Search for your favorite player or team
© The Hockey News. All rights reserved. Any and all material on this website cannot be used, reproduced, or distributed without prior written permission from Roustan Media Ltd. For more information, please see our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
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.
Draft-day early birds no more
After eight straight years picking in the first half of the NHL entry draft’s first round, the Quebec Nordiques have no qualms about sleeping in a bit on draft day. GM Pierre Lacroix won’t step up to the podium until the 25th selection, thanks to his Nordiques compiling the league’s second-best record this season. How late is that pick? In seven of the past eight drafts, Quebec had already made two selections before the 25th pick. The Nordiques moved up their scouting administration sessions this season. Rather than wait until the final Nordiques’ and major junior games are played, management met in late April to discuss draft strategies. “We wanted to get the draft business taken care of before the playoffs,” said Nordiques’ chief scout Dave Draper. “It was important to have the team’s…
Pieces falling into place
Former New Jersey Devils’ GM and vice-president Max McNab liked to say: “Every time there is an injury, a star is bom.” While that credo does not hold tree in every case, a succession of injuries this past season proved just how deep the Devils organization has become through more than a half-decade of very successful drafting. When left winger Valeri Zelepukin suffered an eye injury at the start of the year, Brian Rolston stepped in and enjoyed a solid rookie campaign. When center Jim Dowd required shoulder surgery in February, Sergei Brylin was given a chance and seized the opportunity. A knee injury suffered by Jason Smith during the lockout opened the door for Chris McAlpine and Ken Daneyko’s tom knee ligaments gave Kevin Dean a chance to prove he could play…
Happy anniversary to us
The Hockey News’ pre-draft coverage has grown from afterthought in the early years of the amateur draft to full-fledged issue as the entry draft has grown in stature. Today, it is among the most eagerly awaited issues of the season and the 1995 Draft Preview promises to be dog-eared by July 8 when thousands of draftniks gather in Edmonton or in front of their televisions to watch the annual proceedings unfold. For the past nine years, THN has armed readers with the Draft Preview to prepare you for the days leading up to the human lottery and the big day itself. We have profiled hundreds of prospects. We add 52 to that list this year. Like all their predecessors, they come highly praised. Not all will prove worthy of our endorsement, something we…
Philosophically different
The Detroit Red Wings used to be a team dedicated to building through the draft. Now their tendency is to fill through the draft. “You can’t build through the draft anymore,” said Wings’ senior vice-president Jimmy Devel-lano. “You have to build your team through trades and signing free agents now. There’s just not the time or the patience to build through the draft anymore.” The fans aren’t as patient and the ownership isn’t as tolerant. Also in Detroit, the building years seem to last a dreadfully long time. But the misfortune of picking high in the draft has paid off. In 1983, Detroit drafted Steve Yzerman with its first pick (fourth overall), a player who has proven to be the franchise player for the past dozen years. Other key players obtained with high…
Made possible with the support of
