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.

January 4, 2002

The Hockey News January 4, 2002

<div class="byline">-Jim Benton</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-02668/7589348-1-eng-US/f0023-022.jpg" title="f0023-02" width="223" height="237"></div>Steven Reinprecht, the &ldquo;other&rdquo; player in last year&rsquo;s blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Kings that brought allstar defenseman Rob Blake to Colorado, is more comfortable this season.And it seems being more comfortable translates into being more productive for the second-year center.Reinprecht, who played well for the Avalanche in the playoffs last season, got off to a sluggish start and was eventually demoted to the fourth line. After he was a healthy scratch for an Oct. 21 game against the Chicago Blackhawks, he responded and played strong two-way hockey in November and December scoring six goals and 14 points during a 14-game stretch while centering Colorado&rsquo;s second line with Chris Drury and Radim Vrbata.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m more comfortable,&rdquo; Reinprecht said. &ldquo;I know what to expect now. I&rsquo;ve got a year under my belt and we won the Cup. Everything that could happen in a career happened last year so I know what to expect. It was my first year in the league and I didn&rsquo;t have any idea about the business aspect of it and the first thing I know I was traded. It was the best thing to happen for me.&ldquo;I had a great time in L.A. and all the guys were great, but I was the only single guy on the team. Everybody was married so I didn&rsquo;t have anybody to hang out with. This season I have (Scott) Parker who lives by me, (Alex) Tanguay, (Dan) Hinote and a bunch of guys to hang out with and it&rsquo;s a lot of fun.&rdquo;FREE AGENT WATCH Colorado&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end.Unrestricted: None.Restricted: Peter Forsberg was supposed to be in the final year of his contract before he took a leave of absence. If he does return, his free agent status will have to be determined. Tanguay, a standout in last season&rsquo;s Stanley Cup final, has struggled this season, but he&rsquo;s only 22 years old. Dan Hinote and Ville Nieminen are both proving themselves to be worthy foot soldiers.LOUD & CLEAR &ldquo;The biggest accomplishments other than my Cups? I would say it would be consistency; to be able to be consistent every year.&rdquo; - Colorado goalie Patrick Roy as he approached the milestone 500 victory plateau.NOTEBOOK Backup goalie David Aebischer has received permission from the Avalanche to play for the Swiss Olympic team in the preliminary round of the Winter Olympics as long as No. 1 goalie Patrick Roy is healthy and can play for the Avalanche in home games Feb. 9,11 and 13. &#9632;

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NHL TEAM REPORTS

Reinprecht settling in nicely with Avalanche after whirlwind tour of NHL in rookie year

Have you ever spotted these two personalities in the same room at the same time?<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-02178/7591015-1-eng-US/f0045-022.jpg" title="f0045-02" width="388" height="454"><figcaption class="caption-body">Daniel Alfredsson Ottawa&rsquo;s favorite son</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-03135/7591008-1-eng-US/f0045-032.jpg" title="f0045-03" width="389" height="452"><figcaption class="caption-body">Seth Green Dr. Evil&rsquo;s son</figcaption></div><h2>They say it&rsquo;s your birthday!</h2>Hockey players celebrating birthdays.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-04109/7591001-1-eng-US/f0045-042.jpg" title="f0045-04" width="801" height="287"></div> &#9632;

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DEPARTMENTS

Separated at Birth

<div class="byline">-Damian Cristodero</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-02695/7590010-1-eng-US/f0032-022.jpg" title="f0032-02" width="220" height="225"></div>It is business as usual for Vinny Lecavalier, which is just how he likes it.With the trade rumors behind him, at least for this season, the 21-year-old center, who in late November asked for a trade, seems to have had some pressure taken off him. And with the addition of left winger Zdeno Ciger, a good passer who is willing to go to the net, his game seems to be rounding into shape as well.Lecavalier had just five goals through his first 31 games, but is now attacking on offense and making a noticeable effort on defense. He also said he is committed to playing for the Lightning.&ldquo;I will produce and help this team,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m here and I&rsquo;m going to work hard. I see the light where we could make the playoffs and that&rsquo;s what&rsquo;s exciting.&rdquo;Lecavalier also wanted to clear up what he characterized as misconceptions about his relationship with coach John Tortorella. There has been some tension between the two. Concerns are thought to include Lecavalier&rsquo;s drop in playing time and the loss of the captaincy.&ldquo;People think we&rsquo;re at each other&rsquo;s throats and don&rsquo;t talk to each other,&rdquo; Lecavalier said. &ldquo;But the team is going right and the direction of the coaching staff is helping. In the past we had our differences, but now we&rsquo;re communicating very well and communicating on the bench. We&rsquo;re on the right path.&rdquo;FREE AGENT WATCH Tampa&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: None.Restricted: Defenseman Pavel Kubina has improved greatly this season and leads the team in ice time while making just $760,000. Left winger Fredrik Modin is struggling to score (but is playing in pain with several nagging injuries). Right winger Martin St. Louis is a bargain at $290,000 and is on pace for 23 goals. A big payday awaits.LOUD & CLEAR &ldquo;It&rsquo;S Up to Vinny to get back to concentrating on his game.&rdquo; - Coach John Tortorella after GM Rick Dudley said he was no longer taking trade offers for Vincent Lecavalier.NOTEBOOK Right winger Martin St. Louis ended a one goal in 19 game stretch by scoring twice in a 4-3 victory over Montreal Dec. 17. &#9632;

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Things looking up for Lecavalier

<div class="byline">-Rick Carpiniello</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-011046/7589786-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg" title="f0030-01" width="217" height="242"></div>Mark Messier never considered himself a scorer. He always thought himself to be the type of player who tried to do whatever it takes to win.Messier said those same things again the night he hit his latest offensive milestone, but you could tell this was something special.Messier scored a goal and an assist Dec. 15 to become the third player in NHL history with 1,800 career points. Only two other two members are in this club: Wayne Gretzky (2,857) and Gordie Howe (1,850). &ldquo;Only two other players have done it, so I can&rsquo;t sit here and say it doesn&rsquo;t mean anything,&rdquo; Messier said.&ldquo;When I look at myself, having scored 1,800 points, it&rsquo;s surprising to me.&rdquo;It might have been surprising that this soon-to-be 41-year-old with a stiff, aching back is even playing at the moment. He missed two games because of a sore back, but scored two game-winning goals in between.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s an incredible career,&rdquo; Brian Leetch said. &ldquo;Everybody was kind of shaking their heads on the bench when they had that up on the board.&rdquo;Not even Messier knows how much longer he might play, but he won&rsquo;t stick around just to move into second place.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not going to feel any better or any different about myself or my career whether I do pass Gordie or not,&rdquo; he said.FREE AGENT WATCH Rangers&rsquo; key players whose contracts, expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: Now that he&rsquo;s playing at peak form, goalie Mike Richter will command top dollar, but there&rsquo;s little reason to think the Rangers won&rsquo;t keep him on.A tougher decision may have to be made on how much to offer Mark Messier if he wants to return.Restricted: Center/right winger Mike York should get a hefty raise on his $675,000 salary.NOTEBOOK Rookie goalie Dan Blackburn got his first home win, 4-2 over Florida Dec. 17. It was his third home start. The Rangers self-destructed in front of him in the other two. &#9632;

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Ailing, aging Messier joins 1,800-point club

<div class="image-hero"><img title="Cover-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/cover-01988/7591177-1-eng-US/cover-012.jpg"></div><a href="http://TheHockeyNews.com">thehockeynews.com</a>TOP 100 PEOPLE OF POWERTHE BIGGEST MOVERS & SHAKERS IN HOCKEY TODAY8-Page Special SectionPatriot Games: Host USA like its Olympic odds at home &#9632;

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IN THIS ISSUE

United We Stand

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-011837/7588146-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg"></div><h2>8-PAGE USE SPECOAL</h2>Jeremy Roenick and Keith Tkachuk are part of the 23-player contingent the Americans will be sending to Salt Lake City with the hopes of capturing gold. Pg. 13.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-021472/7588139-1-eng-US/f0003-022.jpg" title="f0003-02" width="297" height="348"><figcaption class="caption-body">Editor&rsquo;s Notebook&nbsp;Jason Kay Managing Editor</figcaption></div>Don&rsquo;t stop us if you&rsquo;ve heard this one before.In the mid 1970s, in a southwestern Ontario town, Bonnie and Carl welcomed a son into their lives. As the child grew, he displayed an affinity for hockey and blossomed into a scoring star in the OHL. While his entrance to the NHL was delayed, he turned pro with Philadelphia. Success came fairly quickly, but the relationship soured and he was eventually traded. Now, in a new environment, he has his career back on track.No, we&rsquo;re not retelling the familiar tale of Eric Lindros, the one who got his way, but rather the story of Andy Delmore, the one who got away.Delmore, as far as the Nashville Predators are concerned, is the gift who keeps on giving. Traded this past July from Philly for a third-rounder (hockey&rsquo;s equivalent of a plaid tie), Delmore was the NHL&rsquo;s goal leader among defensemen with 12 in 32 games. That&rsquo;s a 30-goal pace, a benchmark no blueliner has reached since Kevin Hatcher had 34 for Washington in 1992-93. (See pg. 5 for more on goals by defensemen.)&ldquo;I thought if I got 10 I&rsquo;d be happy, so anything now is just a bonus,&rdquo; says Delmore, quelling any thoughts of shooting for 30.The Flyers had their reasons for giving up on Delmore, whom they signed as an undrafted free agent in 1997. He showed flashes of offensive brilliance - most notably in the 2000 playoffs when he had five goals in 20 games, including a hat trick - but more often Flyer watchers felt his game was like the desert: droughts on offense and bad burns on defense.The difference? To butcher the line about comedy, time is everything. Delmore is playing an average of 21:09 per game, up nearly four minutes from his previous high of 17:39.&ldquo;(The coaches) gave me a great chance to play,&rdquo; he says.The rewards have been plentiful, especially on the power play where eight of Delmore&rsquo;s 12 goals have come. His shot isn&rsquo;t in Al Maclnnis&rsquo; league, but it&rsquo;s hard, heavy and accurate and he has a lethally quick release.A reputation for having holes in his defensive game lingers for Delmore, 26, and Nashville coach Barry Trotz doesn&rsquo;t use him in shorthanded situations. Until that changes, he&rsquo;s not going to be considered an elite blueliner.Still, the value he brings as a power play afficionado, particularly in this low-goal era, shouldn&rsquo;t be underestimated. Also working in his favor is an affability that complements his natural ability.And what of Bonnie and Carl?&ldquo;My dad&rsquo;s a retired police officer in Windsor and my mom works as a payroll secretary They&rsquo;re avid Preds&rsquo; fans now. My dad threw out all his Flyer stuff.&rdquo;We&rsquo;re guessing the other Carl did the same thing. &#9632;

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The Flyer who got away getting it right in new town

<div class="byline">-James Madge</div>You&rsquo;re 20 years old and about to kickstart your professional career in a big city far from home. Now, who would you like to come collect you at the airport? What about, oh say, Gordie Howe?That&rsquo;s exactly how Morris Lukowich was welcomed to Houston in 1976, where he played three seasons for the Aeros in the World Hockey Association prior to eight years in the NHL, with the Winnipeg Jets, Boston and Los Angeles.Howe had a wealth of advice for Lukowich, but none better than that offered during a round at a Texas golf course. &ldquo;Gordie told me, &lsquo;When you&rsquo;re down here playing golf and you put a ball in the rough, always take a club in with you because you never know when you gotta beat a snake over the head with it,&rsquo;&rdquo; said Lukowich, 45.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-011765/7588177-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="245" height="263"><figcaption class="caption-body">Morris Lukowich</figcaption></div>Lukowich, who lives in Calgary, has fond memories of his career, which saw him score 199 goals and 418 points in 582 NHL games. That includes his and the Jets&rsquo; first NHL goal - although Peter Marsh may argue otherwise. It was Marsh&rsquo;s shot that Lukowich tipped in Oct. 10,1979, and he ribbed Lukowich for years about whether he really touched it. &ldquo;You can definitely see it on the tape,&rdquo; said Lukowich with a laugh. &#9632;

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Lukowich recalls life lessons from Mr. Hockey

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0005-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-011763/7588239-1-eng-US/f0005-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">BRIAN BOUCHER Goalie for USA II, as selected by THN</figcaption></div><h2>Olympic Dream Teams</h2>No. 2 squads for USA, CanadaWhat if hockey was like some of the other Olympic sports, in which a country could send two teams to the Games?For some nations, it&rsquo;s a stretch to ice one men&rsquo;s team. But for the U.S. and Canada, a couple of entries each would be no problem. In fact, both secondary teams would have a good chance of advancing to the medal round - not to mention the surplus of talent still available for possible third teams.Canada II clearly has more goal-scorers left over following the announcement of the 2002 teams, but USA II would be competitive.Our picks, listed alphabetically by position, are based on each player&rsquo;s performance this season, previous intemational experience, aswell as their reputation and potential to excel on the bigger ice surface.<h2>THN ONE-TIMERS</h2>Iginla NHL&rsquo;s only player on pace to register 100 pointsShould Jarome Iginla hit a dry spell, the NHL could be without a 100-point scorer for the second time in three years. In 1999-2000, Jaromir Jagr won his third scoring title - in his active streak of four - with 96 points. Before that, the last champ with fewer than 100 points was Chicago&rsquo;s Stan Mikita, with 87 in 1967-68. Iginla led the NHL with 42 points through 34 games and was on pace for 101 points. No one else was on pace for 100. Why is it so tough to wrack up points these days? Detroit&rsquo;s Scotty Bowman, the dean of coaches, points to his brethren as the main reason. &ldquo;The one area of the game coaches can actually teach and dictate is defensive play,&rdquo; Bowman said. &ldquo;You can&rsquo;t teach players how to score.&rdquo;OLYMPIC MVP Former NHL coach-tumed-broadcaster Harry Neale suggests the country with the best doctor has the greatest chance of winning gold in Salt Lake. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a short tournament and you need to be healthy,&rdquo; Neale said&hellip;When enforcer Tie Domi broke Tiger Williams&rsquo; team record for penalty minutes as a Maple Leaf (1,670) Dec. 15, there was no announcement at Air Canada Centre. That supposedly was the result of a direct order from Leaf president Ken Dryden&hellip;In Detroit, a day after the NFL&rsquo;s Lions won their first game of the season, Red Wing goalie Manny Legace lost his first game in nearly a year. The Lions beat the Vikings while the Red Wings lost to a team coached by a man (Brian Sutter) from Viking, Alta&hellip;We all know Florida tough guy Peter Worrell can hit, but did you know he has a sense of humor? Worrell was a one-man wrecking crew against the Rangers Dec. 17, credited with eight hits, though it seemed like he dished out even more. Between periods he was asked on TV about a confrontation between himself and Theoren Fleury, who was ejected for going nuts after taking exception to a Worrell hit. The bruising Panther said: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s my job to go out and hit. Besides, I feel he took my job on the Canadian Olympic team so I was just getting even.&rdquo; &#9632;

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POWER PLAY

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-011965/7588277-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="588" height="482"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jason Smith&nbsp;In The First Person</figcaption></div>Don&rsquo;t tell captain Jason Smith to take one for the team. One isn&rsquo;t nearly enough. The Edmonton defenseman blocked more shots in 2000-01 - 210 - than any other skater. In 29 games this year he stood 17th overall with 71.It doesn&rsquo;t really matter to me that I led the NHL in blocked shots last season. It doesn&rsquo;t matter if I lead the league again this season, either. All I know is that if I&rsquo;m playing well, I should be in the running.Yes, I get scared. There is a level of risk associated with what I do and with that risk comes fear. Anyone who says otherwise isn&rsquo;t being honest. I saw the Trent McCleary footage just like everyone else. It&rsquo;s a bit better for me as a defenseman because I&rsquo;m not usually rushing the point. But you try standing in front of Al Maclnnis without flinching when he&rsquo;s winding up from 15 feet away. That&rsquo;s fear. It&rsquo;s not ever-present on my mind during a game, but it&rsquo;s there all the same.You&rsquo;ve got to fight it. No one can be effective playing scared. And besides, flinching before a shot is actually the worst thing to do. Tensing your muscles makes the sting worse on impact. It&rsquo;s better to keep your skates planted and keep your weight on your feet. Easy to say, hard to do.But I&rsquo;ve got to do it. Blocking shots is one way I know I&rsquo;m making a difference. I have it in me to give, so I do it and I&rsquo;m hardly the only one.I think the ability to block shots comes from developing as a player, knowing where to be on the ice and where the puck is going. You get hit with a lot of shots just by being in position.I prefer to stay on my feet when blocking a shot. I use a long stick and can often get it in the way before the shooter tees it up. I also find I can recover quicker when I&rsquo;m standing up.Naturally, I want the puck to hit me where I have the most protection. Hockey pants and shin pads are best. Facing the puck is key I might turn my head, but never my body; exposing the calves or back of the legs or even the back is a quick way to injury.I try not to be block shots with my mouth, but sometimes these things happen. In the playoffs last season a shot deflected off my stick and ended up cutting open my upper and bottom lip, leaving pieces of skin flapping in the breeze. I don&rsquo;t remember how many stitches it took to close things up. There wasn&rsquo;t any time for anaesthetic. I just wanted to get back to the game.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-021316/7588270-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="1872" height="1681"><figcaption class="caption-body">Shot-blocker Jason Smith likes to stay on his feet because it&rsquo;s easier to recover and get back into the play.</figcaption></div>Shot-blocking has given me my share of broken toes over the years, but even a soft flip pass can break a bone if it hits you the wrong way One time after blocking a shot I got an infection in my foot; the swelling was so severe the fluids built up inside and couldn&rsquo;t drain properly.The most pain I ever felt came in the playoffs a few years ago off a shot by Dallas&rsquo; Richard Matvichuk. It was a scrambly play in the last minute and I wasn&rsquo;t quite in the right position to protect myself. The puck hit a nerve in my knee. My entire leg went numb. I&rsquo;ll never forget that agony I made it back for the next game, though. Getting back on the ice is the best way to make the pain go away - when I get hit somewhere else, the previous pain doesn&rsquo;t feel so bad any more.Shot-blockers have to be on the same page as their goalie. On our team Tommy Salo is always yelling when we&rsquo;re in his way or where the play is going; that helps a lot. He wants us to block shots. Occasionally we&rsquo;ll deflect one into our own goal, but most of the time the shot ends up going wide or out of harm&rsquo;s way The only rule is if you&rsquo;re going to block it, block it. The worst thing for a goalie is to have someone jump in front of a shot too late or scramble out of the way at the last second and not leave him any time to react.Salo has bought us dinner a few times and as far as &ldquo;Thank yous&rdquo; go, that&rsquo;s good enough for me. If he had to get me something for every shot I blocked. I&rsquo;d be buying him a whole lot more for all the times he has saved my skin.I realize it&rsquo;s not the easiest way to make a living. My wife, Wendy, gets worried sometimes. She watches me dive in front of a shot and asks me why I&rsquo;m doing what I&rsquo;m doing. I don&rsquo;t imagine that makes her any different from most wives or girlfriends or even moms of players in the league.The answer is, we do it without thinking. We do it because it might prevent a goal. We do it because it has got to be done. &#9632;

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FEATURES

Of bruises & broken bones

<h2>Best of the Hockey World</h2>COMEBACK &lsquo;KIDS&rsquo; Veteran goalies Tom Barrasso, Mike Richter are named to the U.S. Olympic team, thanks to strong starts after write-off seasons in 2000-01.MARKED MAN Mark Messier of the Rangers becomes just the third NHLer - ever - to hit the 1,800-point plateau with two points against Buffalo Dec. 15.BEWARE OF SHARKS San Jose, with an impressive 81-2-2 home record, climbs to the top of the Pacific Division with a 10-game undefeated streak.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-03776/7588315-1-eng-US/f0006-032.jpg" title="f0006-03" width="376" height="629"><figcaption class="caption-body">Tom Barrasso</figcaption></div><h2>Worst of the Hockey World</h2>BAD BOY Calgary&rsquo;s Craig Berube is suspended five games for cross-checking St. Louis&rsquo; Doug Weight in the throat - in his first game back from a three-game ban.KNUCKLEHEADS Kings&rsquo; forward Adam Mair earns a 10-game suspension as Ottawa and Los Angeles brawl their way to 252 penalty minutes and six ejections.FAX FOUL-UP GM of Anchorage Aces in West Coast League faxes other teams a list of players he wants to trade - and sends it to Anchorage newspaper as well.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-04474/7588308-1-eng-US/f0006-042.jpg" title="f0006-04" width="374" height="630"><figcaption class="caption-body">Adam Mair</figcaption></div>For Mike Brophy&rsquo;s daily Cheers & Jeers visit <a href="http://TheHockeyNews.com">thehockeynews.com</a> &#9632;

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PLUS MINUS

The NHL is using the Olympics as a giant advertising banner that has but one purpose - to generate future revenue for NHL teams.The NHL has no concern for the Olympic spirit or the competitive representation of countries by athletes. If it did, it would encourage - even force - teams to release their players who want to represent their countries in the preliminary round.Most teams aren&rsquo;t releasing players because of the bottom line: they&rsquo;re worried about injuries to their &ldquo;assets&rdquo; and about playing a league game or two without their strongest lineup (which might affect attendance and/or playoff position.)It&rsquo;s all about money and it makes a mockery of the NHL&rsquo;s participation in the Olympics.Dave Porter, Huntington Beach, Calif.<h2>Two Olympic dilemmas</h2>There are two things wrong with the Olympics.First, there&rsquo;s the players that don&rsquo;t even want to go to the Games, for whatever reason. And second, there are the players that are dying to play - most notably the Slovaks, but other countries, too - but can&rsquo;t because they have to play for Anaheim or Florida instead of their homeland.There&rsquo;s not much we can do about the no-go stances taken by Patrick Roy or Alex Mogilny, but please, NHL, have a heart and fix one of these problems. If an NHL player wants to go, let him.Dave Jordan, Shelburne, Ont.<h2>Lecavalier&rsquo;s time up in Tampa?</h2>Like most NHL fans, Vincent Lecavalier has confused me&hellip;which is it, Vinny, do you want to be traded or not be traded?You missed Tampa Bay&rsquo;s training camp and the first two games of this season due to a contract dispute. Now you do play, but you don&rsquo;t score and you&rsquo;re an off-ice distraction, with all the trade talk.Obviously you&rsquo;re not happy in Tampa, so go to GM Rick Dudley and demand a trade. (And if you end up in Edmonton, so much the better).Mark Skingley, St. Albert, Alta. &#9632;

NHL lacks Olympic spirit

How could you leave out Buffalo&rsquo;s No. 1 line of Stu Barnes, Miroslav Satan and J-P Dumont from the story on top NHL lines? (THN, Dec. 14.) They provide a consistent scoring, hard work and defensive accountability.Lindsay Ungar,&nbsp; Farmington Hills, Mich.After his cross-check to Doug Weight&rsquo;s throat, you can add Craig Berube&rsquo;s name to the list of NHL cheap shot artists. Also on this list is Bryan Marchment, Matt Johnson, Tie Domi, Steve Webb and Claude Lemieux.Darcy Wandy, Roblin, Man.Nikolai Khabibulin is the No. 1 reason for any success Tampa has this year. He keeps them in every game and is returning to the top of the NHL&rsquo;s goaltending class.Brian McCarthy, Gainesville, Fla.Team Canada looks good, but Mark Recchi should have made it. He combines great speed and skill with a tremendous work ethic and he&rsquo;s durable and versatile.Chris Dow, Kingston, Ont.I guess THN and the rest of the hockey media were wrong for calling Eddie Belfour a long shot to make Team Canada. Shame on you! Everyone should know by now to not discount Belfour.Heather Ramsey, Denton, Tex. (Editor&rsquo;s Note: Mike Brophy had picked Ed Belfour on The Hockey News TV show on Sportsnet.)<h2>READERS&rsquo; ONE-TIMERS</h2>This is your place for quick comments on current hockey events. Reader&rsquo;s One-Timers accepts opinions of 60 words or less, so please be concise. &#9632;

Buffalo’s top line does it at both ends

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0008-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-011857/7588394-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg"></div> &#9632;

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ELSTON

If Vancouver&rsquo;s early-season struggles taught them anything, it&rsquo;s that the Sedins, Daniel and Henrik, aren&rsquo;t the budding stars they were projected to be.Except for the odd tic-tac-toe passing play and the ability to find each other on the ice, the twins have not displayed the talent that had scouts drooling all over them at the 1999 NHL draft.Despite being given ample ice time this season, including power play duty, the Sedins have a paltry nine goals between them through 36 games. And Henrik, the so-called playmaker, had a grand total of eight assists.And beyond their unsettling lack of production, neither sibling has flashed any promise of future brilliance. Neither has an overpowering shot, blazing speed, deft puckhandling ability, a knack for getting goals around the net or intimidating size.At best, the Sedins will be third-liners. Not exactly the caliber of players the Canucks were hoping to build them team around.Wade Usborne, Port Coquitlam, B.C.<h2>Who&rsquo;s this Delmore guy?</h2>I&rsquo;m just wondering why no one in the media mentions Andy Delmore. The guy is posting ridiculous numbers for a Nashville defenseman: 12 goals and 19 points in 32 games, including eight power play markers and three game-winners.On top of that, he only had 14 penalty minutes. That kind of production coupled with not taking stupid penalties, plus the fact he&rsquo;s plus-1 on a poor-to-mediocre team&hellip;is this guy for real?Lee Mathews, The Pas, Man.(Editor&rsquo;s Note: See pg. 2 for more on Delmore.)<h2>Flyers exchange goals for fists</h2>How could Philadelphia trade away a chunk of its future for a fighter? Jan Hlavac is a flashy scorer capable of 20-plus goals a season. Donald Brashear, on the other hand, is a typical goon, with no skills to do anything but fight.As a fan of the Flyers, I&rsquo;m very disappointed in GM Bob Clarke. Now the Eric Lindros trade is really bad - Lindros for Kim Johnsson, Brashear and Pavel Brendl.Andrew Hunter, Runnemede, N.J.Got something to say?MAIL: U.S.A.: Letters, THN, PO. Box 904, Buffalo, N.Y., 14240-9947.Canada: Letters, THN, 25 Sheppard Ave. W, Suite 100, Toronto, Ont., M2N 6S7E-MAIL:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mccaigs@transcontinental.ca">mccaigs@transcontinental.ca</a> or visit <a href="http://www.thehockeynews.com">www.thehockeynews.com</a>. Include name, hometown, province/state and phone number. Submissions will be edited. &#9632;

Sedins stuck in neutral

<div class="byline">By Mark Weisenmiller</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0009-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-011744/7588449-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">HOCKEY SOLDIER?&nbsp;Alexander Svitov is one of three top Russian prospects pressed into military duty this season under suspicious circumstances. Now the accusations are flying.</figcaption></div>Two of Russia&rsquo;s best young players are being used as pawns by a Russian authority in an attempt to deliver a message to agents.That&rsquo;s the belief of Jay Grossman, agent for top NHL prospects Alexander Svitov (Tampa Bay) and Stanislav Chistov (Anaheim), who were bullied this season into serving mandatory military duty.Svitov, the third overall pick in the 2001 draft, Chistov, the No. 5 pick, and 2002 draft prospect Kiril Koltsov had a disturbing start to the season. They were with their Omsk teammates at a Moscow hotel when Russian military personnel came and escorted them to an army barracks.Before long, they were returned to their Russian Superleague team, but the message was delivered loud and clear: Regulate the agents and don&rsquo;t take our players to North America until they have fulfilled their military duty.The NHL recently signed a three-year agreement with the International Ice Hockey Federation in which $9 million ($300,000 per NHL team) is distributed to IIHF member countries as compensation for players going to the NHL.Grossman believes Omsk president Anatoly Bardin has a problem with that deal and is taking it out on young Russian prospects by putting the squeeze on agents.&ldquo;(Bardin) has a history of trying to take aim at anything to do with the NHL,&rdquo; Grossman said. &ldquo;He chose to ignore the agreement with the IIHF and NHL. It&rsquo;s an attempt to get even more money outside the agreement.&rdquo;Military service to one&rsquo;s country, though, is not covered in the NHL-IIHF agreement.Svitov was found to have taken an oath to enter the Russian army in December of 2000. That prevented him from trying to crack the Lightning roster.&ldquo;Svitov is the first player to have been deemed ineligible to play (in the NHL) because of compulsory military service,&rdquo; said NHL chief legal officer Bill Daly. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a situation we&rsquo;re going to monitor closely&rdquo;Svitov&rsquo;s army contract expires in December, 2002, but he told a Russian newspaper he has a four-year deal with Omsk. Svitov also signed a three-year contract worth $3.6 million with Tampa Bay.Chistov, regarded by many as the best pure talent in the 2001 draft, was in Anaheim during the summer rehabilitating a knee injury. Omsk management told him they considered him a deserter, so he returned home to clear up the issue. That&rsquo;s when he was taken by army personnel.Svitov and Chistov are getting limited playing time with Avangard Omsk while getting credit for some military service. They&rsquo;re likely also playing with Avangard-2 in a lower league. It has deflated their spirits, conditioning and development.The Russians have their own side of the story. In an article on <a href="http://www.eurohockey.net">www.eurohockey.net</a>, Bardin gave his views on the situation.&ldquo;(Agents) are used to do(ing) their things, beyond the law, ignoring our contracts with the players.&rdquo;Bardin sent the Lightning a letter threatening a $500,000 lawsuit if the NHL team interferes with Omsk&rsquo;s contract with Svitov.Said Lightning assistant GM Jay Feaster: &ldquo;(The Svitov case) has been presented in the Russian media as Bardin saving yet another Russian from the clutches of the NHL, which is ridiculous.&rdquo;&ldquo;We question the whole validity of his military service. Did he really know what he was doing when he signed to serve in the Army? That&rsquo;s a question our lawyer in Russia (Maxim Kalinin) is frying to answer.&rdquo;The IIHF said it does not get involved in military service issues.So what about Russian players who leave before serving their duty? Lightning prospect Nikita Alexeev left Russia at 16 to play in the Ontario League. He hasn&rsquo;t been back since. Although Russia is now a democracy, Alexeev said military personnel essentially enslaving Russian males of draft age still happens.The 6-foot-5,215-pound winger, recently recalled by the Lightning from the American League&rsquo;s Springfield Falcons, said a Russian male can get out of military service by bribery.&ldquo;You have to talk to, and pay, different people,&rdquo; Alexeev said. &ldquo;Some are in the ministry of defense and some are city or local politicians.&rdquo;Because he left Russia before turning 18, Alexeev is petrified if he goes back, he will be physically detained and forced to serve a two-year military term. Published reports in Russia claim Alexeev bribed his way out of military service.&ldquo;My dad in St. Petersburg had army soldiers come to our house recently and asked &lsquo;Where&rsquo;s Nikita?&rsquo;&rdquo; Alexeev said. &ldquo;He told them &lsquo;I don&rsquo;t know&rsquo; So they&rsquo;re looking for me.&rdquo;To eliminate this fear, Alexeev plans to get American citizenship &ldquo;in a couple of years. I still want to wait and see what develops over there.&rdquo;There&rsquo;s also the case of Vladimir Repnev, formerly of the Ontario League&rsquo;s Oshawa Generals. Part way through last season, he was recalled to Moscow by his parents who told him the military was demanding that he serve right away.Fearing he would never be able to return to Russia if he did not, he left Oshawa and went home. He&rsquo;s now doing his service, but is allowed to play in the Russian Superleague. &#9632;

f0009-01

New war on Russian front

<div class="byline">By Mike Brophy Senior Writer</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0010-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-011827/7588480-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">BLUE GRIT&nbsp;Captain Mats Sundin is endearing himself to Toronto fans with his leading-by-example play.</figcaption></div>There are those who look at the Toronto Maple Leafs and see nothing but holes and question marks.For instance, their defense doesn&rsquo;t come close to matching the talent and depth of the blueline corps that led Colorado to the Stanley Cup last year.The cynics see a captain and leading scorer, Mats Sundin, who is not afforded the respect - in terms of ice time - given to other teams&rsquo; leaders. (See table.) There&rsquo;s an expensive free agent sniper, Alexander Mogilny, who has been more streaky than productive. And what about three other off-season acquisitions up front - Mikael Renberg, Robert Reichel and Travis Green? Their season-long performance has been average at best.That&rsquo;s not the worst of it. There&rsquo;s also the impending showdown between the organization and its best player, goaltender Curtis Joseph, who can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer. It&rsquo;s a situation that has been put on the back-burner for now, but one that must be addressed before the March 19 trade deadline.After you digest all that, take a quick peek at the NHL standings. You might think a team with-so many concerns would be fighting to keep its head above water. Instead, you discover not only do the Leafs sit atop the Eastern Conference as of Dec. 20, they&rsquo;re within striking distance of first-overall Detroit Red Wings. The Leafs average 3.0 goals per game, tied for second-best in the league, and rank eighth overall (2.33 goals-against average) in defense.And you know what? The defense that was supposed to be the team&rsquo;s glaring weakness has been more than serviceable. In fact, the emergence of Bryan McCabe and the decent play of Aki Berg has lessened the urgency for management to make immediate upgrades.&ldquo;All you&rsquo;ve heard all year is about how guys are not getting enough ice time and how, when you look at the standings, we&rsquo;re not as good as our record,&rdquo; said left winger Gary Roberts. &ldquo;And I&rsquo;d be the first to admit, there were times when I said our record did flatter us. But lately we&rsquo;ve been getting more offense from lines other than Mats&rsquo; line and our power play has been improving. We&rsquo;ve played well, but I still think we can play better.&rdquo;Added Green: &ldquo;If we had a young team, then perhaps all the criticism would get to us. But we have a veteran team and it doesn&rsquo;t seem to bother us.&rdquo;Why are there so many skeptics when it comes to the Leafs?For starters, they&rsquo;re the most free-spending Canadian-based franchise and with a big payroll - at $48.7 million, it&rsquo;s the NHL&rsquo;s eighth-highest comes big expectations. While teams such as Edmonton and Calgary have relied on help from the NHL to be competitive, Toronto can lure expensive free agents such as Mogilny and, before him, Roberts and Joseph.Then there&rsquo;s the fact the Leafs have not won the Stanley Cup since 1967. Only two members of the current Leafs team, Roberts and Shayne Corson, were alive when captain George Armstrong and company paraded the Cup through the streets of Toronto. Fans have been teased by the Leafs in the past and now anything less than the Cup is considered failure.This year&rsquo;s team is a run-and-gun squad. That differs from the club that coach-GM Pat Quinn put together last season in an effort to counter the brawny New Jersey Devils. And that team was different from the free-flowing, offense-first team of the year before.Quinn believes in allowing players&rsquo; natural skill to carry them, probably the main reason why he was Wayne Gretzky&rsquo;s choice to coach the Canadian Olympic team. The addition of players such as Mogilny, Renberg, Reichel and Green - each of whom has enjoyed offensive success at various points in their careers - was aimed at giving Toronto more scoring balance through all four lines.&ldquo;We knew there was going to be a period of adjustment while the team came together,&rdquo; Quinn said, &ldquo;and to be quite honest, it probably took less time than we imagined.&ldquo;Our goaltending wasn&rsquo;t great at the start of the year, but now it&rsquo;s terrific. You start out by trying to be the best you can be and you build on that.&rdquo;The Leafs have leaned heavily on Joseph since his arrival from Edmonton four years ago and that has not changed despite the team&rsquo;s numerous other additions. However, though he remains the club&rsquo;s MVP, there is more of an emphasis on offense this year. During a five-game span in December, the Leafs allowed three goals four times and four goals once, but didn&rsquo;t lose; in fact, they won all five games. The streak ended Dec. 18 when they fell 3-1 to the Los Angeles Kings.The Leafs have holes to fill before they can be considered top-tier contenders, but there are reasons to maintain hope for a Yonge Street parade.Sundin has finally endeared himself to the Toronto fans by following up on last year&rsquo;s gritty playoff performance with continued determined and passionate play. He&rsquo;s showing more of a willingness to shoot - he was on pace for 260 shots, up from 226 last year - and his play has been consistent and creative.Darcy Tucker, whose antics earned him the nickname &lsquo;Sideshow Bob&rsquo; last season, has been both more level-headed and more productive this year, while his brother-in-law, Corson, has recovered from health problems that shook his spirit in 2000-01. Not only is Corson producing more, but he&rsquo;s a very effective checker, too.McCabe has finally found a home in Toronto after bouncing around the league his first few years. Like Sundin, his play rose to a new level in last year&rsquo;s playoffs and though he started slowly this year, he&rsquo;s now better than ever.For now, the Leafs are satisfied to progress with what they have. If they&rsquo;re still near the top of the league in the early spring, Quinn said some moves could be made to take a run at the Cup.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re like any other business,&rdquo; Quinn said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re given guidelines and if we go beyond our budget, we need to consider all the implications on future seasons. But I think our ownership has the resources and desire to add whatever we need to win.&rdquo;In the meantime, it&rsquo;s business as usual. &ldquo;No one in our dressing room has even mentioned the playoffs at this point,&rdquo; Green said. &ldquo;And I think that&rsquo;s a good thing.&rdquo;<h2>Sundin time warp</h2>Mats Sundin&rsquo;s production hasn &lsquo;t slipped despite a dip in playing time. He&rsquo;s getting fewer minutes than in any season in the past five years, but his points per game (PPG) remains solid. &#9632;

f0010-01

Cup or bust? Leafs aim high

The Ottawa Senators are letting winger Marian Hossa and defenseman Zdeno Chara join the Slovak Olympic team for one preliminary-round game. The two Slovaks can play Feb. 9 against Latvia. Ottawa released defenseman Ivan Ciernik for all three of Slovakia&rsquo;s games. Slovakia is one of eight nations competing for two final round spots. The Feb. 9-14 qualifying round conflicts with the NHL schedule, but some NHL teams have made players available.<h2>Torch partners</h2>Linked by cancer and the Olympic torch, Mario Lemieux and Ashley Barrasso became spiritual teammates. Ashley is the 14-year-old daughter of Carolina goalie Tom Barrasso, who played with Lemieux in Pittsburgh. Lemieux passed the torch to Ashley Dec. 20 during the 46-stage ceremony celebrating the Salt Lake Games. Barrasso&rsquo;s daughter was four when she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma and given a 15 per cent chance to survive.<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-011778/7588511-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg" title="f0012-01" width="133" height="137"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>Hey, Mom! I&rsquo;m in the NHL</h2>Weekly report of players making their NHL debuts.Andy Hilbert. 20, Bos, Dec. 20 vs. Mtl. The natural center is being developed as a left winger. He scored a goal in his debut.Sean Avery, 21, Det, Dec. 19 vs. Van. Feisty, forechecking forward wasn&rsquo;t drafted and has limited upside as a role player.Dan Focht, 23, Pho, Dec. 15 vs. Dal. The 11th pick in &lsquo;96 paired with Radoslav Suchy and picked up 11 stitches near his right eye.<h2>Nabokov fight</h2>San Jose goalie Evgeni Nabokov is caught in hockey limbo as he appeals an International Ice Hockey Federation ruling he&rsquo;s only eligible to play for Kazakhstan at the Olympics. Nabokov previously represented Kazakhstan, rendering him ineligible to play for Russia, according to the IIHF. But Russian assistant GM Igor Kuperman claimed there are 15 precedent cases in which a player was able to switch allegiances. No court date has been set.<h2>Coin decides it</h2>The Czech Republic beat Sweden in a Baltika Cup game after a coin was tossed to decide a winner. The game was 3-3 after regulation time and overtime and should have been decided in a shootout. But the Russian referee declared the game over, prompting Sweden GM Anders Hedberg and Czech team leader Jindrich Micka to toss a coin in the dressing room corridor. The Czechs won the toss and were given a 4-3 win. The Swedes are protesting. &#9632;

f0012-01

Sens help out

The 1998 Olympic gold medal game combatants beat the clock for naming their 2002 teams by a day. The Czech Republic (gold) and Russia (silver), both of whom announced their lineups Dec. 21, are stocked with skill and Olympic experience. The Czechs return 12 players from Nagano while Russia is sending back nine. Returnees are denoted with an asterisk (*). Goalie Evgeni Nabokov&rsquo;s participation is pending an appeal.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-021407/7588542-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="886" height="1238"></div> &#9632;

f0012-02

1998 gold medal finalists primed for Salt Lake City

<div class="byline">By Ken Campbell</div>The World Junior Championship is to Canada what Jerry Lewis is to France - really big in a small corner of the world.How do you explain these things? Hey, David Hasselhoff sings to sold-out soccer stadiums in Germany. Let&rsquo;s just thank our lucky stars his musical talent remains a very well-hidden secret.Like Lewis in France and Hasselhoff in Germany, the WJC&rsquo;s small pocket of fanaticism defies logic. It remains the only annual best-on-best hockey tournament in the world, but generally plays to empty arenas when held outside Canada. When the tournament was held in Boston in 1996, people who should have known better wondered if the hockey would be as good as the Beanpot Tournament.The fact is, the WJC has produced some memorable moments since it was first contested as an unofficial championship in 1974 and has been the springboard for many spectacular careers.Here are 10 of the most outstanding individual performances in the history of the World Junior Championship:1. Hail Slava! The greatest individual career in the history of the WJC belongs to defenseman Slava Fetisov, the first player to win three golds. Fetisov was the top defenseman in 1977 and 1978, and when he was inducted into the Hall, he spoke of his WJC achievements with the same pride as he did of the Olympics, Worlds and Stanley Cup.2. 16 Stickhandles The world was introduced to a 16-year-old phenom named Wayne Gretzky in 1978 in Montreal. The Great One led scorers with eight goals and 17 points in six games and accounted for almost half of Canada&rsquo;s offense. The Soviets defeated Sweden in the gold-medal game, while Canada settled for the bronze.3. Fabulous Foppa The year before scoring his shootout goal in the gold-medal game of the 1994 Olympics, Peter Forsberg was putting on a record-breaking performance at the WJC in Sweden. He set a scoring standard with seven goals and 31 points in seven games. The Swedes lost a round-robin game to Canada and that was the difference.4. Big Red Machine The Soviets unveiled a line of future superstars when they put together the unit of Sergei Fedorov between Pavel Bure and Alexander Mogilny for the 1989 event in Anchorage. With a gold medal on the line, the Soviets crushed Canada 7-2 with Mogilny scoring three goals. Bure had 8-6-14 totals and was top forward5. Big Red, White and Blue Machine As good as Bure, Fedorov and Mogilny were in 1989, the leading scorer was Jeremy Roenick of USA with eight goals and 16 points, one point ahead of linemate Mike Modano. And how&rsquo;s this for star quality? The third member of the line was John LeClair. The three players combined for 41 points.6. Olli&rsquo;s goal Olli Jokinen has not established himself as a top-drawer NHL player, but you wouldn&rsquo;t have been able to tell judging by his performance in 1998. Jokinen saved his biggest goal for overtime of the gold-medal game, when he scored to give the Finns a 2-1 win over the Russians.7. Igor, you&rsquo;re a genius! Canada captured the gold on home ice in 1995, but little Igor Karpenko captured the hearts of everyone in Alberta with his performance in net for Ukraine. Karpenko was spectacular in giving Ukraine its first win in international hockey when it defeated USA in Vegreville, Alta., a small community with an big Ukrainian population.8. Quite a Legace Manny Legace was the backbone of a 1993 team that also included Paul Kariya and Chris Pronger. Legace backstopped Canada to gold, despite the fact it didn&rsquo;t place a single player in the top 10 scorers.9. The Newf does it In the most entertaining WJC game of all-time, Canada defeated the Soviet Union 3-2 to take the gold in Saskatoon in 1991. The winning goal was scored when John Slaney&rsquo;s blast from the blueline found its way into the Soviet net late in the third period.10. Hey, you can&rsquo;t say that Coming off a disgraceful 1987 WJC when a brawl resulted in Canada and the Soviets being kicked out, Canada redeemed itself with a gold in 1988. Goalie Jimmy Waite stole a 3-2 win over the Soviets. Just as memorable was a deliriously happy Waite saying the &lsquo;F&rsquo; word on Canadian national television. &#9632;

Fetisov hat trick hero

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0015-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-011623/7588597-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Tom Wheatley&nbsp;ColumnistTHIRD TIME LUCKY?&nbsp;Brian Leetch is looking for his first medal in his third Olympics. His teams came short in Nagano in 1998 and in Calgary 10 years earlier.</figcaption></div>Bolt down the dorm furniture. Hide the fire extinguishers. Break out the polygraph. The Yanks are coming! The Yanks are coming!Actually, we&rsquo;re already here. This winter&rsquo;s Olympiad is in Salt Lake City, which is a break for Uncle Sam. The last two times we had homeice advantage, we put our skates on the right feet, got our dads to lace them up properly and kept the gold medals for ourselves.Now we&rsquo;re back in the USA - and we mean business. No more high school coaches in charge, like the late Dave Peterson, God bless him. He came up short for us even though we knew he had been through rugged tests like a state tournament and interviews with the yearbook editor.No more apprentice coaches, like nice guy Lou Vairo. He had never run anything but a workbench, but we decided the Olympics would be good on-the-job training.No more turning USA Hockey over to anonymous guys who must have impressed us because their kids sold the most candy bars for Olympic fund drives in Colorado Springs.Our GM in 2002 is Craig Patrick, who has two Stanley Cup rings from his salvation work in Pittsburgh and a plaque in the Hall of Fame. His assistant, Blues&rsquo; GM Larry Pleau, has a Cup ring for his personnel work with the Rangers and remembers the Olympics as a player in 1968.Last but not least, we have Herb Brooks as the head coach. It only took us 22 years to get back to Brooks, but let&rsquo;s be fair to ourselves. He has little to recommend him. Just that one gold medal for pulling off the greatest upset in U.S. sports history.Actually, we started getting the suit-and-tie hang of it the last time around in Nagano. The problem there was the players, beyond defenseman Kevin Hatcher thinking his job was to emulate a traffic light. They played hard, but not real smart and missed the podium. Then some of them partied hard and not real smart and barely missed the paddy wagon.But that&rsquo;s ancient history, or at least nearly four years old. The puck is back in our backyard rink and the ice is level for a change. This time, Brooks and Patrick, who was an assistant coach in Lake Placid, have world-class pros instead of Mike Eruzione and bunch of college kids. This time, when the European nations slyly broke the embargo on summer practice, Brooks blatantly ran his team through drills on the ice.This time, we&rsquo;re choosing players for the right reasons. We think.A week before the roster deadline, the U.S. braintrust met in St. Louis while Pleau&rsquo;s Blues hosted the Flames. The buzz in the Calgary media was Flames&rsquo; center Craig Conroy, then the top U.S. scorer in the NHL, would be left off the roster.Why snub a two-way player who can skate like the wind and is great in the dressing room? One rumor: Because he snubbed Team USA at the World Championship last spring. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been in every meeting we&rsquo;ve had,&rdquo; said Pleau at the Blues-Flames game, &ldquo;and the first I&rsquo;ve heard of that is from the media today&rdquo; The other rumor: If Conroy made Team USA, Pleau would look even worse for trading him to Calgary last spring for underachiever Cory Stillman.&ldquo;That&rsquo;s bull; you know me better than that,&rdquo; said Pleau, who apparently was a Conroy advocate in Team USA meetings.But in the end, Conroy was left off as naming the final six players - defensemen Phil Housley, Aaron Miller and Tom Poti and forwards Adam Deadmarsh, Brian Rolston and Mike York were officially added at the Dec. 22 deadline - seemed a much more difficult task than cobbling together the first 17. (See pg. 19 for complete Team USA roster.)Team Canada, with the deepest talent pool in the tourney, got its roster act together a week earlier.That might lead some cynics to think Team USA is disorganized, especially after missing a national forum to unveil the squad Dec. 19 on ESPN.Not to worry. It just means it was difficult to eliminate some of the topnotch American players, such as Conroy. And anonymity worked for Brooks and his fellow Miracle Workers in 1980. Why not now?We know that this is our time. Who cares if Peterson was more media-friendly than Patrick, who is more media-friendly than Brooks, who is more mediafriendly than goalie Tom Barrasso. Brett Hull and Jeremy Roenick can do the talking for the team - and all 275 million of us, for that matter.Who cares if the boys get frisky in the dorm rooms? Our chairs aren&rsquo;t made of bamboo. And they can&rsquo;t get any uglier than Cleveland Browns&rsquo; fans.We&rsquo;re not asking for too much. Just another Miracle on Ice. &#9632;

f0015-01

U.S. OLYMPIC SECTION

It has taken a while, but U.S. getting it right

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-021140/7588796-1-eng-US/f0015-022.jpg" title="f0015-02" width="210" height="261"></div><h2>HOME-ICE ADVANTAGE</h2>In the following pages, we provide capsules on the 23 players going to Salt Lake City who will attempt to win Olympic gold for the U.S. for the first time since the 1980 &lsquo;Miracle on Ice&rsquo; in Lake Placid, N. Y Prior to that, the U.S. captured gold at the 1960 Games in Squaw Valley, Calif.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-03798/7588789-1-eng-US/f0015-032.jpg" title="f0015-03" width="210" height="261"><figcaption class="caption-body">Tom BARRASSO</figcaption></div>Age: 36 Pos: G Carolina Hurricanes<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Was. No. 1 man at 1984 Canada Cup after Calder Trophy season; last played internationally in 1988.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>Barrasso provides unexpected experienced depth, but is unlikely to wind up as America&rsquo;s top man.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-04586/7588782-1-eng-US/f0015-042.jpg" title="f0015-04" width="210" height="261"><figcaption class="caption-body">Mike DUNHAM</figcaption></div>Age: 29 Pos: G Nashville Predators<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Also part of Olympic team in 1992 and 1994. Has 3.36 GAA and. 893 SP in 18 career international games.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>After a slow start, Dunham has shown signs of turning things around and justifying his early selection.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-05408/7588775-1-eng-US/f0015-052.jpg" title="f0015-05" width="210" height="261"><figcaption class="caption-body">Mike RICHTER</figcaption></div>Age: 35 Pos: G New York Rangers<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Veteran&rsquo;s top international performance was brilliant showing to lead U.S. to 1996 World Cup championship.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>Probable starter is back at the top of his crease, on top of his game. He challenges shooters as much as anyone.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-06332/7588768-1-eng-US/f0015-062.jpg" title="f0015-06" width="210" height="261"><figcaption class="caption-body">Chris CHELIOS</figcaption></div>Age: 39 Pos: D Detroit Red Wings<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Veteran will be 40 during Olympics - his third Games (1984, 1998) - making him oldest U.S. hockey Olympian ever.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>Chelios, the U.S. &lsquo;s captain and inspirational leader, plays a strong positional game and can still log heavy minutes.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-021206/7588761-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="206" height="262"><figcaption class="caption-body">Phil HOUSLEY</figcaption></div>Age: 37 Pos: D Chicago Blackhawks<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Salt Lake City will be his tenth international event; most recently played at 2001 Worlds.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>If used in proper situations - on power play, not against strong power forwards - Houslev can still contribute.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-03903/7588754-1-eng-US/f0016-032.jpg" title="f0016-03" width="206" height="262"><figcaption class="caption-body">Brian LEETCH</figcaption></div>Age: 33 Pos: D New York Rangers<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Led 1996 World Cup in plusminus; went pointless in three of four games in Nagano.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>Few can lead the attack from the blueline like Leetch. He&rsquo;ll get loads of ice time in key games.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-04678/7588747-1-eng-US/f0016-042.jpg" title="f0016-04" width="206" height="262"><figcaption class="caption-body">Aaron MILLER</figcaption></div>Age: 30 Pos: D Los Angeles Kings<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Only international participation was at 1991 WJC; finished with one goal, two points in eight games.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>Miller could team with Leetch as stay-at-home reliable type. He is strong and rarely makes mistakes.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-05489/7588740-1-eng-US/f0016-052.jpg" title="f0016-05" width="206" height="262"><figcaption class="caption-body">Tom POTI</figcaption></div>Age: 24 Pos: D Edmonton Oilers<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Totalled one goal and six points in 12 games combined from participation in 1996 and 1997 WJCs.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>Won a Job thanks to combination of fluid skating, outstanding size. Unlikely to star, shouldn &lsquo;t be a liability.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-06411/7588733-1-eng-US/f0016-062.jpg" title="f0016-06" width="206" height="262"><figcaption class="caption-body">Brian RAFALSKI</figcaption></div>Age: 28 Pos: D New Jersey Devils<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Only U.S. team member never drafted; played in two WJCs and 1998 World qualifying event.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>Smart puck-mover could form a formidable power play blueline tandem with Leetch.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-021075/7588726-1-eng-US/f0017-022.jpg" title="f0017-02" width="208" height="263"><figcaption class="caption-body">Gary SUTER</figcaption></div>Age: 37 Pos: D San Jose Sharks<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>International veteran known best for hit that knocked Wayne Gretzky out of 1991 Canada Cup.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>Old and reliable: Suter provides quality minutes with the banging flash and dash of his earlier days.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-03767/7588719-1-eng-US/f0017-032.jpg" title="f0017-03" width="208" height="263"><figcaption class="caption-body">Tony AMONTE</figcaption></div>Age: 31 Pos: RW Chicago Blackhawks<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Has never brought his best sniper&rsquo;s game to international competition: had just one point in 1998 Games.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>Goal-scoring speedster has struggled to find his touch this season, but remains a potential game-breaker.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-04562/7588712-1-eng-US/f0017-042.jpg" title="f0017-04" width="208" height="263"><figcaption class="caption-body">Adam DEADMARSH</figcaption></div>Age: 26 Pos: LW Los Angeles Kings<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Member of 1998 Olympic team also played 1996 World Cup, 1995 WJC (six goals, ten points in seven games).<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>Though perhaps not an elite power forward. Deadmarsh causes plenty of trouble with his tenacity and drive.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-05392/7588705-1-eng-US/f0017-052.jpg" title="f0017-05" width="208" height="263"><figcaption class="caption-body">Chris DRURY</figcaption></div>Age: 25 Pos: LW Colorado Avalanche<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Played in 1996 WJC and Worlds in 1997 and 1998: has never been in best-on-best senior-level competition.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>Drury has a knack for scoring big goals. If defenses forget about him amidst other U.S. stars, he&rsquo;ll make them pay.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-06305/7588698-1-eng-US/f0017-062.jpg" title="f0017-06" width="208" height="263"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bill GUERIN</figcaption></div>Age: 31 Pos: RW Boston Bruins<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Still looking for his first goal in 2.5 international games: managed three assists in four games in Nagano.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>Guerin goes to the net hard and has to get dirty to be effective. He should benefit from NHL refereeing.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-03765/7588691-1-eng-US/f0018-032.jpg" title="f0018-03" width="204" height="260"><figcaption class="caption-body">Brett HULL</figcaption></div>Age: 37 Pos: RW Detroit Red Wings<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Has performed consistently well in four events since accepting U.S. offer to play at 1988 Worlds.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>Hull has the scorer&rsquo;s gift - an incredible knack for appearing in the high slot with the puck on his stick.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-04495/7588684-1-eng-US/f0018-042.jpg" title="f0018-04" width="204" height="260"><figcaption class="caption-body">John LeCLAIR</figcaption></div>Age: 32 Pos: LW Philadelphia Flyers<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Had six goals in seven games at 1998 World Cup. but struggled in Nagano. Also played twice at WJC.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>After back surgery last season, LeClair is a step slower and has yet to find his 50-goa! form of years past.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-05327/7588677-1-eng-US/f0018-052.jpg" title="f0018-05" width="204" height="260"><figcaption class="caption-body">Mike MODANO</figcaption></div>Age: 31 Pos: C Dallas Stars<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Playing in eighth major tournament. Best performance came at 1989 WJC with 15 points in seven games.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>One of the prettiest players in open ice. Modano&rsquo;s speed, shiftiness and vision make him a constant threat.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-06253/7588670-1-eng-US/f0018-062.jpg" title="f0018-06" width="204" height="260"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jeremy ROENICK</figcaption></div>Age: 31 Pos: C Philadelphia Flyers<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Struggled in Nagano like many of his teammates, but played well in 1991 Worlds and 1991 Canada Cup.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>&lsquo;J.R. hockey&rsquo; has become assist hockey. Scoring early at Olympics would be a huge confidence boost.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-07214/7588663-1-eng-US/f0018-072.jpg" title="f0018-07" width="204" height="260"><figcaption class="caption-body">Brian ROLSTON</figcaption></div>Age: 28 Pos: C Boston Bruins<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Has represented U.S. four times. As 21-year-old. scored seven goals in eight games at 1991 Olympics in Norway.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>Rolston has great speed, is an effective penalty killer and is proving he can also excel in an offensive role.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-09186/7588656-1-eng-US/f0019-092.jpg" title="f0019-09" width="208" height="261"><figcaption class="caption-body">Keith TKACHUK</figcaption></div>Age: 29 Pos: LW St. Louis Blues<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Will become youngest American to play in three Olympics (1998 and 1992); went goal less in 1998.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>Now in top shape. Tkachuk is almost impossible to handle in front of the net and can&rsquo;t be intimidated.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-10162/7588649-1-eng-US/f0019-102.jpg" title="f0019-10" width="208" height="261"><figcaption class="caption-body">Doug WEIGHT</figcaption></div>Age: 30 Pos: C St. Louis Blues<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Hot and cold: Runaway top scorer at 1991 WJC hasn&rsquo;t scored in three of Jive events, including 1998 Games.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>A mild disappointment in St. Louis. Weight&rsquo;s creativity and patient playmaking could re-surface on larger ice.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-11147/7588642-1-eng-US/f0019-112.jpg" title="f0019-11" width="208" height="261"><figcaption class="caption-body">Mike YORK</figcaption></div>Age: 24 Pos: RW New York Rangers<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Leading scorer at 1997 WJC, his second of three years in the tourney; captained the U.S. entry in 1998.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>His work ethic can be contagious and he will perform any role - scorer, checker or energy guy - with relish.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-12139/7588635-1-eng-US/f0019-122.jpg" title="f0019-12" width="208" height="261"><figcaption class="caption-body">Scott YOUNG</figcaption></div>Age: 34 Pos: RW St. Louis Blues<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Will be playing in 10th international event, including three WJCs. Was not selected for 1998 Olympics.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>Streaky scorer may not see heavy playing time on U.S. squad stacked at forward position.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-13115/7588628-1-eng-US/f0019-132.jpg" title="f0019-13" width="208" height="261"><figcaption class="caption-body">Herb BROOKS</figcaption></div>Age: 64 Pro scout Pittsburgh Penguins<h2>INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE</h2>Brooks was the mastermind coach behind the dramatic U.S. &lsquo;Miracle on Ice&rsquo; Olympic gold medal win in 1980.<h2>THN BOTTOM LINE</h2>A great motivator and free thinker. Brooks should have an attack-style U.S. team well-focussed on its task. &#9632;

f0015-02

Team USA 2002 Games

<div class="byline">By Bob Duff</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0016-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-011558/7588827-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">PLAN OF ATTACK&nbsp;It may look like Tony Amonte is relying on instinct during a breakaway chance, but nothing could be further than the truth.</figcaption></div>When aiming to succeed in an Olympic shootout, Tony Amonte says, the approach should not differ from what defines a successful game plan during regulation play or overtime.It all comes down to solid preparation. Those who try to freelance in the shootout are doomed to free fall.Amonte, 31, a native of Hingham, Mass., who will play in his second Winter Olympic Games for the United States in Salt Lake City, has contemplated the shootout and insists his strategy will be the same method he employs whenever he breaks into the clear with the puck.&ldquo;We work on penalty shot and breakaway drills every day in practice,&rdquo; said the Chicago Blackhawk veteran, who had 12 goals and 32 points in 37 games this season and is a three-time 40-goal scorer.&ldquo;You want to know what you&rsquo;re going to do in that situation long before you actually have to do it.&rdquo;Before every game, once he knows the identity of the starting goalie, in his mind Amonte rewinds the tape of his past performances against that netminder, seeking to take into account the goaltender&rsquo;s tendencies.Is he a stand-up goalie, or does he butterfly? Will he go for the poke check on a breakaway? Does he challenge the shooter or stay back in his crease?These are just some of the questions he&rsquo;ll ponder while developing his breakaway strategy for that night&rsquo;s game.&ldquo;I devise a plan of attack well ahead of time, so that if and when the situation arises, the thought process is already in place,&rdquo; said Amonte, who is 0-for-2 two as an NHLer on penalty shots.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the only way to approach it. If you&rsquo;re trying to make up your mind as you go down the ice with the puck, you&rsquo;re doomed. You can&rsquo;t be thinking too much. You can&rsquo;t even have a Plan B in mind. You&rsquo;ve got to go with what you&rsquo;ve decided, look for that opening and if it&rsquo;s not there, then you ad lib.&rdquo;Unlike Canada, which has been involved in shootouts in all three Olympiads since the game-deciding format was introduced at Albertville, France, in 1992, the U.S. has yet to find itself in this do-or-die scenario.But Amonte did experience it once during international competition, while playing for the U.S. against Russia in the gold-medal match at the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle.&ldquo;Arturs Irbe (of the Carolina Hurricanes) was in goal for the Russians and I remember Valeri Kamensky (of the Dallas Stars) and somebody else scored for them,&rdquo; Amonte said.&ldquo;I was one of our shooters and of course, I missed. David Emma was the only player to score for us and we lost by a goal.&rdquo;While many NHLers find the shootout to be a distasteful method to decide the issue, Amonte accepts its reality. Like the larger ice surface and playing without the red line, he looks at it as just another adjustment requirement Olympic players must make.&ldquo;That&rsquo;s the way the game is played there, so you deal with it,&rdquo; ne said, anticipating that the closeness of competition between Olympic hockey powers could easily lead to a shootout determining who wins and loses in Salt Lake City.&ldquo;You look at the contenders and it&rsquo;s anybody&rsquo;s game,&rdquo; Amonte says. &ldquo;Trying to pick a winner, it&rsquo;s a real toss-up.&rdquo;And when things are this close, Amonte believes, you certainly aren&rsquo;t helping yourself - or your team - when you go in to the shootout battle unprepared.<h2>U.S. SHOOTOUT PICKS</h2>We asked three prominent U.S. hockey figures who they would choose as their five U.S. shootout snipers at the Olympics.<h2>TOM FITZGERALD</h2>NASHVILLE WINGER1. Keith Tkachuk Always seems to score on breakaways, especially against us. Plus, he&rsquo;s my cousin.2. Jeremy Roenick Smooth and skilled with great moves; you can&rsquo;t leave him off.3. Tony Amonte A left-handed Roenick.4. Mike Modano So in control of the puck, it&rsquo;s like he&rsquo;s carrying it in a basket.5. Brian Leetch Rest of us wonder at his Bobby Orr-esque plays. I&rsquo;d put money on him.<h2>JOHN VANBIES BROUCK</h2>FORMER NHL GOALIE1. Jeremy Roenick Always great on breakaways, very shifty and has a great forehand move.2. Mike Modano Able to work up great speed coming in alone and has an accurate shot3. Brett Hull Has a dynamite wrister and can pick a goalie apart high glove side.4. Tony Amonte Can handle the puck and make moves at high speed.5. Keith Tkachuk Tricky, awkward style, keeps his head up, great going to his backhand.<h2>DON WADDELL</h2>ATLANTA GM1. Tony Amonte If determination scored goals, veteran sniper would never miss.2. Brian Leetch One of the NHL&rsquo; smartest players at any position can outcraft goalies.3. Mike Modano Great quickness and hand speed.4. Mike York A very shifty player with good offensive ability - and goalies still don&rsquo;t know much about him.5. Scott Young Has a fantastic shot and has always been great on breakaways. &#9632;

f0016-01

Amonte prepared for shootout

<div class="byline">By Wayne Fish</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0017-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-011396/7588858-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">THE UNITED NATION&nbsp;Jeremy Roenick hopes Team USA&rsquo;s play at the Salt Lake City Olympics gives Americans another reason to show off some Yankee pride. (Bruce Bennett/BBS)</figcaption></div>A 10-year-old Jeremy Roenick sat before a television set in his native Boston one winter day in 1980 and couldn&rsquo;t believe his eyes.One minute, dark images of blindfolded American hostages being held in Iran; the next, flashbulb-lit shots of USA skaters leaping over the boards to embrace after winning the gold medal at Lake Placid.Those events, he says, made him want to become an Olympian when he grew up. But he never thought he would live to see a day when events of the world would make him want to follow the success of the 1980 team as much as he does now.So the Philadelphia Flyer center is hoping that when the current American team arrives at Salt Lake City in February, its play will help inspire patriotism in the United States the way a bunch of young amateurs did 22 years ago in upstate New York.&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t remember a time in my life when I&rsquo;ve seen the country so united,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Our people here in the United States want to put on a display, there&rsquo;s no question in my mind that they will do that.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m sure there will be a lot of nervous people going and a lot of people who are going to be there in terms of athletes who are going to be a little wary of what&rsquo;s going on. But there&rsquo;s no question that the people who are there will be very patriotic in terms of support for our country.&rdquo;Roenick says since the terrorist attacks, the U.S. has struggled with its international identity. A strong performance in the Olympics could help with the rehabilitation.&ldquo;I think the United States is trying to establish its world dominance again,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a chance for Americans to really stand behind their country, support what we&rsquo;re doing over there in the fight against terrorism and just show support for our country I think if people around the world see how united we are and how strong we are, hopefully it will take a different turn.&rdquo;After winning the World Cup in 1996, the U.S. faltered in &lsquo;98 at Nagano and left town, or at least the Olympic Village, in a huff. Roenick says Salt Lake City will not be about redemption.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think it will play anything into it,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;We haven&rsquo;t been known as a very strong hockey country and I think that has drastically changed in the last four or five years with winning the World Cup. I don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;s going to be a redemption thing for us at all. I think it&rsquo;s going to be just to prove how far United States hockey has come in the last 10 years.&rdquo;In his mind, as in the minds of many other American players, the incident at Nagano was overblown. Much of that was spawned from their underachievement.&ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t half or a quarter as bad as the media made it out to be,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t play well, let&rsquo;s just leave it at that. Let&rsquo;s get back to now and show the world what the United States can do.&rdquo;The U.S. has never lost an Olympics played on American soil (Squaw Valley in 1960, Lake Placid). Will Team USA have the home-country advantage?&ldquo;I hope so,&rdquo; Roenick says. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s no question that being in our own country is going to benefit us.&ldquo;The pressure is going to be on us. But hopefully the pressure is taken off a little bit more because we&rsquo;re in our own country, we don&rsquo;t have to travel long flights, we have our own food, speaking English all the time and there won&rsquo;t be as many distractions. Hopefully we can concentrate on playing hockey and be fit and ready&rdquo;Right after the terrorist attacks, some NHL players expressed concern over security issues at the Games. It&rsquo;s Roenick&rsquo;s opinion that no one will know for sure the efficiency of heightened security until they&rsquo;ve experienced it.&ldquo;I think that&rsquo;s a big question among the athletes right now. The reason it&rsquo;s a question is we&rsquo;re not there,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t know the overall situation&hellip;we&rsquo;ve gotten letters in the mail about what kind of security measures are going to be taken. I don&rsquo;t think you can get a grasp on it until you really see them actually in progress.&ldquo;From what I understand, they&rsquo;ve (set aside) a lot more money to get better protection and better security. But still, if there&rsquo;s someone who wants to get you bad enough, they&rsquo;re going to get you. There&rsquo;s always that fear in the backs of peoples&rsquo; minds. I hope that&rsquo;s not the case.&rdquo;It&rsquo;s safe to say that Roenick lives for the big event, but he has only been to one Stanley Cup final and has yet to play in an Olympic gold-medal game. That dream started when he was still a kid in 1980 watching the Lake Placid Games.&ldquo;It made me want to be an Olympian. Not so much be a professional hockey player, but I wanted to be an Olympian at 10 years old,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;After that dream was kind of shattered for me in 1988 (signing as a pro), I sort of set my sights on the Stanley Cup. With the addition of pro players coming in, I can have that dream again and share it with the Stanley Cup dream. When you have more goals to set for yourself, you work harder.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0017-01

Roenick pumped for patriot Games

<div class="byline">By Kevin Allen</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-011437/7588896-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="380" height="198"></div>When goalie Jim Craig entered the 1980 Olympic Games in Lake Placid, confidence wasn&rsquo;t his guiding force. Anger was.Just before the Olympics and after the Soviets had embarrassed the Americans during an exhibition game at Madison Square Garden, Craig was summoned to meet with coach Herb Brooks. Bluntly and forcefully, Brooks said he had made a mistake by playing Craig too much in the preOlympic tour. He said Craig looked weary, too tired to handle all Olympic games.&ldquo;He told me: &lsquo;You look lethargic, your curve ball is hanging&rsquo;,&rdquo; Craig says, laughing at the memory.As funny as it is to Craig now, there was nothing humorous about that confrontation. &ldquo;I was angry, very angry,&rdquo; Craig says. &ldquo;I told him he was wrong, very wrong.&rdquo;That moment, which seems to be frozen permanently in the minds of both Craig and Brooks, may be symbolic of the coach-player relationship that was the centerpiece of what many believe is the most memorable sporting accomplishment in American history. With more than 20 years of analysis now in the rear view mirror, the consensus is at the heart of USA&rsquo;s ability to shock the Soviet Union and win the gold medal was Brooks&rsquo; ability to push the right buttons on the right players at the right time.&ldquo;As I got older and I became a parent, I learned about motivation and what Herb was doing for me was saying: &lsquo;OK, Jimmy your objective was to be an Olympian and be the starting goaltender&rsquo;,&rdquo; Craig says. &ldquo;But he was challenging at that point to know that was only part of it. My other objective was to rise to the occasion.&rdquo;Brooks questioned Rob McClanahan&rsquo;s manhood. He empowered Jack O&rsquo;Callahan to play on a badly damaged knee. He convinced Dave Christian he would be as effective as a defensemen as he was at forward. Brooks worked as much with his players&rsquo; psyches as he did with their talent.&ldquo;He got inside our heads,&rdquo; said former 1980 Olympian Mike Ramsey.Brooks, who will reprise his coaching role with the 2002 Olympic team, says the Miracle on Ice occurred in 1980 because the right people came together under a banner of single purpose: They craved success beyond the honor of just playing in the Olympics.&ldquo;The players had big egos, but they didn&rsquo;t have ego problems,&rdquo; Brooks said.He believed in his players, but he wasn&rsquo;t sure his team was ready for the challenge, especially after the Soviets whipped the U.S. squad 10-3 in the pre-tournament exhibition. Brooks thought he might be losing the war of hearts and minds when he watched his players &ldquo;applauding the Soviet players during introductions.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-021082/7588889-1-eng-US/f0018-022.jpg" title="f0018-02" width="1536" height="1732"><figcaption class="caption-body">BRING IT ON&nbsp;American coach Herb Brooks, then (inset) and now, made believers out of a bunch of college kids in 1980. He will handle pros in Salt Lake City in 2002.</figcaption></div>One of his goals during the pre-Olympic tour was to demystify the Soviets - to show them &ldquo;as mortals&rdquo; even though they had dominated the Olympics since 1964.That&rsquo;s why he had confronted Craig and that&rsquo;s why he kept reminding players that Soviet legend Boris Mikhailov looked like comedic actor Stan Laurel.Brooks kept speaking about how his players needed to fulfill their destiny Craig remembers players starting to believe in themselves as the tournament progressed.&ldquo;What you realize is that everybody is watching,&rdquo; Craig says. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not just hockey. It&rsquo;s fans of the Olympics. The magnitude of who is watching you becomes very specific.&rdquo;Brooks is known for his offensive tactics, particularly his love of a freewheeling offensive flow. But he argues the mental game is as important as what is diagrammed on the chalkboard. That&rsquo;s why he doesn&rsquo;t believe his job at the 2002 Olympic is too much different than his job in 1980.&ldquo;One is a dream team and the other was a team of dreamers,&rdquo; Brooks says. &ldquo;But they both have a consistency of attitude - good attitudes and hunger.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0018-01

Do you believe in miracles II?

<div class="byline">-Kevin Allen</div>Many Americans know the tale of the U.S. hockey team that rode hot goaltending and a spunky lineup to a stunning win against the Soviets en route to an Olympic gold medal.What most Americans don&rsquo;t know is that scenario happened two decades before the Jim Craig-led Americans produced the Miracle on Ice at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid.In 1960, the Americans stunned the hockey world at Squaw Valley by winning the Olympic gold medal. Not only did the USA defeat the Soviets, whom they had not beaten before, they also downed the favored Canadians.&ldquo;We were probably favored by seven goals against them,&rdquo; said Boston Bruins&rsquo; president Harry Sinden, who played for the 1960 Canadian Olympic team.The key for the Americans was the brilliant play of goaltender Jack McCartan.The Americans never came close to receiving the attention the 1980 team received, even though their triumph was probably as remarkable.Years later, Bill Cleary, one of the team&rsquo;s top scorers and a late addition to the team, said: &ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t trade my chance to march in the Olympic parade of athletes for 100 Stanley Cup championships.&rdquo; &#9632;

Squaw Valley gold was miracle, too

SCHEDULE NOTES 1. All times listed are Mountain Standard Time, which is two hours behind Eastern Standard Time, one hour behind Central and one hour ahead of Pacific. 2. NBC will air seven games, while CNBC is scheduled to air 30 Olympic games. 3. All games will be played at two venues - The Peaks Ice Center (P) in Provo (capacity, 8,000) and E Center (E) in West Valley City (capacity, 10,451).4. Ticket prices range from $45 (U.S.) for preliminary round games to $425 (U.S.) for the gold medal game.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-04507/7588965-1-eng-US/f0019-042.jpg" title="f0019-04" width="612" height="846"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-05379/7588958-1-eng-US/f0019-052.jpg" title="f0019-05" width="608" height="862"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-06283/7588951-1-eng-US/f0019-062.jpg" title="f0019-06" width="610" height="856"></div> &#9632;

f0019-04

2002 OLYMPIC MENS’ SCHEDULE

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-07246/7589003-1-eng-US/f0019-072.jpg" title="f0019-07" width="622" height="962"><figcaption class="caption-body">Celebrating the Miracle on Ice in 1980.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-08219/7588996-1-eng-US/f0019-082.jpg" title="f0019-08" width="578" height="1010"></div> &#9632;

f0019-07

USA REULSTS 1924-1998

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0019-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-011332/7589048-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-02987/7589041-1-eng-US/f0019-022.jpg" title="f0019-02" width="1560" height="450"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-03664/7589034-1-eng-US/f0019-032.jpg" title="f0019-03" width="1560" height="368"></div> &#9632;

f0019-01

TEAM USA • • 2002 OLYMPICS

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-02596/7589086-1-eng-US/f0021-022.jpg" title="f0021-02" width="608" height="2553"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-01982/7589093-1-eng-US/f0021-012.jpg" title="f0021-01" width="219" height="212"></div>There&rsquo;s lots of hockey to be played between now and July 1, but some NHLers have probably circled that date on their calendar - the first day of the free agency season. This week&rsquo;s NHL team reports highlight notable players who are eligible to become unrestricted (UFA) and restricted (RFA) free agents at season&rsquo;s end. Listed is a key UFA and RFA for each NHL team.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-03359/7589079-1-eng-US/f0021-032.jpg" title="f0021-03" width="1206" height="1366"><figcaption class="caption-body">Bobby Holik is eligible for free agency in July, but meanwhile he&rsquo;s getting in his licks with the Devils, like this on Oiler Rem Murray.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0021-02

GMs wise to watch future free agents

<div class="byline">-Dan Wood</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-04258/7589124-1-eng-US/f0021-042.jpg" title="f0021-04" width="218" height="256"></div>You would never guess it from a casual glance at the standings.The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, after all, have been at or near the bottom of the NHL&rsquo;s Western Conference nearly all season, but the downtrodden club might be near the point of making a pitch for a high-profile player or two.GM Pierre Gauthier, who has long espoused the theory that building a solid core of players must be accomplished before it makes sense to dip into the high-priced free agent market, indicated that such a time might be near.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re a lot closer to the point where we can to add to this nucleus, we might need to do something like that,&rdquo; Gauthier said.&ldquo;I will recommend that to my ownership when I feel it will make a significant difference. You have to build your nucleus before that. That&rsquo;s how the successful teams have done it.&rdquo;The Ducks, who have drafted higher than fourth overall only once in nine years, have attempted to speed their building process by dealing draft picks to help acquire goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere, defensemen Oleg Tverdovsky and Keith Carney, center Samuel Pahlsson and right winger Marty McInnis.&ldquo;There are a lot more pieces in place,&rdquo; Gauthier said.FREE AGENT WATCH Anaheim&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end.Unrestricted: None.Restricted: Right winger Paul Kariya is having a sub-par season by his standards, but still could be one of the only RFAs in the league to receive an offer sheet.Center Steve Rucchin is injured, but has four goals and 11 points in 17 games, and goalie Steve Shields is enjoying a decent year.LOUD & CLEAR&nbsp;&ldquo;Just watching shooting drills, I&rsquo;m the only guy who can really score consistently. &ldquo;- Anaheim Coach Bryan Murray, bemoaning his team&rsquo;s lack of offense.NOTEBOOK Rookie center Andy McDonald, skating on the first line with right winger Paul Kariya, had his first two-goal game and three-point outing in a 5-1 victory at Minnesota Dec. 18&hellip;Veteran defenseman Keith Carney scored his first goal of the season in his return to the lineup Dec. 14 in a 3-2 loss against visiting Columbus. Carney missed the previous 17 games because of a chipped bone in his right hand. &#9632;

f0021-04

Ducks may be set to seek free agents

<div class="byline">-Jeff Schultz</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-05177/7589155-1-eng-US/f0021-052.jpg" title="f0021-05" width="221" height="244"></div>The Atlanta Thrashers aren&rsquo;t likely to reach their pre-season goal of making it to the March and April playoff race. But they&rsquo;ve got a great race shaping up worth keeping an eye on, nonetheless.Rookies Dany Heatley and Ilya Kovalchuk are the odds-on favorites to finish one-two in voting for the Calder Trophy as the league&rsquo;s top freshman. Both have ranked atop NHL rookies in goals and points all season.On the ice, they are linemates. Away from the rink, the two also have become close friends and are roommates on the road.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think about the award too much,&rdquo; Kovalchuk said. &ldquo;My main concern now is for the team to do well. Dany and I are good friends. We don&rsquo;t ever talk about it. We both try to play off each other.&rdquo;Added Heatley, &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been able to lean on each other. It&rsquo;s tough sometimes to be on those big losing streaks, but we&rsquo;re still here. We&rsquo;re still here in the NHL.&rdquo;FREE AGENT WATCH Atlanta&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end.Unrestricted: Defenseman Jiri Slegr signed a one-year contract with the Thrashers, but the season is turning out to be a disaster. Injuries have kept him on the shelf for all but 14 games. The Thrashers like Slegr, but if he gets healthy and starts playing again, he might be trade bait at the deadline. Ray Ferraro also will be unrestricted, but is expected to retire. His scoring is down.Restricted: Patrik Stefan, the top pick in 1999, made his first trip to the minors this year, but has played better since his recall. Goalie Milan Hnilicka has held up behind a porous defense, even if his numbers don&rsquo;t show it. Winger Tomi Kallio and defenseman Yannick Tremblay are useful NHLers.NOTEBOOK The Petr Buzek saga finally ended as the Thrashers traded the defenseman, along with a conditional draft pick in 2003, to Calgary for winger Jeff Cowan and prospect defenseman Kurtis Foster. Foster signed a standard three-year rookie contract that includes a $600,000 signing bonus&hellip;Goalie Milan Hnilicka stopped 53 of 55 Boston shots in a 3-2 win over the Bruins. &#9632;

f0021-05

Thashers’ rookies in race of their own

<div class="byline">-Mike Loftus</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-06137/7589186-1-eng-US/f0021-062.jpg" title="f0021-06" width="219" height="246"></div>Rob Zamuner knew it might take some time to find where he fit best with the Boston Bruins.As an unrestricted free agent who was signed July 6 to a three-year contract, he probably didn&rsquo;t think it would take more than two months. So Zamuner&rsquo;s relief was understandable when his game showed signs of coming together in mid-December.Having been sidetracked by a collarbone sprain and collapsed lung that took him out of Boston&rsquo;s lineup for 14 games, Zamuner wandered from line to line without scoring a point for the first nine games of his return. An assist in a 3-2, overtime loss to Atlanta Dec. 18 ended part of the drought, and a pair of goals in Boston&rsquo;s 5-0 victory over Montreal two nights later ended a goal-less stretch of 17 games.&ldquo;If that&rsquo;s the situation, that&rsquo;s what you have to take,&rdquo; said Zamuner of the lack of regular linemates. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not a first-year player. I&rsquo;ve been around, so I&rsquo;ve got to take things like that in stride. I just haven&rsquo;t really gotten my timing back, and haven&rsquo;t played as I want to.&rdquo;FREE AGENT WATCH Boston&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end.Unrestricted: No. 1 goalie Byron Dafoe started and finished 29 of Boston&rsquo;s first 34 games and had 15 of the team&rsquo;s first 17 wins; right winger Bill Guerin had moved to second on the goal-scoring list with 15 after a slow start. The Bruins don&rsquo;t usually negotiate with potential UFAs in-season, but given these players&rsquo; profiles, that could change.Restricted: Defenseman Kyle McLaren was disappointed at not being offered a long-term deal last summer; left winger P-J Axelsson at one point early this season asked to be traded, but a bump in playing time seems to have lessened his urgency to leave.LOUD & CLEAR &ldquo;We&rsquo;re not going to score a lot of goals. We have to win the close games and they&rsquo;re going to be low-scoring.&rdquo; - Goalie Byron Dafoe, after Boston outshot Atlanta, 55-14, but suffered a 3-2 overtime loss on Dec. 18.NOTEBOOK After missing an empty net from 15 feet on his second shift, Andy Hilbert wedged a shot through Montreal&rsquo;s Jeff Hackett 5:47 into his first game for his first NHL goal. &#9632;

f0021-06

Zamuner sees signs of finally fitting in

<div class="byline">-Bucky Gleason</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-011102/7589217-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="216" height="241"></div>You probably won&rsquo;t see much flash. You definitely won&rsquo;t see much smash. But you also won&rsquo;t see very many mistakes.Defenseman Richard Smehlik has been playing the same way for a decade, but this might be his best season with the Buffalo Sabres. He has been paired mostly with Alexei Zhitnik against the oppositions&rsquo; top scoring lines and has been steady, if not spectacular.&ldquo;I do my work on the ice,&rdquo; Smehlik said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s the style I play and it doesn&rsquo;t change much. That&rsquo;s how I was taught to play and that&rsquo;s how I learned to play.&rdquo;Smehlik doesn&rsquo;t possess overwhelming skills and he&rsquo;s not overly physical despite his 6-foot-4,225-pound frame. Instead, he uses brain over brawn and keeps himself in position, especially in the defensive zone. He&rsquo;s also a sound puck-handler and passer. All told, he&rsquo;s the most underrated player on the Sabres&rsquo; roster.Smehlik has been the target of verbal abuse from fans who wish he would use his size to be more aggressive. His game is appreciated more in the Czech Republic, which he will represent again in the Olympics. He was on the 1998 Czech Republic team that won the gold medal in Nagano.FREE AGENT WATCH Buffalo&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: Smehlik&rsquo;s consistency and experience, displayed evenly this season, are his calling card. It would be difficult to replace him on the Sabres&rsquo; blueline.Restricted: Rhett Warrener signed a one-year deal prior to this year for $1 million and has been one of Buffalo&rsquo;s better defenseman. Right winger Vaclav Varada and center Chris Gratton have had their troubles this year. Gratton has been mentioned in trade rumors. Right winger Maxim Afmogenov scores with more consistency.NOTEBOOK The Sabres pooled $44,000 for families of 12 New York City firefighters who died Sept. 11 after joining the Rangers in raising $206,055 for the Twin Towers Fund&hellip;Goalie Mika Noronen, who won his season debut with the Sabres, was returned to Rochester (AHL). He suffered a strained muscle in a 4-2 loss to the Rangers Dec. 15&hellip;Left winger Taylor Pyatt made his season debut for Buffalo Dec. 20 after starting the season in Rochester. &#9632;

f0022-01

Smehlik quiet force on Buffalo blueline

<div class="byline">-Eric Duhatschek</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-02786/7589248-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="217" height="240"></div>It will go into his personal playing history as the lost month of Craig Berube.Berube, the Flames&rsquo; enforcer, was suspended twice in a 10day span by the NHL for a total of eight games. His latest trip onto the NHL carpet came following a crosscheck to the throat of the St. Louis Blues&rsquo; center Doug Weight. The hit cost Berube five games on the sidelines, making him eligible to return to for Calgary&rsquo;s Dec. 31 date with the Edmonton Oilers.Previously, Berube received a three-game sentence for instigating a fight with the Mighty Ducks&rsquo; Jeff Friesen during a Dec. 8 brawl.In handing down his verdict, the NHL&rsquo;s chief disciplinarian Colin Campbell indicated Berube is now considered a &ldquo;repeat offender&rdquo; and thus could expect ever-increasing penalties should he operate outside the league&rsquo;s rule book.Berube received a minor penalty for roughing Weight, plus a match penalty for attempt to injure after crosschecking him in the throat. He told the Calgary Sun afterwards: &ldquo;It was unintentional, but the rule is you have to have control of your stick.&rdquo;FREE AGENT WATCH Calgary&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: Neither defenseman Igor Kravchuk nor goaltender Mike Vernon are expected to return.Restricted: GM Craig Button&rsquo;s most contentious negotiation may be with right winger Jarome Iginla, the NHL&rsquo;s leading scorer, who earns $1.7 million. After Iginla, the most interesting talks will focus on three of the team&rsquo;s emerging defense corps, Robyn Regehr, Denis Gauthier and Toni Lydman.LOUD & CLEAR &ldquo;Guys are making fun of the fact the North Dallas Flames are continuing to roll in here.&rdquo;-Assistant coach Brian Skrudland after the Flames acquired their ninth ex-Star, Petr Buzek, from Atlanta.NOTEBOOK In Petr Buzek, acquired from Atlanta in a trade for right winger Jeff Cowan and defenseman prospect Kurtis Foster, the Flames feel they have a defenseman who can play in their top four when healthy. &#9632;

f0022-02

December not kind to bad boy Berube

<div class="byline">-Luke DeCock</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-04397/7589279-1-eng-US/f0022-042.jpg" title="f0022-04" width="582" height="761"><figcaption class="caption-body">COMEBACK KID Tom Barrasso is one of the year&rsquo;s best comeback stories after sitting out all of last season.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-03573/7589286-1-eng-US/f0022-032.jpg" title="f0022-03" width="229" height="221"></div>It was an Olympic kind of week for Carolina Hurricanes&rsquo; goalie Tom Barrasso.The day after Barrasso was named to the U.S. Olympic team, he watched his 14-year-old daughter, Ashley, carry the Olympic torch in Pittsburgh. It completed a year that has come full circle for the Barrasso family.He spent the 2000-01 season out of hockey helping Ashley through her second successful fight against cancer.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very excited to have the chance to represent my country at the Olympic Games,&rdquo; Barrasso said.&ldquo;After taking a year off, to have the chance to come back and be considered and be one of the best American players at my position is a tremendous honor.&rdquo;He signed with the Hurricanes in July and by late November had taken the No. 1 job away from Arturs Irbe - starting nine of 11 games since Nov. 27.FREE AGENT WATCH Carolina&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: Barrasso is the Hurricanes, most prominent unrestricted free agent.Restricted: The Hurricanes face contentious negotiations with some of their biggest stars. Forwards Jeff O&rsquo;Neill, Sami Kapanen and defenseman Aaron Ward are all eligible for arbitration, which will mean either a dramatic rise in payroll to keep them or a major trade. Rising stars Shane Willis and David Tanabe will also need new deals.LOUD & CLEAR &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think there&rsquo;s one you could put on a highlight reel, but they don&rsquo;t ask how, only how many.&rdquo; -Left winger Bates Battaglia on the goal-scoring explosion of his line, which includes center Rod BrindAmour and right winger Erik Cole.NOTEBOOK Left winger Jeff O&rsquo;Neill, passed over for Team Canada, had one goal and 25 penalty minutes in a five-game stretch. &#9632;

f0022-04

Barrasso rewarded with trip to Olympics

<div class="byline">-Tim Sassone</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-01994/7589317-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg" title="f0023-01" width="225" height="247"></div>Boris Mironov likely won&rsquo;t get a single vote for the Norris Trophy, but if there was an award for most improved Chicago Blackhawk, he&rsquo;d be in the running.Under coach Brian Sutter, Mironov has put last year&rsquo;s trainwreck of a season to rest and has been one of the more dependable Hawks. Mironov might not have been earning his $3.3 million salary in terms of offense with just three goals and 10 points in 37 games, but he is the Hawks&rsquo; most physical defender and is on the plus side more often than not.Prior to the start of the season, Sutter asked Mironov to simplify his game and not concern himself with points. Part of Sutter&rsquo;s plan has been to pair Mironov with Phil Housley for much of the season &ldquo;Brian has asked me to play more defensive this year and to move up if I have a chance,&rdquo; Mironov said. &ldquo;(Housley) always likes to jump up (into the play), so I&rsquo;ve been keeping on the defensive side of the puck. My confidence is much better.&rdquo; Sutter&rsquo;s handling of Mironov has been a 180-degree turn from last season when Alpo Suhonen basically gave up on the Russian claiming he was too out of shape to work with.&ldquo;Boris came to camp in much better shape and he has responded to the way Brian has asked him to play,&rdquo; said GM Mike Smith.FREE AGENT WATCH Chicago&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end.Unrestricted: Tony Amonte has waited a long time to be an unrestricted free agent. The speedy right winger wants $40 million over five years and GM Mike Smith has said he won&rsquo;t go that high. There&rsquo;s a strong chance the Hawks will trade Amonte before the March deadline, providing they get what they want back. The Hawks won&rsquo;t bend over backwards to accommodate aging enforcer Bob Probert. His best years are in the past.Restricted: Boris Mironov&rsquo;s figures to be an interesting case. Mironov&rsquo;s $3.3 million salary was based on his offensive potential. Even though he has improved defensively, the Hawks aren&rsquo;t likely to go much higher for his services.LOUD & CLEAR &ldquo;If the right deal comes along, we&rsquo;ll trade Tony (Amonte). Tony is an important part of this hockey team, so it&rsquo;s got to be more than a bargain-basement deal.&rdquo; - Hawks&rsquo; GM Mike Smith.NOTEBOOK GM Mike Smith shot down rumors he was looking to trade right winger Tony Amonte to the Islanders. &ldquo;I have not even talked to the Islanders,&rdquo; Smith said. &ldquo;Maybe somebody inside the Islanders is putting these rumors out, hoping that we will want to do something.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0023-01

Mironov putting smiles on coaches’ faces with fine play in his team’s defensive zone

<div class="byline">-Aaron Portzline</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-011066/7589379-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg" title="f0026-01" width="222" height="245"></div>There are no guarantees, of course, but Jody Shelley was beaming at the words of Blue Jackets&rsquo; president-GM Doug MacLean shortly after Shelley&rsquo;s recall from Syracuse of the American League in early December.&ldquo;He could very well be with us for the rest of the season,&rdquo; MacLean said. &ldquo;I think we need that element he gives us. We&rsquo;ve needed it for a long time, actually.&rdquo;For Shelley, 25, this amounts to the highlight of his young career.A notorious fighter for the past several years in junior and the AHL and East Coast League - he has had 371,349 and 367 penalty minutes the past three seasons - Shelley has made huge strides in his ability to play the game with his gloves on.Sure, he still fights almost nightly, but Shelley&rsquo;s minutes have gradually increased and the coaching staff&rsquo;s confidence in him has risen. His first NHL goal and point came on Dec. 15 in a 3-2 loss to Los Angeles.&ldquo;The more you get out there, the more comfortable it is,&rdquo; Shelley said. &ldquo;I felt better with each shift.&ldquo;You want and you need a chance to prove what you can do in this game. That&rsquo;s why this is so exciting for me.&rdquo;For the Blue Jackets, too.&ldquo;I wanted Jody to provide some energy on the bench, energy on the ice and energy in the crowd,&rdquo; MacLean said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s provided all three of them. When he&rsquo;s on the ice, there&rsquo;s a sense of anticipation, both with the players but certainly with the crowd. That&rsquo;s a good thing.&rdquo;FREE AGENT WATCH Columbus&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: NoneRestricted: Left winger Geoff Sanderson has been injured much of the season, but remains one of the Jackets&rsquo; few scoring threats. Goalie Marc Denis has taken a solid step forward in his bid to be a No. 1 goaltender. Columbus will want to sign both of them plus forwards David Vyborny, Espen Knutsen and Serge Aubin and the versatile Jean-Luc GrandPierre.NOTEBOOK Defenseman Deron Quint, who leads the Blue Jackets in ice time with an average of 23:26 per game, was a healthy scratch in back-to-back games. Coach Dave King said Quint &ldquo;has to be more alert.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0026-01

Jacket call-up fits for smiling Shelley

<div class="byline">-Chuck Carlton</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-02729/7589410-1-eng-US/f0026-022.jpg" title="f0026-02" width="245" height="225"></div>Forget the poker face. Making the Canadian Olympic men&rsquo;s hockey team meant too much to Dallas Stars goaltender Ed Belfour for any pretense of cool.Instead, he shared the moment with the people closest to him, listening to the TSN telecast announcement on a three-way call with his mother, Alma, in Manitoba and his fiancee, Ashli, in Dallas.Belfour was joined on Team Canada by Stars center Joe Nieuwendyk. Both were considered to be on the bubble. Now they&rsquo;re going to Salt Lake City in search of gold.&ldquo;You treat it like going into the playoffs,&rdquo; Belfour said. &ldquo;You want to be playing your best, on top of your game, and give your team every chance to win a gold medal and not let anybody down.&rdquo;In a surprise move, the selection committee took Belfour over Phoenix goaltender Sean Burke. &ldquo;I think (Belfour) has proven himself the last four or five years going back to the (1999) Stanley Cup,&rdquo; Nieuwendyk said. &ldquo;I think he&rsquo;s getting his due now.&rdquo;Canadian executive director Wayne Gretzky praised Nieuwendyk, a veteran of Nagano, for his versatility.&ldquo;The most consistent player in &lsquo;98 was Joe Nieuwendyk,&rdquo; Gretzky said. &ldquo;We felt he&rsquo;s a well-rounded player. He&rsquo;s a winner who deserves to be on this team.&rdquo;FREE AGENT WATCH Dallas&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: Belfour&rsquo;s future will be the biggest decision for incoming GM Doug Armstrong. Belfour has led the Stars to unprecedented success, but he&rsquo;s 36 and his goals-against average has risen every year since he has been in Dallas. Left wingers Benoit Brunet and Martin Rucinsky, acquired from Montreal in the Donald Audette deal, have fit in well and are unrestricted after the season.Restricted: Valuable defenseman Darryl Sydor is tied for the team lead in assists and would prefer a long-term contract.NOTEBOOK Defenseman Darryl Sydor suffered his first concussion Dec. 14 on a clean hit by Calgary defenseman Denis Gauthier&hellip;Struggling left winger Valeri Kamensky remained a Star when no team claimed him off waivers Dec. 18. &#9632;

f0026-02

Belfour ecstatic over Salt Lake nod

<div class="byline">-Nirhnlris. T Costonika</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-03580/7589441-1-eng-US/f0026-032.jpg" title="f0026-03" width="220" height="242"></div>The saga of Uwe Krupp vs. the Detroit Red Wings already was strange. Now it&rsquo;s even more so.A team doctor determined Krupp needed surgery on his right shoulder in late November. The Wings sought a second opinion and that doctor concurred three weeks later. Krupp was all set to have the surgery. Then the Wings called it off.&ldquo;I think we&rsquo;ve been wasting a lot of time,&rdquo; Krupp said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what is going on.&rdquo;Krupp said he didn&rsquo;t know what was behind the Wings&rsquo; decision and hadn&rsquo;t been told anything.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t even want to begin to speculate what sort of agenda&rdquo; is at work, he said.GM Ken Holland said only that the Wings wanted to weigh their medical options.In the final year of a four-year, $16.4-million deal, Krupp has played only 24 games for the Wings (two this season), mostly because of a controversial back injury. The Wings have withheld $8.2 million from him, charging breach of contract and the parties are in arbitration.Krupp said the shoulder situation should have nothing to do with the back situation. He suffered the shoulder injury Sept. 28 in an exhibition game.FREE AGENT WATCH Detroit&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: Defenseman Chris Chelios, the 39-year-old warrior, says he wants to play beyond this season, the last of his contract, and he&rsquo;s playing like it. After having three surgeries last season, he&rsquo;s healthy and among the league leaders in plus-minus.After spending a season in Switzerland, veteran defenseman Fredrik Olausson signed a one-year deal worth $750,000. Often paired with Nicklas Lidstrom, Olausson has played so well that his price should go up for next season.LOUD & CLEAR &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;ll stick.&rdquo; - Rookie forward Sean Avery, referring to the nickname &lsquo;Savior&rsquo; his teammate gave him after a strong performance in his NHL debut, a 4-1 win over Vancouver. The Wings had been in a 1-5-1-0 slump.NOTEBOOK Forward Darren McCarty has struggled. After sitting out 13 of the Wings&rsquo; first 16 games because of injuries, McCarty played the next 17, but had only one goal and one assist. He was scratched Dec. 17 against Chicago. &#9632;

f0026-03

Shoulder saga latest Krupp woe

<div class="byline">-Rob Tychkowski</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-05302/7589472-1-eng-US/f0026-052.jpg" title="f0026-05" width="994" height="988"><figcaption class="caption-body">STRIKING OIL Edmonton&rsquo;s Anson Carter, a restricted free agent next summer, picked a good time to have a career year.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-04410/7589479-1-eng-US/f0026-042.jpg" title="f0026-04" width="220" height="246"></div>Two seasons ago, Eric Brewer was waging a losing battle for regular ice time on one of the worst teams in the NHL.Now he&rsquo;s an Olympian.What a difference a trade makes.Ever since the Islanders shipped him west at the 2000 NHL draft, Brewer&rsquo;s stock has shot through the roof.On the Island, he was starting to look like a busted draft pick as he struggled to stay in a mediocre lineup.But his career has made a 180-degree turn since the impatient Isles sent him to Edmonton (with Josh Green and a second round pick) for Roman Hamrlik.&ldquo;It was a pretty good trade is the best way to put it,&rdquo; said the 22-year-old Vernon, B.C., native. &ldquo;I was put into a nice hockey environment, everything was stable and we get sound advice from the coaches.&rdquo;And the Olympic invite?&ldquo;I&rsquo;m a little surprised because I&rsquo;m a younger guy,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Just to be with that collection of players, you look down the list and it&rsquo;s amazing the years in the league and the experience and the records that are amongst the players.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a team like nothing I&rsquo;ve ever seen and I&rsquo;m anxious to get out on the ice with those guys.&rdquo;FREE AGENT WATCH Edmonton&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted&rsquo;. None.Restricted: Winger Anson Carter is off to the best start of his NHL career. His career best is 24 goals, but he already had 17 after 37 games. Oiler captain Jason Smith is a tough, stabilizing force on the blueline and the team&rsquo;s anchor on and off the ice. Speedy center Todd Marchant remains a top-notch checker, but his offense is down (four goals this year, 13 last).NOTEBOOK Edmonton is the only NHL team to have both its goaltenders earn berths on Olympic rosters. Starter Tommy Salo will be the No. 1 man for Sweden and backup Jussi Markkanei will play for Finland. &#9632;

f0026-05

Brewer anxious to let Games begin

<div class="byline">-David J. Neal</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-06246/7589510-1-eng-US/f0026-062.jpg" title="f0026-06" width="219" height="248"></div>It isn&rsquo;t easy being Florida Panthers&rsquo; center Olli Jokinen. He&rsquo;s booed in his home arena. When he was named to the Finnish Olympic team, some Panthers&rsquo; teammates reacted with disbelief and Finnish media railed. Taking 29 games to get your second point has that affect.Whereas some players ignore their deficiencies, his are all Jokinen sees. His trouble comes in turning problem analysis into problem solving. This turned into a vicious cycle as he worried about making the Olympic team, didn&rsquo;t play well, worried more, lost ice time&hellip;&ldquo;When you play 10-12 minutes a game, you&rsquo;re thinking you have no chance,&rdquo; Jokinen said. &ldquo;Now, it&rsquo;s over. There are no excuses anymore.&rdquo;He gave a self-deprecating chuckle, &ldquo;No excuses for before, either.&rdquo;With center Viktor Kozlov injured, Panthers&rsquo; coach Mike Keenan has taken the chance to play Jokinen 18-20 minutes a game.Keenan said of Jokinen&rsquo;s Olympic selection: &ldquo;Hopefully that&rsquo;ll give him a little boost in terms of confidence. And maybe that&rsquo;ll be the inspiration he needs to put him on a new path. Because he definitely needs to be on a new path.&rdquo;FREE AGENT WATCH Florida&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: Defenseman Bret Hedican is swift and can carry the puck, but is not the most judicious decision-maker. He could be moved before the trade deadline.Restricted: When Viktor Kozlov is not injured, he&rsquo;s a focal point of the Panthers&rsquo; offense. He gets the puck to Pavel Bure and leads most of Florida&rsquo;s dangerous rushes.LOUD & CLEAR &ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to know who Greg Kimmerly is.I&rsquo;m not quite sure where he came from.&rdquo; - CoachMike Keenan after referee Kimmerly&rsquo;s abuse of officials bench minor on Keenan led to a goal in a 4-2 loss to the Rangers Dec. 17.NOTEBOOK The Panthers broke a 0-7-2 winless streak in New Jersey with a 3-2 win Dec. 14. It was Florida&rsquo;s first win in the Meadowlands in more than four years. &#9632;

f0026-06

Will Olympic berth give Jokinen boost?

<div class="byline">-Matt McHale</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-011017/7589541-1-eng-US/f0027-012.jpg" title="f0027-01" width="221" height="240"></div>Their gap-tooth smiles lit up the Los Angeles Kings dressing room and spoke volumes about a rink justice the NHL doesn&rsquo;t like to talk about.The club had watched its new leader Jason Allison targeted repeatedly in a 4-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators Dec. 20 and decided someone had to pay.And though it took 15 minutes, 180 penalty minutes and six ejections to finally clear a monster brawl, the Kings made their point.Not only are they back on track after a miserable first two months, they have developed a bit of a mean streak.&ldquo;I can take care of myself,&rdquo; said Allison, who had 26 points in his first 26 games with the Kings following a trade from Boston. &ldquo;But it&rsquo;s not so much that. It&rsquo;s that we have come together as a team. You can&rsquo;t just tell a team to do that. It has to build over time.&rdquo;Three players were ejected from each team, including goaltenders Felix Potvin of the Kings and Jani Hurme of the Senators, who fought at center ice. Seldom-used Adam Mair of the Kings was facing a mandatory 10-game suspension for coming off the bench to fight Ottawa&rsquo;s Chris Neil.FREE AGENT WATCH Los Angeles&rsquo; key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: The Kings hold an option on goaltender Felix Potvin for next season. Potvin would have been eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer and will be if the Kings don&rsquo;t pick up the option. Defenseman Jaroslav Modry is already past his career high for assists while veteran Kelly Buchberger provides grit and leadership.Restricted: None.LOUD & CLEAR &ldquo;No, I don&rsquo;t fight anybody I played against in junior. I think everyone I played junior with is dead now.&rdquo; -15-year veteran Kelly Buch-berger after the brawl with Ottawa.NOTEBOOK The Kings&rsquo; injured players, right wingers Ziggy Palffy (cracked rib) and Randy Robitaille (separated left shoulder), center Brad Chartrand (bruised ribs) and defenseman Mathieu Schneider (abdominal surgery) all had started skating after long layoffs. Only Palffy could make it back before the New Year, though. Palffy still hadn&rsquo;t heard if the Kings would let him participate in Olympic qualifying round for his native Slovakia. &#9632;

f0027-01

United they stand, right after a brawl

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-02661/7589593-1-eng-US/f0027-022.jpg" title="f0027-02" width="277" height="322"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ron Francis Carolina</figcaption></div>The Rangers&rsquo; FLY line is adjusting just fine - they lead the NHL in even-strength points as of Dec. 20. Listed are the top five scorers with the man advantage and at even strength, with games, power play/even-strength points, total points and percentage of points on power play/even strength.<h2>Leading Scorers on Power Play</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-03447/7589586-1-eng-US/f0027-032.jpg" title="f0027-03" width="876" height="238"></div><h2>Leading Scorers at Even Strength</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-04304/7589579-1-eng-US/f0027-042.jpg" title="f0027-04" width="880" height="233"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-05199/7589572-1-eng-US/f0027-052.jpg" title="f0027-05" width="277" height="321"><figcaption class="caption-body">Theoren Aeury Rangers</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0027-02

POINT MEN

<div class="byline">-Tom Jones</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-011051/7589624-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg" title="f0028-01" width="234" height="234"></div>No one was really surprised when Wild right winger Andrew Brunette wasn&rsquo;t named to the Canadian Olympic team Dec. 15. Not even Brunette himself.&ldquo;It was never something I ever thought about,&rdquo; Brunette said.The question is, why not?Brunette may not have the star power of Brendan Shanahan or Eric Lindros, but his numbers - and the strong season he is having - are worth making an argument. A small one, anyway.When the final spots were filled, Brunette was 22nd in NHL scoring, but ninth among Canadian-born players. Of the Canadians ahead of him in the scoring race, only Edmonton&rsquo;s Anson Carter and Chicago&rsquo;s Eric Daze were not selected.In addition, on the day the Canadian Olympic roster was set, Brunette had more points this season than seven of the 13 forwards named to the team. And his 22 assists were tied for third in the NHL.&ldquo;The knock on me always has been my skating and I think there has always been a question of whether I could play on the big (international-size) ice surface,&rdquo; Brunette said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think I&rsquo;ve ever been considered. I&rsquo;ve never played for any of the national teams.&ldquo;I never considered myself a candidate, so I can&rsquo;t say that I&rsquo;m disappointed or upset.&rdquo;FREE AGENT WATCH Minnesota&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end.Unrestricted: The Wild have just one unrestricted free agent, but it could potentially be a big one. Center Sergei Zholtok has had an enigmatic career. He scored 26 goals two seasons ago for Montreal, but just five last season with the Habs and Oilers. This season, he&rsquo;s playing more like the 26-goal scorer and he has become a key part of the Wild&rsquo;s offense.Restricted: Like last summer, the Wild will be dealing with a boatload of restricted free agents. Up front there is Aaron Gavey, Antti Laaksonen, Stacy Roest and Matt Johnson to worry about; on defense, Brad Brown and Ladislav Benysek. And there are others. But these key players should receive qualifying offers because they possess the work ethic coach Jacques Lemaire wants.LOUD & CLEAR &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t have our mind into the game sometimes. When we don&rsquo;t, we look (bad). Just out of place&hellip;You&rsquo;re trying to do things that make no sense. Coach Jacques Lemaire, lamenting his team&rsquo;s lack of consistency.NOTEBOOK Defenseman Brad Bombardir, out since Oct. 14 with a broken right ankle, returned to the lineup just before Christmas. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s an experienced defenseman and you just can&rsquo;t replace that type of experience with someone from the minors,&rdquo; said coach Jacques Lemaire. &#9632;

f0028-01

Brunette blames omission from Olympics on doubts about his ability to handle big ice

<div class="byline">-Herb Zurkowsky</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-02713/7589655-1-eng-US/f0028-022.jpg" title="f0028-02" width="220" height="222"></div>Only last season, Patrice Brisebois was the favorite whipping boy in Montreal, frequently targeted by the media and Molson Centre spectators who booed him each time he touched the puck.Now, the veteran defenseman is about to become the Canadiens&rsquo; highest-paid player after agreeing to a three-year contract, plus an option, for at least $12 million and as much as $17 million. The deal begins next season for Brisebois, earning $2.5 million in 2001-02.Brisebois will earn $4 million in each of the first three seasons and between $4.5 million and $5 million, depending on the amount of incentive clauses he reaches, in the fourth year. Should the Canadiens decide not to exercise the option, Brisebois receives a payment of $1 million. There&rsquo;s also a no-trade clause that expires at the end of the 2003-04 season.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to hear anything at all about what I would have earned if I had waited,&rdquo; said Brisebois, who turns 31 Jan. 27. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to hear about $5 million or $6 million. I&rsquo;m getting an average of $4.3 million if I play in Montreal for the next four years and that&rsquo;s a lot of money, too.&rdquo;GM Andre Savard called Brisebois the Canadiens&rsquo; best defenseman.FREE AGENT WATCH Montreal&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end.Unrestricted: With the signing of Brisebois, Savard&rsquo;s attention turns to left winger Brian Savage. It&rsquo;s generally agreed Savage is blessed with the most skills on the Canadiens, although it hasn&rsquo;t always been evident. He&rsquo;s tied with Yanic Perreault for the team lead in points with 26 and has 11 goals in 35 games. However, Savage is among the game&rsquo;s streakiest players. He scored six goals in October, but then went 10 games without a goal between Nov. 27 and Dec. 17. The Canadiens have offered $9 million over three years, but Savage is seeking $5 million annually.Restricted: Jose Theodore and Mathieu Garon, regarded as the team&rsquo;s goaltenders of the future, have performed admirably. Defenseman Sheldon Souray, along with forwards Chad Kilger, Richard Zednik and Andreas Dackell have, for the most part, done what is expected of them.NOTEBOOK Veteran center Doug Gilmour denied a television report that he&rsquo;s about to retire at age 38. The free agent was signed Oct. 6 to a two-year deal worth almost $4 million, but has struggled to find his game, scoring three goals and nine points in 28 games&hellip;Defenseman Sheldon Souray underwent surgery on his fractured left wrist and will be sidelined indefinitely. &#9632;

f0028-02

Brisebois happy with new four-year deal that keeps him in Montreal with Canadiens

<div class="byline">-David Boclair</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-01933/7589686-1-eng-US/f0029-012.jpg" title="f0029-01" width="245" height="234"></div>It will be business as usual for the Nashville Predators - at least for the next several seasons.That much was guaranteed in a four-day span beginning Dec. 14 when GM David Poile was signed to a five-year contract extension.Without hesitation, Poile then negotiated two-year extensions plus a club option for a third with coach Barry Trotz, his assistants Brent Peterson and Paul Gardner, goaltending coach Mitch Korn and assistant GM Ray Shero. All originally were hired by Poile and are the only ones to have held their respective positions with the club.&ldquo;For good or bad, my hand print is all over this franchise - what we&rsquo;ve done right and what we&rsquo;ve done wrong,&rdquo; Poile said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not going to waver. If things change within the organization, it won&rsquo;t be because of me.&rdquo;That means Nashville will continue to think long-term and rely on draft picks rather than free agents, player devel-opment instead of dollars.There are only eight coaches in the league who have held their current job longer than Trotz.&ldquo;When we all want to waver and panic, David&rsquo;s vision has never changed,&rdquo; Trotz said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s been the stabilizing force on the hockey side.&rdquo;FREE AGENT WATCH Nashville&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: Team captain Tom Fitzgerald and defenseman Bill Houlder are the only ones scheduled for unrestricted free agency. Both have been productive after signing one-year deals - Fitzgerald as a checker and penalty killer; Houlder as a stabilizing presence on a young defense unit. Houlder&rsquo;s offensive game has diminished.Restricted: Forward David Legwand is in the final year of his initial pro contract and has demonstrated promise as a twoway performer. Defenseman Cale Hulse is Nashville&rsquo;s most physical defenseman and was missed in the opening month when he was sidelined by a hand injury.NOTEBOOK Right winger Petr Tenkrat had one assist in his first 20 games with Nashville. He then notched the third hat trick in franchise history Dec. 15 against Chicago. &ldquo;I was really happy for one score,&rdquo; Tenkrat said. &ldquo;After that, to get two more was really a surprise to me. It&rsquo;s unbelievable.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0029-01

GM, coaches signed for years to come

<div class="byline">-Rich Chere</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-02613/7589717-1-eng-US/f0029-022.jpg" title="f0029-02" width="219" height="238"></div>Seizing his best chance yet to earn a permanent spot with the New Jersey Devils, rookie defenseman Mike Commodore answered the few remaining questions about whether he belonged in the NHL.Veteran defenseman Ken Daneyko&rsquo;s shoulder injury turned out to be Commodore&rsquo;s ticket back from the minors and his performance had Hall of Fame defenseman Larry Robinson certain the 22-year-old Commodore was on the verge of greatness.&ldquo;He&rsquo;s so, so close to breaking out,&rdquo; Robinson said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;ll come. I like the way he&rsquo;s been a physical presence. Sometimes you get close and never take that extra step. One of these days he&rsquo;s going to get into an altercation and he&rsquo;ll beat the tar out of somebody or score a big goal or something that boosts his confidence level and it will click for him.&rdquo;Robinson had always mentioned Commodore&rsquo;s long reach and size as his most impressive tools, but it was clear the Saskatchewan native had improved positionally&ldquo;Now I know what I can do and not get caught out of position,&rdquo; Commodore said. &ldquo;I know I can play here. On the ice, I feel like I fit in. I don&rsquo;t feel a step behind anymore.&rdquo;FREE AGENT WATCH New Jersey&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: Bobby Holik is having what could be the best offensive season of his career while leading the league in faceoff winning percentage. He is making a strong case for a big payday, although he said he will give the Devils a fair chance to keep him after July 1. Randy McKay&rsquo;s stats didn&rsquo;t show it, but his physical play in front of the net helped prevent a struggling offense from disappearing.Restricted: Patrik Elias handled his shuffling between several different lines gracefully and he continues to lead the Devils in scoring. Jason Arnott is also on track for a big offensive year with 12 goals in 32 games.NOTEBOOK Goalie Martin Brodeur got his 300th career win Dec. 15 in Ottawa. Earlier in the day he received a call from Wayne Gretzky confirming his spot on Canada&rsquo;s Olympic team. &#9632;

f0029-02

Commodore certain he’s an NHLer now

<div class="byline">-Peter Botte</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-03408/7589748-1-eng-US/f0029-032.jpg" title="f0029-03" width="615" height="1335"><figcaption class="caption-body">CASHING IN Mark Parrish will take a career-high in goals to the negotiating table next summer.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-04282/7589755-1-eng-US/f0029-042.jpg" title="f0029-04" width="219" height="245"></div>The spark of electricity first-year coach Peter Laviolette has provided the New York Islanders is as unmistakable as it is apropos. After all, a similar thing happened nearly six years ago on the biggest day of his life.Laviolette&rsquo;s wedding to his wife Kristen is the staff from which legends - and Hollywood movies - are made. More than 20 people were struck by lightning, including former Bruins&rsquo; goalie Rob Tallas and NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll never forget the sight of my mother-in-law&rsquo;s dining room, with people lying all over the floor, getting treatment,&rdquo; Laviolette said.The reception was held in Kristen&rsquo;s parents&rsquo; spacious backyard in Norfolk, Mass. While the best man was making his toast, the skies darkened and opened up. Within minutes, everything was flooded. In the back corner of the yard, a metal rod sticking out of a water well was struck by lightning.The electricity surged through several inches of water along the ground and into the extremities of 26 guests. Twenty people were rushed to the hospital, but none were seriously injured.&ldquo;Five and a half years later and everyone is still talking about my wedding,&rdquo; Kristen Laviolette said. &ldquo;How could I complain about that?&rdquo;FREE AGENT WATCH New Jersey&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: None.Restricted: Mark Parrish has surpassed his goal total for all of last season.Adrian Aucoin has emerged as a top-3 defenseman, earning more than 25 minutes per game. Forwards Dave Scatchard and Mats Lindgren have done little to enhance then-value.NOTEBOOK After missing 10 games with a groin injury, left winger Shawn Bates returned to score twice in a 4-1 home win over Edmonton Dec. 18. &#9632;

f0029-03

Laviolette nuptials complete shocker

<div class="byline">-Bruce Garrioch</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-02701/7589817-1-eng-US/f0030-022.jpg" title="f0030-02" width="241" height="253"></div>It was a good news-bad news scenario when Ottawa defenseman Chris Phillips learned just before the holidays he would miss two weeks of action with a hyper-extended elbow.The original diagnosis after a Dec. 20 game in Carolina was that Phillips could be out for an extended period. Doctors feared there was a crack and he was in excruciating pain.&ldquo;When they told me two weeks there was a bit of relief,&rdquo; Phillips said. &ldquo;When they said two weeks, they meant two weeks.&rdquo;The Senators were already without defenseman Karel Rachunek, who as of Dec. 21 hadn&rsquo;t resumed skating after a separated shoulder suffered two weeks earlier. Phillips&rsquo; injury was particularly frustrating because he had been showing good improvement since being paired with Zdeno Chara. Injuries have hurt his development throughout his career.FREE AGENT WATCH Ottawa&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: None.Restricted: Right winger Daniel Alfredsson signed a one-year, $3-million (U.S.) deal prior to this season, has been the club&rsquo;s top player and could go to arbitration. Other restricted free agents are centers Radek Bonk and Todd White, and defensemen Sami Salo and Karel Rachunek. White in particular, one of the NHL&rsquo;s biggest bargains at $350,000, deserves a significant boost.LOUD AND CLEAR &ldquo;When I saw we were shorthanded, I had to go in there.&rdquo; - Goalie Jani Hurme on his decision to join a brawl and go toe-to-toe with Los Angeles counterpart Felix Potvin Dec. 20 at the Corel Centre.NOTEBOOK Owner Rod Bryden may have finally found someone to buy into his franchise. A report in the Street and Smith&rsquo;s Sports Business Journal indicated Bryden has sold more than $51 million (U.S.) worth of equity in the franchise to a group of &ldquo;wealthy Canadians.&rdquo; According to the report, the group will own up to 40 per cent of the franchise. Bryden declined comment. &#9632;

f0030-02

Hard-luck Phillips elbowed over holidays

<div class="byline">-Wayne Fish</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-04337/7589848-1-eng-US/f0030-042.jpg" title="f0030-04" width="822" height="944"><figcaption class="caption-body">LUKE&rsquo;S REWARD Luke Richardson&rsquo;s play likely has earned him a Flyer contract offer for next season.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-03491/7589855-1-eng-US/f0030-032.jpg" title="f0030-03" width="222" height="224"></div>Every so often, teams long on skill seem to need an attitude adjustment. That&rsquo;s Donald Brashear&rsquo;s specialty.Philadelphia acquired the enforcer from Vancouver in a Dec. 17 trade involving left winger Jan Hlavac and draft picks.&ldquo;I thought playing against them, they could use a little grit and be a little more physical, especially with the big-sized guys they have,&rdquo; Brashear said of the Flyers. &ldquo;We thought if we played physical against them and used our speed, it would be a key to beating them.&rdquo;The Flyers responded by winning back-to-back home games (over St. Louis and Dallas) for the first time this season, although Brashear missed the first game when his equipment didn&rsquo;t arrive in time.Brashear should make the the Flyers tougher at home. They were just 6-6-2-1 at the First Union Center before the deal.FREE AGENT WATCH Philadelphia&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: Based on defenseman Luke Richardson&rsquo;s remarkable turnaround the past two seasons, the Flyers are likely to pursue his services. They may not for right winger Rick Tocchet.Restricted: Signing 21-year-old Olympic-bound left winger Simon Gagne will be the No. 1 priority. Right behind Gagne is goalie Brian Boucher, who has rebounded wonderfully from a sophomore slump.NOTEBOOK Right winger Mark Recchi scored his 400th NHL goal Dec. 18. &#9632;

f0030-04

Philly’s physical follies boosted by Brashear

<div class="byline">-Bob McManaman</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-05248/7589886-1-eng-US/f0030-052.jpg" title="f0030-05" width="220" height="268"></div>Phoenix goalie Sean Burke was disappointed to hear he was bypassed for the Canadian Olympic team, but vowed he wouldn&rsquo;t let it affect his season.&ldquo;I think I&rsquo;ve had a good year and I&rsquo;ve played well enough to get consideration, and I&rsquo;m sure I did. But what are you going to do?&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a lot of hockey to be played this year. I&rsquo;ll take the week off and enjoy it with my family.&rdquo;The Coyotes&rsquo; managing partner, and Canada boss, Wayne Gretzky said the Burke decision was one of the toughest.&ldquo;Of all the people who aren&rsquo;t on the team, nobody deserved to be on it more than Sean,&rdquo; Gretzky said.Gretzky and Burke had a telephone conversation, but Burke said he didn&rsquo;t need an explanation.&ldquo;When you&rsquo;re not picked for something like that, the bottom line is they didn&rsquo;t want you,&rdquo; Burke said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s life. I&rsquo;ll get over it and I&rsquo;ll move on. I cried for five minutes, but other than that, I moved on and I&rsquo;ll get over it.&rdquo;FREE AGENT WATCH Phoenix&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: The coaching staff loves Mike Sullivan&rsquo;s grit and leadership, but there may not be room for him.Restricted: Sergei Berezin, LW, 30. Despite Berezin&rsquo;s slow start, the Coyotes have started contract talks and are convinced he&rsquo;ll emerge as a go-to scorer. Defenseman Paul Mara has become entrenched as a top-four blueliner.LOUD AND CLEAR &ldquo;It&rsquo;s absurd, just absurd. To be associated with that is a joke. It had to be a mistake and it&rsquo;s really unfair. I fall down sometimes, but it&rsquo;s not because I&rsquo;m diving. It&rsquo;s because I&rsquo;m a bad skater.&rdquo; - Left winger Brad May, responding to a Sports Illustrated article in which he purportedly has been identified by the NHL as a notorious diver.NOTEBOOK Left winger Todd Warriner was put on waivers, cleared and sent to Springfield of the American League. &#9632;

f0030-05

Burke’s Olympic snub tough one to handle

<div class="byline">-Joe Starkey</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-01965/7589917-1-eng-US/f0031-012.jpg" title="f0031-01" width="220" height="244"></div>Left winger Martin Straka is known for his speed. Whether that will translate into an early return from a broken leg remains to be seen, but that&rsquo;s what Straka is shooting for.Straka said he hopes to practise with the Penguins by late January and return to the lineup in late February. That would make it about four months since his Oct. 29 surgery to repair a broken right tibia.He was originally expected to be out four to six months. But after the surgery, during which a titanium rod was inserted in Straka.&rsquo;s tibia, Penguins&rsquo; team physician Dr. Charles Burke said that a broken tibia takes six to 12 months to heal and that he would be surprised to see Straka before the playoffs, if at all.Straka has been determined all along to return within four months.&ldquo;Everything&rsquo;s fine,&rdquo; Straka said. &ldquo;The leg&rsquo;s healing. The bone should be fine in a couple of weeks. We&rsquo;ll see what&rsquo;s going to happen in the next X-ray and we&rsquo;ll go from there. I think, in late January, I could be back on the ice practicing with the team and after the Olympics, I should be fine and ready to go.&rdquo;Straka was chosen for the Czech Olympic team, but was subsequently dropped because of the injury.FREE AGENT WATCH Pittsburgh&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: Center Robert Lang has established himself as a consistent, twoway player who is good on special teams. Where ever he ends up, he&rsquo;s in line for a nice raise on his $2.9 million salary. Defenseman Darius Kasparaitis arguably was the team&rsquo;s best rearguard through 34 games. Kasparaitis was leading the NHL in hits with 144. He took a pay cut so that he could become an unrestricted free agent and is a good possibility to be dealt before then.Restricted: Right winger Aleksey Morozov has been wildly inconsistent when handed a chance to contribute offensively. The million-dollar mark is still a dream for him.LOUD AND CLEAR &ldquo;It&rsquo;s one thing to practise hard and practise like you&rsquo;re going to play in a game, but it&rsquo;s another thing to go and do stupid stuff in practice and take it back into a game. It&rsquo;s no wonder we&rsquo;re doing it in games, you know?&rdquo; - Defenseman Andrew Ference after a rough practice following a 7-0 loss to Carolina Dec. 16.NOTEBOOK There was no return in sight for center Mario Lemieux, who continues to be bothered by a sore right hip&hellip;The Penguins went four games without a goal from anyone outside of their top line of left winger Jan Hrdina, center Robert Lang and right winger Alexei Kovalev. &#9632;

f0031-01

Straka on accelerated comeback trail; hoping to return to lineup in late February

<div class="byline">-Derrick Goold</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-02630/7589948-1-eng-US/f0031-022.jpg" title="f0031-02" width="220" height="243"></div>Just three months ago, the St. Louis Blues&rsquo; power play had its members salivating at the production possibilities. Pre-season performance had the Olympian-saturated power play pegged to be one of the best in the league.So much for the pre-season.Going into the Blues&rsquo; 34th game, the power play was the league&rsquo;s worst on the road. It had produced one goal in its past 47 road chances.The Blues botched two 5-on-3 opportunities and went 0-for-8 in a 6-3 loss at Philadelphia Dec. 18. Typically, the Blues went for the fancy pass when the ugly rebound would have done nicely.&ldquo;When we needed the power play to come through for us, it really struggled,&rdquo; said Blues&rsquo; captain Chris Pronger.The Blues can rotate six Olympians through their power play: Team Canada on the points in Al Maclnnis and Chris Pronger; Team USA up front with Scott Young, Doug Weight and Keith Tkachuk; with Slovakia&rsquo;s Pavol Demitra sprinkled in when needed. That&rsquo;s $38 million of the Blues&rsquo; $57.7-million budget.An expensive weakness.As the Blues went 1-6-3-1 during an 11-game road stretch, opponents scored five game-winning goals on power plays. At least the Blues saw how the power play can win games, even if it&rsquo;s half as good as they hoped.FREE AGENT WATCH St. Louis&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: Right winger Scott Young hasn&rsquo;t matched his scoring heroics of last season, but his production is right in line with his traditional output. Never more than a 30-goal scorer, Young fired in 40 last season and is on pace for 25 this year.Restricted: Left winger Keith Tkachuk is interested in remaining in St. Louis, but could become an unrestricted free agent after next season. His agent, Bob Murray, said Tkachuk would surrender a few unrestricted years to sign long-term with the Blues.LOUD AND CLEAR &ldquo;When we do all the things we&rsquo;re supposed to, we&rsquo;re a really good hockey team. If we get away from those things, we&rsquo;re a very average team.&rdquo; -Defenseman Al Maclnnis on the Blues&rsquo; early-season bouts with inconsistency.NOTEBOOK In the first game of his assignment to American League Worcester for conditioning, defenseman Steve Halko was whacked in the face by a broken stick blade. He sustained a broken nose and concussion and was sent home for the holidays&hellip;The Blues&rsquo; allowed a season-low nine shots on goal in a 4-0 victory against Calgary Dec. 15 in their first meeting against former St. Louis goalie Roman Turek. &#9632;

f0031-02

Star-packed, star-crossed power play making mess of too many opportunities

<div class="byline">-Ross McKeon</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-011029/7589979-1-eng-US/f0032-012.jpg" title="f0032-01" width="220" height="242"></div>At long last, Teemu Selanne is starting to fit in as a San Jose Shark.Viewed as a game-breaker when acquired from the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim last March, Selanne&rsquo;s debut was delayed by arthroscopic knee surgery and a broken thumb followed on his first shift as a member of the Sharks, leading to an unproductive post-season.Disappointment and uncertainty quickly replaced anticipation when Selanne had just two goals in the first 11 games and he questioned his lack of ice time.&ldquo;Teemu had a slow start for our club. You didn&rsquo;t expect that, you expected a fast start,&rdquo; said coach Darryl Sutter.Only after he was moved alongside top-line center Vincent Damphousse did Selanne&rsquo;s game start to fall in place. And only then did his minutes increase from the 15minute range to nearly an average of 18.&ldquo;I feel like I can help the team more,&rdquo; said Selanne, who had 13 goals and 27 points in 33 games overall. &ldquo;I have more confidence. You can&rsquo;t be a good hockey player without the feeling of confidence. I&rsquo;ve always played in the second half, so I&rsquo;m looking forward to the rest of the season.&rdquo;FREE AGENT WATCH San Jose&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: Selanne grabbed the team&rsquo;s goal-scoring lead in Game 31 and shouldn&rsquo;t relin-quish it again. Veteran defenseman Gary Suter continues to quarterback the power play, which has shown a big improvement over last year&rsquo;s poor showing.Restricted: No. 1 goaltender Evgeni Nabokov highlights a corps group of restricted free agents that includes Marcus Ragnarsson, Brad Stuart and Niklas Sundstrom.Nabokov is following a Calder Trophy winning season with the kind of play that could put him in Vezina contention and Stuart is much improved over last season.LOUD & CLEAR &ldquo;I want the stitch clause. I&rsquo;ll give my salary back and take it per stitch.&rdquo; - Mike Ricci after a recent game against Dallas in which he got cut several times with high sticks.NOTEBOOK The Sharks were at a franchise record six wins in a row on the road and unbeaten in a franchise record ten games (9-0-1) as of Dec. 19. &#9632;

f0032-01

Selanne’s Shark bite finally takes hold

<div class="byline">-Ken Campbel</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-03492/7590041-1-eng-US/f0032-032.jpg" title="f0032-03" width="220" height="251"></div>There was a time when Aki Berg was a prime example of the perils of rushing teenagers into the NHL.But since he joined Toronto last season, he has been a better example of what a player can accomplish when somebody shows a little faith and confidence in him.&ldquo;Aki has made some progress here,&rdquo; said Leafs&rsquo; coach-GM Pat Quinn.And that is in large part due to the way he has been handled by Quinn, a former NHL defenseman. Quinn rarely admonishes his players publicly and one of his strengths as a coach is the loyalty he shows to his charges. Suffice it to say, that was not the case before Berg&rsquo;s escape from the Los Angeles Kings.&ldquo;My confidence was so down there at the end,&rdquo; Berg said. &ldquo;When you play one game, then sit in the press box, it&rsquo;s very tough. Now confidence is what I focus on. It has only been 30 games in Toronto and I want to keep it for the entire year.&rdquo;Berg&rsquo;s selection to the Finnish Olympic team is certain to keep him feeling good about himself.FREE AGENT WATCH Toronto&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: The Maple Leafs are no closer to signing goalie Curtis Joseph than they were in training camp. Joseph reportedly wants $10 million, but the Leafs have not budged from their ceiling of $7.3 million. Joseph has rounded into form and has been aided by the fact the Leafs have kept the shots against down considerably this season. Tie Domi&rsquo;s cause hasn&rsquo;t been helped by his eight-game suspension to start the season and the fact he goes long stretches without much ice time. It&rsquo;s difficult to judge his worth, but one thing is certain: the Leafs&rsquo; skill players would be subject to significantly more abuse without him in the lineup.Restricted: None.LOUD & CLEAR &ldquo;They looked like three Zambonis.&rdquo; - Coach Pat Quinn on 5-on-3 penalty killers Tomas Kaberle, Bryan McCabe and Alyn McCauley as they were scored on in a 3-1 loss to Los Angeles Dec. 18.NOTEBOOK The Maple Leafs will don green sweaters with the Toronto St. Pats&rsquo; logo for their home game against Buffalo March 2 to commemorate their 75th anniversary The Leafs were known as the St. Pats from 1919 to 1927. &#9632;

f0032-03

Berg’s confidence at all-time high

<div class="byline">-Elliott Pap</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-05258/7590072-1-eng-US/f0032-052.jpg" title="f0032-05" width="424" height="878"><figcaption class="caption-body">FREE CASSELS? Oft-injured Vancouver center Andrew Cassels could be an attractive free agent next summer.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-04340/7590079-1-eng-US/f0032-042.jpg" title="f0032-04" width="221" height="244"></div>Jan is in and the Donald is gone.After five years as Vancouver&rsquo;s chief enforcer, Donald Brashear was dealt away to Philadelphia Dec. 17 with a 2002 sixth round Pick for winger a 2002 third round selection. The trade signalled a shift in direction for the floundering Canucks, who added skill at the expense of brawn.&ldquo;We would not have traded Donald Brashear unless we got a name on the table that we thought made a difference for our team,&rdquo; said Canuck GM Brian Burke.&ldquo;We think Jan Hlavac is a guy who has skill, can score, skates well and has decent size. We think if he plays with the right people and gets the right ice time, he can bounce back and repeat what he did last year.&rdquo; Last year, the 25-year-old Hlavac scored 28 goals and had 64 points for the New York Rangers playing on a line with Czech mates Petr Nedved and Radek Dvorak. He was sent to Philadelphia as part of the package for Eric Lindros.In his first two games as a Canuck, both losses, Hlavac had one goal and was minus-3.FREE AGENT WATCH Vancouver&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: Center Andrew Cassels remains a fine passer, but is a soft player. Cassels will likely be moved once the Canucks determine they can no longer make the playoffs. Defenseman Scott Lachance is steady performer who rarely contributes offensively, but is an excellent partner for swashbuckling Ed Jovanovski.Restricted: Center Brendan Morrison has struggled during the second quarter.NOTEBOOK Defenseman Ed Jovanovski on getting picked for Canada&rsquo;s Olympic team: &ldquo;Other than getting married and having kids, this is probably one of the best things in my life.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0032-05

Bruiser for scorer if Hlavac can deliver

<div class="byline">-Dave Fay</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-06215/7590110-1-eng-US/f0032-062.jpg" title="f0032-06" width="220" height="250"></div>When the Washington Capitals went to the Stanley Cup final in 1998, left winger Steve Konowalchuk was out with a bum left wrist.At least his timing is a little better this time, but it doesn&rsquo;t make it any easier to take.Konowalchuk, a key cog in the Caps&rsquo; defensive system, isn&rsquo;t due to return from early-season shoulder surgery until after the Olympic break.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s frustrating to watch this many games,&rdquo; Konowalchuk said.&ldquo;You feel bad that you can&rsquo;t help and you think you could if you were out there. Maybe part of that is a guilty feeling over getting hurt.&ldquo;On the flip side, I know I have to go out there and play hard and I know things are going to break down every now and then if you play hard. It&rsquo;s the nature of the game.&rdquo; Konowalchuk&rsquo;s rehab is on schedule; the Caps&rsquo; only worry is that he may try to rush things, come back too soon and get re-injured.FREE AGENT WATCH Washington&rsquo;s key players whose contracts expire at season&rsquo;s end:Unrestricted: Winger Ulf Dahlen has been a pleasant surprise, responding wonderfully when elevated to the first line. Center Adam Oates is continuing to be what he has been for 17 seasons - a solid, gifted playmaker who also plays responsible defense.Restricted: Center Andrei Nikolishin is a strong defensive force who is picking up his offensive game.Right winger Dainius Zubrus is developing into a good playmaker who is strong along the boards.LOUD & CLEAR &ldquo;The goalie is the most important penalty killer and there have been times when I haven&rsquo;t gotten the job done.&rdquo; - Goalie Olie Kolzig on why Washington&rsquo;s road PK rating is among the NHL&rsquo;s worst.NOTEBOOK Right winger Jaromir Jagr had his first two-goal performance as a Cap Dec. 15 versus Atlanta. The scores broke a nine-game goalless streak&hellip;Left winger Peter Bondra reached the 20-goal plateau for the 11th straight season, exceeding by one the club record he shared with Mike Gartner. &#9632;

f0032-06

Konowalchuk yearns for return to action

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0033-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-01934/7590141-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg"></div> &#9632;

f0033-01

NHL DEPTH CHARTS

<div class="byline">By Kevin Oklobzija</div>Jonathan Cheechoo is sort of doing things in reverse.He&rsquo;s already in the Hockey Hall of Fame; at least, the Kentucky Thoroughblades&rsquo; jersey he wore last season has gone to the shrine for display.Now he&rsquo;s working to get himself inducted, or at least into, the NHL and he&rsquo;s not very far from achieving that goal, either.Despite missing seven games with a strained back, the 21-year-old Cheechoo was among the American League&rsquo;s top 15 scorers with 14 goals and 31 points in 24 games for the Cleveland Barons.&ldquo;He&rsquo;ll be a big player in the NHL one day,&rdquo; said Cleveland coach Roy Sommer, who&rsquo;s in his fourth season in charge of San Jose&rsquo;s AHL affiliate. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s almost there now.&rdquo;Cheechoo, the Sharks&rsquo; second round pick (29th overall) in 1998, wants to do well not only for himself, but also for the people behind him. His jersey went to the Hall because he is the first full-blooded member of the Moose Creek First Nations to sign an NHL contract.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-011055/7590172-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg" title="f0034-01" width="276" height="323"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jonathan Cheechoo</figcaption></div>The folks back home in Moose Factory, Ont., were beaming, though getting to the Hall to see the display is no easy chore. Cheechoo estimates Toronto is an eight-hour drive due south - after a six-hour train ride from Moose Factory.&ldquo;I always dreamed about being in the Hall of Fame and I was really proud when I heard the Hall of Fame wanted my jersey,&rdquo; he said.He can be proud of his play, too. A summer working out in San Jose made his 6-foot-1,198-pound frame much more solid and improved his quickness. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a good guy and has a lot of inner drive,&rdquo; Sommer said. &ldquo;Because of his heritage, the people behind him, he really wants to do well for them.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0034-01

Cheechoo wearing ‘can’t-miss’ tag

<div class="byline">By Kevin Oklobzija</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-02717/7590224-1-eng-US/f0034-022.jpg" title="f0034-02" width="370" height="423"></div>The next time flight delays force you to spend all day and part of the night traveling, just remember that others have had it worse.Take the Grand Rapids Griffins. Not only did snow and fog turn their trip from Salt Lake City to Grand Rapids, Mich., on Dec. 15 into a 12hour marathon, but they still had to play a game when they touched down.The weary Griffins and Cincinnati Mighty Ducks faced off at 9:24 p.m., nearly two hours later than scheduled, and when it was over at 11:43 p.m., Grand Rapids had the first tie in franchise history, 2-2. The Griffins&rsquo; first five seasons were in the International League, where the shootout provided a winner in games tied after regulation.&ldquo;It was the hardest game I&rsquo;ve ever had to play,&rdquo; said Griffins&rsquo; goalie Mathieu Chouinard.Chouinard, who made 29 saves, took his pre-game nap on the flight from Salt Lake to Minneapolis.GRAND MAN Rochester defenseman Doug Houda reached the 1,000-game mark of his pro career Dec. 21, not because he skates like the wind or piles up points like Ray Bourque.Houda, 35, has played 560 NHL games, 437 in the American League and three in the IHL mainly because of his competitive spirit. His face and dental X-rays are proof. Scars give his face the look of a road map and removing his dentures leaves him with a toothless grin.LITTLE PLAYING BIG Philadel phia goalie Neil Little has been around eight seasons, but he has probably never played better than he is this year.Little&rsquo;s 27-save shutout of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Dec. 16 gave him a six-game unbeaten streak (3-0-3), lowered his AHL-leading goals-against average to 1.35 and boosted his league-best save percentage to. 949.NOTEBOOK Center Vaclav Nedorost, Colorado&rsquo;s first round pick (14th overall) in 2000, scored two goals and assisted on another as Hershey overcame a 3-0 deficit to beat Albany 4-3 in overtime Dec. 16. Nedorost had three goals and six points in eight games since being demoted by the Avalanche&hellip;Chicago Wolves&rsquo; netminder Pasi Nurminen was one of three goalies named to Finland&rsquo;s Olympic team. He was 2-6-0 with a 2.98 GAA and. 907 save percentage in eight AHL games. Both wins were shutouts.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-03562/7590217-1-eng-US/f0034-032.jpg" title="f0034-03" width="1318" height="1890"><figcaption class="caption-body">Houston defenseman Curtis Murphy is off to another strong start this season, with seven goals and 19 points in 34 games for the Aeros.</figcaption></div><h2>AHL TEAM ANALYSIS 12 of 27</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-04436/7590210-1-eng-US/f0034-042.jpg" title="f0034-04" width="424" height="388"></div><h2>GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS</h2><h3>NHL AFFILIATION</h3>Ottawa Senators<h3>ARENA</h3>Van Andel, cap. 10,834 Grand Rapids, Michigan Tickets: 616-222-4000<h3>HISTORY</h3>Co-owners Dan DeVos and David Van Andel are sons of Amway co-founders. The Rockets and Owls were local IHL teams.<h3>COACH</h3>Bruce Cassidy, 2nd year<h3>GENERAL MANAGER</h3>Bob McNamara, 6th year<h3>NOTABLE PROSPECTS</h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-05353/7590203-1-eng-US/f0034-052.jpg" title="f0034-05" width="450" height="192"></div><h3>2001-02</h3>Led by Schastlivy&rsquo;s goal production, the Griffins are sailing along. But how much longer before the Senators call him up? &#9632;

f0034-02

Griffins get jet lag, record first-ever tie

<div class="byline">By Rob Mueller</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-06312/7590255-1-eng-US/f0034-062.jpg" title="f0034-06" width="308" height="322"></div>Changes at the top for the Baton Rouge Kingfish eventually trickled down to the bench, with David Lohrei becoming the East Coast League&rsquo;s first coach to be fired this season.Citing the team&rsquo;s general lack of direction, new owner Scott Bolduc fired Lohrei Dec. 15, with the Kingfish off to a 13-14-3 start. Bolduc replaced Lohrei on an interim basis with former NHL forward Dennis Maruk, who was hired in November as the team&rsquo;s director of hockey development.The move came three days after Bolduc hired Kevin Melancon as executive vice president. Melancon replaced Ron Hansis, who resigned as GM Dec. 6.&ldquo;It just wasn&rsquo;t taking the team to where I needed it to go,&rdquo; said Bolduc, who purchased the club Oct. 8 from Hansis and five coowners who had moved the franchise to Baton Rouge from Erie, Pa., in 1996.The Kingfish went 35-26-11 last&mdash;season, setting club records for wins and points (81) in their first year under Lohrei. Bolduc said Maruk would not be considered for the job after this season.HOLY TOLEDO Overlooked in last year&rsquo;s rookie-of-the-year voting, New Orleans Brass center Adam Edinger is enjoying an even better sophomore season.Edinger, 24, was named the ECHL&rsquo;s player of the week for the second time this year after scoring five goals and 11 points in four games Dec. 11-17.A fifth round pick (115th overall) by the Islanders in 1997, Edinger was leading the league with 21 goals and was second in scoring with 44 points through 29 games. The Toledo native tallied 31 goals and 76 points in 58 games last season.NOTEBOOK The Louisiana IceGators (241-2) reached 50 points faster than any team in ECHL history&hellip;With two goals by former NHLer David Wilkie, the Augusta Lynx snapped a league-high nine-game winless skid (0-7-2) in a 4-3 overtime win over Charlotte Dec. 16&hellip;The Lynx acquired Jeff Bes-who had 100 points last season - from Mississippi for defender Jim Baxter and future considerations. &#9632;

f0034-06

Kingfish toss out first coaching casualty

<div class="byline">By Tim Campbell</div>Acceptance of an American League assignment is rarely a smooth matter for players who come from NHL teams.Count Manitoba Moose right winger Brad Leeb in the minority after the 22-year-old native of Red Deer, Alta., showed up with his best play of the season once the Vancouver Canucks returned him to the Moose after a two-game NHL stint in mid-November.Leeb&rsquo;s seven points during a taxing seven-game road trip helped the Moose return home with a 4-2-1 record. The third-year pro had six goals in his first nine December games to help the Moose move to five games above. 500 for the first time this season.&ldquo;All I can think to say about it is that when you go to the NHL level, your game has to be at the top level,&rdquo; said Leeb, who has participated in three Vancouver training camps and had a rookie-season recall of two games.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-01992/7590286-1-eng-US/f0035-012.jpg" title="f0035-01" width="274" height="335"><figcaption class="caption-body">Brad Leeb</figcaption></div>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve always learned things when I&rsquo;ve gone up,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a lot of little things and they always seem to make a difference. It&rsquo;s great experience, how hard you have to work every day and that work ethic is a big part of what you want to be doing here.&rdquo;And playing in the NHL, if only for a brief while, was a huge boost to Leeb&rsquo;s confidence and obviously helped his game.&ldquo;When you get called up, it&rsquo;s great that they&rsquo;ve noticed you&rsquo;re doing something right,&rdquo; Leeb said.Leeb has played for Moose coach Stan Smyl in each of his three pro seasons.&ldquo;He has the ability to contribute in all areas, including offense,&rdquo; Smyl said. &ldquo;His shot&rsquo;s a rifle&hellip;Now that he has been up there (in Vancouver), he has been noticeably better (since coming back).&rdquo; &#9632;

f0035-01

Leeb’s NHL lessons pay off for Moose

<div class="byline">By Tim Campbell</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-02697/7590338-1-eng-US/f0035-022.jpg" title="f0035-02" width="364" height="356"></div>Last year&rsquo;s Calder Cup champions, the Saint John Flames have spent most of this season&rsquo;s first half near the bottom of the Canadian Division and out of a playoff spot.What&rsquo;s the problem?For starters, the Flames are a distinctly different team this year, with only its coaching staff and eight skaters returning from the championship squad.This year&rsquo;s Flames have also found unexpected trouble at home. After 15 home games last season, Saint John was 10-3-2 at Harbour Station. This season, despite being billed in local radio ads as the &ldquo;red-hot&rdquo; Flames, Saint John was 5-6-4 at home and was one of only three Eastern Conference teams below. 500 at home.&ldquo;In this league, you have to capitalize on home ice,&rdquo; said left winger Jason Botterill. &ldquo;With all the travel, it can be really tiresome. It&rsquo;s such a fine line between being a successful team in this league and being an average or below-average team.&rdquo;TIGERS ROAR The Bridgeport Sound Tigers climbed to the top of the Eastern Conference&rsquo;s East Division with a stellar first half home record.The Sound Tigers, the New York Islanders&rsquo; top affiliate, went 10 games between losses at the Arena at Harbor Yard, but the Hartford Wolf Pack doused the streak with a 5-2 win Dec. 14. The Sound Tigers&rsquo; previous home loss had been Oct. 19 to Manchester.NOTEBOOK Love conquers all, including intense intra-state rivalries in the American League. Hartford Wolf Pack defenseman Martin Richter took a three-game furlough from the team to fly home to Prague, Czech Republic, to get married. Richter&rsquo;s new wife had been having trouble getting a visa for travel, but the newlyweds returned to Hartford shortly after the early December wedding.The Wolf Pack were beset with injuries and played one skater short during Richter&rsquo;s absence, but still knocked off rival Bridgeport, the East Division&rsquo;s top team, by a 5-2 score.NOTEBOOK After a difficult 13-game road trip (3-8-2-0) to begin their season, the Manchester Monarchs went 9-3-2-2 in their next 16 games&hellip;Hamilton Bulldogs lost left winger Jason Chimera when Edmonton recalled him Dec. 17. Chimera, with 40 points in 30 games, was second in AHL scoring to teammate Brian Swanson at the time.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-03569/7590331-1-eng-US/f0035-032.jpg" title="f0035-03" width="1306" height="1873"><figcaption class="caption-body">Center Kelt Corpse has played for 12 teams in seven leagues in seven seasons. He&rsquo;s with Rockford of the UHL after starting the season with Port Huron.</figcaption></div><h2>AHL SCOUTING REPORT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-04452/7590324-1-eng-US/f0035-042.jpg" title="f0035-04" width="342" height="461"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ari Ahonen</figcaption></div><h2>VITAL STATISTICS</h2>Hometown: Jyvaskyla, Fin. Age: 20 Size: 6-1,185<h2>LAST AMATEUR CLUB</h2>HIFK Helsinki (Fin.)<h2>POSITION</h2>Goaltender<h2>2001-02 SEASON</h2>Albany River Rats<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-05378/7590317-1-eng-US/f0035-052.jpg" title="f0035-05" width="364" height="73"></div><h2>NHL AFFILIATION</h2>New Jersey Devils<h2>NOTEWORTHY</h2>Drafted 27th overall by New Jersey in 1999&hellip;Played two years in top Finnish League with HIFK Helsinki&hellip;Ranked No. 5 prospect in Future Watch 2001; No. 26 in Future Watch 2000.<h2>BOTTOM LINE</h2>Tall, lanky stopper has great reflexes and an outstanding glove hand. He plays with confidence, but needs more experience in Albany. He&rsquo;s splitting duties on a poor team and is progressing very well. &#9632;

f0035-02

Home fires flicker for champ Flames

<div class="byline">-Brendan Savage</div>United Sports Ventures has sold another United League team. After unloading the Quad City Mallards before the season, USV sold the Missouri River Otters to a local group called River City Hockey LLC. River City is comprised of three local residents - Kevin Fitzpatrick, Dan O&rsquo;Donnell and Dale Black. Fitzpatrick will run the club as GM-president. USV still owns the UHL&rsquo;s Rockford IceHogs&hellip;Adirondack signed left winger Yvan Corbin, who led the Central League last season with 75 goals and 129 points&hellip;Goalie Matt Mullin, traded by Flint to Port Huron as part of a six-player deal Dec. 10, recorded a 4-0 shutout in his debut for the Border Cats&hellip;Flint&rsquo;s Bobby Reynolds had a 17-game point streak, the longest in the UHL, snapped Dec. 15 against Missouri. &#9632;

UNITED LEAGUE

<div class="byline">-Don Ruiz</div>If you&rsquo;re going to make a trade, you have to let other teams know what players you&rsquo;re willing to deal. However, when Anchorage&rsquo;s Stirling Wright faxed his fellow GMs about his available players, a copy also was faxed to the Anchorage Daily News. You can imagine the glee in the newsroom - and the unhappiness in the Aces&rsquo; dressing room. But you might be surprised by Wright&rsquo;s seemingly ho-hum response. &ldquo;Every team does it,&rdquo; he told the Daily News. &ldquo;You put guys out there. Maybe another team sees something you don&rsquo;t. We&rsquo;re gonna keep hunting until we get to the top (of the standings).&rdquo; Happy hunting. As of mid-December, the Aces remained last in the WCHL&rsquo;s Northern Division. &#9632;

WEST COAST LEAGUE

<div class="byline">-David Henry</div>The agenda has been finalized for the Central League All-Star Game, scheduled for Feb. 1 at the Corpus Christi IceRays&rsquo; Memorial Coliseum. The three-day event, the first since the merger of the CHL and Western Pro League, includes a skills competition Jan. 31. The game will feature the Southern Conference against the Northern Conference, each with a 17-man rosters. Starters will be determined by a vote of coaches, team officials, fans and media&hellip;The CHL rescheduled the Dec. 8 game between the San Antonio Iguanas and the host Fort Worth Brahmas after the game was postponed due to bad ice conditions behind one of the nets. The game was tied 2-2 at the end of the first period, but will be replayed in its entirety Feb. 12. &#9632;

CENTRAL LEAGUE

<div class="byline">By Jim Cressman</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-01954/7590441-1-eng-US/f0036-012.jpg" title="f0036-01" width="396" height="216"></div>The Erie Otters went to the Memorial Cup bid presentation Dec. 18 armed with a letter of support from Pittsburgh Penguins&rsquo; star/owner Mario Lemieux.The Otters, Barrie Colts, Guelph Storm and Ottawa 67&rsquo;s made their pitches to host the championship after qualifying by placing in the top four of their Ontario League conference at the 30-game mark. The Plymouth Whalers, Toronto St. Michael&rsquo;s Majors, Peterborough Petes, Belleville Bulls and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds also qualified, but declined to bid.The league isn&rsquo;t disclosing the contents of the bids, including the financial guarantees. A team must guarantee at least $600,000 (Cdn.) to the OHL. Each of the four is believed to have promised at least $800,000.&ldquo;We agreed we wouldn&rsquo;t talk specific numbers in terms of dollars,&rdquo; said 67&rsquo;s owner Jeff Hunt. &ldquo;If the numbers come out, it gives the appearance that whoever bids the most, gets it. They want to minimize the judgement of public opinion.&rdquo;Hunt and the 67&rsquo;s won the bid in 1999, the last time the OHL hosted the Memorial Cup, by guaranteeing a sellout of 10,000 for every game. Ottawa delivered.Storm president Jim Rooney said the challenge this time around was for the other teams to come up with ways to compete against those 10,000 seats in Ottawa. The other three buildings can each hold about 5,000 spectators.&ldquo;The roots of Canadian hockey are in the smaller Canadian cities. I don&rsquo;t think we can afford (to go back to Ottawa) as a league,&rdquo; said Rooney, adding the Storm hired an event manager Sept. 1 to begin preparing Guelph&rsquo;s bid in case the team qualified.The selection committee consists of Major League Baseball COO Paul Beeston, NHL Central Scouting Service director Frank Bonello and former NHL vice-president Brian O&rsquo;Neill. OHL commissioner David Branch and league attorney Gordon Kirke are nonvoting members of the committee. The decision will be announced in mid-January.OLIVE BRANCH Mississauga IceDogs&rsquo; GM Trevor Whiffen said the team would welcome back disgruntled center Patrick Jarrett, who left Dec. 11 saying he wasn&rsquo;t developing under co-owner/coach Don Cherry.&ldquo;I spoke with his agent (Mike Liut) for 45 minutes (Dec. 13) and invited Pat to return to the team,&rdquo; Whiffen said. &ldquo;Mike said it&rsquo;s very unlikely, but our offer is still out there.&rdquo; Whiffen said the IceDogs have no intention of trading the first overall pick in the 2000 OHL draft, who was at home in Sault Ste. Marie.&ldquo;In many ways, we&rsquo;ve been accommodating and in some ways far too accommodating to players,&rdquo; Whiffen said. &ldquo;We have an obligation to the other 20 players who are here to ice the best possible team we can.&rdquo;Jarrett missed the first two months of this season recovering from a broken leg.BANNED The Erie Otters&rsquo; fourth-leading scorer, right winger Brandon Cullen, was suspended for five games Dec. 18 after jumping a London Knights&rsquo; player with one second remaining in a 6-4 loss Dec. 9 at London.&ldquo;I thought Brandon was free and clear,&rdquo; said coach Dave MacQueen. &ldquo;Normally it doesn&rsquo;t take the league a week to rule on something like that.&rdquo;Cullen had 16 goals and 26 points in 28 games when the suspension was meted out. &#9632;

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January 4, 2002

Reinprecht settling in nicely with Avalanche after whirlwind tour of NHL in rookie year

Separated at Birth

Things looking up for Lecavalier

Ailing, aging Messier joins 1,800-point club