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.
June 1, 2004
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.
Best vs. best
The top eight hockey nations in the world will be competing for the trophy (pictured) designed by architect Frank Gehry in the 2004 World Cup, which opens Aug. 30. Unlike the 2002 Olympic tournament, the World Cup will be played under NHL rules. That includes use of only NHL officials and downsizing of the four European ice surfaces in Cologne, Helsinki, Prague and Stockholm. Canada, Russia, Slovakia and the United States are entered in the North American group, with the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany and Sweden in the European group. In the inaugural World Cup in 1996, only three teams from each group qualified for the playoffs. This time all four teams will advance to the quarterfinals. CANADA Call it the revenge of the checkers. While more talented Canadian players will be watching from…
NHL takes hit on TV deals
Trying to make the most of a soft U.S. TV market for hockey, the NHL signed deals with ESPN and NBC that could bring in just half of the $120-million the NHL received annually under its expiring deal. In a further blow to the NHL’s stature south of the border, the league agreed to a no-rights-fee, 100-per-cent revenue-sharing plan with NBC - similar to one NBC has with Arena Football League - just to stay on U.S. network TV. The agreement with ESPN is reported to be worth $60-million for 2004-05 with ESPN options for the two following seasons at $70-million per year. This follows on the heels of the highly touted five-year, $600-milhon deal the NHL signed with ABC/ESPN in 1999. That agreement proved to be a bust for ABC, which saw ratings…
Russia balking at new IIHF-NHL deal
Could a Russian team demand $3 million or more to allow Alexander Ovechkin to play in the NHL? A better question might be to ask if there’s anything stopping them? The only thing known for certain is in the absence of a new player transfer agreement between the International Ice Hockey Federation and the NHL - and, crucially, the Russian Ice Hockey Federation buying into such a deal - anything is possible. DRAFT PRIMER The current deal between the NHL and the IIHF expires at the end of this season. Russia, in particular, is seeking a huge increase in the development fees NHL clubs pay to European counterparts. The amount paid for a first round prospect such as Ovechkin - roughly $220,000 - is not nearly enough in Russia’s eyes. “Our best players go to…
Your Guide to Draft Preview Abbreviations
The following legend lists abbreviations for statistics and leagues that are found in the player prospect and update sections as well as the Central Scouting Service listing. European players are identified by team and country or level of hockey. Europeans playing in divisions below the elite leagues are denoted with a .1 or .2. American high school players are identified by USHS. Other abbreviations are: bantam (Ban.), midget (Mid.), junior (Jr., Jr. A or Jr. B), USA Hockey national under-17 (U17) or under-18 programs (U18), World Junior Championship (WJC), world under-17 championship (WU17), world under-18 championship (WU18). Heights and weights are provided by Central Scouting. STATISTICS GP-games; G-goals; A-assists; P-points; PIM-penalty minutes; W-L-T-wins-losses-ties; SV%-save percentage; GAA-goals-against average. EUROPE Austria (Aus.), Belarus (Bel.), Czech Republic (Cze. or Czech), Finland (Fin.), Germany (Ger.), Kazakhstan (Kaz.), Poland…
Made possible with the support of
