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October 1, 1999
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.
Kvasha is Cat’s meow
1999-2000 SCHEDULE Right winger Mark Parrish was the Florida Panthers’ candidate for rookie of the year last season after leading all NHL freshmen with 24 goals. But few around the Panthers pick Parrish as eventually being the best player from Florida’s 1998-99 rookie class. That would be center left winger Oleg Kvasha, whose season ended with a separated shoulder after 12 goals and 13 assists in 68 games. This isn’t to slight Parrish, but the 6-foot-5, 216-pound Kvasha has more size and speed along with a deft passing and shooting touch. “When he gets the puck with speed through the neutral zone, he may be as fast as anybody on our team from the blueline in,” said Panthers’ coach Terry Murray. An interesting assessment from a guy coaching a team with Pavel Bure. “He and (right…
Intrigue surrounds Eastern stars
Going? Going? Gone. That’s one way to sum up the storylines of last season’s Hart Trophy finalists, all members of the Eastern Conference. Can Dominik Hasek really be going home after the season? Is Alexei Yashin going to hold out the entire campaign? And gone are the famous long locks of MVP Jaromir Jagr. As a result, expect another intriguing (and competitive) season in the East. Here, in alphabetical order, is a brief look at each of the 15 Eastern teams, what they did during the summer and the key issue they face in 1999-2000. Projected standings for the conference are on page 34. ATLANTA THRASHERS Key arrivals: Kelly Buchberger, RW; Ray Ferraro, C; Damian Rhodes, G; Patrik Stefan, C. Key departures: Peter Ferraro, RW; Trevor Kidd, G. Off-season development: GM Don Waddell was involved in a…
Penalties loom large in overtime
The thrills may come on the penalty kills. While coaches aren’t predicting firewagon, high-chance hockey in 4-on-4 overtime, things figure to change once one team takes a penalty. “There’s a huge difference between a 5-on-4 power play and a 4-on-3 power play,” Detroit Red Wings’ coach Scotty Bowman said. “It’s much more dangerous. That’s where you’re really going to see things open up.” If a team is penalized in OT, the teams play 4-on-3. If there’s a two man advantage, it’s 5-on-3. If the first penalty expires during running time, the teams play 5-on-4 until the first stoppage, when it reverts to 4-on-3 for the balance of the second penalty. All penalties that carry over from regulation time will be handled as above from the start of OT. Anytime a 4-on-4 situation doesn’t exist…
Morozov jury still out
1999-2000 SCHEDULE Pittsburgh Penguins’ coach Kevin Constantine always errs on the side of caution. A case in point occurred two years ago when Aleksey Morozov arrived in Pittsburgh with the tagline, “Best player outside North America.” The Penguins had taken Morozov in the first round (24th overall) of the 1995 entry draft. The young Russian right winger spent the next two years padding his resume and whetting the appetite of Penguin fans, who were hungry for a third Stanley Cup in the 1990s. A few months after Morozov was named best forward at the 1997 World Junior Championship, the Penguins signed him to a three-year contract worth more than $2.5 million. The next step seemed simple enough: Roll out the pucks and watch the 20-year-old Morozov fill the nets. Constantine knew it wouldn’t be…
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