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July 1, 2002
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.
Recalling the gold rush
I won’t say it was the impossible dream. How could it be when your team has the likes of Mario Lemieux, Steve Yzer man just minutes away from realizing the dream of winning the gold medal and Rob Blake? But to be at the 2002 Winter surreal Olympics It’s funny how slowly times goes when you’re in a hurry. I was watching the play wondering to myself, “When is this thing going to end?” We knew after Joe Sakic scored to make it 5-2, with less than two minutes left, we were going to win. When the final buzzer sounded and we had defeated the United States everyone leaped over the boards and went nuts. I was a little hesitant. I was the chump skating around not knowing exactly what to do.…
Sabres sticking with defensive hockey
Here’s how confident defenseman Keith Ballard was about being taken among the top 20 picks in the NHL Entry draft: He barely made it back to his seat with a box of popcorn when the Sabres took him 11th overall. Ballard figured he would be selected somewhere between the 20th and 40th picks, but the Sabres had the University of Minnesota sophomore-to-be in their top 10. The Hockey News had him pegged as the 28th-best prospect. “The first thing I heard was ‘University of Minnesota,’ and I thought they were taking Barry Tallackson, my teammate,” Ballard said. “I thought he’d go a lot higher than me. It didn’t set in right away. I kind of thought for a second and it was unbelievable.” Ballard is a smooth-skating offensive defenseman who had six goals…
NHL TRANSACTIONS
Transactions include NHL personnel moves from June 15-28. ANAHEIM June 17 Alexei Smirnov, LW, signed three-year contract. June 22 Chuck Fletcher named director of hockey operations. June 25 Steve Shields, G, traded to Boston for third-round draft pick in 2003. ATLANTA June 22 Second and third-round draft pick in 2002 traded to Buffalo for Slava Kozlov, LW. June 27 Jeff Cowan. LW, and Andy Sutton, D, signed contracts. BOSTON June 18 Martin Samuelsson, RW, signed three-year contract. June 21 Mike O'Connell, GM, signed fiveyear contract. BUFFALO June 22 Slava Kozlov, LW, traded to Atlanta for second and third-round draft pick in 2002. Traded first-round draft pick in 2002 and the rights to Mike Pandolfo, LW, to Columbus for first-round draft pick in 2002. Two second-round draft picks in 2002 traded to Edmonton for Jochen Hecht, C. June 27…
Draft splash goes to Nash
Giventrade winds so soft they could barely topple a house of cards, the first three teams in line got what they wanted out of the NHL entry draft. For one of them, it could come with a heavy price. How big was the risk to the Columbus Blue Jackets involved in moving up two places, from third to first, to take London Knights left winger Rick (Nash) “It could be real big,” admitted GM Doug MacLean. For MacLean, draft day turned into a choice between seizing the ultimate gratification of the moment or settling for some lesser desire and possibly avoiding egg-on-the-face a year from now. Given the Blue Jackets’ 29th place finish this past season, perhaps it’s not surprising MacLean chose the former and dove head first after all the quick relief he…
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