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May 1, 1991
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 LOOKING OUT FOR NO. 2
When the San Jose Sharks say they’re going to select the best player available in the NHL entry draft, regardless of position, you can believe it. With no young players on the Sharks’ roster, every player picked has to be the best available. Unfortunately, deciding just who is the best player available is a question of great concern for the expansion Sharks. Deciding to make Eric Lindros the first pick in the NHL entry draft should be easy for the Quebec Nordiques. Making the No. 2 selection is the challenge for San Jose. The Sharks have the second pick in the opening round of the draft, and the first pick in the other 11 rounds. The development of the franchise depends upon its draft. “That No. 2 pick will be very important to us,” said…
FIVE EASY PIECES TO TOP-LEVEL TEAM
St. Louis Blues’ general manager Ron Caron had no qualms about spending five first-round draft picks to sign defenseman Scott Stevens as a free-agent last summer. He simply looked at the Blues’ draft history and discovered that from 1980 through 1985, the Blues had only two No. 1 picks and neither one panned out. “We missed six years in a row and we’re not that bad,” Caron says of his team which finished second in the NHL with 105 points in 1990-91. “We’ve grown out of that. That forced us to draft top guys in second and third rounds.” Caron and chief scout Ted Hampson, the key decision maker, have no choice but to draft top guys in the second and third rounds. They actually like it that way. Current Blues Tom Tilley, Steve…
MORE TO LOOK FOR THAN DRAFT POSITION
Once upon a time, collectors had to wait for a player to skate in the NHL before obtaining his card. Now, a fan attending the NHL entry draft could get autographs of the draftable prospects on their own card. Thanks to 7th Inning Sketch, the producers of cards for the Ontario, Quebec and Western Leagues, there is now cardboard for players who have yet to be drafted. And it doesn’t stop there. Upper Deck, one of five companies producing NHL cards this year, made cards of five draft-eligible players, three of whom are expected to be taken in the first round. And, of course, there are the numerous Eric Lindros cards, issued by Score as part of its $30,000 deal with the Oshawa General superstar. You’ll have to excuse top prospects such as Boston University…
DECIDING THE SHAPE OF WINGS TO COME
In his first year as general manager, Bryan Murray and his scouting staff have tried to design a draft philosophy around a simple, yet difficult to answer question: What is a Detroit Red Wing? The Red Wing of the future, Murray says, “will be someone who’s hard working, with character and discipline, a guy that really loves to play.” What about talent? “Obviously, that’s part of it,” he continued. “But you don’t always have to be a talented guy to play in the NHL.” Asked which of his current Wings best personified the Red Wing of the future image, Murray said, “Gerard Gallant is that kind of guy. And so is Steve Yzerman, though he’s much more talented. These guys have a good work ethic.” Yzerman was the first player drafted for the Wings…
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