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September 12, 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.
Junior hockey simply not producing talent
Now that the statistics are in, we should officially lament the decline of major junior hockey as a supplier of top NHL talent. Is it a fluke that only two of the NHL’s 40-goal scorers from last season and just one of the top five scoring defensemen played major junior? Is it another that as its presence is waning on the scoresheet, it is bulging in the penalty minute column? Sixteen of 20 PIM leaders are major junior grads. Maybe it’s time the Canadian Hockey League took a critical look at the game it’s promoting. Personally, I’d rather see a junior system that promotes and develops talented players such as Paul Kariya rather than a just a legion of muckers and grinders. With 60 per cent of the players coming through the…
Youngsters to get chance to crack Murray’s lineup
The Chicago Blackhawks have this familiar look to them heading into training camp. Except for the retirements of Denis Savard and Steve Smith and the trading of veterans Murray Craven and Enrico Ciccone for minor leaguers and draft picks, this is basically the same team that ended last season. And that wasn’t a very good Hawks’ team that barely qualified for the playoffs before losing to the Colorado Avalanche in the first round. GM Bob Murray hopes several rookies can make it and breath some life into the club. “Some kids are going to get a chance to play,” Murray said. “We’re trying to build a nucleus with kids and go forward from there.” Left winger Dan Cleary, whom the Hawks selected 13th in the first round of the June draft, will be given…
Can Stevens bounce back in Bin Apple?
Kevin Stevens has no illusions about why he was acquired by the New York Rangers. And the burly left winger knows the lengthy nature of the talks that preceded the trade that brought him back east hardly reflected the Rangers’ burning desire to get him. Rather, Stevens simply represented the best price the Rangers could get for Luc Robitaille, the disappointing marquee left winger they were desperate to deal. And the only reason he was available himself was the Los Angeles Kings were just as dissatisfied with his ratio of production-to-name recognition/salary. Virtually the entire NHL wonders the same thing about him it wonders about Robitaille: Is he finished as a big-time goal-scorer? “People question you, people doubt you,” Stevens said. “And they should.” Especially when, at age 32, you’re coming off a third…
No urgency for Fedorov
As training camp neared, the waiting game continued to heighten for restricted Group II free agent Sergei Fedorov. As of Aug. 27, the Detroit Red Wings had yet to make a new offer to Fedorov. And neither side expected much movement before camp opens Sept. 10. Until that time, Red Wings’ GM Ken Holland and Fedorov’s agent, Mike Barnett, planned on maintaining an amicable relationship. “When it gets closer to camp, then maybe something will happen,” Holland said. “You need two motivated parties or you will never have a deal. Right now, there’s no urgency for either side.” The last offer the Red Wings made was before last season’s playoffs. Fedorov had his choice of deals ranging from one to four years, with each season at a salary of $4.5 million. Fedorov had an…
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