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October 5, 1990

October 5, 1990

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.

IN THIS ISSUE

DO RANGERS HAVE ENOUGH MUSCLE?

Let us answer a question with a question: Yes, the New York Rangers are tough enough, but at what cost? With the Rangers, the toughness question is never very far from the surface. It was a worry a year ago when rookie general manager Neil Smith and his new head coach, Roger Neilson, rushed to put together a team comprised of virtual strangers. It will remain a concern this season. The difference is the Rangers have an assortment of options they can use to flex their muscles. They could, in fact, put a very tough team on the ice but it might have considerable difficulty accomplishing anything other than playing tough. “Every team,” Neilson says, “is looking for the right mix and ours is no exception. If certain individuals perform well enough to make…

IN THIS ISSUE

NHL PREVIEW

IN THIS ISSUE

CAN ANYONE HERE PLAY DEFENSIVELY?

There are certain images that simply cannot be envisioned, no matter how hard you try. Woody Allen playing Hamlet, for example. Public-health officials touting the virtues of cigarettes. Frank Sinatra being the warmup act for 2 Live Crew. Or—and this is one of the most incongruous—the Pittsburgh Penguins being anything but wretched in their defensive zone. This, after all, is a team that has tried for years to redefine the concept of back-checking. The way the Penguins have approached it in recent seasons, that term means to look at the back of the player you’re supposed to be checking. “We’re a team that can score goals with any team in the league—probably better than any team in the league—but unfortunately, we give up as many as we score,” defenseman Randy Hillier says. Well, not exactly. The Penguins wish they…

IN THIS ISSUE

CAN THIS YOUNG PUP WIN THE NORRIS TROPHY?

Montreal Canadiens’ general manager Serge Savard, who isn’t given to overstatement, said this on June 29 when he traded defenseman Chris Chelios to the Chicago Blackhawks for center Denis Savard: “I made the right move for the team; we feel Mathieu Schneider will replace Chelios.” Coming from another general manager’s mouth, a comment like that could be passed off as wishful thinking. But Savard blows the horn of his own prospects so infrequently that whenever he does, people in Montreal listen. The last time he sounded such sweet notes about a player was in 1984, when he described a can’t miss prospect on the U.S. Olympic team. Some guy with a Greek name: Chelios. Savard trades in horses when he isn’t busy trading his own players; he has come to appreciate good breeding.…