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Yearbook 2005-06
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.
Sharks hungry for fresh prey
The Sharks have waited for this season a long, long time. As one of the few talent-laden teams ready for the new millennium before the old millennium had even run its course, San Jose bided its time and now finally feels it’s ready to strike. The Sharks, a fast team and tough to defend against with their efficient puck-possession system, has lost six players from 2003-04. But take a close look. Without Vincent Damphousse, Mike Ricci, Mike Rathje, Curtis Brown, Todd Harvey and Jason Marshall – all well-known veterans – the Sharks can expect to be much faster regardless who picks up the available ice time. “You have to have people who can flourish under the new rules,” said GM Doug Wilson. “We’ve planned on this for the last few seasons. We’re…
Building on run focus for Flames
Darryl Sutter is nothing if not a realist. When asked during the 2004 Stanley Cup final how the loss of forward Ville Nieminen would affect his team, the Calgary Flames coach deadpanned: “One less Finn…fewer vowels.” When asked about his team’s chances of a second straight run to the final, Sutter is a little more expansive. “To be quite honest, just because we went to the final, that is not a recipe for going back,” Sutter says. “What I look at as being more important is, it took us until April 1, the last time we played hockey, to make the playoffs. So it’s a lot tougher to make it than it is once you get there. “The one big thing that I take from it, though, is some of the guys who…
Veteran influx adds bite to Cats
Olli Jokinen has played 477 games without competing in a single playoff game, the longest such streak in the NHL. Roberto Luongo, the catalyst to anywhere the Florida Panthers hope to go, has never made the post-season. Entering the summer of 2004, the Panthers’ playoff resume consisted of no Stanley Cups and 12 playoff games – nine from Mike Van Ryn and three from Christian Berglund. So it’s safe to assume experience – or lack thereof – has been the No. 1 factor in the Panthers’ lack of success in recent years. This is why GM Mike Keenan’s top objective the past two summers was to inject experience into Florida’s lineup. This summer, he ripped tag-team pals Joe Nieuwendyk and Gary Roberts away from Toronto while also snagging Calgary’s Martin Gelinas and Colorado’s…
Yashin ‘The Man’ to lead Islanders
Can this one man truly become the Island? The New York Islanders had the opportunity to buy their way out of Alexei Yashin’s prohibitive contract, under terms of the NHL’s new labor deal. Instead, GM Mike Milbury drastically altered the leadership hierarchy of his roster in order to maximize his return on the star-crossed center’s deal. With Yashin slated to earn nearly 20 per cent of the Isles’ salary-cap allotment over the next six seasons, captain Michael Peca was traded and veteran leaders Adrian Aucoin, Kenny Jonsson, Roman Hamrlik and Dave Scatchard were not retained. That likely leaves Yashin as the new captain and unquestioned focal point, a risk that will force him to finally produce like one of the game’s top stars…or further expose him as one of the new-world…
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