SCOREBOARD

Theoretically speaking, it’s time to add more goals

Whether it’s a trait that comes via nature or nurture, journalists are cynics. We play the angles better than Dominik Hasek and Devil’s advocate better than Lou Lamoriello. As a group we don’t agree on much-ask 10 reporters for an opinion and you’ll get 25-but there is one thing we all like: a conspiracy theory. The plot barely needs to be plausible, as long as it intrigues. Which is why, when a hockey insider raised the notion that perhaps the NHL prefers its games low-scoring, it set some rusty gears in motion. The premise is an anemic league-wide offense helps keep salaries in check. Lower individual totals sap player leverage come contract time and can cripple their cause in arbitration, where stats and comparisons are so vital. Of course, the concept has more…

Hall’s international flavoi

As the five newest members of the Hockey Hall of Fame took their seats to meet with the media hours before their official induction, a couple of things became obvious. Firstly, hockey truly no longer has any borders. Two players from Canada, one from Moscow, another from Helsinki and one from Detroit became honored Hall of Fame members. And if you follow the sands of time, you’ll see the distinguished inductees have been crossing paths long before they became stars in their own right. The Hall welcomed Mike Gartner, Viacheslav Fetisov, Dale Hawerchuk, Jari Kurri and Craig Patrick to its exclusive club in what Jim Gregory, chairman of the selection committee, described as “the most geographically diverse group” to ever be enshrined. “Those five guys represent the global nature of our game today,”…

CENTRAL LEAGUE

Coaches in the Central League are adapting to the rookie rule. Hyped as a league to develop young players, the CHL instituted a minimum of three rookies (players with fewer than 25 pro games) per team. The renewed emphasis on recruiting young talent has paid off for several clubs. Despite only two wins in seven games, the Indianapolis Ice are hot on rookie right wingers Peter Boumazakis (six goals, 14 points in six games) and Dylan Taylor (two goals, 11 points in nine games). Bournazakis was CHL player of the month for October. Other rookies playing well are Memphis goalie Sebastien Centomo, who was once property of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Austin Ice Bats’ center Dominic Forget, who had four goals in eight games.…