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May 20, 1994
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.
Russia can wait while Bets prepares for big time
Maxim Bets’ season turned out to be a bit longer than he expected. The 20-year-old forward was planning on going to his off-season home in Russia once the Spokane Chiefs were eliminated from the Western League playoffs. But just before the NHL trading deadline March 21, the St. Louis Blues traded Bets-who was their second-round pick in the 1993 draft-to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim for defenseman Alexei Kasatonov and a 1995 sixth-round pick. Ten days later, Bets signed a three-year contract with the Ducks and put on an NHL jersey. By April 8, he was making his NHL debut. “He has to be in awe of what really happened in such a quick fashion,” said David McNab, director of player personnel for the Ducks. “He was going home. Once his season ended, he…
Churla promises ‘payback’ on Bure for vicious elbow
Pavel Bure has dazzled the NHL with his goal-scoring prowess, but he unleashed a new weapon in the Vancouver Canucks’ second-round playoff series against the Dallas Stars. Upset with the mugging he was receiving from the Stars, the Canucks’ right winger picked on Dallas’ toughest guy, Shane Churla, and knocked him out with a vicious flying blindside elbow during Game 2 of the series. The hit, which escaped the eye of referee Andy van Hellemond, was so blatant that supervisor of officials John D’Amico sent the tape to NHL vice-president Brian Burke. Burke ruled the hit “clearly intentional and potentially dangerous” and fined Bure $500, the maximum allowed under the collective bargaining agreement. There was no suspension. “Why should I be suspended if they’re not suspended?” said a defiant Bure, referring to the Stars…
Bourque still amazing after all these years
A knee injury forced Boston Bruins’ defenseman Ray Bourque to miss the last 11 games of 1993-94 and a chance at the first 100-point season of his brilliant 15-year career. That’s about all it cost him, though. He led all NHL defensemen with 91 points, completed the year as a favorite to win his fifth Norris Trophy and was voted the The Hockey News Defenseman of the Year by readers. Scott Stevens of the New Jersey Devils and Chris Chelios of the Chicago Blackhawks finished second and third in voting. This is the first year for the award. The THN honor was another memorable moment in a season filled with them. “Raymond is incomparable,” said Harry Sinden, Bruins’ president and general manager. “Nobody played the way Raymond played this year. People probably don’t realize…
Poile winner, Murray sinner
John Druce achieved a measure of immortality in 1990. If he never does another thing in his career, Druce can always look back on the 1990 playoffs when he scored 14 goals in 15 games for the Washington Capitals. That year, Druce was a winner. The playoffs produce winners and sinners-those who rise to the occasion at the most important time of the season and those who don’t. The 1994 NHL playoffs are no exception. Here are the winners and sinners so far: Winner: Capitals’ coach Jim Schoenfeld defies odds, critics and good sense successfully shuffling goalies in first-round action. Sinner: If Pittsburgh Penguins played with as much passion as they party, the two-time Stanley Cup champs would still be in the spring showdown. Winner: Capitals’ GM David Poile gets enough out of late…
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