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June 1, 1996
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.
You can depend on Phillips
The Wait began long before defenseman Chris Phillips joined the Western League’s Prince Albert Raiders for the 1995-96 season. Indeed, NHL scouts, armed with Rand McNally maps, flocked to see Phillips play for two years with the Alberta Junior League’s Fort McMurray Oil Barons before he arrived in Prince Albert. Many NHL talent hounds, in fact, projected Phillips as a first overall pick at the 1996 entry draft, even though he had yet to play a single game in the WHL. Phillips was rated first overall among North American skaters, according to the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau final rankings and is the top prospect in THN’s 1996 Draft Preview. “Before the season started, I was kind of thinking in the back of my mind that it’s a long season ahead,” Phillips said. “But I…
Entering uncharted waters
Suddenly, things have changed considerably for the Florida Panthers. No longer struggling, no longer clawing to reach the playoffs, the Panthers have matured into a team with what appears to be just the right mixture of veteran leadership and promising young talent. But make no mistake, said GM Bryan Murray, the Panthers are still a work in progress. When the Panthers head to the entry draft in June, they’ll do so hoping, like everyone else in the league, to get skilled youngsters they can mold into future NHL players. For the Panthers, who have the 20th pick in the first round, the system has worked well the past three seasons. The Panthers have certainly flourished at the draft table. Among their selections now playing in the playoffs are youngsters such as right winger Radek…
Two young guns head 1998 field
The 1998 draft crop features the youngest player in major junior hockey this season and the youngest player ever to play college hockey. Right winger Rico Fata and center Gregor Baumgartner have emerged as early 1998 candidates. Fata became one of a handful of Ontario League players in history to play as a 15-year-old when he joined the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. The league allows underage players to play for teams in their hometowns. Fata scored 11 goals and 26 points and is expected to go first overall to the London Knights in the OHL draft. Baumgartner, a native of Austria, played seven games for Clarkson University, but quit because he wasn’t playing enough and joined the Gatineau Intrepide of the Quebec AAA midget league. He’ll be available in the CHL import draft…
Expanding their horizons
In some ways, the 1996 NHL entry draft is already a success for the Dallas Stars. Faced with a tough choice last season, the Stars decided to trade away their second round pick in this year’s draft to get two defensemen midway through the third round. The Stars had pegged Russian Sergei Gusev as their third round pick, but when injured Czech star Petr Buzek was still was around, the Stars nabbed him with the 63rd pick. Still interested in Gusev, they traded this year’s second-rounder for the 69th pick and grabbed the Russian rearguard. “We were actually trading for Buzek because we were so surprised he was still there,” said Craig Button, the Stars’ director of scouting. “But we didn’t want to pass on Gusev either because we knew he was solid.” Credit…
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