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October 7, 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.
HOCKEY WORLD IN BRIEF
NHL STATS ICON DIES TORONTO Ron Andrews, who popularized use of plusminus as a hockey statistic, passed away at the age of 67. Andrews succeeded The Hockey News’ co-founder Ken McKenzie as NHL statistician in 1963 and stayed with the league until the 1980s. He also worked for a number of media outlets and kept stats for the 1972 Summit Series. CANADA ON TOP HERSONISSOS, Greece Canada, Sweden and the Czech Republic hold the top three spots in the International Ice Hockey Federation’s first-ever world ranking. The rankings following the 2004 World Championship will be used to determine seeding for the 2006 Olympics. The United States is ranked seventh. Canada, the U.S. and Finland lead the women’s rankings. DEVILS AT WHITE HOUSE NEW YORK President George W. Bush was expected to welcome the 2003 Stanley…
Blue Jackets relieved injuries aren’t serious
The Columbus Blue Jackets went from hor-rified to relieved in the span of 24 hours. Geoff Sanderson, who led the club with 34 goals last season, was sent to the hospital after getting checked during an intrasquad scrimmage. The club feared a broken collarbone or a separated shoulder. The next day - while Sanderson’s condition still was unknown - Rick Nash, a Calder Trophy candidate last season, tweaked a knee. He, too, was taken to a local hospital. The results? Sanderson has a sprained shoulder and is out until the start of the season. Nash missed only one day with a mild sprain. “You’re talking about two players who are crucial to us,” said coach-GM Doug MacLean said. “We’re breathing a little easier now.” FANTASY POOL WATCH It’s a minor miracle Nash had 17 goals…
Instigator must stay
Ya wanna go? Bam…bam…bam! That’s the sound of my knuckles banging off the noggins of the dopes who are trying to convince the NHL to get rid of the instigator rule. Don’t they know fighting is politically incorrect to begin with and if the league ever makes another move on fighting, it would be to remove it from the game once and for all, not encourage more? For those of us who believe there is a place for fighting in the NHL, the instigator rule is our saving grace. Get rid of it and you are starting down the path toward eliminating fighting altogether. That’s what then-Boston GM Harry Sinden called for way back when and it led to Penguins owner Howard Baldwin suggesting that rather than automatically eject players for fighting, the league should…
Admirals stacked with talent
The future may not be now, but it’s certainly soon for the Nashville Predators, based on the way they’ve stocked the American League’s Milwaukee Admirals. Milwaukee’s roster is virtually a photo-copy of Nashville’s top-10 prospects list in The Hockey News Future Watch 2003. Denis Platonov, who can play center and right wing, might be on the developmental fast track. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Platonov played in Kazan, Rus., last season and wasn’t expected in North America until next year. But the Predators opted to sign him over the summer because he was physically ready and had played a more prominent role with his team in Kazan last season, according to Nashville assistant GM Ray Shero. Shero said it made more sense to get Platonov, the Preds’ No. 4-rated prospect, acclimated to the North American…
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