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October 3, 2006
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.
Where we’re headed
Remember what hockey used to be like? If not, here’s a refresher: Team A has a puck go off a guy’s butt for a goal in the first period; Team B ties it up with a goal off a defenseman’s skate early in the second period. Late in the second period, Team A or B gets a power play goal after a pileup in front of the crease (the goal survives video review) to take a 2-1 lead. Third period, for all 20 minutes, Team With Lead dumps the puck in over the red line, then changes skaters and watches as fresh troops bear hug the opposing team on every square inch of the ice – with no calls. The horn sounds, and Victorious Team talks about their 2-1 win as…
Electrical storm brews
Tampa Bay What to make of this Lightning bunch? The team is much better in net after the acquisition of Marc Denis, but it lost 31 goals in the process when it sent Fredrik Modin to Columbus. It is quicker and deeper on defense with the additions of Filip Kuba and Andy Delmore, but lost a lot of experience when Pavel Kubina signed a fat contract with Toronto and Darryl Sydor, one of the integral pieces of the 2003-04 Stanley Cup run, was let go in a salary cap move. What to make of all that? Frankly, it’s hard to tell. There is always the risk of things imploding when a bunch of new players are brought in, especially those unfamiliar with Tampa Bay’s “safe is death” mantra. That could be especially acute this season…
Rangers wait on next wave
NY Rangers First there was the signing of 33-year-old free-agent defenseman Aaron Ward, and then there was the signing of 37-year-old free agent winger Brendan Shanahan. And, oh, there were invitations to return to Broadway to 34-year-old forward Martin Straka and to 35-year-old winger Martin Rucinsky, the last of which was declined. That is to say, it was just another summer of rebuilding for the Rangers. No, really. This is the way the Rangers are rebuilding these days; by making massive renovations to the back of the house while the marquee is populated by familiar names. This is the only way the Rangers can successfully retool in New York, a city in which failure to repeat consigns a sports team to the outer fringes of consciousness, and even worse for an NHL team that, by…
Heat on Huet to hold fort
Montreal Like many teams, the Canadiens face numerous questions heading into the new season. And, like most of those squads, only time will tell how many of those questions will be answered. It all starts in goal, where goalie Cristobal Huet, who basically walked on water last season, will be required to perform more miracles. His story, by now, has been well-documented. His heroics could very well spawn a new generation of Quebec-born youngsters aspiring to become goalies. Huet played in only 36 games last season, but went 18-11-4 and was the biggest reason the Canadiens finished seventh in the Eastern Conference and qualified for the playoffs. His save percentage of .929 was the NHL’s best. He was tied for the second-highest shutout total (seven), while his goals-against average (2.20) placed him fourth…
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