 saves in a 2-1 shootout loss March 25 at Wilkes-Barre to break <b>Peter Sidorkiewicz&rsquo;s</b> single-season record of 1,559 saves set in 1996-97.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0034-11

Altering the formula

<div class="byline">&#x2013; PHIL JANACK</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-09267/8834802-1-eng-US/f0034-092.jpg" title="f0034-09" width="570" height="570"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-10240/8834795-1-eng-US/f0034-102.jpg" title="f0034-10" width="168" height="176"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>Z</span>denek Blatny continues to pay dividends for the Springfield Falcons after being acquired in early February to help spark a stagnant offense.</p><p>The 25-year-old left winger had 11 goals and 21 points and was a plus-four in 18 games with his new team. Springfield went into the final weekend of March having won five of seven games.</p><p>Blatny had nine points in one four-game stretch to earn March 12 AHL player-of-the-week honors.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a big difference, because I came here from Providence and they are a playoff team,&rdquo; Blatny said. &ldquo;For me, I guess it&rsquo;s good, because I play a lot. I&rsquo;m getting some goals now and some points, so that&rsquo;s always good.&rdquo;</p><p>Selected 68th overall by Atlanta in 1999, Blatny signed with the Boston Bruins after attending training camp on a free agent tryout. He played only 24 games in Finland and his native Czech Republic during last season&rsquo;s lockout due to injury and inconsistency.</p><p>&ldquo;I was struggling last year,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It was a tough year for me, but I am happy now.&rdquo;</p><p>An NHL job would make Blatny, a Calder Cup champ with the Chicago Wolves in 2002 as a rookie, very happy.</p><p>&ldquo;My biggest goal is to play in NHL,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know if I&rsquo;ll get any chance this year, but I don&rsquo;t want to play in the AHL next year. As long as I have a good season, I can get a decent contract at least in Europe or maybe get a shot at the beginning of next year in the NHL.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0034-09

Blatny fits Falcons well

<div class="byline">By MIKE MASTOVICH</div><p>D<b>an Seltzer</b> didn&rsquo;t know he nearly became a millionaire simply by clicking the Sovereign Center turnstile in Reading.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-011188/8834833-1-eng-US/f0035-012.jpg" title="f0035-01" width="159" height="155"></div><p>Even though he missed his chance at walking away with a million bucks, Seltzer still earned a one-in-a-million tag March 25. The 25-year-old from Reading was the Royals&rsquo; millionth fan for a home game against rival Trenton.</p><p>Only seven teams in the now 25-member ECHL&rsquo;s 18-year history reached one million fans in five seasons, including Reading.</p><p>&ldquo;I just got into it this year,&rdquo; Seltzer, who typically attends two games a week, told The Reading <i>Eagle</i>.</p><p>During the first intermission, Seltzer chose three prizes from a group of hundreds of money pouches spread across the ice. He didn&rsquo;t pick the million-dollar pouch, but did land a pair of season tickets for five years, a luxury suite for an upcoming playoff game and a $500 gift certificate for the Royals merchandise shop.</p><h2><b>NEIGHBORLY ACT</b></h2><p>Pensacola and Mississippi joined forces to raise funds for the Biloxi-based Sea Wolves, who are sitting out this season because of Hurricane Katrina.</p><p>Pensacola invited Sea Wolves fans to attend the Ice Pilots&rsquo; March 25 home game against Gwinnett and donated a portion of the ticket sales to Mississippi as part of &lsquo;Sea Wolves Appreciation Night.&rsquo;</p><p>Approximately 300 Mississippi fans drove two hours to attend what the Sea Wolves billed as &lsquo;Pull for the Pilots Night.&rsquo;</p><p>&ldquo;They&rsquo;re our closest hockey neighbor and we&rsquo;re working together,&rdquo; said Mississippi media relations director <b>Mike Kelly</b>, adding the Sea Wolves hoped to raise $1,500 through ticket proceeds, T-shirt sales and an auction.</p><h2><b>RARE O-CCURRENCE</b></h2><p>Augusta shut out visiting Florida 3-0 March 26, clinching its first playoff berth since 2001.</p><p>It was the Everblades&rsquo; first shutout loss in 64 games since being blanked in the season opener against Las Vegas.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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April 11, 2006

hockeysockpuppettheatre

Comley continues to enjoy time behind MSU bench

Henrik takes charge of new first unit

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