New plan, new direction leads to same dead end

One year into a rebuilding plan that began in March,1996, the San Jose Sharks have little to show for it. San Jose’s 27-47-8 record this season was 15 points better than last year’s 20-55-7 mark, but they still finished in exactly the same place, last in the NHL’s Western Conference and 25th in the league’s overall standings. Underachievers Center Darren Turcotte put up just 16 goals and 37 points while missing 13 critical midseason games after puncturing an eardrum with a cotton swab. Perhaps foolishly, the Sharks expected smallish left winger Ville Peltonen to man the second line. Instead, the Finnish prospect spent much of the season in the minor leagues, producing only two goals and five points in 28 NHL games. Overachievers Third-year center Jeff Friesen flashed signs of being a legitimate…

Tkachuk denies gambling charge

Phoenix Coyotes’ captain Keith Tkachuk is threatening a $1 million counter lawsuit against an Edmonton gambler whom the left winger claims has been trying to blackmail him for the past several months. Rajesh Kummer Sabharwal, however, won a $140,(MX) (U.S.) default judgment against Tkachuk, whom he alleges in court documents made illegal bets on professional sporting events between October, 1995 and January, 1996 through an unnamed Boston bookmaker. Tkachuk and his lawyers have denied the allegations and are fighting to overturn the default ruling. An Edmonton court will hear the Tkachuk motion April 23. Sabharwal was awarded the judgment because Tkachuk failed to respond to the lawsuit within the required 15 days after being served papers. Sabharwal contends he was owed the money because he provided “information and services” to Tkachuk in a “verbal…

NHL STATISTICAL REPORT

Generals fined for passing on playoff tradition

The Oshawa Generals were fined $1,000 by the Ontario League after coach Bill Stewart didn’t allow his players to participate in a post-series handshake ritual with rival Peterborough Petes. The Generals won the physical first round playoff in six games, but Stewart was afraid of a full-scale riot. “(The series) was vicious on both sides,” Stewart said of his decision not to take part in the playoff tradition. “One of our guys (Dan Hinote) lost three teeth from a high stick and another (Kevin Colley) had his nose broken. I was worried about our guys starting something. I felt it was in the best interest to avoid a confrontation.” The series produced three suspensions, including five games to Generals’ defenseman Jeff Ware. Commissioner Dave Branch issued the fine, although there’s no league policy requiring…