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January 23, 1998
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.


Fleury’s at top of his game after rediscovering feistiness
In October, as Theo Fleury struggled out of the gate for the Calgary Flames, there were whispers the pint-sized forward’s best days may have been behind him. After all, Fleury recorded only 67 points in 81 games in a distraction-filled 1996-97 season. It didn’t help Fleury needed to be hospitalized at the end of training camp for 24 hours so he could take in enough fluids intravenously to get over what was alternately described as a virus or food poisoning. Combined with a neck injury that bothered him for a month and another controversy involving his former junior coach, Graham James, the first month of the season was hardly memorable. Fleury’s turnaround in the last seven weeks is nothing short of astonishing. Motivated by the real possibility he would not be named to Canada’s…


Stickboy to poster boy
Sitting in a hotel room in Edmonton, where his season began and his roller coaster career hit another downward slide, Ray Whitney thanked his lucky stars. “I’m enjoying the game as much as I ever did,” said the Florida Panthers’ leading scorer. “I enjoy being in the NHL, especially after last I season. Sometimes you don’t realize how lucky you are to be in the NHL.” A year ago, Whitney was in the minors. No NHL team wanted him. Fast forward to 1998 and Whitney’s career has seemingly taken off. Desperate for help up front, the Panthers rolled the dice on the 26-year-old mini center who has exceeded all expectations in the Sunshine State. In the 30 games this season with Florida, Whitney had 17 goals and 32 points. He had a goal…


Wasyluk happy to be back with new team in the Hat
A change of management led to a change of heart on the part of Trevor Wasyluk. The 19-year-old left winger rejoined the Medicine Hat Tigers Dec. 4, after conversations with the Western League team’s new coach and director of operations, Rick Carriere. Carriere replaced GM Doug Mosher and coach Kurt Lackten, who were fired Nov. 24. Carriere’s immediate priority was to smooth things over with Wasyluk, who sat out two months of the season after demanding a trade. “He’s an outstanding player,” Carriere said. “They made changes to the organization. I had the intention of giving everyone a clean slate. “I don’t know what went on in the past and I didn’t want to get involved in that. I’m interested in the present and working toward the future. Trevor and I sat down and…


Perreault finds power
The Los Angeles Kings knew Yanic Perreault wasn’t likely to maintain the torrid pace he set early in the season, when he scored 16 goals in the team’s first 29 games and was a key reason the Kings’ offense was tops in the league. But they were beginning to wonder if the 27-year-old center would ever emerge from the funk that followed his fast start, a slump in which he scored only one goal in 13 games. They had reason to be optimistic Perreault’s scoring woes-and their own-might be at an end when Perreault scored his first goal in more than a month in a 2-2 tie against the Buffalo Sabres Jan. 8. The goal was also Perreault’s first power play goal of the season, and he felt as if a huge…