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October 11, 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.
STAR-SWAPS O’ PLENTY ON EVE OF NHL’S 75TH YEAR
Just when you thought you had it all figured out, the picture got fuzzy again. Just when you thought you had all 22 pieces lined up and slotted in their final spot in the standings, the general managers started making moves as if it was the March trading deadline. From Edmonton to New Jersey, Toronto to Philadelphia, and from Montreal to St. Louis, the NHL prediction process was thrown into disarray with just about a week to go before the regular season as big-name players moved across the landscape of all four divisions, making pretenders into contenders, and maybe making some contenders into favorites to win their division or conference. And while hockey poolsters were trying to re-shuffle their draft lists, the phone calls from NHL teams to the print shops must…
CANADA CUP MAY BECOME EUROPEAN VACATION
The Canada Cup will go on. But will it ever go on the road? Possibly. In general, tournament organizer Alan Eagleson follows Wayne Gretzky’s lead on matters relating to the Canada Cup. Eagleson’s logic is sound. Without the world’s best player, the tournament wouldn’t have nearly the same impact or importance that it does. So on the night Canada won the tourney for the fourth time in five Gretzky floated a trial balloon reporters: Maybe the next challenge for Team Canada is to win the Canada Cup on the road. Logistically, moving the Canada Cup to Europe could create some big headaches. First, it may not be in the best interests of the major corporate sponsor, Labatt’s Breweries, which sells a lot of beer in Canada and some in the U.S., but none…
VETERAN SOVIET GOALIE TRIES OUT WITH OILERS
He was once heralded as the next Vladislav Tretiak. Now, four years, eight knee operations and one big bout with alcoholism later, Evgeny Belosheiken is just trying to earn a job in minor-league hockey with the American League’s Cape Breton Oilers. Belosheiken, a former goalie for the Soviet National and Red Army teams, was drafted by Edmonton in the 11th round of the NHL draft in June. He was on a tryout and hadn’t been signed to a contract. While the 25-year-old goalie had fallen far on the Soviet depth chart, the Oilers decided it was worth taking a chance on the goalie for Team U.S.S.R. in RcndezVous ’87 and the 1987 Canada Cup. His career spiraled downward after the 1988 Olympics because of confining problems with his right knee, a dislike for the…
VERBEEK, CULLEN, NEEDED TO PREVENT FREE-FALL
From Mark Messier to Kevin Stevens to Scott Stevens to Eric Lindros, Edmonton, Pittsburgh, New Jersey and Quebec have each had major personnel crises during the preseason. But don’t forget the plight of the Whale. One week before the beginning of the regular season, free-agent John Cullen and option-year holdout Pat Verbeek were not close to signing with Hartford. They’re also the two best players on the team. Training camp developments: Cullen, who wants to be recognized among the top-five paid centers in the NHL (at least $1,085 million), flatly rejected an offer of $800,000 a year. Verbeek waltzed out a week into camp, demanding $1.3 million. The Whalers have offered $700,000. And free agent Todd Krygier, calling for $250,000 a year, refused to show up. Whalers’ general manager Ed Johnston said he didn’t have time…