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June 1, 1995
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.
Case of one-downmanship
The new Hartford Whalers’ regime didn’t take long to demonstrate what it thinks of first-round draft picks last summer. GM Jim Rutherford traded three of them to the Boston Bruins for defenseman Glen Wesley. It also didn’t take long for critics to claim Rutherford paid too much for Wesley. Rutherford never denied the price was steep, but he did have his reasons. He feels Wesley is one of the 10 most valuable defensemen in the NHL and has eight strong seasons left in his bones. Rutherford felt he could not wait to save the Whalers franchise in Hartford. He had to act immediately. And, oh yes, one more thing… “First-round picks are overrated,” Rutherford said. It’s a fascinating theory from a man who operated first-rate junior franchises for several years with the Windsor Spitfires…
Searching for an identity
In the wake of another first-round playoff exit, the Buffalo Sabres are pointing to another team as the foundation for what they hope will someday be their success. The new model is the Boston Bruins, a blue collar team. Of course this is another departure from the game plan first detailed by then-GM Gerry Meehan and coach John Muckier. Just four years ago they were preaching the Edmonton Oiler system of speed, scoring, flash and panache. Before that it was Rick Dudley and his team of hard-working grinders. Before that it was Scott Bowman and his big boy club of Dave Andreychuk, Adam Creighton, Paul Cyr and Norm Lacombe. The various turnarounds keenly illustrate the problem with the Buffalo Sabres and the way they draft. This is a 25-year-old franchise that has…
Success has nice ring to it
Larry Pleau can sympathize with the New York Rangers. They waited 54 for years for a Stanley Cup; he waited 24 for a Stanley Cup ring. The Rangers’ assistant GM and scouting chief dressed for two games of the 1970 Stanley Cup final for the Montreal Canadi-ens. Because he didn’t get a shift, his name was not engraved on the Stanley Cup. And he didn’t get a ring because most of the players on that team were running out of fingers. “They had a lot of guys like Jean Beliveau, Henri Richard, Yvan Coumoyer; some guys winning their third or fourth Cup, some guys winning their seventh or eighth,” Pleau recalled. “They got TVs and stuff like that.” Pleau, 45, has his ring now and he should have a lot of time to…
Injury-filled season makes Sykora unknown quantity
Midway through the season, Detroit Vipers’ center Petr Sykora was rated fourth by the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau. The night before the rankings were released on Jan. 26, Sykora was hit into the boards during an International League game against the Peoria Rivermen and separated his right shoulder. The shoulder was originally separated at the World Junior Championship. This time it required surgery and put Sykora on the shelf for the rest of the season. The injuries certainly didn’t enhance his draft status. If he had at least played in the WJC, scouts would have seen him against the best juniors in the world. “What may make teams hesitate in taking him is if they haven’t seen enough of him,” said Mighty Ducks of Anaheim GM Jack Ferreira said. “If you didn’t see him…
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