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October 6, 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.
LaFontaine adjusting
Pat LaFontaine says his knee is fine, he likes his new coach and he thinks the Buffalo Sabres could surprise a few people this season. And yes, he misses Dale Hawerchuk and Alex Mogilny and still thinks about what might have been. LaFontaine isn’t griping. The always positive center for the Buffalo Sabres went through a long period where he wondered where the organization was headed and what the teams of the past failed to achieve. “This team had (Stanley Cup) expectations for a long time,” he said. “We were building toward a contending team and a part of me will always believe we were headed in the right direction.” That has changed now. For budgetary reasons and because they need to get bigger and younger, the Sabres have stepped back from the challenge…
Free agents not so free
One look around the NHL this summer showed an abundance of restricted free agents to die for. But when the players went looking, there were few offer sheets to be found. Two weeks before the regular season, only two of 137 Group II free agents had signed offer sheets: Shayne Corson with the St. Louis Blues and Stu Grimson with the New York Rangers. The free agents and some player agents aren’t happy about the lack of movement. Yet their dissatisfaction has been muted and they aren’t about to storm the barricades with accusations of owner collusion. In legal terms, collusion implies an explicit agreement between parties; in this case, by NHL teams not to sign other teams’ free agents. Nobody is saying that’s happening—yet. “I think over time you build a case for…
50 names you should know
Hockey pools are about lists. Oh, they’re about other things too, of course, but there’s not enough space to list them all. We only have room for six, five on this page and a monstrous 300-name list on the facing page: 10 players set to score more than in ’95: 1. Pavel Bure, Vancouver: Batman and Robin, Turner and Hooch, Martin and Lewis, and, now, another dynamic duo in Bure and Alexander Mogilny. 2. Alexander Mogilny, Vancouver: See Pavel Bure. 3. Dimitri Khristich, Los Angeles: Kings gave up a first-round pick to get him and they don’t want to look stupid. 4. (Place name here), Vancouver: Whomever plays center (Mike Ridley?) between Bure and Mogilny. 5. Brendan Shanahan, Hartford: Dipped to a projected 35 goals last season after back-to-back 50-goal seasons with St. Louis Blues. 6. Doug…
Shark attack in Tallahassee
Don’t be surprised if there’s a Shark attack in the East Coast League this season. The Tallahassee Tiger Sharks gave an excellent account of themselves last season—pushing champion Richmond Renegades to the limit in the semifinals—and are the favorites this year. Coach Terry Christensen’s system, which emphasizes speed and defense, combined with the scoring and leadership of Darren Schwartz and goaltending of Mark Richards, should help the Sharks to claim the league’s eighth title. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish. NHL and/or minor pro working agreements, last year’s records, finishes and playoff fortunes are in parentheses. The top five teams in each division, plus one wild card, make the playoffs. East Division 1. Roanoke Express (Minnesota-IHL, 3919-10, second place, lost quarterfinal). Coach: Frank Anzalone. The Express came up one point short in the…
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