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.

June 22, 2004

The Hockey News June 22, 2004

<div class="byline">&#x2013; SCOTT ANDERA</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-0923/7882469-1-eng-US/f0049-092.jpg" title="f0049-09" width="263" height="118"></div>The former WHA2 has lost the name game for a second time in a five-week span. The independent league broke all association with the WHA April 21 to dub itself the Eastern League. But it turns out the established ECHL wasn&rsquo;t too keen on having an EHL playing in the same region. The smaller league agreed and has decided to call itself the Southern League - though considering this league&rsquo;s history, don&rsquo;t etch that in stone just yet. The SHL (nee EHL, nee WHA2, nee ACHL) currently has seven teams and plans to open next season in October. Stay tuned. &#9632;

f0049-09

IN THIS ISSUE

NOTEBOOK

<div class="byline">BY KEVIN OKLOBZIJA</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0047-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-02249/7882127-1-eng-US/f0047-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">(JIM MCISAAC/BBS)</figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-01373/7882134-1-eng-US/f0047-012.jpg" title="f0047-01" width="106" height="105"></div>Claude Noel kept telling the Milwaukee Admirals during the American League regular season his goal as their coach was rather simple.&ldquo;He&rsquo;d say he just wanted to make us better every day,&rdquo; said left winger Jay Henderson. &ldquo;But I knew in the back of his head his goal was to win the Calder Cup.&rdquo;Mission accomplished.Fulfilling Noel&rsquo;s wish of building the foundation of a champion in Milwaukee, the ultra-talented, multi-faceted Admirals capped a no-doubt-about-it playoff run by sweeping the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Calder Cup final.They made it seem easier the deeper they went. The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, their inferior by 30 points during the American League&rsquo;s regular season, took them to seven games in the West Division semifinal. They needed six games to eliminate the Chicago Wolves in the division final.They finished off the Rochester Americans in five games, thanks in large part to Wade Flaherty&rsquo;s big-save goaltending, then grabbed the Cup on enemy ice with the four-game sweep of the Penguins.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>TOPS DURING SEASON, TOO</h2>The Admirals had the AHL&rsquo;s best regular season record (46-24-7-3) and in the end were indeed the best. The championship is the first at the top minor pro level for Milwaukee. Its only other pro hockey title came in the old United States League in 1976.&ldquo;We had too many elements, you couldn&rsquo;t keep us off the board,&rdquo; said Noel, the first-year AHL coach who came over from the ECHL last summer. &ldquo;The wildest thing is, I could see maybe at mid-season what we had and what we were. The biggest challenge would be to convince our players how good we could be.&rdquo;That really wasn&rsquo;t a large challenge, not with veterans Tony Hrkac, Mathieu Darche, s Wyatt Smith and Henderson up front, two-1 time AHL defenseman of the year Curtis Murphy anchoring a defensive corps that included steady veterans Ray Schultz and Brad Tiley and up-and-comers Andrew Hutchinson and Greg Zanon.<blockquote class="pullQuote">&ldquo;Our guys were so focused, so jacked up. We were playing the best we&rsquo;d played all year.</blockquote>&ldquo;Still, you go into a final, you don&rsquo;t expect to sweep,&rdquo; said second-year winger Darren Haydar. &ldquo;But we didn&rsquo;t make many mistakes, so we were always able to be in games.&ldquo;Most of the young guys were up front, so when you have those old, reliable guys behind you, you&rsquo;re not worried.&rdquo;Haydar was one of those young guys. The AHL&rsquo;s rookie of the year in 2002-03, he was the leading playoff scorer this spring with 11 goals and 26 points in 22 games.&ldquo;He stepped up huge,&rdquo; Noel said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s so deceptive. He doesn&rsquo;t play with flash and flair, his advantage is his mind. And I don&rsquo;t think people recognize his courage. He had a target on his back every series and wouldn&rsquo;t be stopped. In Game 3 (of the final) in overtime, he got knocked down once, got up and got to the net, got a pass from Hrkac, took a whack and when the rebound came back out he knew he was going to get killed. They buried him, but he got the shot off. He didn&rsquo;t even know he scored.&rdquo;Haydar wasn&rsquo;t the only young gun, though. Rookie Libor Pivko and Timofei Shishkanov have very bright futures.&ldquo;There might be five, six, maybe even seven&rdquo; ll guys that have a chance (in the NHL),&rdquo; Noel said. &ldquo;And I&rsquo;m not talking third-liners. Shishkanov, Pivko, Hutchinson, Zanon, Vernon Fiddler. Haydar really raised his stock.&rdquo; For Admirals GM Phil Wittliff, the title was very sweet. He has been with the organization since the USHL championship days, through their entrance into the International League in 1977-78 and then the AHL in 2000-01&ldquo;It&rsquo;s really been a rewarding year,&rdquo; Wittliff said. &ldquo;I just wish it hadn&rsquo;t taken so long.&rdquo;The final turned out to be short work, though there were two OT games. The 2-1 win in Game 3, Milwaukee&rsquo;s record sixth OT win of the playoffs, made Game 4 a mere formality. The Admirals won the clincher 7-2.&ldquo;The first 12 minutes of the first period, I thought I was coaching an NHL team,&rdquo; Noel said. &ldquo;Our guys were so focused, so jacked up. We were playing the best we&rsquo;d played all year.&rdquo;Penguins coach Michel Therrien said the Admirals played like champions.&ldquo;You have to give credit to the other team,&rdquo; said Penguins goalie Andy Chiodo. &ldquo;They have a great goalie, they have a lot of skill and they played a consistent game night in and night out. It would be disrespectful to not give them any credit. They definitely took it to us and did a great job.&rdquo; IAHL CHAMPS&nbsp;Somewhere in the Milwaukee Admirals mob is goalie Wade Flaherty, the Calder Cup MVP.<h2>TICKETS TO NASHVILLE</h2>Here are the top five long-term Nashville prospects from the Milwaukee Admirals lineup. Included are their AHL playoff stats (GP-G-A-Pts-PIM).Scottie Upshall Age 20 Pos LW 8-3-0-3-4The No. 12-ranked prospect in Future Watch 2004 was limited to eight games with a knee injury. He is earmarked as an NHL second line energy winger.Timofei Shishkanov Age 21 Pos LW 22-2-6-8-17Ranked No. 53 in FW 2004, he was a third-liner for the Admirals. He is solid, competitive, battles for the puck and will show more finish in future seasons.Andrew Hutchinson Age 24 Pos D 22-5-11-16-33Two-way defender has seen his stock rise by leaps and bounds. The former Michigan State all-American will crack Nashville&rsquo;s top-six D next season.Libor Pivko Age 24 Pos LW 21-7-6-13-22A former star scorer in Czech junior, he has added much-needed bulk and showed great willingness in his rookie pro year. Best suited to a checking role.Brian Finley Age 22 Pos G 0-1, 2.05, .917Sixth overall pick in 1999 has been a slow developer due to injuries. He had a solid 23-win, .918 SP season, but played second fiddle to Wade Flaherty. &#9632;

f0047-02

DEPARTMENTS

Milwaukee’s best

<div class="byline">BY MIKE BROPHY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0030-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-011099/7880643-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg"></div>The 2003-04 post-season was full of surprises, from Tampa&rsquo;s first Stanley Cup championship, to Calgary&rsquo;s inspiring run, to the early exits of Colorado, Detroit, New Jersey and Ottawa. These playoffs also had amazing saves, wonderful passes and thrilling goals. Here are The Hockey News&rsquo;s picks for the top 10 plays of the playoffs:1.ST-LOUIS SCORES&nbsp;Game 6, Tampa Bay at Calgary, June 5 With the Flames primed for a Stanley Cup celebration and the game in double overtime, the Lightning&rsquo;s Martin St-Louis fires a shot under the crossbar to send the final back to Tampa Bay for Game 7.2.THE PASS&nbsp;Game 7, Calgary at Tampa Bay, June 7 Looking like a ballet dancer in a mosh pit, the Lightning&rsquo;s Vinny Lecavalier fends off a group of Calgary defenders long enough to spot teammate Ruslan Fedotenko in the slot. His pass is perfect and so is Fedotenko&rsquo;s one-timer. It&rsquo;s the Stanley Cup-winning goal.3.GAME SAVER&nbsp;Game 6, Tampa Bay at Calgary, June 5 With the Flames trailing by a goal and time running out in the third period of Game 7, defenseman Jordan Leopold unloads a blast from 20 feet out that appears headed for the open net. Miraculously, Tampa goalie Nikolai Khabibulin kicks his right leg out and makes the stop with his pad and then bats the rebound out of the air with his blocker.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-02738/7880636-1-eng-US/f0030-022.jpg" title="f0030-02" width="2038" height="902"><figcaption class="caption-body">Only Mike Ribeiro knows for sure whether he faked an injury after being hit by Boston&rsquo;s Mike Knuble.</figcaption></div>4 NIFTY MOVE Game 3, Colorado at San Jose, April 24 San Jose&rsquo;s Jonathan Cheechoo drives to the net from the left side boards and is spied by defenseman Brad Stuart, who has positioned himself behind the Colorado net. Because Stuart&rsquo;s pass is slightly off, Cheechoo is forced to reach his stick back-between his legs - to get the puck. He corrals the puck and miraculously manages to get off a wrist shot that eludes David Aebischer to give the Sharks a commanding 3-1 lead.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-03521/7880629-1-eng-US/f0030-032.jpg" title="f0030-03" width="1983" height="3416"><figcaption class="caption-body">WHO SHOT? J.R. Philadelphia&rsquo;s Jeremy Roenick, battling injuries, celebrates his Game 6 overtime goal that eliminated Toronto in the second round. (CP IMAGES)</figcaption></div>5 LEAVE IT TO J.R. Game 6, Philadelphia at Toronto, May 4 With the series on the line and teammate Sami Kapanen having made it safely to the bench after being crushed by a hit by Toronto&rsquo;s Darcy Tucker, Jeremy Roenick takes over. Breaking into the Toronto zone on the right side on a 2-on-l with Tony Amonte, Roenick never thinks of passing. He drills a shot over Ed Belfour&rsquo;s trapper and under the crossbar to give his team a 3-2 overtime win and 4-2 series victory in the second round. &#9632;

f0030-01

FEATURES & COLUMNS

Plays of the PLAYOFFS

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0054-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0054-0299/7882742-1-eng-US/f0054-022.jpg"></div> &#9632;

f0054-02

GOALTENDING STATISTICS

<div class="byline">Jason Kay </div><div class="byline">Editor</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-021543/7879362-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="413" height="712"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-011813/7879369-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="109" height="111"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div>Ninety-eight days, 10 hours, 0 minutes and 11 seconds, 10 seconds, 9, 8, 7&hellip;So ticked the collective bargaining agreement countdown clock on <a href="http://TheHockeyNews.com">thehockeynews.com</a>, the day after the Cinderella Lightning knocked off the Rudy Ruettiger Flames in the most improbable Stanley Cup final in recent memory.It would be convenient to say the final buzzer of Game 7 signalled the beginning of CBA season, but in reality the labor roots were established long ago and the resulting plant has been growing like a prickly weed for months.We&rsquo;ve all witnessed the surface stuff - the required rhetoric, the legalese mumbo jumbo, the lockout length predictions, yada, yada, yada. What is less apparent, but more germane at this point, is the ripple effect the threat of a prolonged labor stoppage is having on real lives.There has been such an immense build-up to the war of 2004, such a heightened awareness of the Sept. 15 deadline, that hockey-related businesses are preparing like never before, and some are reacting out of fear.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-031254/7879355-1-eng-US/f0004-032.jpg" title="f0004-03" width="1268" height="2269"><figcaption class="caption-body">SIGN OF TIMES: Olli Jokinen may be the only Panthers free agent to get a contract offer before a new CBA is done. (JIM MCISAAC/BBS)</figcaption></div>Several NHL teams have already handed out pink slips, anticipating a revenue shortfall. By our count, more than 75 office staff on eight teams have been let go this spring.And those are just the ones we know about. It also doesn&rsquo;t take into account positions being left vacant following departures by people scared off by the impending doom.Meantime, contingency plans are being made l by player agents, arena operators, equipment manufacturers and concessionaires, to name a few businesses.Sports publications also have decisions to make. The people who print the NHL&rsquo;s official yearbook, for example, are taking a wait-and-see approach with this year&rsquo;s offering and won&rsquo;t be out at the typical time.At The Hockey News, barring the unforeseen, it will be business as usual. We&rsquo;ll provide the most comprehensive CBA coverage available, while blanketing the puck pursuits of the American League, major ^junior leagues, the NCAA and beyond.And speaking of comprehensive coverage, thanks to files from our correspondents, what follows is an update on how a potential work stoppage has affected NHL teams. Several of our reporters indicated the labor war has had no discernible effect on the team they cover, though some of those clubs are saying they&rsquo;re awaiting a new CBA before proceeding with player negotiations. Teams such as Pittsburgh and Washington, meantime, chopped millions from their payrolls this season in anticipation of a new labor agreement.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-041017/7879348-1-eng-US/f0004-042.jpg" title="f0004-04" width="529" height="650"></div>A countdown clock to the Sept. 15 deadline is located on our website, <a href="http://TheHockeyNews.com">thehockeynews.com</a>Anaheim The Ducks laid off four full-time and two partime office workers in mid-May, saying the moves were part of i business reorganization.Carolina A day after the season ended, the Hurricanes laid jeff 18 people and told many others they would lose their jobs or see large pay cuts in September if there is a lockout. The Canes also offered season-ticket holders a 20 per-cent discount for early fully paid renewals while offering to pay interest on money received.Chicago The Blackhawks have offered their season-ticket holders a 10 per-cent discount on full packages for next season.Dallas The Stars began layoffs immediately after their first round exit from the playoffs. Among the first cuts were 12 mid-level employees and by the time June had arrived, the team had cut two vice-presidents and also worked out a retirement plan with longtime equipment manager Dave Smith.Edmonton There has already been an exodus of office staff as employees jump ship before the layoffs come. Meanwhile, season ticket prices have been cut by five per cent and the team continues to beat the bushes for a Western League team to occupy the building during an extended NHL lockout.FloridaExpect the Panthers, salary cap proponents, to wait for the new CBA before signing their restricted free agents (captain Olli Jokinen could be an exception). Layoffs are also expected.NashvilleA little more than a month after the team was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, 10 per cent of the business staff was fired. Team management maintained the moves were standard streamlining measures unrelated to the pending labor troubles. Common sense suggested otherwise.Phoenix Sixteen full-time employees of the Coyotes and Glendale Arena, roughly 15 per cent of the work staff, were laid off in anticipation of a labor stoppage.Pittsburgh There have not been any front-office layoffs yet, but a handful of employees, perhaps sensing the writing on the wall, have left on their own accord and have not been replaced The Penguins slashed ticket prices across the board after the season and are&ldquo;very pleased&rdquo; with how sales have progressed.St. Louis Starting a year ago, the Blues began streamlining their offices, cutting 11 positions in 2003 and cutting nine this spring, two of which have been reinstated.Toronto The Leafs announced they will hold the line on ticket prices for 2004-05, becoming the 20th team to either cut ticket prices or keep them the same. That&rsquo;s significant news from a franchise whose ticket demand far exceeds the supply.Washington More than a dozen people are no longer with the Capitals due to the threat of a lockout in September. Four positions were eliminated while about 10 others have not been filled when people resigned.By the way, we&rsquo;re now at 98 days, seven hours, 46 minutes and 38 seconds, 37, 36, 35&hellip;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-05825/7879341-1-eng-US/f0004-052.jpg" title="f0004-05" width="549" height="292"></div> &#9632;

f0004-02

CBA impacting real lives

<div class="byline">&#x2013; MARK BRENDER</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0005-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-021283/7879431-1-eng-US/f0005-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">BACK TO USSR? NHL lockout rules&rsquo; won&rsquo;t allow Alexander Semin to play in the AHL.</figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-011815/7879438-1-eng-US/f0005-012.jpg" title="f0005-01" width="111" height="112"></div>Derek Roy spent 2003-04 trying to establish himself as a fulltime NHLer with the Buffalo Sabres. Four months from now, he might be wishing he hadn&rsquo;tIn another example of twisted lockout logic, young NHL players such as the 21-year-old Roy could turn out to be worse off after a lengthy NHL work stoppage than slower-developing peers of the same age. GMs say the quickest way to stunt the growth of a young player is to deny him adequate ice time against good competition. Under the NHL&rsquo;s rules for American League playing eligibility during a lockout, that&rsquo;s what could happen to Roy and others like him.Roy played 26 games this year for the AHL&rsquo;s Rochester Americans and 49 games for Buffalo. The Sabres held him out of the last game of the season, apparently believing he would be able to play in the AHL next season if he had played fewer than 50 NHL games in 2003-04. They were wrong.NHL general counsel David Zimmerman sent GMs a memo outlining the minor league eligibility policy on April 14 - 10 days after the regular season had ended - stating that players will be able to play in the AHL next year only if they had been assigned to the minors for 50 or more games in 2003-04 (or hadn&rsquo;t signed an NHL contract as of April 1). As such, Roy doesn&rsquo;t qualify and would have to look to Europe to play organized hockey next season.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>Sabres GM Darcy Regier declined to talk to The Hockey News on the matter. If he is disgruntled, he has plenty of company.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think any of the managers are happy about it,&rdquo; said b Washington GM George &ldquo;McPhee. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to discuss it more and see what develops. We have a lot of players who need to play and in some cases they&rsquo;ll be playing anyway, so why not (in the AHL)?&rdquo; Washington forward Alexander Semin, 20, is in the same situation as Roy and is likely to play in Russia during a work stoppage. McPhee believes he would be better served in the AHL.NHL vice-president Bill Daly said the f rule tries to ensure a lockout extends to all bona fide NHLers. He acknowledged some GMs are unhappy with it from a development standpoint, but said teams support the CBA goals behind it.The memo said the league is prepared to look at individual players&rsquo; circumstances on a&ldquo;case-by-case&rdquo; basis.<h2>STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF PAYOFF</h2>NHL players play for glory, not paychecks in the playoffs.. But teams do get a share of the playoff purse. Each team&rsquo;s share is divided among players and team personnel. Here&rsquo;s last year&rsquo;s payouts:<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-03826/7879424-1-eng-US/f0005-032.jpg" title="f0005-03" width="1234" height="1102"></div> &#9632;

f0005-02

Lockout policy irks GMs

<h2>Best of the Hockey World</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-05310/7879476-1-eng-US/f0005-052.jpg" title="f0005-05" width="347" height="551"><figcaption class="caption-body">BRAD RICHARDS</figcaption></div>BRAD& THE BOLTS Tampa&rsquo;s Brad Richards is the playoff MVP, leading the post-season in scoring and helping the Lightning win the Stanley Cup.MIRACLE RUN The Calgary Flames, led by captain Jarome Iginla and goalie Miikka Kiprusoff, captured Canada&rsquo;s fancy in their stirring run to the final.WHAT A TRIO Defensemen Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey and Larry Murphy and are named to the Hall of Fame - surely the best blueline class of all-time.<h2>Worst of the Hockey World</h2>RIGHT CALL, BUT&hellip; it was the right call to not count Martin Gelinas&rsquo;s off-the-skate goal in Game 6, but it should&rsquo;ve been reviewed before play resumed.VIILE VILLAIN Calgary&rsquo;s Ville Nieminen is suspended for one game in the final after hitting Tampa&rsquo;s Vincent Lecavalier from behind.NOW THE FUN BEGINS The NHL season is over and now it&rsquo;s down to the nasty business of collective bargaining talks. Yuk!<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-06184/7879469-1-eng-US/f0005-062.jpg" title="f0005-06" width="344" height="548"><figcaption class="caption-body">VILLE NIEMINEN</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0005-05

PLUS MINUS

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-07116/7879507-1-eng-US/f0005-072.jpg" title="f0005-07" width="383" height="618"><figcaption class="caption-body">LADISLAV NAGY: THE QUALIFIERS</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-04508/7879514-1-eng-US/f0005-042.jpg" title="f0005-04" width="225" height="194"></div>&bull; Where&rsquo;s the beef? Why, in the digital camera, of course. When 2004 draft prospects took off their shirts for a body fat test at the scouting combine last month, a half-dozen strength coaches snapped away to capture their physiques.&bull; CBA uncertainty means there could be a record number of arbitrations this summer. Says agent Matt Keator, who represents Group II free agents Ladislav Nagy and Michal Handzus:&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the last possible time to get fair market value under the old system.&rdquo;&bull; Brian Sutter accepted a one-year contract renewal in Chicago. The next time anyone talks about Ted Nolan being treated unfairly in Buffalo, remember that Nolan turned down a similar offer from the Sabres in 1997 before walking away.&bull; It&rsquo;s unknown how long teams would have to get their payrolls in line with a salary cap or luxury tax ceiling under a new CBA. If there is no adjustment period, richer teams could be forced to trade players to get down to the cap/ceiling level. Transition rules might say the portion of a traded contract that teams agree to eat doesn&rsquo;t count against the cap. The new team would count only the amount of the contract it was picking up. If so, lower-payroll clubs could have a chance to pick up good players for relatively cheap in the post-CBA world. &#9632;

f0005-07

SNAPSHOTS

With possible salary restraints in a new CBA, teams must decide whether to extend qualifying offers (QO) by June 30 to restricted free agents such as those listed below. Teams must offer a contract equal to the listed 2003-04 salary to retain a player&rsquo;s rights. Here&rsquo;s out best guess on what might happen.Chris Pronger, StL $10.0MGM Larry Pleau says this won&rsquo;t be another Kariya. The price is high, but we believe him.Jarome Iginla, Cgy $7.5MOf course the Flames will qualify Iginla. The question is, how much more will Iggy want?Pavol Demitra, StL $6.5MThe Blues would like him back, but not at this price. Demitra will become a UFA.Joe Thornton, Bos $5.5MA no-brainer despite Thornton&rsquo;s playoff nonproduction. The B&rsquo;s can&rsquo;t afford to lose him.Scott Niedermayer, NJ $4.0MCompare these bucks to Prongeris. The QO is a formality for a star due a hefty raise.Jason Arnott, Dal S3.85MArnott is a gamer, but the Stars haven&rsquo;t gotten anywhere as big spenders. Let him walk.Jeff O&rsquo;Neill, Car S3.7MThe Canes will offer him S3.7M and sit tight. His trade value is at a low point.Roman Hamrlik, NYI S3.6MHamrlik wouldn&rsquo;t eam more than S3M on the open market. See ya, Roman.Radek Bonk, Ott J3.5MA draft day trade - if anyone will take him - would be ideal If not, he&rsquo;s a free man.Eric Daze, Chi S3.2MA tough call. The Hawks need scoring, a healthy Daze brings it. He&rsquo;s back - barely.Adam Deadmarsh, LA $3.OMIf insurance picks up the bulk of it, the Kings will do it. If not, get well soon, Adam.Jeff Friesen, NJ $3.0MFriesen&rsquo;s terrible playoff probably did him in. In the Devils&rsquo; scheme, he&rsquo;s replaceable.Janne Niinimaa, NYI $2.9MNiinimaa is more valuable than Hamrlik and should benefit if they let Hamrlik walk.Anson Carter, LA S2.8MThis one&rsquo;s as easy as Thornton; Carter has proven he&rsquo;s simply not worth the dough.Patrick Lalime, Ott S2.6MLalime has served well, but Ottawa is moving on. As for those Hasek rumors&hellip; &#9632;

ON THE COVER

THE QUALIFIERS

<div class="byline">BY MARK BRENDER&#x2022; Senior Writer</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0006-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-03788/7879583-1-eng-US/f0006-032.jpg"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-012023/7879590-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="111" height="112"></div>Is it business as usual or a radically new business? A look at NHL payrolls and financial commitments for 2004-05 suggests the jury is out.As shown on the salary and contract status listing on pg. 8, Dallas and Detroit, for example, both have obligations already exceeding $40 million for next season - a risky proposition considering the NHL&rsquo;s public demands for a salary cap and its refusal to promise teams a phasing-in period.Whether by design or lack of foresight, the Stars and Wings are betting on generous transition rules or that the NHL will fail in its salary-cap wish. Otherwise, they risk having to eat huge chunks of salary in trades to get down to mandated levels. At the other end of the spectrum are teams such as Washington (five players under contract, $10.9 million committed) Pittsburgh (seven players, $6.4 million) and Chicago (eight players, $6.1 million), all of whom have gutted their rosters in the hope that their flexibility will be rewarded under a new CBA.Still, the dichotomies aren&rsquo;t as stark as they seem. The picture will be different a few weeks from now after teams have made qualifying offers to restricted free agents by the June 30 deadline. Boston will go from having obligations to just four players for 2004-05 to at least nine after offers are made Joe Thornton, Sergei Samsonov, Andrew Raycroft, Sergei Gonchar and Hal Gill, among others.Players entering their option years have been included on pg. 8 as&ldquo;under contract&rdquo; or unrestricted free agents depending on the likelihood of the team picking up the option. Chances are St. Louis will exercise its option on Alexander Khavanov at $1.8 million, but Peter Nedved at $5.5 million is way too rich for Edmonton, even though the Oilers have said they would like to sign him at a lower price.Salary information and contract status was obtained by The Hockey News through player agents and team officials. The figures do not reflect portions of contracts that may be paid for by other clubs. ISee page 8 for team-by-team&rsquo;04-05 payrolls</div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>SALARY SCAN</h2>About 40 per cent of NHL players are under contract for 2004-05. The unrestricted group will jump after June 30.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-021350/7879576-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="1580" height="3820"><figcaption class="caption-body">BACK IN BLUE? Chrio Pronger is one of more than 300 restricted free agents, dozens of whom will become unrestricted as of July 1 - but not Pronger. (JIM MCISAAC/BBS)</figcaption></div>*Asterisk indicates team option on contract.&mdash;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-011911/7879569-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="4438" height="4438"></div> &#9632;

f0006-03

FEATURES& COLUMNS

Payroll games center stage

<div class="byline">BY MICHAEL COSTELLO</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0010-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-011879/7879628-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg"></div><h2>CALGARY</h2>You didn&rsquo;t go to the Red Mile expecting to walk it. Like the gradual, steady drift of a glacier migrating down a mountain, you just sort of went with the flow.Throughout the playoffs, the strip of 17th Ave. in Calgary, just west of the Saddledome, was part Stampede (Calgary&rsquo;s 10-day&rsquo;Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth&rsquo;) and part Bourbon Street/Mardi-Gras. It was all about Flames fans celebrating, letting loose after a playoff victory, at home or on the road.&rsquo;The greatest outdoor show on earth,&rsquo; is still in Calgary, but it might no longer be the Stampede.The Red Mile began innocently after Calgary won Game 5 in Vancouver 2-1. Flames fans needed a place to congregate and the nightlife strip seemed like the place to go. It grew in size after the thrilling Game 7 overtime victory April 19.Crowds swelled to more than 50,000 at times. Even after the Flames lost Game 7 of the Cup final in Tampa, thousands of fans were there to commiserate.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-021373/7879621-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg" title="f0010-02" width="1769" height="1165"><figcaption class="caption-body">SEA OF RED Flames fans poured out of their homes to celebrate Calgary&rsquo;s playoff successes.</figcaption></div>Compared to 1989 when 11th Ave., or Electric Avenue, was the street of choice, the numbers and intensity level rose dramatically, reflecting Calgary&rsquo;s population increase and the Flames&rsquo; rise from obscurity after 14 years of playoff futility. Whooping and high-fiving crowds walked the 10-block stretch, which was closed to traffic after game time.The area gained attention for its exhibitionist activities by exuberant female fans. Some flashed without provocation. Some responded to&ldquo;Shirts off for Kiprusoff&rdquo; or similar chants by the largely male masses.In the heart of the Red Mile at&rsquo;Bob the Fish Tavern,&rsquo; the mayors of Vancouver, Edmonton, Regina and Toronto were invited to drop by for Game 3 of the final. All four wore Flames sweaters with&ldquo;why not us?&rdquo; looks on their faces as they looked around.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve never seen anything like the party going on in Calgary,&rdquo; said Glen Scott, part-owner of the tavern and a converted Oilers fan&mdash;and that includes his days witnessing the Oilers&rsquo; Cup parties in the 1980s.Flames car flags flew by the hundreds of thousands, businesses placed&rsquo;Go Flames Go&rsquo; across their marquees and candidates for the June 28 federal election flocked to get their pictures taken wearing a Flames jersey.The Red Mile, like the Yellow Brick Road, was an incredible journey along a storybook season. &#9632;

f0010-01

Famous Red Mile a Calgary journey

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-03851/7879673-1-eng-US/f0010-032.jpg" title="f0010-03" width="550" height="571"><figcaption class="caption-body">DODGE</figcaption></div><h2>PLAYOFF SELECTION: BRAD RICHARDS</h2>It was a glorious conclusion to a storybook season for Brad Richards.On the evening of June 7, Richards hoisted both the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe trophy above his head.A lifelong dream which in tiny Murray Harbour, P.E.I. was realized.In the process, a fifetime&rsquo;s worth of memories were born.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-04579/7879666-1-eng-US/f0010-042.jpg" title="f0010-04" width="1354" height="1590"><figcaption class="caption-body">Conn Smythe winner Brad Richards</figcaption></div>Richards was Mr. Clutch for Tampa Bay in its Stanley Cup drive. The 24-year-old center scored 12 goals and added 14 assists for 26 points in 23 games to capture The Hockey News player of the playoffs.Richards re-wrote the NHL record book on his way to winning the Conn Smythe trophy. The seven game-winners he scored is a new playoff record.To put things in perspective, three players tied for the lead in game-winners during the regular season with 10. And that&rsquo;s over 82 games. What&rsquo;s more, Richards scored the game-winner in nearly half of the Lightning&rsquo;s playoff wins.Perhaps the most impressive aspect of his playoff performance is that Richards saved his best hockey for the Stanley Cup final. In seven games against the Calgary Flames, Richards had four goals and nine points.He scored the only goal of Game 4 in a 1-0 Lightning victory in Calgary. It was a game his team absolutely had to win. The Lightning were trailing the series 2-1. A loss would have almost certainly squashed their cup dreams.Richards was heroic once again in Game 6. He scored the first two goals in a 3-2 double OT victory and assisted on the winner by Martin St-Louis.It was a performance for the ages by a player the Lightning drafted 64th overall in the 1998 draft.Richards entered the NHL in 2000 with a reputation as a winner - and a scorer. He was the MVP of the 2000 Memorial Cup with the Rimouski Oceanic. It capped off a season in which he tallied 186 points in 63 games.Still, there were doubts as to whether he was strong enough physically to make it in the NHL.Sure, he&rsquo;ll never be confused with a power forward, but Richards has demonstrated remarkable durability in his first four NHL seasons, missing only two games.And the production has come too. In his first four NHL seasons, Richards has averaged 69 points.Calgary&rsquo;s Jarome Iginla also received consideration for player of the playoffs. He led the Flames on a surprising playoff run, scoring 13 goals in 26 games.<h2>FACTS & STATS</h2>PLAYER: Brad Richards TEAM: Tampa Bay POSITION: Center AGE: 24<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-05422/7879659-1-eng-US/f0010-052.jpg" title="f0010-05" width="2354" height="522"></div> &#9632;

f0010-03

The Hockey News: PLAYER OF THE MONTH

<div class="byline">Brian Costello </div><div class="byline">Senior Editor</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-021450/7879753-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="413" height="679"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-011833/7879760-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg" title="f0012-01" width="117" height="117"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div>You think Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey and Larry Murphy is a pretty good Hockey Hall of Fame induction class. Just wait a few years and you&rsquo;ll see quality and quantity like never before.Clearly, this year&rsquo;s class is the best ever for defenseman. Bobby Orr and Harry Howell wet inducted together in 1979, as were Eddie Shore and Dit Clapper in 1947. This year&rsquo;s 3D class even ranks near the top all-time. The best group ever was 1972 when Gordie Howe, Jean Beliveau and Bernie Geofff ion were inducted. Then in 1982, Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Ken Dryden got the call.It&rsquo;s unlikely any future class will usurp those two years, but check out how 2007 and 2008 shape up. Players have to be retired at least three years with a maximum of four players inducted each year.In those two induction classes, we are likely to see a group that includes Mark Messier, Steve Yzerman, Ron Francis, Dominik Hasek, Chris Chelios, Brett Hull, Al Maclnnis, Scott Stevens, Ed Belfour and Luc Robitaille. That&rsquo;s 10 slam dunks right there - two over the limit - and let&rsquo;s not forget the players who are good bets. Guys like Dave Andreychuk, Brendan Shanahan, Adam Oates, Igor Larionov, Joe Nieuwen-dyk. And how about Nicklas Lidstrom and Peter Forsberg, who might call it a North American career before long.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-03940/7879746-1-eng-US/f0012-032.jpg" title="f0012-03" width="714" height="1096"><figcaption class="caption-body">RAY BOURQUE</figcaption></div>Add it up and that&rsquo;s 17 players very worthy of Hall of Fame consideration in a two or three-year window. It&rsquo;s time the Hall&rsquo;s board of directors increased the limit from four to five, or better yet, make it unlimited and let the amply qualified selection committee induct as many as it sees fit.OILERS CLOSE GAP The latest score in the New York Islanders versus Edmonton Oilers dynasty Hall of Fame competition is 7-5 for the Isles with the Oilers poised to rally. Mike Bossy, Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, Bryan Trottier, Clark Gillies, Al Arbour and Bill Torrey represent New York dynasty.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-04554/7879739-1-eng-US/f0012-042.jpg" title="f0012-04" width="768" height="1001"><figcaption class="caption-body">PAUL COFFEY</figcaption></div>Coffey joins Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Grant Fuhr and Glen Sather as Edmonton dynasty representatives in the Hall. Mark Messier and maybe Glenn Anderson and Kevin Lowe might make it a close race for Edmonton.HAT TRICK Hall inductees aren&rsquo;t required to select which hat they wear on induction night, like their baseball counterparts, but it was interesting to hear their hypothetical responses.&ldquo;I had a very special 15 months in Colorado,&rdquo; Bourque said.&ldquo;But my 20-plus year in Boston was in incredible experience. Twenty years there. That says it all there.&rdquo;&ldquo;I loved everyone of my (nine) cities I played in,&rdquo; Coffey said.&ldquo;I&rsquo;d prefer to go in as an NHL player, but if I had to choose, it&rsquo;d be Edmonton.&rdquo; If was a tough decision for Murphy as well and in the end he couldn&rsquo;t decide. He had lengthy tenures in Los Angeles, Washington, Pittsburgh and Detroit.&ldquo;Maybe a split between Detroit and Pittsburgh,&rdquo; Murphy said.&ldquo;I&rsquo;d get someone else to (decide) for me.&rdquo;SMALL POTATOES With owners and the players prepared for a work stoppage as they fight over how to divide a billion dollar pie, listen to hear what I this year&rsquo;s unductees made when they first signed contracts in 1979 and 1980.&ldquo;I had a $100,000 bonus spread over three years, plus $100,000 salary per year,&rdquo; Bourque said.&ldquo;Wow, you got a great deal,&rdquo; Coffey said on the conference call.&ldquo;I had a $75,000 bonus and made $60,000 my first year and $80,000 my second year.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-05400/7879732-1-eng-US/f0012-052.jpg" title="f0012-05" width="691" height="1044"><figcaption class="caption-body">LARRY MURPHY</figcaption></div>&ldquo;I was somewhere in between,&rdquo; Murphy said.In today&rsquo;s game, 15 NHLers make more than $100,000 per game, including a few who don&rsquo;t have a chance of getting in the Hall of Fame unless they buy a ticket.ON-DECK CIRCLE It&rsquo;s slim pickings among first-year eligible candidates in next year&rsquo;s Hall of Fame class.The Hockey News Hall of Fame decision desk declares defenseman Gary Suter as a small chance candidate and goalies Mike Vernon and John Vanbiesbrouck as longshots.But 2006 looks stronger with Patrick Roy, Doug Gilmour, Mike Richter, Phil Housley and Tom Barrasso on the ballot.With the dearth of top-shelf candidates on tap in 2005, it should be a chance for the selection committee to strongly consider some players previously overlooked.Here are some names The Hockey News nominates: Cam Neely, Lome Chabot, Sergei Makarov, Glenn Anderson, Dino Ciccarelli, Dale Hunter and Guy Carbonneau.Other players certainly worthy of at least due consideration are Steve Larmer, John Tonelli, Rogie Vachon and Kevin Lowe.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-06326/7879725-1-eng-US/f0012-062.jpg" title="f0012-06" width="393" height="574"></div><h2>RAY BOURQUE</h2>PLAYER (Defenseman)BORN Dec. 28, 1960, Montreal, Que. TEAMS Boston, ColoradoHALL CREDENTIALS Won the Norris five times, was a first-team all-star 13 times, a second-teamer six times; won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2001 and the Calder in 1980. He&rsquo;s the highest scoring defenseman with 410 goals (71st), 1,169 assists (fourth) and 1,579 points (ninth) in 1,612 games (sixth) in 22 seasons.CURRENTLY Retired and living in Boston.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-07277/7879718-1-eng-US/f0012-072.jpg" title="f0012-07" width="394" height="572"></div><h2>PAUL COFFEY</h2>PLAYER (Defenseman)BORN June 1, 1961, Weston, Ont. TEAMS Edm, Pit, LA, Det, Har, Phi, Chi, Car, Bos HALL CREDENTIALS Won the Norris three times, was a first-team all-star four times, a second-teamer four times; won three Stanley Cups with Edmonton and one with Pittsburgh. He&rsquo;s the second highest scoring defenseman with 396 goals (77th), 1,135 assists (fifth) and 1,531 points (10th) in 1,409 games (20th) in 21 seasons. CURRENTLY Special teams consultant for the Phoenix Coyotes.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-08233/7879711-1-eng-US/f0012-082.jpg" title="f0012-08" width="395" height="577"></div><h2>LARRY MURPHY</h2>PLAYER (Defenseman)BORN March 8, 1961, Scarborough, Ont. TEAMS LA, Wsh, Min, Pit, Tor, Di HALL CREDENTIALS Was a second-team all-star three times; won the Stanley Cu| with Pittsburgh in 1991 and 1992 and with Detroit in 1997 and 1998. He was runner-up for Calder in 1981. He&rsquo;s the fifth highest scoring defenseman with 287 goa 929 assists (13th) and 1,216 points (35th) in 1,615 games (fifth) in 21 seasons. CURRENTLY Building a horse farm in the Detroit area<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-09190/7879704-1-eng-US/f0012-092.jpg" title="f0012-09" width="397" height="573"><figcaption class="caption-body">(ALL IMAGES BBS)</figcaption></div><h2>CLIFF FLETCHER</h2>BUILDERBORN Aug. 16, 1935, Montreal, Que. TEAMS Mtl, StL, Atl, Cgy, Tor, TB, Phc HALL CREDENTIALS As GM of Calgary Flames, won Stanley Cup in 1989, President Trophy twice, conference title twice. He was GM of Team Canada in the 1981 Canad; Cup. Was president, COO and GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs when they went to the conference final twice. Is former member of the Hall of Fame selection committee. CURRENTLY Senior executive vice-president of hockey operations for Coyotes. &#9632;

f0012-02

Multi-dimensional 3-D in Hall

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-011678/7879798-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg" title="f0013-01" width="248" height="127"></div><h3>The HockeyNews</h3><h2>FROM THE EDITORS</h2>More Canadians tuned in to view Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final than Americans. That this statement isn&rsquo;t startling speaks more loudly about the perception of the game&rsquo;s popularity than the earshattering music they play at NHL arenas.Hockey matters less than spit south of the border and we&rsquo;ve all come to accept it.Think about it. A little less than five million Canadians, or roughly 15 per cent of the country&rsquo;s population, tuned in to the concluding Calgary-Tampa Bay match. In the U.S., the corresponding numbers were 4.2 million and 1.4 per cent.In the words of a former news anchorman, this is not news - this, too, is reality. But is it a reality than can be changed?Perhaps the league should call in the producers of The Swan, that reality show where common folk are transformed into plastic folk. Truth be told, the NHL is one of the original reality shows, especially at playoff time when everything is on the fine, teams get eliminated and emotion is at its zenith. If the doctors, personal trainers, dentists and consultants from The Swan offered their advice on nips, tucks and facelifts, maybe the NHL would come out looking like a manufactured product the masses would love.As it happens, the league does have the opportunity to do its own version of plastic surgery this summer when it convenes a panel to examine ways to improve the game. And it needn&rsquo;t emerge from the operating room as some hideously mutilated monster.<blockquote class="pullQuote">&ldquo;The NHL is one of the original reality shows, especially at playoff time.</blockquote>The fact of the matter is the game is still appealing. It&rsquo;s just in a rut. The marriage could use a bit of spice.The Calgary-Tampa Bay final possessed many of the elements we all love about hockey. The play was fastpaced, the action was intense and physical, the goaltending was strong and the games, for the most part, were close.But there is significant room for improvement. The Tampa Bay &rsquo;Grease&rsquo; Lightning are built for speed, but too often they encountered a clutch problem. Obstruction returned with a vengeance in the playoffs and, predictably, became more pronounced as the stakes heightened. (See Overtime with Mike Brophy on pg. 62 for more.)Had the clutching and grabbing rules been evenly and appropriately applied, the flow would have improved dramatically. Or maybe the elimination of the red line for offsides; or wider bluelines to increase the size of the neutral zone; or smaller goalie equipment; or any number of other changes being considered would have fostered more excitement and entertainment.Take heed, NHL. It&rsquo;s incumbent that you move progressively and decisively on the final recommendations put forth by the blue ribbon committee this summer.Just imagine, with a more exciting product, next year&rsquo;s final (we&rsquo;re optimistic there will be one, but that&rsquo;s another matter) might attract upwards of two per cent of the American viewing public.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-021171/7879791-1-eng-US/f0013-022.jpg" title="f0013-02" width="2059" height="2899"></div> &#9632;

f0013-01

Cup final reinforces need for changes to be made

<h2>HARSH SUSPENSION APPROPRIATE</h2>Congratulations to American League president Dave Andrews for sending an impressive message to players, fans and media.Andrews&rsquo; year-long suspension of Alexander Perezhogin for his vicious attack on Garrett Stafford was fair. Now, how will NHL commissioner Gary Bettman react when Todd Bertuzzi applies for reinstatement?Bettman needs to follow the lead of his AHL counterpart.Craig Carruthers, Vancouver<h2>NO RESPECT FOR ANTHEMS</h2>How unpatriotic of ESPN and ABC to not televise the Canadian and American anthems during the Stanley Cup playoffs.As a 14-year veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, I think it is only appropriate to show appreciation to the Canadian and American forces stationed overseas by letting hockey fans around the world hear the anthems.Lets show respect to the two greatest nations on earth - let&rsquo;s hear those anthems!Mike Niehaus, Suffolk, Va.<h2>LETTER OF THE WEEK</h2>Congratulations to the Flames and Lightning on an excellent Stanley Cup final.The passion shown by Calgary&rsquo;s fans was incredible; they showed themselves to be very passionate about a sport they love dearly. And kudos to Mike Brophy for being the only&ldquo;expert&rdquo; to pick Tampa Bay to win the series - over 11 of his colleagues at The Hockey News, to boot. All I hope is that more NHL teams will choose to use the style of the Lightning and ditch the clutch-and-grab.Lastly, a big congrats to all of the Lightning and their fans. Throughout the playoffs and the Cup final we were told we didn&rsquo;t belong and didn&rsquo;t deserve to win the Cup. Granted, we in Tampa weren&rsquo;t born with skates on our feet, but we love hockey and showed it by supporting a team that more than paid us back for our efforts.Way to go, guys!Bill Uradnik, Tampa Bay<h2>BROPHY A VISIONARY</h2>I hope Mike Brophy is gloating now that the Lightning is the NHL champion. I remember wondering what Brophy was drinking when he predicted Tampa Bay was the team to look out for this year.After seeing a few Tampa games during the season, I soon realized his comments were justified.So congrats to Tampa Bay and to Brophy. I hope what Brophy is drinking now was purchased using money from the wallets of his co-workers.Craig Harris, Comox, B.C.<h2>HACKEL SACKS U.S. TV</h2>Thanks, Stu Hackel, for your column contrasting U.S. and Canadian hockey broadcasts. (THN, May 18)To me, American coverage ranges from sub-par to ludicrous. That&rsquo;s why I chose the NHL Center Ice package. There is no comparing U.S. broadcasts to Canada&rsquo;s. I&rsquo;m still forced to watch certain games on U.S. TV, but watching Canadian broadcasts is a godsend.Tammy Langley, Houston<h2>KUDOS FOR CUP FINAL</h2>Watching this year&rsquo;s playoffs has been exciting, especially seeing the rise of young stars like Jarome Iginla, Vincent Lecavalier and Brad Richards.It is also refreshing to see the success of teams that have built themselves through draft picks, prudent trades and being fiscally responsible.Fred Romano, Phoenixville, Pa.<h2>LEAFS&rsquo; FALL EASY TO SPOT</h2>Once again, the Leafs were gone from the playoffs early, with injuries to key players an obvious reason why. When will they learn the playoffs are a war of attrition and that smash-mouth hockey played by one of the NHL&rsquo;s oldest teams is a recipe for disaster?It should come as no surprise that all of Toronto&rsquo;s senior citizens were injured by the second round. Hey, GM John Ferguson: Brett Hull and Chris Chelios will be available next year.Rob Ferguson, Atikokan, Ont.<h2>THANKS, FLAMES FANS</h2>Thanks to the wonderful fans in Calgary for their tribute to President Ronald Reagan before Game 6 of the finals. It was a classy gesture.Ronald Cloutier, Tiverton, R.I.<h2>Got something to say?</h2>U.S.A.: Letters, The Hockey News P.O. Box 904, Buffalo, N.Y., 14240-9947.Canada: Letters, The Hockey News, 25 Sheppard Ave.W. Suite 100, Toronto, Ont., M2N6S7E-mail:&nbsp;aproteau@thehockeynews.com or visit <a href="http://www.thehockeynews.com">www.thehockeynews.com</a> Include name, hometown, province/state and phone number.Submissions will be edited. &#9632;

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

<div class="byline">Jeff Citron </div><div class="byline">Guest Columnist</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-011659/7879867-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg" title="f0015-01" width="244" height="125"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-021175/7879860-1-eng-US/f0015-022.jpg" title="f0015-02" width="412" height="676"></div>Given the generally negative commentary surrounding the NHL&rsquo;s new television deals with NBC and with ESPN/ESPN2,I find myself in the minority thinking the NHL did just fine with these deals.With the uncertainty of the collective bargaining negotiations hanging over 2004-05 and beyond, the NHL deserves credit for inking deals that realistically assess the value of its product as a national network and cable television property at this time.The short-term nature of both deals and the NHL&rsquo;s apparent willingness to embrace dramatic changes to the game this summer position the league to take charge of its own destiny and reap the benefits of potentially more lucrative television deals in the future.While the NBC deal includes no up-front rights fee, maintaining the game on national network television in the U.S. - even on a limited basis - is no small achievement given the decreasing network appetite for professional team sports other than the National Football League.<h2>MODEST REVENUE LOSS</h2>If one considers the ABC portion of the just-expired $120-million-per-year NHL deal with ESPN/ABC was reportedly pegged at $50 million per year, the loss in broadcast TV revenue for each NHL team is only $1.66 million per year, or less than the average salary of one NHL player. That loss should be offset in part by the profit generated by the sale of advertising through the NBC/NHL partnership, and &gt; more importantly by the opportunity to i maintain and build goodwill through ongoing; network exposure.NBC has publicly stated it will work hard i to promote the NHL game as a property in and of itself, as opposed to treating the game as an opportunity to promote other network properties. NBC Sports president Ken Schanzer has also said NBC is looking at showing as many games as possible in HDTV. This is consistent with the NHL&rsquo;s view of the game as being far more appealing in high definition.<h2>COAST-TO-COAST U.S. COVERAGE</h2>The one-year, $60-million ESPN/ESPN2 cable deal the NHL just signed provides the league with plenty of national cable coverage for its games. ESPN2, which is now carried in essentially the same number of U.S. homes as ESPN, will exclusively televise 40 regular season games in regular Sunday and Wednesday time slots. This provides the NHL with predictable time slots for scheduling its more desirable national match-ups.It is also more than enough opportunity to showcase the NHL regular season product on a national level, given that virtually every team already has a great majority of its games covered by regional carriers.The key to success of both deals however, is the underlying product itself. In its current state, the game does not appeal to a national U.S. television audience. When the NHL&rsquo;s so-called&ldquo;blue ribbon panel&rdquo; meets this summer, the participants must show the foresight to follow through in a dramatic way on many of the GMs&rsquo; recent proposals to open up the game. Anything to increase the night-to-night entertainment value of . the product should be thoroughly explored and implemented.If the game&rsquo;s entertainment value increases, then the value of the game as a television property will rise in tandem with it.Overall, its new TV deals are at worst neutral for the NHL. The NHL has been around a long time and will be for years to come. Popularity ebbs and flows with many things. In the mid-1990s, a major U.S. sports magazine described the NHL as&ldquo;hot.&rdquo; With foresight and change, the NHL can be hot again and potentially turn that new popularity into more lucrative television dollars.- Jeff Citron is a corporate finance lawyer and sports business analyst for Goodmans LLP in Toronto. He was formerly general counsel for the NHL Players&rsquo; Association.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-03818/7879853-1-eng-US/f0015-032.jpg" title="f0015-03" width="2145" height="2598"><figcaption class="caption-body">PICTURE THIS Hockey can be a winner on U.S. television if rule changes give a boost to the excitement level</figcaption></div>TV MONEY&nbsp;Each NHL team will receive at least $5.3 million (U.S.) next season from national TV deals (ESPN, CBC, TSN), but it&rsquo;s a pittance compared to teams in the other major sports. &#9632;

f0015-01

TV deals depend on game

<div class="byline">BY BRAIN COSTELLO</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-021250/7879898-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="345" height="552"><figcaption class="caption-body">ALEXANDER OVECHKIN</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-011612/7879905-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg" title="f0016-01" width="151" height="207"></div>Ray Bourque returned to the spotlight in June, thanks to his induction into the Hall of Fame and an inspirational phone message left for Tampa Bay&rsquo;s Tim Taylor.Bourque&rsquo;s 18-year-old son Chris will steal the media attention from dad at the June 26-27 draft in Raleigh, N.C.. Chris Bourque is a 5-foot-7,170-pound center from Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass. He&rsquo;s ranked 74th among North American skaters by Central Scouting, which means he&rsquo;ll likely get picked on the second day of the draft (rounds four through nine.)Bourque, not among the top 100 in Draft Preview, had 37 goals and 90 points with 96 penalty minutes in 31 high school games this season. He&rsquo;ll play at Boston University next season.&ldquo;He has a real passion for the game and I love watching him,&rdquo; Ray Bourque said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re all going down to Raleigh (for the draft) and it&rsquo;ll be fun to see where he goes. And it&rsquo;ll be fun for the family to watch him play at Boston University next season.&rdquo;This year&rsquo;s draft doesn&rsquo;t have as many father-son associations as last year, when Zach Parise, Robert Nilsson, Jeff Tambellini, Patrick Eaves, Ryan Suter, Liam Lindstrom and BJ. Crombeen were among our top 100 picks. But there are several later in the draft.Most notable are the pride and joys of Michel Goulet and Craig Ludwig.Trevor Ludwig, a defenseman, and Vincent Goulet, a winger, both played for the North American League&rsquo;s Texas Tornado this season.Goulet, rated 168th among North American skaters, had 28 goals, 61 points and a team leading 197 penalty minutes in 54 games for Texas. Ludwig is ranked 188th among North American skaters. Both are committed to Providence.WHERE 2004 NHL draft at RBC Center, Raleigh, N.C.WHEN Saturday, Sunday, June 26-27.DRAFT ELIGIBLE PLAYERS Any player born between Sept 16, 1985 and Sept. 15, 1986 is considered to be 18 for draft purposes.TV COVERAGE TSN, RDS and ESPN2 on Saturday at 1 p.m. (EST).CALIBER OF DRAFT After the top two selections, this year&rsquo;s draft is ordinary.&ldquo;You&rsquo;re going to get a franchise player with (Alexander) Ovechkin and a very good player with (Evgeni) Malkin,&rdquo; one scout said. &ldquo;After that, it&rsquo;s up in the air. There are five or six other prospects who are good and will probably go in the top 10. From then on,&rsquo; there no big difference between picking 11th and 55th. It all depends which prospect you like.&rdquo;.AVAILABLE TALENT Here is the top 10 ranking in Draft Preview (see <a href="http://TheHockeyNews.com">thehockeynews.com</a> for our top 100 list): 1. Alexander Ovechkin, LW, Dynamo Moscow (Rus.); 2. Evgeni Malkin, C, Magnitogorsk (Rus.); 3. Cam Barker, D, Medicine Hat (WHL); 4. Lauri Tukonen, RW, Espoo (Fin.); 5. Rostislav Olesz, C, Vitkovice (Czech); 6. Marek Schwarz, G, Trinec-Plzen (Czech); 7. Andrew Ladd, LW, Calgary (WHL); 8. Al Montoya, G, Michigan (CCHA); 9. Drew Stafford, RW, North Dakota (WCHA); 10. Robbie Schremp, C, London (OHL).TRYING AGAIN A total of 39 players will re-enter the 2004 draft because they were unable to come to contract terms by June 1. They include 2002 first-rounder Martin Vagner (26th overall, Dallas).Other unsigned early 2002 picks include Tim Brent (37th by Anaheim), Brian Lee (71st by Anaheim) and Michael Tessier (76th by Buffalo).<h2>2004 1ST ROUND ORDER</h2>1. Washington2. Pittsburgh3. Chicago4. Columbus5. Phoenix6. NY Rangers7. Florida8. Carolina9. Anaheim10. Atlanta11. Los Angeles12. Minnesota13. Buffalo14. Edmonton15. Nashville16. NY Islanders17. St. Louis18. Montreal19. Calgary20. Dallas21. Colorado22. New Jersey23. Ottawa24. NYR (from Tor)25. Edm (from Phi)26. Vancouver27. Wsh (from Bos)28. San Jose29. Wsh (from Det)30. Tampa Bay &#9632;

f0016-02

Bourque at draft showcase

<h2>PROBERT ARRESTED AFTER FIGHT</h2>WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. Former NHL winger Bob Probert was arrested in Florida after a scuffle with police led to him being shocked with a Taser gun. Officers in Delray Beach, Fla., first saw Probert as he parked his white BMW sport utility vehicle the wrong way on a downtown side street and began hanging out his window to yell at several bystanders early in the morning June 5. The officers intervened when Probert, 39, got out of his car and tried to start a fight with one of the bystanders. He then fought with the officers and refused their orders to drop to the ground. As two of the officers struggled to handcuff Probert, another shot him with a Taser gun and he fell backward. Probert continued to resist and he was shocked several more times. A Taser gun shoots barbed probes that give the recipient a usually non-lethal, but incapacitating shock. Eventually, Probert was handcuffed and taken into custody.&ldquo;He was so combative in our jail that we didn&rsquo;t take a booking photo of him because we didn&rsquo;t want to struggle with him again our of handcuffs,&rdquo; said police spokesman Jeff Messer. Probert was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence and disorderly conduct. He retired last season after 17 years in the NHL with Detroit and Chicago. He ranks fifth in all-time penalty minutes, with 3,300 in 935 games. Probert has previously been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and trying to carry cocaine from Canada into the United States.<h2>POLICE SEIZE PEREZHOGIN IMAGES</h2>HAMILTON, Ont. Hamilton police entered two local newsrooms and seized still pictures and videotapes from an American League game between Hamilton and Cleveland April 30, the night of Alexander Perezhogin&rsquo;s stick-swinging attack on Garrett Stafford. Police said they were gathering evidence for their criminal investigation against Perezhogin, a 20-year-old Bulldog forward and Montreal draft pick. Police came to the Hamilton Spectator newspaper with a search warrant and left with three CDs of digital images shot by a Spectator photographer. Editor-in-chief Dana Robbins was upset police took the images and said the paper was seeking legal advice. Police also requested and received game tape from local television channel Cable 14. A police spokesperson said no decision has been made whether to press charges against Perezhogin. The AHL suspended Perezhogin for one season, the harshest disciplinary measure in the league&rsquo;s 68year history. &#9632;

HOCKEY WORLD IN BRIEF

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-04710/7879960-1-eng-US/f0016-042.jpg" title="f0016-04" width="884" height="854"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-03941/7879967-1-eng-US/f0016-032.jpg" title="f0016-03" width="133" height="141"></div>We asked NHL players at the start of the season if they thought a new collective bargaining agreement will be signed by Sept. 15, 2004. Fifty-five per cent said no, 35 per cent said yes, and 10 per cent didn&rsquo;t know.As a follow-up to the question nine months later, we asked if they&rsquo;re more or less confident than the start of the season. In a poll of 30 players, one from each NHL team, 20 (67 per cent) said they feel about the same.&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s more who has (more resolve) right now,&rdquo; said Washington&rsquo;s Brendan Witt. &ldquo;I think both sides can come to an agreement, it&rsquo;s just a matter of what each side is willing to give up before they destroy the game.&rdquo;&ldquo;About the same,&rdquo; said Philadelphia&rsquo;s Tony Amonte.&ldquo;The owners and players know that the game can&rsquo;t survive another lockout. The fan-base is down already. We can&rsquo;t afford anything like this.&rdquo;&ldquo;I&rsquo;d say less confident,&rdquo; said Ottawa&rsquo;s Bryan Smolinski.&ldquo;The way things are going with very few talks, it seems like the two sides are pretty far apart.&rdquo;&ldquo;I&rsquo;m optimistic something can be done,&rdquo; said Edmonton&rsquo;s Shawn Horcoff.&ldquo;Deals like this can come together in a matter of hours.&rdquo;&ldquo;It doesn&rsquo;t look good,&rdquo; said Chicago&rsquo;s Ryan VandenBussche.&ldquo;At our meeting, they didn&rsquo;t paint a very good picture.&rdquo;</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not sure why, but I&rsquo;m more confident,&rdquo; said Pittsburgh&rsquo;s Sebastien Caron.- FOR COMPLETE PLAYER POLL RESULTS, VISIT <a href="http://TheHockeyNews.com">THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM</a> &#9632;

f0016-04

The Hockey News: PLAYER POLL

Just because there may not be a full NHL season in 2004-05 doesn&rsquo;t mean NHL players won&rsquo;t be playing.Edmonton-based player agent Ritch Winter says many NHLers are looking forward to some extended time off so they can return to their European roots.&ldquo;Somehow people think the players will be intimidated by a lockout,&rdquo; Winter told David Naylor of The Globe and Mail.&ldquo;Well, some of these guys are so glad to get back to their hometowns and get a year off of the bad coaching and brutality of the NHL. They&rsquo;re looking forward to it.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-05514/7879998-1-eng-US/f0016-052.jpg" title="f0016-05" width="501" height="458"><figcaption class="caption-body">CBATRACKER</figcaption></div>&ldquo;It amazes me how much they are looking forward to leaving an environment that has become so dismal. They&rsquo;ll go back (to Europe) and play for decent money and be around the homes they&rsquo;ve built, be around their families, have some fun. I think you&rsquo;ll see 50 to 60 per cent of our league overseas, enjoying themselves.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0016-05

Some NHL players not heartbroken

<div class="byline">BY MARK BRENDER</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-021112/7880029-1-eng-US/f0017-022.jpg" title="f0017-02" width="385" height="615"><figcaption class="caption-body">BOBBY HULL</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-011439/7880036-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="151" height="207"></div>On the bright side, the new World Hockey Association says it has eight cities on board to ice teams this October in anticipation of an NHL shutdown. Arena lease agreements are said to be in place for Detroit, Dallas, Halifax, Jacksonville, Orlando and Quebec City, with Toronto and Hamilton to be firmed up.On the not-so-bright side, all anyone has to go on is their word - and the owner of one of the teams supposedly on board is putting on the brakes.The Orlando franchise is supposed to be purchased from David Waronker, owner of the Orlando Seals of the WHA2. As of the second week of June, Waronker was still awaiting payment to turn over ownership of the team.&ldquo;I signed a binding letter of intent, but a deposit was never received, a $100,000 deposit,&rdquo; Waronker told The Hockey News.&ldquo;I want the deal to go through, but not without money.&rdquo; Waronker said the deposit was supposed to arrive June 2. A week later, WHA representatives told him he would receive the money soon.Waronker said the full purchase price of the franchise - &ldquo;in excess of $3 million&rdquo; - is due June 30.At a conference in Toronto June 9, WHA commissioner Bobby Hull said the start-up loop takes him back to the early-1970s and the emergence of the original WHA to challenge the NHL&rsquo;s dominance of North American pro hockey.Plans call for a 76-game schedule with up to 12 teams and a $15-million salary cap.Hull said his son Brett remains interested in playing for the Dallas franchise, but only if the NHL is shut down. The WHA plans to operate whether the NHL is up and running or not.The Halifax franchise would love to get teen phenom Sidney Crosby on board, but Crosby&rsquo;s agent, Pat Brisson, said his client plans to play again for Rimouski of the Quebec League.The WHA will also try to woo ex-NHLers. Hull mentioned names such as Wendel Clark, Adam Graves and Dale Hawerchuk, but none of those players has been contacted and it is unclear if they would have any interest. &#9632;

f0017-02

High hopes for WHA

<div class="byline">BY BRUCE GARRIOCH</div>Who says you can&rsquo;t go home again?Bryan Murray was quite happy in his job as GM of Anaheim when he got the call from Disney officials to see if he had any interest in talking to the Ottawa Senators about their vacant coaching position last month.Initially, the 61-year-old Murray, a native of Shawville, Que. - a community about an hour from Ottawa - scoffed at the idea Senators president Roy Mlakar had called Anaheim on behalf of GM John Muckier to get permission.But after giving it a second thought and receiving a blessing from the owners of the Ducks to speak with the Senators, Murray met face-to-face with Muckier and liked what he heard. He accepted an offer to become the team&rsquo;s coach June 8.&ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t have left my position with the Ducks for any other situation than this one,&rdquo; Murray said.&ldquo;This is Ottawa, this is a chance to come home and an opportunity to kind of reconnect with my family. I&rsquo;ve always enjoyed the challenge of coaching.&ldquo;I looked at this situation and it just seemed like a good fit for me. This team is highly skilled and they&rsquo;ve got a; great opportunity to win a Stanley Cup. I felt this was the right move for me. I was going to come (back to this area to live at some time or another and I&rsquo;m looking forward to this challenge.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-03800/7880067-1-eng-US/f0017-032.jpg" title="f0017-03" width="382" height="613"><figcaption class="caption-body">BRYAN MURRAY</figcaption></div>The Senators were pleased to get him. Muckier had spoken with former St. Louis coach Joel Quenneville, Toronto assistant Keith Acton and former Phoenix coach Bobby Francis, but nobody could top Murray&rsquo;s resume of 513 career wins - seventh on the NHL&rsquo;s all-time list.&ldquo;I knew after talking to Bryan that his philosophy towards coaching is the same as mine,&rdquo; said Muckier, who fired long-serving coach Jacques Martin following the team&rsquo;s first round exit to Toronto in April.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not saying we&rsquo;re going to agree on everything, but I like his style and he&rsquo;s a guy I&rsquo;ve always respected.&ldquo;He&rsquo;s intense, he&rsquo;s fiery and he goes out there to try to get the job done. I really felt he was the perfect fit for the job.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0017-03

Murray back on bench

<div class="byline">BY MIKE BROPHY SENIOR WRITER</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0018-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-011491/7880126-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-011373/7880119-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg" title="f0019-01" width="1320" height="109"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-021028/7880112-1-eng-US/f0019-022.jpg" title="f0019-02" width="2055" height="2794"><figcaption class="caption-body">BLOODY FINE: Stanley Cup final got the blood flowing for Tampa Bay star Martin St-Louis. As a newly crowned Stanley Cup champion, he couldn&rsquo;t be happier.</figcaption></div><h3>TAMPA BAY</h3>Last summer, after his Tampa Bay Lightning won its first-ever playoff round, Lightning GM Jay Feaster sat down with the coach, John Tortorella, and plotted the team&rsquo;s future. What would Tampa Bay do for an encore?Clearly the Lightning was on the right path. With young stars such as Vinny Lecavalier, Martin St-Louis and Brad Richards becoming impact players; with veteran leadership from the likes of Dave Andreychuk and Tim Taylor; and with solid goaltending from Nikolai Khabibulin, it was apparent to both men the bar needed to be set higher. There could be no excuse for not exceeding last year&rsquo;s performance.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-03701/7880105-1-eng-US/f0019-032.jpg" title="f0019-03" width="334" height="320"></div>&ldquo;I said it would be great if we could win nother division title and maybe get to the conference championship,&rdquo; Feaster recalls.&ldquo;John says,&rsquo;No. We&rsquo;re going to get home-ice advantage just in case we get to the final and get to a Game 7.&rsquo; Can you believe that? That was Torts&rsquo;s mindset. And look, here we are.&rdquo; Tampa Bay&rsquo;s 2-1 home-ice win over the Calgary Flames in Game 7, just as Tortorella envisioned it, gave the 12-year-old Lightning its first-ever Stanley Cup.back into the win column, they went on a run from January on.&rdquo;A run all the way to the Stanley Cup.It was a final series chock full of compelling storylines. The Lightning emerged as a powerhouse, veterans Dave Andreychuk of Tampa (22nd season) and Dave Lowry of Calgary (19th season) vied against each other for their first Cup and Jarome Iginla emerged as perhaps the best all-around player on the face of the planet. Maybe the best storyline of all was Calgary overcoming so much adversity to come within a single goal of winning the big prize.<h2>REMARKABLE FLAMES</h2>You could build a case that the Flames making it to the final is even more remarkable than the Lightning actually winning the Cup. Think about how far Calgary came this year. After not having made the playoffs for seven straight seasons, expectations weren&rsquo;t exactly soaring. (The Hockey News slotted Calgary 12th in the Western Conference in our pre-season picks.)Of course that was before Kiprusoff arrived. A spare part in San Jose, the Flames acquired him in mid-November when starter Roman Turek went down with an injury. It was the most significant acquisition any team made all season. Kiprusoff quickly became one of the best goalies in the NHL and gave his team a chance to win on a nightly basis. In the regular season he recorded a 24-10-4 record with a league-leading .933 save percentage.Still, the Flames had to scratch and claw just to make it into the playoffs and did it despite losing players such as defensemen Denis Gauthier and Toni Lydman and forwards Steve Reinprecht and Dean McAmmond to injury. It helped that coach-GM Darryl Sutter was able to acquire Ville Nieminen, Marcus Nilson and Chris Simon in trade-deadline deals. If not for those players, the Flames surely would have fizzled out much earlier. With them, they were successful beyond belief.It started with shocking the Vancouver Canucks in the opening round, a seven-game set that stands as the most exciting series in this year&rsquo;s playoffs. To prove it wasn&rsquo;t a fluke, Calgary proceeded to knock off the Detroit Red Wings and then the San Jose Sharks, division winners all.The Flames winning the Stanley Cup would have set off the biggest party the city of Calgary - and maybe even all of Canada - had seen in years. While there ura, rprtainlv excitement in Tamna Bav surrounding the Lightning making the final, it paled in comparison to the hockey fever that infected Calgary. After I being starved for success for so long, the I city became one huge party zone.<h2>ANDREYCHUK&rsquo;S JOY</h2>Yep, the Flames winning would have been a good story, the ultimate underdog tale. The more than 30,000 people who turned out to a June 9 pep rally in Calgary to thank the team is an indication of what might have been.Instead, after a nail-biting third period in Game 7, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman handed the Cup to a very deserving Andreychuk, and the big Lightning captain raised it high. Andreychuk could hardly contain himself. The sight of the 40-year-old graybeard jumping up and down with joy had onlookers wiping tears from their eyes.&ldquo;Nobody has done more in terms of changing the attitude inside our dressing room and reinforcing what both Torts and Rammer (assistant coach Craig Ramsay) are trying to get the players to do than Dave Andreychuk,&rdquo; Feaster says.At a time when the NHL&rsquo;s future appears bleak, it was a thrill to see two deserving teams make it to the final. Too bad there was just one trophy.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-02904/7880098-1-eng-US/f0020-022.jpg" title="f0020-02" width="1578" height="1596"><figcaption class="caption-body">CONN MAN Tampa Bay Lightning center Brad Richards was a worthy recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy as post-season MVP after a record seven game-winning goals and a playoff-best 26 points.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0018-01

THE PERFECT STORM

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0022-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-011151/7880178-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-02833/7880171-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="675" height="677"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-03617/7880164-1-eng-US/f0022-032.jpg" title="f0022-03" width="1273" height="879"></div>Tampa Bay&rsquo;s power play was as powerful as the Hulk in this year&rsquo;s Stanley Cup final. At even strength, Calgary goalie Miikka Kiprusoff and the Flames handled the Lightning well, allowing only six 5-on-5 goals in seven games. However, the power play was a different story. In 34 odd-man situations, the Bolts struck seven times in as many games, including the Game 4 winner - the result of a 5-on-3 situation. Of these tallies, cross-crease one-timers and high-percentage shots from the slot accounted for most of the goals. The majority of scores were icelevel shots. (See graphic at left.)WHERE KIPRUSOFF WAS BEATEN&nbsp;Of the 13 goals scored on Calgary goalie Miikka Kiprusoff in the Stanley Cup final, most beat him down low.1.Game 1 St-Louis slapshot beats Kiprusoff on short right side.2. Game 2 Fedotenko converts rebound.3. Game 2 Richards corrals a rebound and wrists a shot past Kiprusoffs blocker.4. Game 2 Boyle beats Kiprusoff with a low shot to the five-hole.5. Game 2 St-Louis taps a Lecavalier pass between Kiprusoffs legs.6. Game 4 Richards scores on high slap shot over Kiprusoffs left shoulder.7. Game 5 St-Louis scores on low backhand8. Game 5 Modin taps in centering pass.9. Game 6 Richards banks puck in off Kiprusoffs blocker from difficult angle.10. Game 6 Richards wrist shot beats Kiprusoff on stick side.11. Game 6 St-Louis roofs overtime rebound.12. Game 7 Fedotenko scores low off rebound.13. Game 7 Fedotenko snipes top corner.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-04436/7880157-1-eng-US/f0022-042.jpg" title="f0022-04" width="1935" height="1930"></div> &#9632;

f0022-01

Kiprusoff vs. power play

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0022-05" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-05322/7880223-1-eng-US/f0022-052.jpg"></div><h2>WHERE CALGARY SCORED FROM:</h2>Had Tampa Bay succumbed to Calgary in this year&rsquo;s final, the Lightning forwards&rsquo; penchant for careless passing in the offensive zone might have been blamed. Of the 14 goals scored by the Flames in the series, four were the direct result of odd-man rushes resulting from reckless play in the Calgary zone. Fortunately for the Lightning, Nikolai Khabibulin was able to minimize the damage. Of the shots that did beat him, the majority were scored from in close and in heavy traffic. Most of the Flames goals came from low shots. (See graphic below.)1. Game 1 Point shot is redirected by Gelinas.2. Game 1 Iginla slides rebound under sprawling Khabibulin.3. Game 1 Yelle roofs a high wrist shot.4. Game 1 Simon backhand beats Khabibulin on low left side.5. Game 2 Nieminen slapshot beats Khabibulin.6. Game 3 Simon scores on rebound.7. Game 3 Donovan shot to the top corner.8. Game 3 Iginla taps in cross crease pass.9. Game 5 Gelinas tips in point shot.10. Game 5 Iginla wrist shot from the bottom of the circle beats Khabibulin.11. Game 5 Saprykin puts in rebound in 01.12. Game 6 Clarke taps in cross crease pass.13. Game 6 Nilson taps in cross crease pass.14. Game 7 Conroy beats Khabibulin with high slapper.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-06250/7880216-1-eng-US/f0022-062.jpg" title="f0022-06" width="666" height="656"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-07211/7880209-1-eng-US/f0022-072.jpg" title="f0022-07" width="1269" height="879"><figcaption class="caption-body">WHERE KHABIBULIN WAS BEATEN:&nbsp;Most of the goals that got by Tampa Bay goalie Nikolai Khabibulin were shot from in-close, down low and in traffic.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0022-05

Bulin wall stoos Flames

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0023-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-011037/7880268-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-02713/7880261-1-eng-US/f0023-022.jpg" title="f0023-02" width="1004" height="1004"></div>Martin St-Louis certainly picks an opportune time to get his first shot on goal of the game.It comes 33 seconds into the second overtime period and is his ninth goal of the playoffs, giving Tampa Bay a 3-2 win to force a seventh and deciding game.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-03515/7880254-1-eng-US/f0023-032.jpg" title="f0023-03" width="768" height="332"><figcaption class="caption-body">June 5 at Calgary</figcaption></div>St-Louis, who was double-shifted for much of the third period and in overtime, flicks a rebound in under the crossbar past Calgary goalie Miikka Kiprusoff.But at the end of the night, more people are talking about the goal that wasn&rsquo;t than St-Louis&rsquo;s game-winner. Martin Gelinas has a shot deflect off his skate that appeared to get over the goal-line. Although it was a close play, the game was not stopped for review.The league, however, issues a statement following the game that says after reviewing the play, there was no conclusive proof the puck made it all the way over the line.And, of course, for the sixth-straight game, the team that strikes first wins. Brad Richards, who assists on the winner, scores both of the Bolts&rsquo; other goals. It marked his third three-point performance of the playoffs. Tampa Bay finishes 31-0-2-0 this season when Richards scores.Chris Clark and Marcus Nilson reply for the Flames. The Lightning also have its win-one, lose-one streak run to 13 games.THN 3 STARS 1. Brad Richards, Tampa. 2. Martin St-Louis, Tampa. 3. Chris Clark, Calgary. &#9632;

f0023-01

Flames haunted by phantom goal

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0023-04" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-04367/7880306-1-eng-US/f0023-042.jpg"></div>Brad Richards knows all about being a big fish in a small bowl. That&rsquo;s how it is when you are from Murray Harbour in Prince Edward Island.Now he knows what it feels like to be a big fish in a big bowl.Just a few weeks after being named to Canada&rsquo;s entry for the World Cup, the 24-year-old center helps the Lightning win the Stanley Cup. Richards, who sets an NHL record scoring seven game-winning goals in the playoffs, assists on the opening goal in a 2-1 victory over the Flames and is named winner of the Corm Smythe Trophy as MVP in the post-season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-05273/7880299-1-eng-US/f0023-052.jpg" title="f0023-05" width="770" height="328"><figcaption class="caption-body">June 7 at Tampa Bay</figcaption></div>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s unbelievable,&rdquo; Richards says. &ldquo;When you are from a small place like I am and there are not many of us in the NHL&hellip;people are behind everything I do. This was for them.&rdquo;After Ruslan Fedotenko scores twice for the Lightning, Craig Conroy connects on a blast from the point at 9:21 of the third period to give Calgary a fighting chance.And as the clock ticked down, the Flames got better and better. Only a huge save by Tampa goalie Nikolai Khabibulin on Flames defenseman Jordan Leopold prevents the game from going into overtime. Leopold moved in from the point and drilled a shot at the open net. Khabibulin, however, makes a kick save and then knocks the puck away with his blocker.THN 3 STARS 1. Ruslan Fedotenko, Tampa.2. Nikolai Khabibulin, Tampa. 3. Craig Conroy, Calgary. &#9632;

f0023-04

Home ice magic for champion Bolts

<div class="byline">BY DAMIAN CRISTODERO</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0024-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-011109/7880358-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg"></div>Fredrik Modin&rsquo;s 102-mph slapshot has been both a blessing and a curse.A blessing because, well, who wouldn&rsquo;t want a shot that can blow past a goaltender before he even has time to flinch; a curse because that rocket, which won the hardest shot competition at the 2001 allstar weekend, is all anybody ever saw in Modin.But after a regular season in which the 29-year-old Swede became one of the NHL&rsquo;s top power forwards, and a post-season in which he was one of Tampa Bay&rsquo;s top scorers, it is obvious Modin is more than a pretty slapshot.&ldquo;I feel like a lot of players are put into brackets,&rdquo; said the left winger. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t feel like I&rsquo;m a one-dimensional player. I think I&rsquo;m an all-around player. That&rsquo;s the player I want to be.&rdquo;Modin&rsquo;s leaps and bounds as an impact player have not gone unnoticed by his teammates.<h2>MORE WELL-ROUNDED PLAYER</h2>&ldquo;He is more of an all-around player,&rdquo; said Lightning center and linemate Brad Richards. &ldquo;The best part, I find, when he&rsquo;s playing well is how he battles and turns pucks over. He&rsquo;s got more roles now. It&rsquo;s not just an offensive role.&rdquo;Modin&rsquo;s stats bear out Richards&rsquo;s estimation. Modin scored 29 goals this season, and tallied career highs of 28 assists and 57 points. He also was fourth in the league with a plus-31 rating.Through the 2004 post-season, Modin&rsquo;s eight goals and 19 points were good for third in team scoring and fourth in the league. He had just a goal and two points in the Stanley Cup final, but containing his presence in front of the net was no small part of Calgary&rsquo;s game plan.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-03536/7880351-1-eng-US/f0024-032.jpg" title="f0024-03" width="632" height="976"></div>&ldquo;Everything about his game has been raised,&rdquo; said coach John Tortorella of Modin. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s just slowly gotten better and now he really is a power forward.&rdquo; It has been an interesting trip for Modin, especially considering the Toronto Maple Leafs traded him to Tampa Bay in October 1999 for underachieving defenseman Cory Cross.And after two seasons in which he scored a combined 31 goals, one fewer than he had in 2000-01, the year he played in the All-Star Game, Modin began this season on the fourth line and had lost his spot on Tampa Bay&rsquo;s power play.Modin didn&rsquo;t like the demotion, but didn&rsquo;t run to the media and didn&rsquo;t complain. Well, there was that 15minute, on-ice meeting with Tortorella in mid-December in which Modin put forth his concerns. But generally, Modin internalized his then-growing frustration.Trade rumors didn&rsquo;t help matters. Every time it appeared the Islanders were ready to deal defenseman Roman Hamrlik, Modin was speculated to be the bait.But Modin had something working for him this season that had not in the past. He was finally healthy.Numerous injuries limited Modin to 54 games, 14 goals and 31 points in 2001-02. Nagging injuries, combined with a continued recovery from the previous season&rsquo;s wrist surgery, held him to 17 goals in 2002-03.Despite those constraints, Modin&rsquo;s game improved. He battled harder for pucks along the boards in his role as a fourth-liner. That, in turn, got him more and more turns working on the penalty kill, something he did a lot in his native Sweden, but not as much in the NHL..And he became harder to knock off the puck. And he began to use his stick to pokecheck and clog the passing lanes.And once the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder regained his scoring A touch and his spot on the second fl line with Richards and CoryStillman, &ldquo;he really became a - dominant two-way player,&rdquo; said associate coach Craig Ramsay. &ldquo;During the playoffs he just grabbed this &rsquo;Wlr"&rsquo; team and took it in all situations. With Freddy it&rsquo;s not about &rsquo;me&rsquo;, it&rsquo;s about &rsquo;us&rsquo;. When the team wins, he wins.&rdquo;And as his team was in the process of the biggest win of them&rsquo; X all, Modin was enjoying every second.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m having a ball,&rdquo; Modin said.&ldquo;That&rsquo;s what it&rsquo;s all about.&rdquo;It is not, Modin said, about numbers or complaining that he should have been a candidate for the Selke Trophy as the NHL&rsquo;s top defensive forward.<h2>HAPPY WITH ICE TIME</h2>&ldquo;I just want to be on the ice as much as possible,&rdquo; he said.&ldquo;Whatever chance I get, I want to do a good job. If it&rsquo;s keeping other guys from scoring, I&rsquo;m happy to do that. If it&rsquo;s scoring goals, I&rsquo;m happy to do that, too.&ldquo;I know in North America it&rsquo;s very A important to have your stats and get your name out there. I have no desire to make sure my name is in the paper everyday. I&rsquo;m just so. happy with what I&rsquo;m doing and seeing this team grow. I&rsquo;m not the kind of guy who sits back and thinks, &rsquo;Man, I&rsquo;m. doing all right.&rsquo; I don&rsquo;t think that way. That&rsquo;s the kind of stuff that drives you.&rdquo;More than just driving the puck.The Hockey News. Scout says:<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-02780/7880344-1-eng-US/f0024-022.jpg" title="f0024-02" width="1168" height="423"></div><blockquote class="pullQuote">&ldquo;He still has the big shot, but he&rsquo;s now good at both ends and plays with tons of heart.&rdquo;</blockquote><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-04360/7880337-1-eng-US/f0024-042.jpg" title="f0024-04" width="1919" height="3115"><figcaption class="caption-body">FREDDIE&rsquo;S STEADY&nbsp;Tampa left winger Fredrik Modin had a careerbest 28 assists and 57 points this season.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0024-01

Modin rises up

<div class="byline">BY MIKE BROPHY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0025-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-01995/7880410-1-eng-US/f0025-012.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-02665/7880403-1-eng-US/f0025-022.jpg" title="f0025-02" width="2002" height="3485"><figcaption class="caption-body">THE ELIMINATOR&rsquo;Martin Gelinas scored eight playoff goals, including three series winners</figcaption></div>You can never have too many leaders in an NHL dressing room.So while it is obvious Jarome Iginla is the man in Calgary - and ex-captain Craig Conroy is second-in-command - don&rsquo;t sell short the contributions of one Martin Gelinas.Gelinas&rsquo;s way is not so much to stand up and take control of the dressing room vocally as it is to simply set a good example for less experienced teammates.And when you have played more than 1,000 NHL games, when your name is etched onto the Stanley Cup (and you have the championship ring to prove it), when you are still looked upon to contribute to your team&rsquo;s scoresheet&hellip;well, you had better believe teammates look to you for leadership and guidance.&ldquo;What Marty does really well is he sets a very good example,&rdquo; said Flames defenseman Robyn Regehr. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a guy who comes to camp in extremely good condition, especially for a guy in his mid-30s.&ldquo;He&rsquo;s in phenomenal shape and he works hard every day. He shows guys what it is to be an ultimate professional. You know what, that speaks a lot louder than words do to your teammates and peers.&rdquo;Added teammate Shean Donovan:&ldquo;Marty is a quiet guy, but he&rsquo;s the hardest-working guy. He&rsquo;s not the youngest guy on our team, but he&rsquo;s a guy who works hard. Guys learn from him just by watching what he does every day.&rdquo;With so much pressure on Iginla to do just about everything in order for the Flames to be a successful team, it was decided some supplemental offense was required if the Flames were ever going to make it back to the postseason.That&rsquo;s why then-GM Craig Button signed the veteran left winger as a free agent prior to the start of the 2002-03 season.More pieces were added to the puzzle this year, but Gelinas remained a very important ingredient on a team that rose from seven consecutive non-playoff seasons to make it to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final.<h2>LEADERSHIP KEY TO SUCCESS</h2>Flames coach-GM Darryl Sutter has high expectations for all of his players. He rarely has to waste his worry on Gelinas.&ldquo;His leadership has been really important for us,&rdquo; Sutter said.&ldquo;He doesn&rsquo;t say much and he goes about his business and works hard.&ldquo;There were so damn many injuries (in the regular season), he has played more than we probably expected him to play, but once we got to playoffs, I think it helped him.&rdquo;Part of the famous trade that sent Wayne Gretzky from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings - Gelinas and Vancouver&rsquo;s Martin Rucinsky are the last remaining active NHLers from that deal - Gelinas entered the NHL as a celebrated Quebec League scorer. However, it quickly became apparent if Gelinas was going to have a long and successful career as a big-leaguer, it was going to be as an energy player who chipped in with occasional offensive contributions.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-03442/7880396-1-eng-US/f0025-032.jpg" title="f0025-03" width="631" height="968"></div>It was Gelinas, after all, who managed to score the series-winning goal in each of the first three rounds of the playoffs, earning him the nickname &rsquo;The Eliminator&rsquo;. And it was Gelinas - on his 34th birthday, no less - whose controversial non-goal in Game 6 against the Lightning almost won the Flames their second Stanley Cup in franchise history.Clearly, the man understands the concept of clutch.There were seasons of 30 and 35 goals along the way, but Gelinas has lasted 15 seasons in the world&rsquo;s top league by making himself a well-rounded player. His style might not be the prettiest, but he&rsquo;s effective.&ldquo;He does a great job of getting to those very difficult areas; right in front of the net where it&rsquo;s a battle all the time and he does a good job of putting the puck in the net,&rdquo; Regehr said.Gelinas played a huge role in helping the Oilers win the Cup in 1990, skating on the&rsquo;Kid Line&rsquo; with Joe Murphy and Adam Graves. This year he played just as important a role for the Flames, patrolling the left wing most nights on the top line with Iginla and Conroy.He finished the post-season third in Flames&rsquo; scoring - and eighth in the league - with eight goals and 15 points in 26 games.After winning the Cup in 1990, Gelinas lost in the final with Vancouver in 1994 and Carolina in 2002. So he takes nothing for granted these days and although Calgary wound up on the losing side of the 2004 championship ledger, Gelinas hopes his Flames teammates understand the incredible opportunity they had this season to play in the games that mean the most to big-leaguers.&ldquo;Life goes by fast and my career has gone by fast,&rdquo; Gelinas said.&ldquo;I was really fortunate at a young age to win it and I&rsquo;ve said it before, but I didn&rsquo;t really appreciate it at the time. You think when you win it, it is the first of many, but it doesn&rsquo;t work out that way.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-04281/7880389-1-eng-US/f0025-042.jpg" title="f0025-04" width="1053" height="420"></div>The Hockey News&nbsp;scout says:<blockquote class="pullQuote">&ldquo;He still possesses great speed and shows great courage going to the net&rdquo;</blockquote> &#9632;

f0025-01

Favorite Martin

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0026-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-011116/7880532-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-02779/7880525-1-eng-US/f0026-022.jpg" title="f0026-02" width="788" height="984"><figcaption class="caption-body">May 25 at Tampa Bay</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-03627/7880518-1-eng-US/f0026-032.jpg" title="f0026-03" width="746" height="334"></div><h2>Flames punish listless Tampa</h2>It&rsquo;s official: the Calgary Flames are indeed road warriors.Looking like an unstoppable force, the Flames catch the home Tampa Bay Lightning flatfooted and roll to a 4-1 win to take a 1-0 series lead. It is Calgary&rsquo;s ninth playoff road win this post-season.The Flames get a lucky break early in the game when a shot from the point deflects off two Calgary players and manages to just barely get over the goal line. Martin Gelinas is credited with the marker.Jarome Iginla scores the eventual winner at 15:21 of the second period while killing a penalty when he scoops up a puck that had bounced over Fredrik Modin&rsquo;s stick and breaks in alone. He fires a high shot that Tampa goalie Nikolai Khabibulin stops. The puck flips to the side of the net, where Iginla grabs it and fires it home.Stephane Yelle makes it 3-0 two minutes later before Martin St-Louis of the Lightning and Chris Simon of the Flames trade third period goals.Although the Bolts produce numerous scoring chances, it isn&rsquo;t able to handle Calgary&rsquo;s forecheck and speed.THN 3 STARS 1. Jarome Iginla, Calgary. 2. Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary. 3. Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-04447/7880511-1-eng-US/f0026-042.jpg" title="f0026-04" width="793" height="981"><figcaption class="caption-body">May 27 at Tampa Bay</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-05331/7880504-1-eng-US/f0026-052.jpg" title="f0026-05" width="773" height="334"></div><h2>Lightning star shines bright</h2>Vincent Lecavalier picks a great time to play a great game, because it&rsquo;s in front of The Great One.The best Lightning player in Game 1, Lecavalier continues to play at a high level since finding out in mid-May he was left off the Team Canada entry for the World Cup. Lecavalier draws two assists in a 4-1 Tampa win to even the series.Gretzky takes in the contest from the stands and sees Lecavalier at his best, playing more physically than he has through most of his career while maintaining a creative artistry matched by few players in the game. Let the record show, if Lecavalier had played as well in the weeks before Team Canada was picked as he did afterwards, he likely would have been on the team.After playing a rather timid game in Game 1, the Lightning is more forceful in all areas of the ice.Lecavalier is the sparkplug, but Brad Richards and Martin St-Louis also contribute with a goal and an assist each. Defenseman Dan Boyle also scores for Tampa and Ville Nieminen replies for the Flames.THN 3 STARS 1. Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa. 2. Brad Richards, Tampa. 3. Dan Boyle, Tampa.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-06268/7880497-1-eng-US/f0026-062.jpg" title="f0026-06" width="791" height="987"><figcaption class="caption-body">May 29 at Calgary</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-07235/7880490-1-eng-US/f0026-072.jpg" title="f0026-07" width="758" height="334"></div><h2>Feisty Iginla seizes control</h2>Registering a Gordie Howe hat trick - a goal, an assist and a fight - Flames captain Jarome Iginla leads the Flames to a 3-0 win and strengthens arguments he may be the best player in hockey.Game 3 marks the third straight game in the final that one team dominates. And each game has been increasingly physical, as the two teams have built a healthy mutual dislike.That is evident at 6:17 of the first period, when Iginla and Tampa&rsquo;s Vincent Lecavalier drop the gloves and square off. Lecavalier is known for his finesse, not his fists, but gives a good account of himself.Chris Simon scores what proves to be the winner at 13:53 of the second period. Just seconds after Calgary goalie Miikka Kiprusoff made a stunning save on Brad Richards with the Bolts shorthanded, Simon takes three whacks at the puck before beating Nikolai Khabibulin.Shean Donovan and Iginla also score for the Flames, who improve to 12-1 in playoff games in which they score the first goal. It is Kiprusoff&rsquo;s fifth shutout of the post-season.THN 3 STARS 1. Jarome Iginla, Calgary. 2. Chris Simon, Calgary 3. Dan Boyle, Lightning.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-08194/7880483-1-eng-US/f0026-082.jpg" title="f0026-08" width="793" height="987"><figcaption class="caption-body">May 31 at Calgary</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-09172/7880476-1-eng-US/f0026-092.jpg" title="f0026-09" width="764" height="333"></div><h2>Early marker all Bolts need</h2>Brad Richards said nothing was going to stop him.&ldquo;I had missed on a few shots and I was getting frustrated,&rdquo; says the Tampa center.&ldquo;This time when I got the puck, I just put my head down and buried it.&rdquo; Indeed he did.Richards&rsquo;s NHL-record seventh game-winner of this year&rsquo;s playoffs, at 2:48 of the first period, is the only goal of the game as the Lightning tie the series at two.The goal is scored with the Flames playing two men short. Chris Clark and Mike Commodore are sent off together at 1:52, Clark for crosschecking and Commodore for holding. The Lightning take advantage of the opportunity to open the scoring and hold on.Calgary fans are further incensed when, late in the game, Ville Nieminen is given a five-minute major for boarding after driving Tampa&rsquo;s Vincent Lecavalier into the glass from behind. Niemenen was suspended one game for his actions.Though Calgary outshoots Tampa 29-24, they are unable to beat Nikolai Khabibulin, who records his fifth shutout of the playoffs.THN 3 STARS 1. Brad Richards, Tampa. 2. Nikolai Khabibulin, Tampa. 3. Jarome Iginla, Calgary.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-10159/7880469-1-eng-US/f0026-102.jpg" title="f0026-10" width="790" height="991"><figcaption class="caption-body">June 3 at Tampa Bay (CP IMAGES)</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-11150/7880462-1-eng-US/f0026-112.jpg" title="f0026-11" width="766" height="334"></div><h2>Captain&rsquo;s fire fuels Calgary</h2>Craig Conroy called it perhaps the best shift he has ever seen an NHLer take.For what seems like almost two minutes, Jarome Iginla lurks in the Tampa zone like a man possessed. It is as though he won&rsquo;t leave the ice until his team comes out on top.So when the Flames captain gets the puck in the deep slot, helmetless after having it knocked off in a scrum earlier, he takes his time and fires a hard, high shot that is stopped by Lightning goalie Nikolai Khabibulin. The rebound, however, is jammed home by Oleg Saprykin giving Calgary a 3-2 overtime win.The win by the Flames is their 10th on the road in this year&rsquo;s playoffs, tying an NHL record set by New Jersey in 1995 and 2000.For the fifth-straight game in the series, the team that scores first wins. This time it is Martin Gelinas, who scores at 2:13 of the opening period. The win puts the Flames one game away from the Stanley Cup.Iginla has the other Calgary goal, his 13th of the playoffs, while Martin St-Louis and Fredrik Modin reply for the Lightning.THN 3 STARS 1. Jarome Iginla, Calgary. 2. Oleg Saprykin, Calgary. 3. Brad Richards, Tampa.LOMBARDI I think you hear it on the road, hockey people, but a GM&rsquo;s work isn&rsquo;t something that&rsquo;s critiqued in a small window. What a guy told me, and I have it on my wall, is that any builder needs vision and vision is being able to see what other people can&rsquo;t. A lot of time it just doesn&rsquo;t come to fruition until two years or three years later. I used to study deals people made and unless you&rsquo;re really a student of the game, you forget about certain deals. Things like, for instance, what I had to go through to protect (goaltender Evgeni) John Nabokov from the expansion draft. Those are little things that, unless you&rsquo;re paying attention to detail, people do not really know about.BUTTON The face of the game is the players. They&rsquo;re the ones who the fans come to watch play. People ask me, you got this player or that player - well, that was the job. You&rsquo;re trying to create an environment where players can work together and have success and grow&hellip;and a lot of other things the public never sees.THN&nbsp;Dean, how did you feel in that Western Conference Game 6 when Calgary knocked out San Jose?LOMBARDI Well, I was in Philadelphia, I got back to my room for the last 10 minutes and when I saw those kids go through the line shaking hands, I think that&rsquo;s when it hit. You know they were so close. The emotions &mdash; I remember the moment, but I don&rsquo;t think I could put things like that into words.THN&nbsp;Rick, do you want Tampa to win?DUDLEY Yes, and not because I don&rsquo;t like Calgary. I love the way these two teams play. They&rsquo;re aggressive, they don&rsquo;t sit back, they play a style that I think is very appealing to the public and certainly to me. But I have one visualization and that&rsquo;s Dave Andreychuk lifting the trophy. When he lifts the Cup, that would be a satisfying moment for me.THN&nbsp;Craig do you want Calgary to win?BUTTON I want Tampa to win.THN&nbsp;You want Tampa to win?BUTTON No, I&rsquo;m kidding. Hey, listen, I have a very good friend, Craig Ramsay with Tampa Bay, who Rick knows very well, right?DUDLEY Sure.BUTTON&hellip;and a guy who has given a lot of himself over the years. That said, when you spend so much time around a group of players and a group of people, and people you don&rsquo;t even see - the equipment managers and the trainers, the scouts, people that are trying to sell tickets in tough times-1 do want to see them win it.THN&nbsp;On each team&rsquo;s path to get to the final, there are a whole bunch of guys who aren&rsquo;t with the team anymore that played a pretty big part in creating it. So I guess we could do this thing everv year.DUDLEY Not with the same three, please. (More guffaws.)THN&nbsp;So what happens now, more time for fishing or golf? Rick, you said you&rsquo;re going stir crazy.DUDLEY I am, actually. I&rsquo;m bored. But that&rsquo;s me.THN&nbsp;Dean?LOMBARDI I&rsquo;m the same way. I can&rsquo;t sit around. You talk about other opportunities, but I&rsquo;m very fortunate to be working for the people I&rsquo;m working for right now and learning something every day and working for that type of organization. I owe Bob Clarke and Paul Holmgren and Ron Hextail something you can&rsquo;t put a price tag on when people reinstill that passion in you. I&rsquo;m going to work my tail off for them as long as I&rsquo;m there. I&rsquo;ve got too much love for this game to let myself brood on it.THN&nbsp;Does this kind of thing happening make any of you want to get away from the game?BUTTON I know for myself, I said maybe I should look at things outside of hockey, but at the end of the day, you come to the conclusion this is what you love to do. It stirs in you, you&rsquo;re passionate about it. When you commit to something there is the potential for pain, but also a greater potential for all the rewards that go with it - being part of a team, watching things grow, championships, those types of things.LOMBARDI There&rsquo;s a love of hockey every one of us has grown up with - and Rick played at the highest level (309 games with Buffalo and Winnipeg in the 1970s) - but it&rsquo;s still the same thing that&rsquo;s ingrained in you as a kid. When a player is done playing, he&rsquo;s usually not remembering his greatest goal or whatever, he&rsquo;s usually talking about sitting around the dressing room, being a little kid throwing tape at your buddy, or those times you sit there for two hours and time flies by and and not knowing what the hell you did there, but you just loved being with the boys. You go through what you miss when you&rsquo;re dismissed, it&rsquo;s being part of a team as much as the game. And when you are not there for a short time, it&rsquo;s awfully lonely. That&rsquo;s what drives us back.THN&nbsp;That&rsquo;s terrific from this end, guys. Thank you all very much.LOMBARDI Are we having counseling next week?THN&nbsp;Sure, same time, same place.BUTTON Now wait a sec, you might be able to take this to a whole different level. This could be reality TV.LOMBARDI Yeah, yeah, like Dr. Phil!BUTTON Every week we could have people tuning in!THN&nbsp;Maybe we could get this sponsored. Who could do it?BUTTON Prozac! ISUPPORT GROUP&nbsp;Rick Dudley, Craig Button and Dean Lombardi are former GMs of teams that experienced playoff success in 2003-04.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-02704/7880455-1-eng-US/f0027-022.jpg" title="f0027-02" width="1667" height="544"></div>RICK DUDLEY TAMPA BAYRick Dudley was the Lightning GM from January, 1999, to February, 2002. Here are current players Dudley brought to Tampa:<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-03486/7880448-1-eng-US/f0027-032.jpg" title="f0027-03" width="1668" height="583"></div>CRAIG BUTTON CALGARYCraig Button was the Flames GM from 2000-01 through 2002-03.Here are current players Button brought to Calgary:<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-04331/7880441-1-eng-US/f0027-042.jpg" title="f0027-04" width="1668" height="695"></div>DEAN LOMBARDI SAN JOSEDean Lombardi was the Sharks director of hockey operations and/or GM from 1992-93 through 2002-03. Here are his players: &#9632;

f0026-01

2003-04 STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME-BY-GAME

<div class="byline">BY MARK BRENDER &#x2022; Senior Writer</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0028-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-011102/7880598-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg"></div>Your girlfriend says it&rsquo;s over. She shacks up with your little brother and they get married the next week. Then your Fortune 500 company fires you as CEO. Six months later the stock splits. Faced with such agony, do you: a) tip your hat to others&rsquo; good fortune; b) go to town on the voodoo doll; or, c) become a celibate communist?For the record, none of Craig Button, Rick Dudley and Dean Lombardi chose option (c) after watching their former teams succeed in the 2004 playoffs without them. Button and Lombardi were fired last spring as GM of the Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks, respectively; Dudley was dismissed as GM of Tampa Bay in early 2002 (and more recently, as GM of the Florida Panthers). Only Lombardi is employed in hockey at the moment, as a pro scout with Philadelphia.To find out if the wounds are still raw - and for a long-distance group hug - The Hockey News senior writer Mark Brender convened a conference call round table with the three men between Games 4 and 5 of the Stanley Cup final.THN&nbsp;All right, everyone&rsquo;s here. I&rsquo;ve got a future as an operator..LOMBARDI Either that or a therapist.(Guffaws all around.)THN&nbsp;First thing, how did it feel for all of you watching the playoff games of your former teams?<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-03552/7880591-1-eng-US/f0028-032.jpg" title="f0028-03" width="334" height="321"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-04378/7880584-1-eng-US/f0028-042.jpg" title="f0028-04" width="310" height="260"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-05287/7880577-1-eng-US/f0028-052.jpg" title="f0028-05" width="340" height="326"></div>DUDLEY I go in stages when I leave a team. The first is you don&rsquo;t want them to win any more games. Then you go into a phase where you can accept the fact that they&rsquo;re having success and you like some people there, so you don&rsquo;t feel too badly about it. The third phase is where you actually appreciate the people that you brought in and you say those are good guys, they deserve success.BUTTON I wanted it to be a good reflection on my work, so I did want them to win. At the same time it is difficult because you are going through some different feelings.LOMBARDI I was attached to so many of those players, not only professionally but personally, I just never really had a phase where I didn&rsquo;t want them to be successful. I mean, the (Brad) Stuarts and (Scott) Hannans and (Mark) Smiths and (Patrick) Marleaus and (Marco) Sturms and all those kids, you almost grew up with them.THN&nbsp;Have you guys got any calls from anybody within the teams?DUDLEY There are people in Tampa that have certainly kept in touch with me and kept me up on who&rsquo;s doing what, how successful a person is being, or even their personal lives. There are a number of people in that organization who are extremely good friends of mine and they&rsquo;ve stayed good friends.LOMBARDI You have to find a way to get back on the horse if you love the game. And I was fortunate this season where (Flyers GM) Bob Clarke would bring me in to Philadelphia and I could be around the team.That&rsquo;s the one thing when you&rsquo;re a general manager, it&rsquo;s the analogy to the military where you&rsquo;re with your troops all the time&hellip;The guys I spent a lot of time with (in San Jose) were my scouts. They&rsquo;re special times on the road with those boys, digging it out, driving four hours on the road to Sault Ste. Marie or something. You can&rsquo;t forget those guys.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-02759/7880570-1-eng-US/f0028-022.jpg" title="f0028-02" width="2004" height="2346"><figcaption class="caption-body">CHEERS, RICK Dave Andreychuk is one of eight Lightning players that arrived in Tampa Bay during former GM Rick Dudley&rsquo;s watch. (BRUCE BENNETT/BBS)</figcaption></div>BUTTON When Dean talks about the younger players and growing up with them, even to this day, the relationships I had with the players, I really feel positively about them. Those are good relationships to have had.LOMBARDI Some of the nicest calls I got during the year was when a player would call me out of the blue. That&rsquo;s something pretty special.THN&nbsp;Any examples?DUDLEY I can give you one. When Marty St-Louis signed his last contract he called me and thanked me for bringing him to Tampa, which I thought was kind of a classy act. On the road I&rsquo;ve seen David Andreychuk and a few of the guys around and had nice conversations with them. I think that&rsquo;s what makes it easier to accept a team&rsquo;s success.THN&nbsp;Dean, not to hammer it home, but the Sharks are largely built with draft picks selected on your watch.LOMBARDI It&rsquo;s like my wife used to say - I don&rsquo;t have children of my own - she says,&rsquo;Well, you used to go to the draft and come back with 12 kids and you&rsquo;d talk about them like you just came back from the hospital.&rsquo; I was a firm believer in creating an environment for these kids around winners who accepted their roles. Bringing in guys like Mike Vernon, Murray Craven, Bernie Nicholls, Tony Granato, Gary Suter, these guys accepted the role of being role models for the kids. I can remember Kelly Hrudey taking Patrick Marleau to the rink every day. If it wasn&rsquo;t for those (older) guys, the kids don&rsquo;t make the playoffs the next five years and get the experience.THN&nbsp;Does the success these teams have had " help you?DUDLEY It helps personally and I think it helps in the industry. I think people recognize &ldquo;what they perceive as a job well done.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-01978/7880563-1-eng-US/f0029-012.jpg" title="f0029-01" width="1623" height="1319"><figcaption class="caption-body">Calgary defenseman Steve Montador, who made it into the playoff lineup after injuries sidelined two Flames defenseman, is mobbed by teammates after scoring the overtime winner in Game 1 of the Western Conference final against San Jose.</figcaption></div>6. AND THE ACADEMY AWARD GOES TO&hellip;&nbsp;Game 3, Boston at Montreal, April 11 Mike Ribeiro of the Canadiens is knocked down near center after an innocent-looking hit by Boston winger Mike Knuble, then suddenly starts writhing on the ice like he has been shot. Within minutes, Ribeiro is back on his skates and looks decidedly healthy heading back to the bench, instantly drawing the ire of both the Boston bench and much of the hockey world. Was he faking it, or did he suffer a&ldquo;stinger&rdquo; as he claimed? Only Ribeiro knows for certain.7. RIBEIRO FALLOUT&nbsp;Game 4, Boston at Montreal, April 13 In the wake of the Ribeiro incident, the NHL issues an order warning its referees not to get sucked in by players faking an injury in an effort to draw a penalty. So when Montreal&rsquo;s Alexei Kovalev grabs his hand and loses the puck after being slashed by Boston&rsquo;s Travis Green in double overtime, there&rsquo;s no call. To make matters worse, Kovalev impedes teammate Sheldon Souray&rsquo;s progress, allowing Boston&rsquo;s Glen Murray to skate in alone and score the winning goal.8.TIC-TAC-TOE&nbsp;Game 3, Tampa Bay at Philadelphia, May 13With the Lightning leading 3-1 and the game completely under control, Tampa Bay&rsquo;s Martin St-Louis breaks into the Philadelphia! zone on the right side with the puck. He makes a nifty backhand pass to, of all people, Andre Roy in the slot and Roy sends it back to St-Louis with a deft touch pass. This time St-Louis spots Brad Richards open at the far side of the Flyers&rsquo; net and directs a pass his way. Richards drills it home to complete the tic-tac-toe play and arguably the prettiest goal of the post-season.9.SEE ME, HEAR ME&nbsp;Game 1, Calgary at San Jose, May 9With San Jose in the midst of an untimely line change, Calgary&rsquo;s Jarome Iginla gains possession of the puck in the Sharks zone. He hears teammate Steve Montador screaming for a pass - and banging his stick on the ice - and spots the blueliner cutting down the middle into the San Jose end. Iginla makes a perfect pass and Montador cruises in, taking his time before drilling a low shot in off the post to give the Flames a 4-3 overtime win.10. LUCKY BOUNCE&nbsp;Game 2, Nashville at Detroit, April 10 Red Wings defenseman Mathieu Schneider&rsquo;s shot from the point travels wide and hits the backboards to the right of the Nashville net. The good news for the Wings is, the puck bounces back toward the crease and deflects in&mdash;barely over the goal line&mdash;off the skate of sprawling Predators goalie Tomas Vokoun at 17:15 of the third period to give Detroit the victory. &#9632;

f0028-01

Fired GMs sound off

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0034-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-011110/7880716-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg"></div>NHL teams have battled for the Stanley Cup for 85 years. Here&rsquo;s everything you need to know about each year&rsquo;s Cup showdown. This is what we tell you: season, champion&rsquo;s name, Cup No. for the team since the trophy was donated in 1893, coach, GM and captain of the Cup-winning team, finalist&rsquo;s name, coach, GM and captain of the finalist, final series score in games, the playoffs&rsquo; leading scorer and his team (ties in playoff scoring are broken by, first, most goals, and second, fewest games), Cup-winning goal-scorer and Conn Smythe Trophy winner The Conn Smythe Trophy was first awarded in 1965. Prior to that, virtual winners (denoted by&ldquo;&bull;&rdquo;) were determined by a panel of hockey historians in a 2001 study by The Hockey News.(*) There have been five multi-captained teams to reach the Cup final. We only list the senior player below. The full roster of captains on those teams is as follows: 1988-89 Calgary, Lanny McDonald, Jim Peplinski and Tim Hunter; 1987-88 Boston, Rick Middleton and Ray Bourque; 1985-86 Calgary, Lanny McDonald, Doug Risebrough and Jim Peplinski; 1974-75 Buffalo, Jim Schoenfeld and Gerry Meehan; 1941-42 Detroit, Ebbie Goodfellow and Sid Abel.(**) Three people shared the GM duties for the 1996-97 Detroit Red Wings - Jim Devellano, Ken Holland and Scotty Bowman. Devellano is recognized as GM in the NHL&rsquo;s Official Guide and Record Book.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-02762/7880709-1-eng-US/f0034-022.jpg" title="f0034-02" width="424" height="351"><figcaption class="caption-body">The original Stanley Cup, 1893</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-03601/7880702-1-eng-US/f0034-032.jpg" title="f0034-03" width="487" height="691"><figcaption class="caption-body">Stanley Cup, 1894-1927</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-04470/7880695-1-eng-US/f0034-042.jpg" title="f0034-04" width="465" height="1274"><figcaption class="caption-body">Stanley Cup, 1928-1947</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-05381/7880688-1-eng-US/f0034-052.jpg" title="f0034-05" width="1522" height="1699"><figcaption class="caption-body">HOW SWEET!Patrick Roy leads the Canadiens to the 1993 Cup; Bob Gainey and the Habs win in 1979; Mark Messier and the Oilers celebrate Cup No. 5 in 1990.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-06340/7880681-1-eng-US/f0034-062.jpg" title="f0034-06" width="4180" height="2052"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-02731/7880674-1-eng-US/f0035-022.jpg" title="f0035-02" width="4250" height="1813"></div> &#9632;

f0034-01

The Trail of Stanley

<div class="byline">BY ROB TYCHKOWSKI</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0036-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-011006/7880761-1-eng-US/f0036-012.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-02669/7880754-1-eng-US/f0036-022.jpg" title="f0036-02" width="1931" height="3149"><figcaption class="caption-body">GOLDEN RHETT Flames&rsquo; defenseman Rhett Warrener was a key part of Calgary&rsquo;s stunning playoff run</figcaption></div>It was supposed to be Toronto, wasn&rsquo;t it? The rich and mighty Maple Leafs were supposed to be Canada&rsquo;s team, our nation&rsquo;s last L and best chance to win theB Stanley Cup that has eluded us 9 since 1993. With Ed Belfour, Mats S&rsquo; Sundin and a stable of warhorses M who knew they were running out of &rsquo; I time, the Leafs were going to be our J Great White North Hope.If not them, then the Ottawa Senators - a skilled and gritty team on the cusp of greatness for years - certainly had the stuff to carry our flag into June. Didn&rsquo;t they?Or what about Vancouver? The Brian Burke Project. The last Canadian team to reach the Stanley Cup final. Weren&rsquo;t they going to circle their wagons after the Todd Bertuzzi saga and make good on those regular season promises?And if all else.failed, then it had to be Montreal, the 23-time champs, the last Canadian team to lift the Cup. They have a habit of &rsquo; sneaking into the final when it seems they have no business being there and their semi-annual upset of the Bruins looked like the springboard to yet another miracle run.In a year when five of the six Canadian teams made the playoffs, any one of them had a legitimate shot at becoming Canada&rsquo;s Team.Anyone but Calgary, anyhow.Through 15 years of early summers and half-empty Saddledomes, the Flames have barely been Calgary&rsquo;s team. No way they could put a country on their back.Could they?They could. They did.In one of the most improbable runs since Seabiscuit was bringing grandstands to their feet, the Flames went from longshots with no chance to full-fledged phenomenon, sweeping the playoffs and the country by storm. By the end of their improbable post-season drive they had hosted Prime Minister Paul Martin in their dressing room, rallied Canadian troops in Afghanistan, sold an NHL-record 40,000 jerseys during the playoffs and, in perhaps the most telling development of all, added Edmonton to their jam-packed fan club.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s unheard of,&rdquo; said Flames&rsquo; defenseman Andrew Ference, who was bom and raised in Edmonton. &ldquo;My mom and dad (still in Edmonton) are getting that kind of reaction from everybody. They can&rsquo;t believe everybody in Edmonton is cheering for the Flames.&rdquo;The 200-to-l underdogs were such a compelling national story, Martin even pulled his campaign bus into the Flames&rsquo; parking lot to try and siphon some of their popularity.&ldquo;The whole country is cheering for you,&rdquo; Martin told the team before Game 3.&ldquo;I was in Montreal and people on the streets were wearing Flames&rsquo; sweaters. I was just up in Edmonton. I can&rsquo;t believe they&rsquo;re all cheering for you. You are Canada&rsquo;s team.&rdquo;That in itself was remarkable. But that the Flames could become Edmonton&rsquo;s team is nothing short of miraculous. In virtually every Edmonton sports bar, the overwhelming majority of fans put aside one of the most bitter rivalries in sports to root for their neighbors. Car flags and Flames sweaters were a common sight in Edmonton from the second round on.Sure, there were pockets of resistance - some Oiler die-hards responded with hand-painted&ldquo;Go Tampa&rdquo; flags and called their fellow fans&ldquo;traitors&rdquo; in scathing letters to the editor - but clearly, the masses backed the Flames.&ldquo;I think it relates to everything they&rsquo;ve gone through down in Calgary, having been out of the playoffs for so many years,&rdquo; Ference said.&ldquo;I think everybody just decided to heck with the rivalry and everything in the past between Edmonton and Calgary and decided they&rsquo;re proud to be Albertans and western Canadians&hellip;It&rsquo;s amazing.&rdquo;And it flowed from Vancouver to St. John&rsquo;s like&hellip;well, like a giant &rsquo;C&rsquo; of red.&ldquo;Maybe it&rsquo;s because it&rsquo;s been so long since a Canadian team was in the Stanley Cup final,&rdquo; said defenseman Mike Commodore.The last time was 1994, when the Canucks finished a game away from Cup glory. Martin Gelinas, a member of that team, said it was too long a wait&ldquo;It has been a long time since a Canadian team made it to the final,&rdquo; he said.&ldquo;You can just feel people are taking a lot of pride in that.&rdquo;Most people, anyway.&ldquo;Maybe that&rsquo;s not the case in Toronto,&rdquo; said Gelinas.&ldquo;They&rsquo;re still bitter there.&rdquo; I<h2>CANADA&rsquo;S CUPS</h2>Here are Canada&rsquo;s Stanley Cupchampion teams since formation of NHL in 1917-18.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-03555/7880747-1-eng-US/f0036-032.jpg" title="f0036-03" width="894" height="3124"><figcaption class="caption-body">(DALE MACMILLAN/BBS)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0036-01

Pride of a nation

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0037-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-02609/7880792-1-eng-US/f0037-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">TYLER ARNASONCHICAGO BLACKHAWKS</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-01897/7880799-1-eng-US/f0037-012.jpg" title="f0037-01" width="207" height="213"></div><h2>2003-04 vs. 2002-03</h2>San Jose had a 31-point improvement in the 2003-04 regular season, earning 104 points after only 73 in 2002-03.It was a trying season for second-year center Tyler Arnason and his Chicago Blackhawks.There was an off-ice incident - involving Hawks coach Brian Sutter - and his team finished 29th in a 30-team league. But it wasn&rsquo;t all bad for Arnason. The 25-year-old from Oklahoma City, Okla., did lead the Hawks in scoring with 55 points, including 22 goals.On Feb. 29, on the night before a road game against the Predators, Arnason and Sutter were involved in an altercation of sorts at a Nashville bar. According to reports, Sutter verbally accosted Arnason and allegedly pushed him. Sutter later said he was simply challenging Arnason to play with more intensity and consistency.Arnason finished the season strong, scoring 19 points in the final 18 games after the incident.SUMMER GLANCE Ahh, early summer. That time of year when NHLers do anything and everything - except play hockey. Not to worry, though: it&rsquo;s also that time of year when team management steps to the forefront. Nobody knows for sure whether the 2004-05 season will start in October - due to CBA uncertainty-but coaches, GMs and their staffs are preparing as if the puck will drop in the fall. In this week&rsquo;s NHL team reports, we look at the direction each club is headed in and the areas in which they&rsquo;re trying to improve.REGULAR SEASON LEADERS IN SPOTLIGHT The&rsquo;Spotlight&rsquo; boxes in this week&rsquo;s NHL team reports highlight each club&rsquo;s leader in goals, assists, points, plus/minus and penalty minutes. The leading goal-scorer is pictured. &#9632;

f0037-02

NHL TEAM REPORT SPOTLIGHT

NHL TEAM REPORTS

<div class="byline">&#x2013; DAN WOOD</div>After a disappointing 2003-04, just one year removed from a trip to the Stanley Cup final, Anaheim is looking to the future knowing a new GM will be guiding the Mighty Ducks next season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-03478/7880837-1-eng-US/f0037-032.jpg" title="f0037-03" width="297" height="386"></div>Al Coates, the Ducks&rsquo; senior vicepresident of business operations, was named interim-GM after Bryan Murray, the Ducks GM for the past two seasons, resigned June 8 to become coach in Ottawa. (See pg. 17 for more on Murray and Coates.)While there&rsquo;s no doubt management will make roster adjustments this summer, the Ducks are hoping that a return to full health by blueliner Keith Carney and center Steve Rucchin, as well as a rebound year from goalie J-S Giguere, will lift them back into playoff contention.&ldquo;Those guys were the cornerstones of our team (in 200203),&rdquo; said coach Mike Babcock.&ldquo;I expect them to be better than ever (next season).&rdquo;SUMMER GLANCE Anaheim plans to make qualifying offers to a majority of its nine impending restricted free agents, a group that includes backup goalie Martin Gerber, blueliners Ruslan Salei and Vitaly Vishnevski and right winger Rob Niedermayer. Management would like to add at least one big forward to improve a size deficiency that hurt the Ducks badly last season.NOTEBOOK Anaheim signed University of Maine free agent forward Dustin Penner to a three-year contract&hellip;The Ducks failed to sign center Tim Brent, whom they selected 37th overall in 2002, by the June 1 deadline. Brent is re-entering the draft&hellip; Center Samuel Pahlsson of Sweden and left winger Vaclav Prospal of the Czech Republic landed spots on their respective national teams for the 2004 World Cup. Right winger Petr Sykora, who suffered from severe dehydration late this season, did not receive a berth on the Czech team.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-04399/7880830-1-eng-US/f0037-042.jpg" title="f0037-04" width="348" height="742"></div> &#9632;

f0037-03

Anaheim in transition as interim-GM named

<div class="byline">&#x2013; JOHN MANASSO</div>The Atlanta Thrashers&rsquo; fifth season was its strangest by far, but one that held promise for the future. Hopes of the franchise&rsquo;s first playoff berth were not met - hopes that were fueled by a first-place standing in the Southeast Division at mid-season - yet both coach Bob Hartley and GM Don Waddell said the season was one of their most memorable.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-05352/7880875-1-eng-US/f0037-052.jpg" title="f0037-05" width="294" height="385"></div>That was because of the team&rsquo;s response to the tragic death of center Dan Snyder, who was a passenger in Dany Heatley&rsquo;s car when the vehicle crashed into a brick wall in suburban Atlanta. Heatley was seriously injured in the crash.Though Heatley made a strong return after missing 51 games, Atlanta was ultimately undone by a lack of depth and too many injuries.SUMMER GLANCE With only seven players under contract, the Thrashers have some work to do come free agent season in July. Fortunately for them, no key unrestricted free agents are in the mix. With Marc Savard only playing 45 games last season, the need for another offensive center became glaring, as did another dependable defensive defenseman. Both needs must be addressed.NOTEBOOK Atlanta GM Don Waddell was given a contract extension in late April that sees him back for his sixth season with the team&hellip; Defenseman Tomas Kloucek was playing with a torn ACL at the end of the season. The injury was not detected until season-ending physicals. Kloucek underwent successful surgery and is rehabbing&hellip;Stacey McAlpine, right winger Dany Heatley&rsquo;s agent, said that Heatley is entertaining offers to play in Europe in the event of a lockout and has been approached by Lugano of the Swiss league.&ldquo;There&rsquo;s no real time line,&rdquo; McAlpine said.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re not in any rush to agree to anything at this time. There&rsquo;s no sense of urgency.&rdquo;<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-06312/7880868-1-eng-US/f0037-062.jpg" title="f0037-06" width="348" height="748"></div> &#9632;

f0037-05

Difficult fifth season not without positives

<div class="byline">&#x2013; NANCY MARRAPESE-BURRELL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-02664/7880913-1-eng-US/f0038-022.jpg" title="f0038-02" width="277" height="378"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-01978/7880920-1-eng-US/f0038-012.jpg" title="f0038-01" width="207" height="213"></div>When the Boston Bruins secured the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, they believed it was going to be just the beginning of a long post-season run.Wrong. That run lasted just seven games against Montreal. What made it all the more frustrating was the fact Boston believed it had its best goalie, Andrew Raycroft, in a decade and that significant trade deadline moves made by GM Mike O&rsquo;Connell, which brought in blueliner Sergei Gonchar and center Michael Nylander, were going to put the team over the top.But captain Joe Thornton got hurt, which compromised his play.That had a domino effect, given that Nylander missed one game because of a concussion. The Bruins blew a 31 series lead for the first time in team history and the disappointment and shock at the end were palpable.SUMMER GLANCE GM Mike O&rsquo;Connell said he plans to qualify all of his major Group II free agents, but they will receive contract offers of no more than a year and no more than a 10 per-cent raise. Included on that list are Thornton, Sergei Samsonov, Andrew Raycroft, Sergei Gonchar, Hal Gill and Jonathan Girard. Gill, Gonchar, Samsonov and Thornton all have arbitration rights. It&rsquo;s unclear whether any of the potential unrestricted free agents&mdash;such as Glen Murray, Sean O&rsquo;Donnell, Mike Knuble, Michael Nylander - will return.NOTEBOOK The Bruins had six players named to World Cup teams: defenseman Sergei Gonchar and left winger Sergei Samsonov (Russia); center Joe Thornton (Canada); center Brian Rolston (U.S.); left winger P-J Axelsson (Sweden); and defenseman Jiri Slegr (Czech Republic)&hellip; Assistant coach Wayne Cashman&rsquo;s contract expired at the end of the season. GM Mike O&rsquo;Connell said he wasn&rsquo;t sure if he would rehire him.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-03535/7880906-1-eng-US/f0038-032.jpg" title="f0038-03" width="352" height="757"></div> &#9632;

f0038-02

Boston remains bitter over early spring exit

<div class="byline">&#x2013; JIM KELLEY</div>The Buffalo Sabres set a franchise record of the most disappointing kind at the end of 2003-04, missing the playoffs for a third straight year.Buffalo has never won the Stanley Cup, but there has always been a legacy of star players, strong seasons and never more than two straight years without a post-season appearance. Though a bankruptcy and a prolonged period of unstable ownership figured in the mix, the Sabres had none of those things this year and the blame largely lands on GM Darcy Regier and managing partner Larry Quinn.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-04423/7880965-1-eng-US/f0038-042.jpg" title="f0038-04" width="292" height="386"></div>Regier has been at the helm for seven years and Quinn returned to the team this year after a failed first stint as president six years ago. Both set a goal of reaching the playoffs this season and made moves, but didn&rsquo;t get the job done.&ldquo;I probably shouldn&rsquo;t have said that,&rdquo; said Quinn in regard to the failed promise or cnarging the hockey department with making the postseason.&ldquo;I was attempting to set the bar high.&rdquo; Despite the dubious record, Quinn retained both Regier and coach Lindy Ruff.SUMMER GLANCE The Sabres very much want to re-sign soon-to-be unrestricted free agent blueliner Alexei Zhitnik, but it wasn&rsquo;t a certainty that it could be done. Management also has to make a decision whether to offer a contract to center Tim Connolly, who missed all of last season with concussion problems. Buffalo needs to get bigger down the middle, a bit more physical on defense and to find more consistent goaltending.NOTEBOOK Buffalo signed Daniel Paille, picked 20th overall in 2002, to a three-year deal worth more than $3 million just hours before the left winger would have returned to the draft. The Sabres passed on three other 2002 picks: left winger Michael Tessier, goalie Marty Magers and blueliner Dennis Wideman.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-05333/7880958-1-eng-US/f0038-052.jpg" title="f0038-05" width="350" height="757"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-06285/7880951-1-eng-US/f0038-062.jpg" title="f0038-06" width="1638" height="1849"><figcaption class="caption-body">Miikka Kiprusoff is among several Calgary free agents in line for hefty raises</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0038-04

Few good excuses tor frustrating season

<div class="byline">&#x2013; RANDY SPORTAK</div>Despite a disappointing loss in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final, the Calgary Flames exceeded expectations by a red mile.Most in the hockey world didn&rsquo;t even peg the Flames to make the playoffs, let alone be within a win of the championship.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-07259/7881003-1-eng-US/f0038-072.jpg" title="f0038-07" width="295" height="387"></div>Instead, with a team-first attitude and incredible work ethic - combined with some standout performances from their biggame players Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff - they knocked off all three Western Conference divisional champs and then took Tampa Bay to the deciding game.Would they have won without so many injuries? They certainly would have had a better chance with forwards Steve Reinprecht, Dean McAmmond, Matthew Lombardi, Shean Donovan and blueliner Denis Gauthier, but the question can&rsquo;t be answered. What is certain, though, is the Flames opened a lot of eyes.SUMMER GLANCE The biggest focus will be on signings. Right winger Jarome Iginla, goalie Miikka Kiprusoff and blueliner Jordan Leopold are all pending restricted free agents and will look for substantial raises. That will affect what the team can do. Calgary needs to upgrade its forwards and will be in need of a center if Craig Conroy - who will be eligible for unrestricted free agency - isn&rsquo;t re-signed. Other potential unrestricted free agents are left wingers Dave Lowry, Chris Simon, Krzysztof Oliwa and McAmmond, a center.NOTEBOOK Expect 39-year-old left winger Dave Lowry to retire. Though all sentimental focus in the Stanley Cup final was on Tampa Bay left winger Dave Andreychuk, Lowry will leave the NHL with nearly 1,100 regular season games, two trips to the final, but no Cup. Expect to see him in a coaching or scouting role.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-08223/7880996-1-eng-US/f0038-082.jpg" title="f0038-08" width="348" height="754"></div> &#9632;

f0038-07

Superb Calgary year even without Stanley

<div class="byline">&#x2013; LUKE DECOCK</div>Hoping to bounce back from a last-place finish in 2002-03, Carolina upgraded on defense and counted on bounce-back seasons from their veteran forwards.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-09199/7881041-1-eng-US/f0038-092.jpg" title="f0038-09" width="299" height="321"></div>By the trade deadline, the Hurricanes were all but out of the playoff race, both new defensemen (Danny Markov and Bob Boughner) were gone and captain Ron Francis had fled for greener pastures. Finally, the failure of the veteran forwards to score cost coach Paul Maurice his job.About the only bright spot was rookie center Eric Staal. New coach Peter Laviolette hopes to build around him and wingers JustinWilliams, Josef Vasicek and Erik Cole to put together an aggressive, attacking team like the ones he had with the Islanders.He needs puck-moving defensemen and more team speed. The question is whether tight-fisted owner Peter Karmanos and GM Jim Rutherford can or will deliver the players Laviolette needs.SUMMER GLANCE Sean Hill and Glen Wesley, two of Carolina&rsquo;s top three defensemen in 2003-04, are both unrestricted free agents. The Canes need to either re-sign or replace the two veterans. The most difficult decisions will involve right winger Jeff O&rsquo;Neill and goalie Kevin Weekes. Both are arbitration-eligible restricted free agents near the top of Carolina&rsquo;s pay scale. O&rsquo;Neill made $3.7 million in 2003-04, while Weekes made $2.35 million and is in line for a big raise.NOTEBOOK Carolina signed goalie Cam Ward, the 25th overall pick in 2002. Terms of the deal were not disclosed&hellip;Tom Rowe was promoted to head coach of the team&rsquo;s AHL affiliate in Lowell. Rowe had been an assistant to Ron Smith, who retired&hellip;Chuck Kaiton, the team&rsquo;s only radio broadcaster since it entered the NHL in 1979, was named winner of the Foster Hewitt Award.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-10175/7881034-1-eng-US/f0038-102.jpg" title="f0038-10" width="349" height="755"><figcaption class="caption-body">(BRUCE BENNETT/BBS)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0038-09

Much work needed to right Canes’ ship

<div class="byline">&#x2013; TIM SASSONE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-02603/7881079-1-eng-US/f0039-022.jpg" title="f0039-02" width="288" height="375"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-01919/7881086-1-eng-US/f0039-012.jpg" title="f0039-01" width="207" height="213"></div>The Blackhawks would rather look ahead than back at their worst season since 1956-57.But if they must dwell on their 20-43-11-8 finish, at least the Hawks saw some of their most valuable prospects get regular NHL playing time. Tuomo Ruutu, who figures to be the team&rsquo;s best player for years, finished with 36 points in the final 41 games.Hawks owner Bill Wirtz and GM Bob Pulford decided against making yet another coaching change, giving Brian Sutter a one-year contract extension to see if he can turn around the floundering franchise.&ldquo;Last year, we were off to a very harsh start with all our injuries and you don&rsquo;t judge on that,&rdquo; Pulford said.&ldquo;I felt our team played hard most of the time under those circumstances and that he deserved a chance to coach a team 1 think will be better.&rdquo;SUMMER GLANCE Pulford promised to be active in the free agent market, although he recently backpedaled by saying he might wait until a new labor agreement is done.&ldquo;We will sign some players,&rdquo; Pulford said.&ldquo;But I&rsquo;ve talked to people in other sports that have been under a system (involving a salary cap), and they say one of the big things is to have room (under the cap) if there was such a system. So we will do a few things now and then wait to see what happens.&rdquo;NOTEBOOK ChuckArnason, center Tyler Arnason&rsquo;s father, told the Daily Herald his son doesn&rsquo;t plan to ask for a trade despite the Hawks&rsquo; decision to bring back Brian Sutter as coach. Arnason and Sutter&rsquo;s problems included Sutter physically confronting the player in a Nashville bar last February&hellip;New assistant coach and former Capitals&rsquo; bench boss Bruce Cassidy, hired to replace Al MacAdam, will be largely responsible for the defensemen.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-03463/7881072-1-eng-US/f0039-032.jpg" title="f0039-03" width="343" height="752"></div> &#9632;

f0039-02

Hawks’ woeful season allows youth to learn

<div class="byline">&#x2013; ADRIAN DATER</div>Did the Avalanche meet expectations in 2003-04? Not exactly.There was no Stanley Cup. There was no division title. In the high standards of the franchise, that constitutes failure.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-04382/7881124-1-eng-US/f0039-042.jpg" title="f0039-04" width="297" height="368"></div>But the season wasn&rsquo;t a total bust. Unlike the previous season, the Avs got out of the first round of the playoffs, beating Dallas. They then made a spirited comeback from a 3-0 series deficit to San Jose in the second round, before running out of gas. And the play of Swiss youngster David Aebischer in goal gave hope the Avalanche will be set there for many years to come.&ldquo;We did some good things this year, but our goal was the Stanley Cup,&rdquo; said center Peter Forsberg.Whether it was Forsberg&rsquo;s final season in the NHL was the overriding question entering the summer.SUMMER GLANCE Assuming veteran forwards such as Teemu Selanne, Matthew Barnaby and, possibly, Forsberg leave the Avs, finding replacements will be a priority. The defense should be set from last year&rsquo;s roster, but uncertainty at the forward positions abound.Paul Kariya is not at all a sure thing to come back to Colorado, while re-signing veteran Steve Konowalchuk might not be easy.NOTEBOOK Goaltender Tommy Salo decided to leave the NHL and play in Sweden next season, most likely for MoDo. His departure likely means Phil Sauve will get another shot at backing up David Aebischer&hellip;John Kelly, the son of legendary Blues broadcaster Dan Kelly, departed the Avalanche TV booth after nine seasons to take over play-by-play duties in St. Louis. ESPN play-by-play man Dave Strader was believed to be a candidate to replace Kelly&hellip;Cammi Granato, coach Tony Granato&rsquo;s sister, is engaged to wed former NHLer Ray Ferraro in Vancouver Sept. 4.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-05322/7881117-1-eng-US/f0039-052.jpg" title="f0039-05" width="349" height="743"></div> &#9632;

f0039-04

Year not total bust, but change is coming

<div class="byline">&#x2013; AARON PORTZLINE</div>The Blue Jackets thought they&rsquo;d solved their two biggest problems - an inability to win on the road and a lack of puck-moving defensemen - by signing veteran center Todd Marchant and defenseman Darryl Sydor.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-06272/7881162-1-eng-US/f0039-062.jpg" title="f0039-06" width="295" height="377"></div>They even spoke unabashedly about making the playoffs. But two months into the season, under a wave of injuries on the blueline, that became a pipe dream.By January, Doug MacLean stepped down as coach, remaining GM-president. His interim replacement, Gerard Gallant, fared marginally better, but the Blue Jackets remain a wayward team with a mix of underperforming veterans-names like Andrew. Cassels, Luke Richardson, and Scott Lachance come to mind - and developing superstars such as Rick Nash and Nikolai Zherdev.SUMMER GLANCE The Blue Jackets are unlikely to make a splash in free agency as they&rsquo;ve done the past few seasons. They will likely stand pat unless they can deal for an established player, preferably a defensemanAlso, Columbus needs to decide who will back up Marc Denis in goal. The last two solutions - Jean-Francois Labbe and Fred Brathwaite - have not fared nearly as well as the organization had hoped.NOTEBOOK The Blue Jackets signed two of their 2002 draft picks - defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and right winger Tim Konsorada - to multi-year contracts. Tollefsen was drafted in the third round (65th overall); Konsorada in the sixth round (168th overall). Both will likely play next season with the top minor league affiliate in Syracuse of the American League&hellip;The Blue Jackets will have two new TV broadcasters next season, after play-byplay man Dan Kelly Jr. and color analyst Steve Konroyd were told their contracts will not be renewed.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-07248/7881155-1-eng-US/f0039-072.jpg" title="f0039-07" width="344" height="744"></div> &#9632;

f0039-06

Dream ot post-season dashed by injuries

<div class="byline">&#x2013; MIKE HEIKA</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-02384/7881200-1-eng-US/f0040-022.jpg" title="f0040-02" width="297" height="322"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-01620/7881207-1-eng-US/f0040-012.jpg" title="f0040-01" width="207" height="213"></div>This season was a strong contender for the Stars&rsquo; most disappointing since the franchise moved to Dallas in 1993.The team had a top-five payroll at $67 million, the second-best goals-against average (2.13) in the NHL during the regular season and one of the best records in the league from Jan. 1 onward. However, the Stars went down in five games to Colorado in the first round of the playoffs.The quick exit left GM Doug Armstrong frustrated, calling his two-year plan to win a Stanley Cup a failed experiment. The GM made a huge push to acquire talent at a high cost and now must try to work around the dozen or so contracts that are on the books for $45-plus million next season.SUMMER GLANCE The Stars have two big decisions and several small ones. First, they must decide if they want to make qualifying offers to restricted free agents Jason Arnott ($3.8 million) and Valeri Bure ($3.1 million). If they don&rsquo;t, both will be unrestricted free agents. Next, they have to decide which of their eight key unrestricted free agents they want to keep. Even after re-signing Don Sweeney, Dallas has only four D-men under contract for next season so expect them to have talks with Jon Klemm and Richard Matvichuk.NOTEBOOK A clause in right winger Bill Guerin&rsquo;s contract gave the Stars a 45-day window after the Stanley Cup final in which to trade him. Guerin, who said he wanted to stay in Dallas, gave the Stars a list of teams to which he would be willing to go. Guerin has three years and $25 million left on his pact&hellip;Dallas signed center Marius Holtet, drafted 42nd overall in 2002, to a three-year rookie deal&hellip;The Stars didn&rsquo;t sign blueliner Martin Vagner, the 26th pick in 2002. Vagner re-enters the draft and the team receives the 58th pick in 2004 as compensation.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-03281/7881193-1-eng-US/f0040-032.jpg" title="f0040-03" width="348" height="744"></div> &#9632;

f0040-02

Low value for payroll leaves Stars ornery

<div class="byline">&#x2013; NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA</div>Zero. That&rsquo;s how many goals the star-studded Detroit Red Wings, the second-highest-scoring team in the regular season, produced in their final two eames of the playoffs.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-04227/7881245-1-eng-US/f0040-042.jpg" title="f0040-04" width="294" height="358"></div>&ldquo;Some of our guys we count on to score goals did not score goals and that hurts a team,&rdquo; said coach Dave Lewis after the six-game, second round loss to the Calgary Flames.&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t deserve to win if you can&rsquo;t score.&rdquo; It was a stunning, disappointing ending. Despite big egos, numerous injuries and a goaltending soap opera, the Wings earned 109 points and won the Presidents&rsquo; Trophy. But as usual, the Stanley Cup was considered the only measure of success. &ldquo;Something has to change,&rdquo; said GM Ken Holland, &ldquo;because I don&rsquo;t want to be standing here again next year - if there&rsquo;s hockey - and be talking about why we weren&rsquo;t able to go far enough.&rdquo; SUMMER GLANCE Goalie Dominik Hasek and wingers Brett Hull and Steve Thomas are as good as gone. Blueliners Chris Chelios and Boyd Devereaux and winger Brendan Shanahan will be brought back if they take big enough pay cuts.Detroit will try to re-sign center Kris Draper and defenseman Mathieu Schneider and the team likely will go after a scorer and a physical forward. Look for Steve Yzerman to return - wearing a visor.NOTEBOOK A month after they were eliminated, the Wings offered coach Dave Lewis another contract. Lewis&rsquo;s playoff record is 6-10, but both series losses were to the eventual Western Conference champions and his regular season record is 9647-21.&ldquo;I think he&rsquo;s a better coach today than he was a year ago,&rdquo; said GM Ken Holland. Associate coach Barry Smith and assistant coach Joe Kocur are expected to return as well&hellip;Center Pavel Datsyuk (knee) and goalie Curtis Joseph (ankle) had minor surgeries.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-05197/7881238-1-eng-US/f0040-052.jpg" title="f0040-05" width="350" height="745"></div> &#9632;

f0040-04

Big changes to come as Detroit turns page

<div class="byline">&#x2013; ROB TYCHKOWSKI</div>This was supposed to be the season Edmonton finally turned the corner.After years of first round eliminations or missing the playoffs altogether, the Oilers, inspired by the success of Minnesota and Anaheim last year, thought they had the experience and ingredients to make an extended playoff run. But a miserable midseason slump that had fans calling for coach Craig MacTavish&rsquo;s head ruined everything. By early January they were in 12th place, 10 points out of a playoff spot.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-06174/7881283-1-eng-US/f0040-062.jpg" title="f0040-06" width="272" height="382"></div>The Oilers put together a valiant stretch drive, gaining points in 24 of 28 games to move into a share of eighth, but a 5-2 loss to Vancouver in Game 82 ended their run. So for the second time in three years they missed the playoffs. The late-season charge was as thrilling as Oilers fans have seen in some time, but missing the playoffs while Calgary advanced to the final can only make the season a terrible, terrible disappointment.SUMMER GLANCE Having lost Mike Comrie and Todd Marchant last year, the Oilers are awfully thin at center, so signing Petr Nedved is a huge priority. The Oilers won&rsquo;t pick up the $5-million team option he brought over from the Rangers, but will pursue him aggressively when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in July.NOTEBOOK With one day to spare before their blue chip netminding prospect re-entered the NHL draft, the Oilers worked out a three-year contract with Jeff Deslauriers worth $2.45 million. The Oilers are banking on Deslauriers, drafted 31st overall in 2001, becoming their goalie of the future. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a very good prospect,&rdquo; said assistant GM Scott Howson. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t have a lot of good, young goaltenders signed. He goes right to the top of the list in terms of organizational signings.&rdquo;<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-07159/7881276-1-eng-US/f0040-072.jpg" title="f0040-07" width="348" height="741"></div> &#9632;

f0040-06

Rival’s playoff run has Oilers smarting

<div class="byline">&#x2013; DAVID J. NEAL</div>In retrospect, the title for this Florida season should&rsquo;ve been As the Keenan World Returns.It&rsquo;s no surprise the Panthers increased their points and wins and stayed in the playoff race a little longer. Young talent evolved. Roberto Luongo had the best regular season a Panthers goalie has ever had. All these things were foreseeable, with the exception of Luongo becoming arguably the best goalie in the NHL this season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-08142/7881321-1-eng-US/f0040-082.jpg" title="f0040-08" width="289" height="385"></div>What was as unpredictable as starstruck owner Alan Cohen&rsquo;s next change of mind was the coaching carousel that could&rsquo;ve been set to the Looney Tunes theme.Cohen let GM Rick Dudley fire Mike Keenan as coach in November. Then Dudley takes over behind the bench until handing off to John Torchetti in February, all but promising Torchetti the job. Then Cohen asks Dudley to pursue Jacques Martin. Then Keenan, agent Rob Campbell or both use Cohen&rsquo;s desire for Martin to jimmy Keenan into the GM&rsquo;s office and lock out Dudley.Keenan said he&rsquo;ll stay the developmental course. But how long until this old dog is up to his old tricks?SUMMER GLANCE Keenan will likely start dealing skill players he sees as soft - center Kristian Huselius, right winger Niklas Hagman and center Stephen Weiss, who seemed to take a big step forward this year. Both Keenan and Dudley felt the Cats need veteran leadership. And they do, especially on the defense.NOTEBOOK Coach Jacques Martin&rsquo;s contract is for four years with a one-year team option. The first four years are worth an estimated $4.6 million. GM Mike Keenan was entering the contract extension he received in August, 2002, which was two years with two one-year options. It has been restructured to three years with a one-year option.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-09113/7881314-1-eng-US/f0040-092.jpg" title="f0040-09" width="348" height="748"></div> &#9632;

f0040-08

Management carousel: Keenan’s, Martin’s turn

<div class="byline">&#x2013; MATT MCHALE</div>After another injury-riddled season, the Los Angeles Kings failed to make the playoffs for the second consecutive season.Expectations entering the year were high after the Kings brought in goalie Roman Cechmanek from Philadelphia. The team also figured to get back center Jason Allison and left winger Adam Deadmarsh, who missed the second half of 2002-03 with concussions. But the two never played a shift. Deadmarsh has said he will decide this summer whether he will try to resume his career.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-10105/7881359-1-eng-US/f0040-102.jpg" title="f0040-10" width="285" height="365"></div>The Kings also lost right winger Ziggy Palffy for half the season after he underwent reconstructive surgery on his right shoulder.Overall, L.A. set an NHL record with 629 man-games lost.SUMMER GLANCE L.A. was offering Palffy, who is entering unrestricted free agency this summer, a three-year deal worth $18 million, representing a $1 million per year pay cut from last year&rsquo;s salary. Blueliner Jaroslav Modry is eligible for unrestricted free agency and was looking for a raise over last season&rsquo;s $900,000 salary. Many think a contract extension given blueliner Nathan Dempsey signals the end of Modry&rsquo;s time in L.A. Left winger Luc Robitaille, who led the team in scoring after Palffy was hurt, proved his value and wants to play another year.NOTEBOOK Center Anson Carter, limited to just one assist in 15 games after coming over from the Rangers at the trade deadline, underwent abdominal surgery in mid-May. He will need until at least mid-July to recover&hellip;Right winger Ziggy Palffy has already agreed to play in his native Slovakia if there is a lockout. Palffy has hinted he would like to finish his career in Europe&hellip;Kings backup Milan Hnilicka signed a three-year contract with Liberec of the Czech league.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-1193/7881352-1-eng-US/f0040-112.jpg" title="f0040-11" width="348" height="743"></div> &#9632;

f0040-10

Kings hope to avoid another hurting year

<div class="byline">&#x2013; BRIAN MURPHY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-02322/7881397-1-eng-US/f0041-022.jpg" title="f0041-02" width="298" height="345"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-01517/7881404-1-eng-US/f0041-012.jpg" title="f0041-01" width="207" height="213"></div>In fewer than four months this season, Minnesota went from perky 2003 Stanley Cup semifinalist to surly underachiever.Lengthy contract disputes involving wingers Marian Gaborik and Pascal Dupuis, both top Wild scorers, contributed to a 1-5-1-0 start and a loss of the team chemistry that had fused the Wild into a dangerous team during their 2003 playoff surge.By early March, when it became clear there would be no post-season encore, veterans were traded for draft picks, prospects were thrust into the breach and the next phase in the Wild&rsquo;s evolution began a year later than planned.The revamped lineup sparked a 9-3-1-1 pressure-free finish, but the Wild&rsquo;s 83 point-finish remained a bitter reminder of its disappointing campaign.&ldquo;I hope this season taught us how hard it is to win consistently in this league,&rdquo; said captain Andrew Brunette. &ldquo;I think sometimes we forget.&rdquo; SUMMER GLANCE Their trade deadline dealing helped to stock the Wild with 11 picks in this summer&rsquo;s NHL draft - including five choices in the third and fourth rounds. Look for them to be used to acquire a niche scorer or an offense-minded defenseman. The vital need, though, remains finding more offense for a team that finished tied for 27th in team scoring with an anemic 188 goals.NOTEBOOK Defenseman Filip Kuba sustained a broken finger during the season&rsquo;s final week, costing him a chance to play at the 2004 World Championship and, ultimately, earn a spot on the Czech Republic&rsquo;s team at this summer&rsquo;s World Cup. Right winger Marian Gaborik (Slovakia) and left winger Antti Laaksonen (Finland) are the only Wild players participating in the eight-country tournament&hellip;The Wild signed undrafted junior defenseman Ryan Stokes as a free agent. The rugged 6-foot-4, 200-pounder scored four goals among 24 points with 179 penalty minutes in 66 games last season with Mississauga of the Ontario League&hellip;Enthusiasm remains high in Minnesota despite the threat of a work stoppage. Season-ticket packages are still in demand with more than 16,500 sold for next season.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-03251/7881390-1-eng-US/f0041-032.jpg" title="f0041-03" width="346" height="745"></div> &#9632;

f0041-02

Wild endures fall-back year as team learns hard lesson

<div class="byline">&#x2013; HERB ZURKOWSKY</div>Jose Theodore was in the middle of controversy entering this season and he ended it in similar fashion.Montreal police are investigating a death threat against the Canadiens goaltender and a member of his family before the start of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal against Tampa Bay, according to Radio-Canada, the Frenchlanguage service of the CBC. The anonymous letter, received at the Bell Centre during the April 27 game, threatened Theodore and one of his half-brothers and demanded money. The team immediately called police, who met with the goalie following the game, informing him of the threat. He was escorted from the arena by security guards.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-04214/7881442-1-eng-US/f0041-042.jpg" title="f0041-04" width="290" height="340"></div>Detectives from the organized crime division are investigating, but no arrests have been made.Theodore&rsquo;s father and four half-brothers will face a preliminary hearing next year after being charged with conspiracy in an alleged loansharking ring. Theodore wasn&rsquo;t charged.SUMMER GLANCE The Canadiens require size up the middle and depth at most positions but goaltender. Their top two centers, captain Saku Koivu (5-foot-10,181 pounds) and Mike Ribeiro (6-feet, 176 pounds) are hardly giants. And there&rsquo;s no guarantee the others, Yanic Perreault and Jim Dowd, will return, as both are unrestricted free agents. Blueliner Stephane Quintal is also eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer.NOTEBOOK GM Bob Gainey has endorsed the return of coach Claude Julien. &ldquo;I will recommend (to ownership) that he should be back,&rdquo; Gainey said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve talked to Claude once or twice briefly. I think he got the message that I have confidence in him, that he can continue to work with the group and help us improve.&rdquo; In his first full season as coach, Julien led the Habs to a 16-point improvement, a playoff appearance and a first round upset of Boston&hellip;The Canadiens signed left winger Michael Lambert, selected 99th overall in 2002, to a three-year contract. Lambert, 20, had 42 goals and 84 points in 67 games for P.E.I. of the Quebec League in 2003-04.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-05194/7881435-1-eng-US/f0041-052.jpg" title="f0041-05" width="347" height="748"></div> &#9632;

f0041-04

Montreal police investigate death threat to Theodore

<div class="byline">&#x2013; DAVID BOCLAIR</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-02328/7881480-1-eng-US/f0042-022.jpg" title="f0042-02" width="300" height="333"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-01527/7881487-1-eng-US/f0042-012.jpg" title="f0042-01" width="207" height="213"></div>The big question going into the Predators&rsquo; season was about the overhauled defense.An all-star performance from goalie Tomas Vokoun and an improved offense, particularly on the power play, helped compensate for whatever deficiencies existed.Nashville&rsquo;s opponents scored 217 goals, 10 fewer than the combined average of the previous five seasons, while the Predators recorded a franchise-record 216. Their minus-1 goal differential was the best in team history, as were their 72 power play and 14 shorthanded goals.Surprising poise down the stretch - 15 points in the final 13 games - helped secure the first playoff berth in an very tight race. Plus, the acquisition of Steve Sullivan was an injection of life into the lineup the likes of which Nashville never had experienced.In all, it was a huge success for an organization that has preached patience and player development.SUMMER GLANCE Without question, the focus of the off-season will be at center where David Legwand and Denis Arkhipov, slated to be No. 1 and 2 (either order was possible), each failed to live up to expectations. The trade deadline deal for Sergei Zholtok made minimal impact, and no position was weaker at American League affiliate Milwaukee.NOTEBOOK Center Rem Murray&rsquo;s career is in jeopardy because of cervical dystonia, the disease which knocked him from the lineup in midJanuary. Given minimal progress in treatment of symptoms - his head turns involuntarily to the left - it seems likely he will become a Group III free agent July 1, but will have no offers&hellip; GM David Poile said he was comfortable with the fact veteran goalie Wade Flaherty led Milwaukee to the Calder Cup finals instead of top prospect Brian Finley, but conceded it wasn&rsquo;t the ideal situation.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-03259/7881473-1-eng-US/f0042-032.jpg" title="f0042-03" width="350" height="750"></div> &#9632;

f0042-02

Playoff breakthrough story of Prods’ year

<div class="byline">&#x2013; RICH CHERE</div>Martin Brodeur was not alone in suggesting the Devils were shoved out of the playoffs in the first round because they lacked the size and strength to compete with the Flyers, but it was the absence of captain Scott Stevens and the mystery surrounding coach Pat Bums that may have hurt the defending champs most.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-04208/7881532-1-eng-US/f0042-042.jpg" title="f0042-04" width="276" height="374"></div>The Devils could not have been more pleased to have finished the regular season strong even though Stevens was sidelined with post-concussion syndrome since Jan. 9, but they could not survive the post-season without their physical leader. Then, when Burns missed a practice and team meeting during the playoffs as he met with doctors about his colon cancer, Devils players feared the worst.&ldquo;I think it hurts when a team is expected to do well,&rdquo; GM Lou Lamoriello said of the early exit.&ldquo;It was a disappointment we can&rsquo;t accept.&rdquo;SUMMER GLANCE Stevens said he wants to play again, but Lamoriello will have to add some size up front on a team that has gotten progressively smaller. Lamoriello&rsquo;s biggest concern was resigning unrestricted free agent John Madden as well as restricted free agents Scott Niedermayer and Scott Gomez. Jeff Friesen, also an RFA, could be dealt as the Zach Parise era beckons.NOTEBOOK Coach Pat Burns completed five weeks of treatment for colon cancer and was resting before undergoing surgery. Although it was believed the cancer was caught in an early stage, it was unknown whether Burns would be able to coach in training camp&hellip;Defenseman Scott Stevens dismissed a rumor circulating in Montreal that he did not play Game 5 of the playoffs against Philadelphia because it would have eliminated his insurance coverage for next season. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s all new to me,&rdquo; Stevens said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s a pretty silly reason not to play.&rdquo;<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-05182/7881525-1-eng-US/f0042-052.jpg" title="f0042-05" width="349" height="749"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-06167/7881518-1-eng-US/f0042-062.jpg" title="f0042-06" width="1620" height="1829"><figcaption class="caption-body">Eric Lindros is an unrestricted free agent if New York doesn&rsquo;t pick up its option.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0042-04

Off-ice distractions hurt Devils’ showing

<div class="byline">&#x2013; PETER BOTTE</div>There only have been nine NHL teams to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of the last three seasons. Of the nine, the Islanders had the lowest player payroll (around $42 million) in 2003-04.Still, three consecutive first round ousters have left the Isles wanting more, if not expecting more. And watching Tampa Bay and Calgary become the latest low-salaried teams to march to the Cup final hasn&rsquo;t taken the sting out of a five-game dismissal against the Lightning in the opening round.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-07149/7881570-1-eng-US/f0042-072.jpg" title="f0042-07" width="290" height="388"></div>&ldquo;Obviously, (the Lightning) were a good team, they were the conference champs,&rdquo; GM Mike Milbury said before the final. &ldquo;But we still didn&rsquo;t play, in my mind, to our ability.&rdquo;Despite injuries to several key players - including scorers Alexei Yashin and Mark Parrish - the Isles secured the East&rsquo;s eighth playoff berth with a record of 38-29-11-4, an improvement of eight points from 2002-03.SUMMER GLANCE However the labor war shakes out, with only five players signed for 2004-05, Milbury said it&rsquo;s &ldquo;safe to say&rdquo; the Isles might have an altered roster next season. The most interesting decisions are on defense, where restricted free agents Adrian Aucoin, Roman Hamrlik and Janne Niinimaa all are seeking new contracts.NOTEBOOK GM Mike Milbury commented on enigmatic center Alexei Yasliin, saying, &ldquo;We&rsquo;re not going anywhere unless he gives us a great season and so far he hasn&rsquo;t&rdquo;Yashin, whose salary jumps to $10.2 million next year, has seen his points-per-game production drop from .961 in 2001-02 to .723 this season, but he denied being disinterested. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like when people say,&rsquo;He doesn&rsquo;t care, he&rsquo;s got his contract,&rdquo; Yashin told Newsday.&ldquo;I do care&hellip;But sometimes it seems the way I play hockey isn&rsquo;t popular around here.&rdquo;<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-08126/7881563-1-eng-US/f0042-082.jpg" title="f0042-08" width="348" height="751"></div> &#9632;

f0042-07

Opening round ouster guttling to be familiar

<div class="byline">&#x2013; LARRY BROOKS</div>If the expectation for the Rangers was for the club to be deconstructed from top to bottom while on its way to a humiliating seventh straight season out of the playoffs, then yes indeed, the Blueshirts certainly met that standard.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-09107/7881608-1-eng-US/f0042-092.jpg" title="f0042-09" width="269" height="369"></div>By any other measure, however, the season was an unmitigated disaster punctuated by persistent, angry and loud&ldquo;Fire (Glen) Sather&rdquo; chants from the Madison Square Garden gallery that played a role in GM Glen Sather&rsquo;s late February decision to step down as coach; by the late January concussion that knocked Eric Lindros out of the lineup just as he was asserting himself as the team&rsquo;s best player; and by the trade-deadline purge that sent nine veterans, - including 17year Ranger icon Brian Leetch-out of town in exchange for draft picks and prospects.SUMMER GLANCE The Rangers&rsquo; theme can be summarized in two words: Starting Over. Not only did Sather head into the customary extended off-season seeking a head coach for the third time in as many years, he was charged with filling a roster that at season&rsquo;s end featured a skeleton crew of holdovers that includes Jaromir Jagr, Bobby Holik, Fedor Tyutin and Darius Kasparaitis.NOTEBOOK Center Bobby Holik, who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1996, was snubbed by Team USA for a spot on the World Cup roster when GM Larry Pleau instituted a policy eliminating the Czech-native from consideration due to his IIHF ineligibility to participate in the World Championship and Olympics.&ldquo;It would have been an honor for me,&rdquo; Holik told the New York Post,&ldquo;but I had been told by a lot of people it is much more political with USA hockey than it is in Canada&hellip;In the back of my mind I believed there " would be more to it than performance on the ice. This has obviously confirmed that.&rdquo;<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-1088/7881601-1-eng-US/f0042-102.jpg" title="f0042-10" width="348" height="750"><figcaption class="caption-body">(BRUCE BENNETT/BBS)</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0042-09

Let rebuilding begin after awful season

<div class="byline">&#x2013; BRUCE GARRIOCH</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-02362/7881646-1-eng-US/f0043-022.jpg" title="f0043-02" width="292" height="372"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-01537/7881653-1-eng-US/f0043-012.jpg" title="f0043-01" width="145" height="115"></div>The Senators were picked to win the Stanley Cup this season. But by season&rsquo;s end, they were just being picked apart.Knocked from the playoffs in the first round by Toronto, the Sens were supposed to be contenders and ended up being pretenders. Now, they are forced to deal with an off-season of change.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>Really, the Senators should have gone further than the first round, but they allowed Leafs goalie Ed Belfour to choke the life out of them. This wasn&rsquo;t the way it was supposed to be for the team many experts believed would be champions.Instead, the Sens found out the more than $10 million that owner Eugene Melnyk sunk into the payroll didn&rsquo;t make any difference, as the performance by some of the players in the post-season was gutless.Instead of celebrating a Cup victory, the Senators were forced to play the role of regretful spectators and coach Jacques Martin lost his job because of it.SUMMER GLANCE The biggest two questions are simple: Will both of center Radek Bonk and goalie Patrick Lalime be back? No. Will one of them return? Maybe.It&rsquo;s almost a certainty Bonk will be either dealt or not given a qualifying offer on his $3.5-miIlion contract. The Sens are tired of his constant underachieving and the firing of coach Jacques Martin means Bonk won&rsquo;t be protected anymore.Meanwhile, Lalime&rsquo;s status is up in the air. He didn&rsquo;t play well in Game 7 against Toronto, but the Senators may not be ready to give up on him.NOTEBOOK Senators defenseman Anton Volchenkov was named to the Russian squad for the World Cup, while right winger Martin Havlat will suit up for the Czech Republic.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-03297/7881639-1-eng-US/f0043-032.jpg" title="f0043-03" width="349" height="750"></div> &#9632;

f0043-02

Sens’ letdown season results in big moves

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-04213/7881733-1-eng-US/f0043-042.jpg" title="f0043-04" width="320" height="462"></div>Daniel AlfredssonRight winger03-04: 80 points04-05: S6.5M<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-05183/7881726-1-eng-US/f0043-052.jpg" title="f0043-05" width="315" height="462"></div>Wade Redden Defenseman03-04: 43 points04-05: $4.7M<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-06150/7881719-1-eng-US/f0043-062.jpg" title="f0043-06" width="319" height="461"></div>Marian HossaRight winger03-04: 82 points04-05:S3.25M<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-07135/7881712-1-eng-US/f0043-072.jpg" title="f0043-07" width="317" height="462"></div>Greg de VriesDefenseman03-04: 16 points04-05: S3.0M<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-08114/7881705-1-eng-US/f0043-082.jpg" title="f0043-08" width="320" height="464"></div>Bryan SmolinslriCenter03-04: 46 points04-05: $2.7M<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-0999/7881698-1-eng-US/f0043-092.jpg" title="f0043-09" width="319" height="465"></div>Todd WhiteCenter03-04: 29 points04-05: $1.3M<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-1088/7881691-1-eng-US/f0043-102.jpg" title="f0043-10" width="318" height="468"></div>Mike FisherCenter03-04: 10 points04-05: S1.36M<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-1177/7881684-1-eng-US/f0043-112.jpg" title="f0043-11" width="320" height="464"></div>Jason SpezzaCenter 03-04: 55 points04-05: S1.13M &#9632;

f0043-04

’04-05 SENS

<div class="byline">&#x2013; WAYNE FISH</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-02239/7881771-1-eng-US/f0044-022.jpg" title="f0044-02" width="296" height="350"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-01431/7881778-1-eng-US/f0044-012.jpg" title="f0044-01" width="207" height="213"></div>Another step forward, or a missed opportunity?Those who follow the Philadelphia Flyers were caught up in that glass-half-full, halfempty debate after a Game 7 loss to Tampa in the Eastern Conference final.The loss of two of Philadelphia&rsquo;s top defensemen - Eric Desjardins and Marcus Ragnarsson-combined with the broken hand that limited blueliner Kim Johnsson in the post-season left the Flyers wondering&rsquo;what if?&rsquo;Otherwise, the Flyers did move forward in the second year of coach Ken Hitchcock&rsquo;s regime.After finishing a point back of the New Jersey Devils for the division title and advancing to the second round in the 2003 playoffs for the first time since 2000, the Flyers edged the Devils by a point this year and made it to the conference final.&ldquo;I just wish we could have gone after this thing a little more full-bore on the back end,&rdquo; Hitchcock said.&ldquo;It would have made a huge difference.&rdquo;SUMMER GLANCE The first order of business for the Flyers will be getting captain Keith Primeau, slated to be an unrestricted free agent, signed before July 1. As well, there may be some re-evaluating of the defense corps. Flyers GM Bob Clarke says he wants to resign defenseman Vladimir Malakhov, who can become a UFA. Both Mattias Timander, another potential UFA, and rookie Joni Pitkanen were playoff disappointments. The Flyers will keep their eyes open for blueline help.NOTEBOOK The futures of left winger John LeClair and right winger Tony Amonte are uncertain. GM Bob Clarke was concerned with the size of the two players&rsquo; salaries and the implications of a new CBA agreement. LeClair has $18 million left on the final two years of his deal while Amonte will " cost fjje Flyers $10 million over the next two years plus another $1 million in deferred salary. Among the options Clarke is considering is buying out the two players&hellip;Goalie Robert Esche had successful hip surgery June 1 and hopes to be available to play for the U.S. at the World Cup.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-03180/7881764-1-eng-US/f0044-032.jpg" title="f0044-03" width="347" height="750"></div> &#9632;

f0044-02

Flyers make some progress in Hitchcock’s second year

<div class="byline">&#x2013; JERRY BROWN</div>What was a promising first half of the season - the Coyotes were in a playoff spot in early January after Brian Boucher&rsquo;s recordbreaking run of five straight shutouts - quickly disintegrated into a miserable final three months, punctuated by the firing of popular coach Bob Francis and the salary dumps of goalie Sean Burke and forwards Jan Hrdina, Chris Gratton and Brian Savage.Even the season-ending announcement that Phoenix had been awarded the 2006 All-Star Game couldn&rsquo;t heal the disappointment of both Coyotes management and fans.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-04141/7881816-1-eng-US/f0044-042.jpg" title="f0044-04" width="269" height="382"></div>The Coyotes look at the four teams that have reached the Western Conference final the last two years - Anaheim, Calgary, Minnesota and San Jose - and say&rsquo;why not us?&rsquo; But since surprising experts by making the playoffs in 2002-03, the team has become an also-ran, focusing on cutting payroll, developing youngsters and giving organizational farmhands a shot at proving themselves.SUMMER GLANCE Saying they have money to spend to fill holes, the Coyotes will look first to their talented-but-smallish blueline, hoping to add at least one and perhaps two big, crease-clearing, stay-at-home defensemen to help out the goalies and pair with offense-minded blueliners such as Derek Morris, David Tanabe and Paul Mara. Cale Hulse provided yeoman&rsquo;s service last season, but needs a lot of help.The Dogs also need scoring, particularly at left wing behind Ladislav Nagy. Much of what they do will depend on what happens with Savage, who will likely end up back in Phoenix if St Louis puts him on waivers.NOTEBOOK The Coyotes interviewed former Ottawa coach Jacques Martin before he took the job in Florida, but the team&rsquo;s coaching search was otherwise in a holding pattern. GM Mike Barnett said the process&ldquo;is not a race,&rdquo; but admitted he wanted someone in place by the end of June. In addition to interim coach Rick Bowness, who was still held in high regard by Barnett, former Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice and Marc Habscheid (coach of Kelowna of the Western League and a friend of managing partner Wayne Gretzky) are among those believed to be on the short fist.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-05121/7881809-1-eng-US/f0044-052.jpg" title="f0044-05" width="347" height="751"></div> &#9632;

f0044-04

Phoenix focuses on future with late-year salary dumps

<div class="byline">&#x2013; JOE STARKEY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-02202/7881854-1-eng-US/f0045-022.jpg" title="f0045-02" width="295" height="388"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-01355/7881861-1-eng-US/f0045-012.jpg" title="f0045-01" width="207" height="213"></div>The Penguins are not for sale, but owner Mario Lemieux strongly suggested that status could change unless a deal for a new arena comes to fruition.Speaking to the media for the first time in seven months, Lemieux said June 10 that proposed slot machines legislation could be the team&rsquo;s last hope to replace the 43-year-old Mellon Arena.Lemieux acknowledged he has received inquiries about the availability of the team and said it is up to local leaders to move forward with a new arena to ensure the Penguins remain after the lease expires in 2007.&ldquo;If there&rsquo;s no arena in sight, then we have to explore our options,&rdquo; Lemieux said.&ldquo;The franchise right now is not for sale, but it might be in the future. I&rsquo;ve been working on this (arena) for three years. I think it&rsquo;s up to the community now to decide if they want to keep this team.&rdquo;SUMMER GLANCE All eyes are on Lemieux, who wants to represent Canada in the World Cup, then return for his 16th NHL season. If he stays healthy, the Pens will have their desperately needed No. 1 center.Most upgrades should come from within with youngsters such as Whitney and perhaps center Ben Eaves. The aim is to upgrade teamwide skill.NOTEBOOK Coach Eddie Olczyk lost his top assistant when Lorne Molleken resigned to become coach-GM with Saskatoon (WHL). Molleken worked closely with the Penguins goalies and penalty-killers in addition to other duties. &ldquo;The opportunity with the Penguins this season put a fire in my stomach to be a head coach again,&rdquo; Molleken said.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-03158/7881847-1-eng-US/f0045-032.jpg" title="f0045-03" width="351" height="753"></div> &#9632;

f0045-02

Penguins not on block, but Lemieux wants action

<div class="byline">&#x2013; DERRICK GOOLD</div>The Blues&rsquo; annual dismissal from the postseason has come quicker every season since the franchise goosed its payroll to among the top of the NHL. Once a Western Conference power, the Blues have backslid - they were dispatched by San Jose in five games this season. The playoff whimper signals the end of the money-for-nothing era.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-04130/7881899-1-eng-US/f0045-042.jpg" title="f0045-04" width="290" height="369"></div>&ldquo;Change is inevitable,&rdquo; said blueliner Chris Pronger. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been talking about it for the last three years. It&rsquo;s going to happen. I&rsquo;m sure it will be a lot different.&rdquo; The prime culprit for this season&rsquo;s swift exit was the team&rsquo;s lack of quality depth. The Blues were top-heavy with talent, so when Keith Tkachuk and Pavol Demitra struggled, scoring vanished. The power play - despite boasting four Olympians - was meek, at best.Firing coach Joel Quenneville appeared to be the start of what portends to be a cost-cutting, approach-shifting summer.SUMMER GLANCE The Blues face three big decisions this summer. First and easiest, they must qualify Pronger and possibly negotiate a long-term deal. Second, they must consider dealing some of their higher-priced forwards, most likely Demitra. Third, do they stick with goaltender Chris Osgood or look elsewhere?NOTEBOOK Assistant coach Don Lever will return next season, regardless of a lockout. Lever will be in his third season with the Blues and will be Mike Kitchen&rsquo;s right-hand assistant in his first full season as coach. The two will work with the minor league team if there is a lockout. The Blues will not stop Lever from pursuing a coaching position should a team approach him.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-05112/7881892-1-eng-US/f0045-052.jpg" title="f0045-05" width="345" height="749"></div> &#9632;

f0045-04

Blues continue backslide, face sweeping changes

<div class="byline">&#x2013; ROSS MCKEON</div>The Sharks exceeded all pre-season expectations by reaching the third round of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Despite a disappointing exit at the hands of the Calgary Flames, the future looks bright.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-06100/7881937-1-eng-US/f0045-062.jpg" title="f0045-06" width="294" height="386"></div>&ldquo;We just want to make sure that nobody&rsquo;s satisfied, that we&rsquo;re hungry - and I think we are,&rdquo; said coach Ron Wilson, who along with assistants Tim Hunter and Rob Zettler were told by GM Doug Wilson they will have contracts next season.&ldquo;We got close enough to see that it&rsquo;s pretty good up here, you get some attention and it&rsquo;s fun.&rdquo; San Jose rebounded from a lost 2002-03 campaign that included a last-place division finish and management changes to post a clubrecord 104-point regular season, a Pacific Division title and two playoff series wins before succumbing in six games to the Flames.&ldquo;If we had said at the start of the year how far we&rsquo;ve come - it doesn&rsquo;t make you feel any better right now - but it&rsquo;s a road to the top,&rdquo; said defenseman Scott Hannan. &ldquo;We made huge steps this year.&rdquo;SUMMER GLANCE Sharks fans likely have seen the last of forwards Vincent Damphousse, Mike Ricci and Todd Harvey, who will become unrestricted free agents July 1. Trade-deadline pick-up Curtis Brown figures to slide into Ricci&rsquo;s stop and San Jose will try upgrading on faceoffs and with an agitating winger.NOTEBOOK A number of injuries were revealed following San Jose&rsquo;s ouster from the conference final. Center Alyn McCauley needed surgery on his left shoulder, goalie Evgeni Nabokov had to have a knee scoped and left winger Scott Parker was to have his broken right thumb surgically repaired.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-0790/7881930-1-eng-US/f0045-072.jpg" title="f0045-07" width="347" height="747"></div> &#9632;

f0045-06

Stunning turnaround in play sharpens Sharks’ hunger

<div class="byline">&#x2013; DAMIAN CRISTODERO</div>To say the Lightning&rsquo;s 2003-04 season was a success would be an understatement.Not only did the Lightning have a teamrecord 106 points en route to its first Stanley Cup championship in team history, their playoff run ensured owner Palace Sports& Entertainment would turn a profit on its NHL operation for the first time since it bought the team and the St. Pete Times Forum lease in 1999.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-0875/7881975-1-eng-US/f0045-082.jpg" title="f0045-08" width="294" height="381"></div>Team president Ron Campbell said Palace Sports would clear about $2 million this season compared with previous cash losses of about $50 million.On the ice, the Lightning showed resiliency and maturity and proved that hockey, when played without the dreaded neutral-zone trap, can be played with high energy - and even be fun to watch. Some called Tampa a blueprint for the rest of the league.SUMMER GLANCE Bolts GM Jay Feaster has his work cut out for him, as 19 players off the final regular season roster need to be signed, including Martin St-Louis, Fredrik Modin, Cory Stillman and Jassen Cullimore. Goalie Nikolai Khabibulin has a team option and captain Dave Andreychuk, an unrestricted free agent, has indicated he wants to keep playing. Bolts management has said it needs to increase payroll from $33 million to $46 million to keep the current team intact.NOTEBOOK The Lightning&rsquo;s Stanley Cup victory made them just the second team in 33 years&mdash;the 2001 Colorado Avalanche is the other - to overcome a 3-2 series deficit&hellip;Over 35,000 fans packed the St. Pete Times Forum and surrounding parade route to celebrate the Lightning&rsquo;s championship.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-0968/7881968-1-eng-US/f0045-092.jpg" title="f0045-09" width="346" height="752"></div> &#9632;

f0045-08

Lightning’s playoff success makes for profitable season

<div class="byline">&#x2013; KEN CAMPBELL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-02207/7882013-1-eng-US/f0046-022.jpg" title="f0046-02" width="282" height="394"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-01346/7882020-1-eng-US/f0046-012.jpg" title="f0046-01" width="207" height="213"></div>This was the year the Maple Leafs were supposed to seriously compete for the Stanley Cup. They didn&rsquo;t even make it halfway through the playoffs.After 37 years, the disaster continues. That the Leafs didn&rsquo;t meet expectations this season is obvious. That they failed to advance to Round 3 with a veteran core of future Hall of Famers is a huge indictment of how the team was built by Pat Quinn and current GM John Ferguson.For a franchise that hails its tradition of excellence, the Maple Leafs haven&rsquo;t made the Cup final since they won it all in 1967. Of the 30 teams now in the NHL, Mi 22 have been in; the final since j then. With the exception of the j Coyotes, who I came into the league as the Winnipeg Jets in 1979-80, none of; the other seven t teams that have&mdash;missed the final was in the league prior to 1990.With a weak development system and a roster whose impact players are all creaky veterans, don&rsquo;t count on seeing the Leafs in the final - or anywhere near it - in the coming years.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-03148/7882006-1-eng-US/f0046-032.jpg" title="f0046-03" width="344" height="747"></div>SUMMER GLANCE Before the Maple Leafs can think of improving from outside the organization, they must fill some key spots from within. The Leafs have to sign goalie Ed Belfour, defenseman Ken Klee and forwards Gary Roberts and Joe Nieuwendyk or adequately replace them. The biggest hole remains on defense, where the Leafs have a solid top four, but not a group of six that can be considered of top NHL calibre.NOTEBOOK Right winger Tie Domi had successful hip surgery in midMay and should be ready for training camp, if there is one&hellip;GM John Ferguson put his first stamp on the hockey operations when he demoted Murray Oliver from full-time pro scout to part-time amateur scout. Ferguson has vowed to beef up Toronto&rsquo;s scouting department. &#9632;

f0046-02

Same old Leaf story with same old team

<div class="byline">&#x2013; ELLIOTT PAP</div>After an 11-year wait, the Canucks finally captured a divisional title, but their inability to get out of the first round of the playoffs left a sour taste in everyone&rsquo;s mouth.The Canucks closed out the regular season with six consecutive victories to wrest away the Northwest Division crown from Colorado, who had owned it since moving from Quebec City in 1995. There was considerable rejoicing over this feat, accomplished without the services of suspended power forward Todd Bertuzzi for the final 13 games.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-04125/7882058-1-eng-US/f0046-042.jpg" title="f0046-04" width="271" height="391"></div>It was felt the display of character and determination would propel Vancouver to great heights in the playoffs, but the Canucks could not put away the even omh, determined Calgary Flames, who beat them in seven. Two weeks later, GM Brian Burke lost his job.SUMMER GLANCE The most critical decision facing new GM Dave Nonis is what to do in goal. Dan Cloutier has won 30-plus games in three consecutive seasons, but hasn&rsquo;t produced in the playoffs and really didn&rsquo;t get a chance in the 2004 postseason after tearing ankle ligaments early in Game 3 against Calgary.Cloutier&rsquo;s $2.5-million contract is up and he will be a restricted free agent this summer. Does Nonis want him as his No. 1? And at what price? If not, where does he find another starter?NOTEBOOK Former Canucks captain Stan Smyl, who has been coaching the club&rsquo;s No. 1 minor-league affiliate for five seasons - the last three in Manitoba of the American League - was promoted to director of player development June 7. Also shuffled was Bob Murray, who moves from pro scout to director of player personnel. Murray replaces Steve Tambellini, who was bumped to assistant GM in May.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-0599/7882051-1-eng-US/f0046-052.jpg" title="f0046-05" width="347" height="752"></div> &#9632;

f0046-04

Division crown new, early playoff exit not

<div class="byline">&#x2013; DAVE FAY</div>The Capitals couldn&rsquo;t wait for the season from hell to end, missing the playoffs for the second time in three years.The head coach was fired and virtually every player with any market value was traded for prospects in a massive exercise in costcutting.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-0689/7882096-1-eng-US/f0046-062.jpg" title="f0046-06" width="288" height="390"></div>In the end, a few NHL regulars were left to lead a group from the minors and the waiver wire. There was almost no offense and very little NHL caliber defense which, almost dropped the team into the league cellar.With the end plainly visible months ahead of the end of the regular season, the core of the Capitals&rsquo; youth movement was dispatched to Portland of the American League to play together as a unit, in the hopes of molding a brotherhood that will lead the franchise in seasons to come.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-0774/7882089-1-eng-US/f0046-072.jpg" title="f0046-07" width="347" height="749"></div>SUMMER GLANCE The Capitals are strong in goal but must improve dramatically at every other position. The entry draft will yield a player of impact - hello, Alexander Ovechkin - but the remainder of the rebuilding process will have to come from the club&rsquo;s thin farm system with limited dipping into the free agent pool.NOTEBOOK Center Jeff Halpern was selected to play for Team USA in the World Cup of Hockey tournament this fall and forward Dainius Zubrus was chosen by Russia. Goalie Olaf Kolzig will suit up for Germany. Washington had eight players in the inaugural World Cup in 1996, a clear indication of how far the franchise&rsquo;s talent level in has fallen&hellip;The Capitals signed goalie Maxime Daigneault of Val-d&rsquo;Or in the Quebec League to a three-year deal. That gives the club six contenders for the right to back up Olie Kolzig next season, with two other slots ready at the American League level. &#9632;

Search for your favorite player or team

June 22, 2004

NOTEBOOK

Milwaukee’s best

Plays of the PLAYOFFS

GOALTENDING STATISTICS