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March 27, 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.
Marvelous Morrison
Brendan Morrison will probably be in the NHL next season. And when he does arrive, don’t say you didn’t see it coming. Morrison has quietly crept up THN’s list of the Top 50 NHL Prospects since debuting at No. 34 in 1996. The New lersey Devils’ hopeful made the leap to No. 15 in 1997 and has surged to No. 6 in 1998. We’re not counting on him making a fourth appearance. “Brendan Morrison is an extremely creative player,” said one NHL scout. “The thing about Morrison is that he’s so quick with his head, hands and feet that he can be dangerous from just about anywhere on the ice.” Opponents learned that over the four years Morrison was with the University of Michigan. He won the Hobey Baker as the top U.S. college…
NHL tackling head injuries
Even for Pittsburgh Penguins’ team physician Dr. Charles Burke, the coincidence was eerie and unnerving. Concussion experts from around North America gathered in Orlando, Fla., March 6 and 7 for a conference. Dr. Burke gave a presentation of the NHL’s work in the field at 9 a.m., then caught a plane back to Pittsburgh in time for the Penguins-Philadelphia Flyers game that afternoon. At 1 p.m. in Orlando, former New York Islander Brett Lindros provided an athlete’s perspective as a victim of head injury. Dr. Burke missed that one. But no one in Pittsburgh’s Civic Arena missed the spectacular, jarring hit Pittsburgh defenseman Darius Kasparaitis put on Brett’s brother Eric. And no one could help but think of Brett as the Flyers’ behemoth captain, lying on his back, curled his knees to…
Barrie coach angry after losing on Capital investment
On three separate occasions earlier this season, Barrie Colts’ coach-GM Bert Templeton asked the same question. Three times he got the same answer from Washington Capitals’ GM George McPhee: Jan Bulis would not be returned to the Ontario League. Guess what? Templeton should have asked a fourth time. Bulis was returned March 6, 3-1/2 months after Templeton traded the rights to the 19-year-old Czech Republic center to the Kingston Frontenacs. The same day Bulis returned, Templeton got his 742nd win, moving him past Ken Hodge of the Portland Winter Hawks into second place on the Canadian Hockey League career wins list. The Bulis situation tempered the milestone. “It makes you question integrity,” Templeton said. “Situations change and I understand that, but I asked George McPhee three times if there was any chance of Jan coming back…
Little in system to offer hope
The Toronto Maple Leafs remain one of the thinnest organizations in hockey, which is why this summer’s entry draft looms as absolutely crucial for Ken Dryden’s rebuilding club. There have been encouraging signs with the development of players such as Fredrik Modin, Alyn McCauley, Mike Johnson and Jason Smith, but the Leafs still don’t have a top-notch prospect in the system or any players certain to crack the NHL lineup last season. On the positive side, the new management team led by Dryden appears committed to instituting a patient development process, beginning with leaving players in the minors for longer apprenticeship periods. The Leafs have also hired several prospect development monitors charged with carefully watching the development of junior players. The Leafs are paying for the hasty decision-making of the Cliff Fletcher years…
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