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October 1, 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.
New pressure after success
Marian Gaborik spent his summer vacationing in his native Slovakia. Nothing new there. He has been doing that since the Wild made him its first-ever draft pick in 2000. This time, though, there’s a glitch. He was still in Slovakia when the leaves started falling and training camp opened in Minnesota. Gaborik was not the only one missing, either. Pascal Dupuis remained at his home in suburban Montreal. Both are restricted free agents who had rejected long-term contract offers from the Wild and were still unsigned as training camp began. And both of the disputes effectively doused the afterglow of the Wild’s rocket ride through the post-season last spring. Even with Gaborik and Dupuis on board, Minnesota would be in tough for a return to the playoffs. But with Gaborik’s and Dupuis’ combined 50 goals…
‘New’ Stars face big test
In less than two years, GM Doug Armstrong made the Stars his team. That could be a good thing or a bad thing-and only this season’s results will reveal the answer. While former GM Bob Gainey built a team on character players who squeezed the most out of their limited talents, Armstrong has built a team that is bigger, stronger and faster. In his short term, Armstrong has brought in Jason Arnott, Bill Guerin, Scott Young, Philippe Boucher and Manny Malhotra. He has also pushed for the advancement of younger players to further increase the talent pool. But in doing so, Armstrong has bid farewell to players such as Joe Nieuwendyk, Kirk Muller, Jamie Langenbrunner and Darryl Sydor. Each had a leadership role on the team and now those roles must be filled. What’s…
Make room for kids
Let’s hear it for the kids. Although the top players at each position are veterans who have earned the honor deservedly through years of consistently excellent play, there is some impressive young blood on the rise. Hot shot youngsters such as Minnesota right winger Marian Gaborik and Atlanta’s talented young duo, right winger Dany Headey and left winger Ilya Kovalchuk, are on the fast path to stardom. As always, The Hockey News’ annual Top 20 player rankings take into account what players have accomplished through their careers, their play of late as well as how they are expected to perform this season. GOALIE Welcome back to The Dominator. Although it is New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur who tops our list of the 20 best goalies, Dominik Hasek made the greatest leap on the list He…
Expectations on the rise
By last June, Columbus coach-GM Doug MacLean had grown weary of questions regarding his franchise as compared to the Mighty Ducks and Wild. The implication was obvious: “Hey, Doug, if these supposed have-nots can make it to the postseason-much less the conference final-what’s your excuse?” MacLean has been the team’s GM since its inception. Last January, he took over as coach. In other words, there’s nobody else to blame. The questions faded over the summer, but now, in a strange turn (or yet another master spin), MacLean welcomes the discussion. In fact, he has turned it around, making it a selling point, not only to the players in the dressing room, but the ticket-buying public. “If Minnesota can make it to the conference final and if Anaheim can make it to the Stanley…
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