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February 14, 1997
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.
Dube in for Hull of ride
Christian Dube is a big part of the New York Rangers’ plan for the future. But with Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky up the middle, the future is not now. And so the Rangers would rather have the rookie center be “a big fish in a small pond than a minnow in the ocean.” That is how Rangers’ president-GM Neil Smith put it Jan. 29, when the difficult but sensible decision was made to send Dube back to junior, ending his NHL season. Dube was returned to the Hull Olympiques of the Quebec League, where he will finish this season. Hull, which will host and contend for the Memorial Cup this spring, had acquired Dube’s rights from the Sherbrooke Faucons earlier this month. The Rangers would not have made this move if Dube had…
Gilmour wants to stay in T.O.
It has been a season in which Doug Gilmour’s words have caused more of a stir than his actions. First there was his angry stickthrowing tirade against Toronto Maple Leafs’ assistant coach Mike Kitchen. Then there was his critical blast at his teammates in mid-December. Then, after a week-long silence, there came several lengthy media interviews Jan. 29 during which the Maple Leaf captain told reporters he doesn’t want to leave Toronto. The same day, he met with GM Cliff Fletcher to deliver the same message. “Cliff thought I wanted out of here,” Gilmour said. “But I told him I want to stay in Toronto. I’m not going to leave this team the way it is right now. They don’t deserve to be in that situation.” A 4-0 loss on home ice Jan. 29…
Inconsistent play sets off roster unrest
In their attempt to recapture the consistency they displayed earlier in the season, the Hartford Whalers engaged in a series of minor personnel shakeups. “If you tell people they need to start producing and they don’t produce, eventually you’ve got to do something about it,” said coach Paul Maurice. Center Jeff O’Neill, 20, a first round draft pick (fifth overall) in 1994, was demoted to the Springfield Falcons of the American League Jan. 25. A few days later, the injury situation compelled to Whalers to recall O’Neill, who was struggling with 10 goals and 22 points in 43 games. But the message didn’t change. Former major junior sniper Hnat Domenichelli, 20, a left winger who was leading Springfield in scoring, was recalled. So was Kevin Brown, 22, a right winger acquired from the Mighty…
Blake hoping to be big hit by again delivering big hits
In the month Los Angeles Kings’ defenseman Rob Blake waited for his broken right hand to heal, he had plenty of time to relax and do things such as watch tapes. But the tapes he viewed weren’t from a video store: they were of games from last summer’s World Cup and the Kings’ 1993 Stanley Cup run. After seeing his old confident self, Blake became determined to be more assertive and take charge in the Kings’ battle for a playoff spot. “It was obvious when I play very physical, I can lead the team more,” said Blake, who broke a bone in his hand Dec. 26. “I watched tapes from the World Cup and I remember being so excited. This year, I remember wat-ching the clock and hoping it would just tick down.…
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