Search for your favorite player or team
© The Hockey News. All rights reserved. Any and all material on this website cannot be used, reproduced, or distributed without prior written permission from Roustan Media Ltd. For more information, please see our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
September 9, 2003
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.
Stars still confident despite roster losses
Many Stars fans have been in panic mode all summer, believing Colorado and Detroit have passed by the West’s regular season champion. Stars management, however, believes the team is improved. On paper, the swap of Derian Hatcher and Darryl Sydor for Teppo Numminen and Don Sweeney is a clear loss. But on the ice, the Stars feel Numminen can replace Hatcher’s minutes with more skill and that players such as John Erskine, Philippe Boucher and Stephane Robidas will help eat up Sydor’s minutes and keep the defense corps young. In addition, each of Bill Guerin, Scott Young, Pierre Turgeon and Jason Arnott has the ability to improve his performance this season, and the entire team should be better prepared to play coach Dave Tippett’s uptempo system. Bottom line: this could be one of…
SNAPSHOTS
From around the NHL NHL owners backed down from a salary cap in the 1994 collective bargaining negotiations because they believed it would cost the entire season. Jeremy Jacobs is vowing this time will be different. “There will be cost-certainty,” said the reclusive owner of the Boston Bruins, breaking a media silence of several years at a charity fund-raiser. “It will be very interesting when there is a cap and we all have to worry about the way we manage our teams.” Critics of Toronto’s imminent hiring of John Ferguson, Jr. should know this: 10 of the past 11 Stanley Cup-winning GMs had no previous NHL managing experience before building their eventual championship team. A battle in the corners we can’t wait to see: Jordan Tootoo versus Tuomo Ruutu. Pittsburgh’s oldest goalie under…
Youngsters will push for veterans’ positions
Entering their fourth training camp, the Minnesota Wild essentially remain the third-year team that advanced to the Western Conference final last spring. Off-season player movement was minimal for a team that hopes its overachieving veterans and maturing youngsters can grease their well-worn system for another playoff ride. Manny Fernandez and Dwayne Roloson return after career seasons for what is expected to be a competitive battle for the No. 1 goalie job. Otherwise, the team has propped open the door for several forward prospects from the American League champion Houston Aeros to earn jobs. Despite their success, some veterans could find themselves on the bubble earlier in this camp-which is exactly what management wants. PLAYERS TO WATCH 1. Bill Muckalt, RW. The hard-luck speedster scored five goals in his first six games with Minnesota…
Vancouver pins hopes on ‘02-03 core group
The Vancouver Canucks, having made no significant acquisitions this summer, have spun their wheels while other Western Conference powers revved up. The Canucks are banking on similar big-time production from their stars while, at the same time, counting on improved performances from younger players such as Daniel and Henrik Sedin. But the Canucks were extremely fortunate that first-liners Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi and Brendan Morrison all remained healthy last season. It can go the other way, too, and Canuck management may rue the fact it wasn’t more active in securing an additional scoring threat. PLAYERS TO WATCH 1. Dan Cloutier, G. The jury remains out on Cloutier after a second straight meltdown in the post-season. If he falters early, the fans and media may quickly turn on him. He needs a good start. 2. Daniel…
Made possible with the support of
