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.

October 26, 2004

The Hockey News October 26, 2004

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0024-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-02767/7782357-1-eng-US/f0024-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Memories: all-rookie team members Tuomo Ruutu and Andrew Raycroft, doing what they do best.</figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-011097/7782364-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg" title="f0024-01" width="107" height="109"></div>The scheduled first day of the NHL&rsquo;s 2004-05 regular season - October 13 - was marked not by a full slate of games, but rather by televised images of darkened rinks and newspaper columns offering even blacker views on the league&rsquo;s lockout.From superstars such as Joe Thornton and Jose Theodore to super-skilled youngsters such as Tuomo Ruutu and Andrew Raycroft, NHL players are biding their time mostly in Europe and the American League, or have decided to remain at home and work out on their own. (See NHL team reports on pgs. 16-23 for player-by-player updates.)Meanwhile, it&rsquo;s far from business as usual for the NHL&rsquo;s 30 teams, but the clubs are keeping active in one form or another. Affiliate teams in the AHL and ECHL are playing and most NHL clubs have sent several top prospects to the developmental leagues. Here are notes and news from each NHL team, with clubs ordered alphabetically by conference:</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>ANAHEIM The Ducks are trying to work out a deal to have AHL affiliate Cincinnati play as many as three &ldquo;home&rdquo; games in Anaheim during the lockout, but no announcement has been made.CALGARY Journeyman forwards Craig MacDonald and Brantt Myhres are among the Flames&rsquo; prospects and fringe players playing in the AHL.CHICAGO Days after his Oct. 1 surgery to repair a partially dislocated left shoulder, center Tuomo Ruutu began his four-month rehab at the United Center&hellip;Ruutu planned to hang out in Clficago with Finnish World Cup teammate Kari Lehtonen, the Thrashers&rsquo; top-notch goalie prospect who was assigned to the AHL&rsquo;s Wolves.COLORADO Blueliner Adam Foote had shoulder surgery after the World Cup and will be paid until he&rsquo;s deemed healthy&hellip;Defenseman Rob Blake bought into the Santa Fe Roadrunners, a Jr. A team in the North American League.COLUMBUS Center Dan Fritsche, 19, had surgery to repair a shoulder injury he sustained at the end of last season. He&rsquo;ll head to Sarnia (OHL) in late October when his rehab is done.DALLAS Left winger Brenden Morrow is weighing a few options. He has considered going to Germany (a move he likely will decline); the Original Stars League (goalie Marty Turco is pushing that option); and Oklahoma of the Central League (where he has a few friends).DETROIT Defenseman Chris Chelios on the lockout: &ldquo;It seems like the only time anything gets settled is when someone&rsquo;s back is against the wall. Right now that doesn&rsquo;t seem to be the case on either side. Come January, when they talk about canceling the season, I think all the pressure&rsquo;s on them. The players are prepared for it.&rdquo;EDMONTON GM Kevin Lowe, on what would have been the first day of the NHL season: &ldquo;I sense a bit of void this time around, when the leaves start changing, not having training camp. I talk to some of our players on occasion and they say their body clocks are telling them that they want to be playing.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-03524/7782350-1-eng-US/f0024-032.jpg" title="f0024-03" width="519" height="725"></div>LOS ANGELES Kings coach Andy Murray, whose family lives outside Minneapolis: &ldquo;My kids are playing at their school so there will be a lot of hockey to watch. There might be some clinics or scouting in Europe. But who knows? Money could get tight.&rdquo;MINNESOTA WHd goalie and player rep Dwayne Roloson, on the hard salary cap: &ldquo;If fans want a hard cap as much as the owners do, they need to understand that if a player like Marian Gaborik goes down with a seasonending injury one month into the season, a team maxed out won&rsquo;t be able to spend money to replace him. Fans are going to be hurt.&rdquo;NASHVILLE Ryan Suter, selected seventh overall by the Preds in 2003, said there is an upside to the lockout, at least for him. Having just turned pro, the blueliner said there&rsquo;s no immediate pressure on him. &ldquo;In a way I&rsquo;m kind of happy I get a chance to step up (to the AHL),&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The step up will be a little easier.&rdquo;PHOENIX Goalie Zac Bierk is out until early November after undergoing more hip surgery. The Coyotes are confident the latest procedure in the one Bierk needed&hellip;Coyotes website coordinator Damon Markiewicz resigned to become GM of the UHL&rsquo;s Adirondack Frostbite.ST. LOUIS The best duel in Worcester (AHL) is for starting goalie. Curtis Sanford and Jason Bacashihua have both had a sound camp. Sanford has experience, but Bacashihua is viewed as closer to being more NHL-ready.SAN JOSE In between watching Cleveland&rsquo;s (AHL) training camp, GM Doug Wilson swung by the University of Miami (Ohio) to see Sharks prospects Dan Spang, Carter Lee and Mike Morris in game action.VANCOUVER Defenseman Mattias Ohlund said he has not been called a greedy player as he goes about his business in Vancouver. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s been fine so far and nobody has jumped me at my kid&rsquo;s pre-school."&hellip;Goalie Dan Cloutier wasn&rsquo;t impressed with the OSHL in his first two starts and decided not to go back.ATLANTA Shawn McEachern is playing in a charity game Oct. 24 between Boston University alumni and the Terriers&rsquo; current team. Other NHLers involved include Joe Sacco (retired), Scott LaChance, Tom Poti, Tony Amonte, Mike Grier, Jay Pandolfo and Rick DiPietro.BOSTON Winger Ted Donato wanted to play another year in the NHL, but when he was offered the coaching job at Harvard he jumped at it. Still, Donato remains uneasy about the NHL lockout. &ldquo;I feel bad for the uncertainty for everybody involved,&rdquo; he said.BUFFALO Defenseman Jeff Jillson, who signed a deal with Rochester (AHL): &ldquo;I just want to play. It&rsquo;s important at this stage of my career to keep playing as much as I can.&rdquo; Should the NHL season begin, Jillson&rsquo;s NHL contract would supercede his AHL pact. Jillson has yet to play 260 pro games so he is not a veteran under AHL rules.CAROLINA The Canes, who manage the RBC Center, could ask for as much as $1 million in annual rent relief from the government authority that oversees the arena because of &ldquo;unanticipated&rdquo; utility and insurance costs.FLORIDA Right winger Nathan Horton has been to Cleveland five times since early September for a treatment on his biceps tendon. The 19-year-old hopes to play for San Antonio (AHL) by the end of October&hellip;Enforcer Jones has been suspended because he left San Antonio, where he was assigned before the lockout. Jones played six games for Florida last year.MONTREAL Right winger Steve Begin could be collecting his salary from the Habs, since he&rsquo;s recovering from an injury sustained last season. But he indicated he won&rsquo;t press the issue, feeling the shoulder had healed in time for what would have been the start of the season.NEW JERSEY Veteran winger Dean McAmmond&rsquo;s deal is a $125,000 AHL contract this season with a $1.2-million NHL salary in &rsquo;05-06&hellip;Richard Codey, who will become New Jersey&rsquo;s governor Nov. 15, said the state shouldn&rsquo;t be liable for paying the Devils $268,000 per month during the lockout. However, the team is demanding the payments which were negotiated by former owner John McMullen.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-04348/7782343-1-eng-US/f0024-042.jpg" title="f0024-04" width="522" height="721"></div>NY ISLANDERS Retired coaching legend Al Arbour believes the NHL will have trouble recovering its fan base following the lockout, recently telling a Florida newspaper: &ldquo;There&rsquo;s so many things to do. People are going to forget about (hockey). The league is going to have to start all over again. It&rsquo;s sad.&rdquo;NY RANGERS The Rangers&rsquo;MSG-TV outlet will pick up an opening package of approximately six Hartford (AHL) games, to be called by Sam Rosen and John Davidson.OTTAWA Senators owner Eugene Melnyk stepped down as the CEO of his Biovail pharmaceutical firm, but team president Roy Mlakar maintained &ldquo;it will have no effect on the hockey club whatsoever.&rdquo; Melnyk remains Biovail&rsquo;s chairman of the board.PHILADELPHIA The Phantoms, the team&rsquo;s AHL affiliate, will broadcast an unprecedented 10 games in &ldquo;high definition&rdquo; television on Philadelphia-based Comcast-SportsNet this season.PITTSBURGH Moscow Spartak tried to lure goalie Sebastien Caron, but he opted out. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s too crazy in Russia right now,&rdquo; he said.TAMPA BAY Jamie Storr is impressing while playing for Springfield (AHL). &ldquo;He is giving us everything we expected with experience and solid play,&rdquo; said Bolts GM Jay Feaster.TORONTO Leafs player rep Bryan McCabe said he has no more idea than anyone else when the lockout will be resolved. &ldquo;I haven&rsquo;t heard a thing,&rdquo; McCabe said. &ldquo;I know about as much as you guys do.&rdquo;WASHINGTON Left winger Alexander Semin remains suspended by the Caps. Semin sought permission to play with Lada Togliatti in Russia, but Washington said no and instead assigned him to Portland (AHL). The talented winger now maintains he has been ordered to serve his military obligation and is staying in Russia. &#9632;

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IN THIS ISSUE

Around the league

<div class="byline">BY TOM BOGGIE</div>After patiently waiting for his opportunity to be the No. 1 goalie, Brown senior Scott Rowan is ready to grab the bull by the horns.For the last three years, Rowan was the back-up to Yann Danis, the Bears&rsquo; all-America goalie who was also a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. But even though Rowan didn&rsquo;t get a lot of ice time doesn&rsquo;t mean he&rsquo;s not ready to step in.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-05277/7782958-1-eng-US/f0028-052.jpg" title="f0028-05" width="349" height="293"></div>&ldquo;Yann was one of the best to ever play at Brown, and numbers-wise, he was one of the best goalies ever in college hockey,&rdquo; said Brown coach Roger Grillo. &ldquo;Scott handled a tough situation with a lot of class the last two years.&rdquo;Rowan, a native of Vernon, B.C., has played in just three games during his first three years, compiling a sparkling .978 save percentage with a 0.45 goals-against average.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s great that Scott has handled this so well,&rdquo; Grillo said. &ldquo;He could have been the starting goalie at most other schools. But he&rsquo;d be the first to tell you Yann was the better player. But I&rsquo;ll tell you, people are going to raise their eyebrows and ask, &rsquo;Who is this kid?&rsquo; when they see him play this year.&rdquo;Danis, 23, graduated and signed as a free agent with Montreal.NHL PROSPECT WATCH Everyone is expecting a breakout year by Harvard senior center Tom Cavanagh, and why not. The native of Warwick, R.I. is the complete package.He&rsquo;s one of the best two-way centers in the conference and is also durable, playing in 104 straight games in three years for the Crimson.Cavanagh, drafted 182nd by San Jose in 2001, has great vision and great hands, which allows him to be very creative. Last year, he had career highs with 16 goals and 36 points, and two of his goals came in the ECAC championship, bringing the Crimson back from a 2-0 deficit against Clarkson.Cavanagh will have to pick up his game another notch this season, as Harvard lost six seniors up front, including Tyler Kolarik and Tim Pettit.NOTEBOOK Indications are the NCAA is serious about cracking down on obstruction. In its first two games, Clarkson was whistled for 52 minutes of penalties, and RPI put Merrimack on the power play 13 times in a 5-3 loss to the Warriors in Omaha.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-07211/7782951-1-eng-US/f0028-072.jpg" title="f0028-07" width="642" height="1004"></div> &#9632;

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DEPARTMENTS

Bears’ Rowan grabs No. 1 role in senior year

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0033-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-01969/7783252-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-011089/7783245-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg" title="f0034-01" width="4195" height="2163"></div> &#9632;

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EUROPEAN STATISTICS

<div class="byline">BY KEVIN OKLOBZIJA</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-02654/7782395-1-eng-US/f0025-022.jpg" title="f0025-02" width="303" height="471"><figcaption class="caption-body">BRIAN FINLEY</figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-01986/7782402-1-eng-US/f0025-012.jpg" title="f0025-01" width="135" height="132"></div>Brian Finley&rsquo;s first test drive was a success. The groin is fine, he learned last season.Now comes test drive No. 2: To prove he can be No. 1.With Wade Flaherty gone, Finley will be the mainstay in goal as the Milwaukee Admirals begin defense of the Calder Cup.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s definitely a big year,&rdquo; Finley said. &ldquo;I pretty much split with Wade last season (Finley played in 43 AHL games), then he played in the playoffs. As a goalie, you always want that pressure that you&rsquo;re the guy, that you can determine the outcome of the game.&rdquo;Since being drafted with the sixth overall pick in 1999 by Nashville, Finley has yet to prove what he can do. A chronic groin problem that surfaced injunior finally led to surgery and missing the entire 2001-02 season. The next year, the groin still bothered him and he played in only 29 games (22 in the AHL, seven in the ECHL).</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>Last season was the big test and he passed. He went 23-15-4 with a .918 save percentage for the Admirals.&ldquo;That was the first year in three where I was healthy,&rdquo; said Finley, 23. &ldquo;It was a weight off my shoulders. I definitely was concerned whether my groin would be OK.&rdquo;Finley was the backup during the playoffs as Flaherty backstopped the Admirals to the Calder Cup, winning the Jack Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP. He&rsquo;s now playing for the Manitoba Moose, so it&rsquo;s now Finley&rsquo;s turn.&ldquo;Brian Finley is capable of stepping into that same role,&rdquo; said Admirals coach Claude Noel.While he has no set goal, Finley said it would be ideal to play 55 games.&ldquo;The big thing is to stay injury free, have a good year and maybe battle for a job in Nashville next year,&rdquo; Finley said. &#9632;

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Once a suspect, Finley now a prospect

<div class="byline">Jason Kay Editor</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-021528/7780490-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="411" height="700"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-011796/7780497-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="107" height="107"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div>The pessimism runs deeper than dirt. There&rsquo;s a growing, foreboding sense that 2004-05 is finished. Store the sticks. Pack up the pucks. There&rsquo;s nothing to see here.We&rsquo;re not buying it. Not yet.Until the year is officially canceled, we&rsquo;ll hold out hope that logic will prevail. We&rsquo;ll base our blind faith on the knowledge that no major North American professional sports league has ever lost an entire season, from start to finish, due to greed. We&rsquo;ll believe that negotiations aren&rsquo;t taking place right now because they don&rsquo;t yet have to; but they will accelerate into high gear the closer we near a drop dead date, whenever that may be.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-031239/7780483-1-eng-US/f0004-032.jpg" title="f0004-03" width="1226" height="1409"><figcaption class="caption-body">WHAT IF&hellip;&nbsp;Would Cinderella finalists disappear if the NHL called obstruction? (GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>We&rsquo;ll understand what the players stand to lose about 18 months&rsquo; worth of paychecks and surmise that the deal they sign this December or January won&rsquo;t be any better than the one they secure a year down the road. In fact, there&rsquo;s ample reason to believe their situation would be worse.And if all else fails, we&rsquo;ll lock Gary Bettman and Bob Goodenow in a room and force them to watch an endless loop of the sleep-inducing Anaheim-New Jersey 2003 Stanley Cup final until they crack and submit to a new CBA.Until that time, here are a few more ruminations on subjects that have surfaced during the lockout.<h2>COMPETITIVE BALANCE</h2>Do we have it or don&rsquo;t we?The union is claiming a salary cap system isn&rsquo;t needed to control costs because lower-payrolled teams have proven it&rsquo;s not how many bucks you have, but how you spend them. Exhibit A for the NHLPA is the fact 12 different clubs have qualified for the the conference finals the past three years.The owners, conversely, insist disparity does exist and needs to be addressed in a &ldquo;meaningful way". Their supporting statistic of choice says over the past 10 years, teams in the top one-third in terms of payroll are three times more likely to make the playoffs than teams in the bottom one-third.We&rsquo;ll give the players the slight edge in this debate, but with a caveat. Cinderellas are getting invited to the ball, but there&rsquo;s a heavy price to be paid: excitement.Here&rsquo;s our theory. The Calgarys, Anaheims and Minnesotas have discovered they don&rsquo;t need an overabundance of skill to be successful so long as defense and coaching, along with a healthy helping of obstruction, reign supreme.The common threads for these three &ldquo;out-of-nowhere&rdquo; teams were one prime time star (Jarome Iginla, Paul Kariya, Marian Gaborik), stellar goaltending and an army of mostly young, speedy foot soldiers who bought into a system. The current market value for that type of supporting cast is relatively inexpensive by today&rsquo;s standards.Meantime, the worth of the high-profile, highly skilled veteran free agent has tumbled those types of players are making less and less of a difference and the smart teams are catching on. Why blow the budget on the Pierre Turgeons of the world when the Shean Donovans are proving just as valuable?Should the league hold true to its promise of opening up the game, the pendulum would likely shift back in favor of the savvy point-producers. And therein lies the danger of believing you don&rsquo;t have to spend to win - the parameters could easily change.<h2>&rsquo;WE&rsquo;RE JUST ASKING THE OWNERS TO RUN THEIR BUSINESSES RESPONSIBLY&rsquo;</h2>If Bruce Cockburn had a rocket launcher, we&rsquo;d be placing orders to obliterate this phrase from the players&rsquo; vernacular.For starters, what right do players have to advise owners how to operate their franchises when players are not willing to assume any of the risk?And secondly, while it&rsquo;s true some owners have negotiated contracts that defy good sense, it&rsquo;s not entirely accurate to say franchises haven&rsquo;t &ldquo;had guns held to their heads.&rdquo; The players, on the advice of their agents and with the blessing of the union, frequently withhold their services as a means to extract more money. The team has the option of letting the player sit indefinitely, but at the same time faces the pressures of filling buildings and winning. And when teams, such as Boston, opt not to ante up, they&rsquo;re labeled cheap.In many cases, it winds up being a catch-22 for the teams. Spend the money and contribute to salary inflation; spare it for the greater good and risk alienating fans. See Buffalo and Michael Peca for an example of the latter.<h2>DROP-DEAD GATE</h2>If there is one, the NHL isn&rsquo;t yet prepared to make it public. The common belief is that, as was the case in 1994, the league wouldn&rsquo;t support anything less than approximately half-a-season. Hence, the December/January scenario.But unanswered questions remain. Could they start the season even later and play through July? Would they consider anything less than 48 games in order to offer something, anything, to the fans this winter? How much time will be required between negotiating a deal in principle and producing a final, signed document? The NHL maintains it won&rsquo;t play until all the details are fully worked out this time, an error that cost them in 1994.The point is, we don&rsquo;t know whether December/January is the cutoff point and won&rsquo;t assume that to be true until it&rsquo;s confirmed. No blind faith here.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-05810/7780476-1-eng-US/f0004-052.jpg" title="f0004-05" width="553" height="283"></div><h2>10-YEAR PAYROLL SCAN</h2>Teams with the highest average payroll over the past 10 years have made the playoffs 81 per cent of the time and won nine Stanley Cups.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-041003/7780469-1-eng-US/f0004-042.jpg" title="f0004-04" width="832" height="967"></div> &#9632;

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We’ll remain optimistic

<div class="byline">- MARK BRENDER</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-021268/7780559-1-eng-US/f0005-022.jpg" title="f0005-02" width="875" height="821"><figcaption class="caption-body">FINE MESS&nbsp;Atlanta co-owner Steve Belkin mused aloud on replacement players. (GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-011797/7780566-1-eng-US/f0005-012.jpg" title="f0005-01" width="110" height="113"></div>The longer the NHL lockout goes, the more likely the dreaded impasse scenario becomes.Why dreaded? Because after impasse could come replacement players, a strike by the NHL Players&rsquo; Association, the specter of NHL players crossing the picket line, potentially half-full buildings, a dismal on-ice product and an NHL that would be the laughingstock of pro sports.Naturally, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has said impasse isn&rsquo;t something the league is considering at the moment, but it would be naive to believe it isn&rsquo;t on the agenda if the parties fail to reach an agreement through negotiation.&ldquo;If we reach an impasse and it goes on for a year, we will attempt to bring in other players,&rdquo; said Atlanta Thrashers part-owner Steve Belkin to the Boston Herald. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s not good for anyone. That&rsquo;s a last resort. But if that&rsquo;s the only alternative, say, a year from now, we&rsquo;ll probably proceed with doing that, and then hopefully start building up the caliber of the players over a period of time.&rdquo;Fined a reported $250,000 for his candor, Belkin later issued the following statement through the Thrashers: &ldquo;I deeply regret the comments I made&hellip;which were my person al, uninformed views, and not those of the Atlanta Thrashers&rsquo; ownership and management - nor those of the National Hockey League.&rdquo;</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>Which goes to show Steve Thomas and John Madden and the NHLPA don&rsquo;t hold the patent on red-faced backtracking.By declaring impasse, the NHL could impose the terms of its last CBA proposal to the union. But proving impasse is no slam dunk. The debate would likely end up in the lap of the National Labor Relations Board in the United States and provincial regulatory bodies in Canada.According to New Jersey labor lawyer Alan Model, principal in Grotta, Glassman & Hoffman, the NHLPA could file a grievance to the NLRB alleging bad faith bargaining. An NLRB hearing &ldquo;could take months,&rdquo; Model said.If bad faith bargaining is found, the NLRB could order the parties back to the bargaining table.Some observers, including former Vancouver GM Brian Burke, believe the NHLPA has been slow to negotiate because it wants to claim there haven&rsquo;t been enough talks for impasse to exist.&ldquo;The law requires that both sides engage in good faith bargaining, which is a somewhat ambiguous term,&rdquo; said Paul Staudohar, professor of business administration at California State University-Hayward.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think they&rsquo;ve gone far enough yet, even with another bargaining session, to declare impasse, but that&rsquo;s just my view. It&rsquo;s a chess match now. It&rsquo;s a cat-and-mouse game the/re playing.&rdquo;<h2>PLAY DAY</h2>Almost half of all NHLers are active in other leagues. More than 200 players (including UFAs) are in Europe. See NHL team reports for full details.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-04495/7780552-1-eng-US/f0005-042.jpg" title="f0005-04" width="1230" height="1117"></div> &#9632;

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Imagining NHL at impasse

<h2>Best of the Hockey World</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-03811/7780604-1-eng-US/f0005-032.jpg" title="f0005-03" width="342" height="558"><figcaption class="caption-body">BRAD MAY</figcaption></div>GOOD KNIGHT The London Knights, host of the 2005 Memorial Cup, open the Ontario League season with a perfect 8-0-0-0 record.MAY DAY Vancouver&rsquo;s Brad May has plans to organize a charity hockey game involving junioraged and NHL players.GENE CHIARELLO University of New Brunswick goaltender recovers from cancer and two brain surgeries and is back between the pipes.<h2>Worst of the Hockey World</h2>IT&rsquo;S OFFICIAL October 13, what was supposed to be the start of the season, comes and goes with no NHL hockey being played.TV STARS OR NEGOTIATORS? Bill Daly (NHL) and Ted Saskin (PA) spend all their time in front of cameras and no time trying to cut a deal.NO HOCKEY, NO TALKY The NHL fines Atlanta part-owner Steve Belkin $250,000 for having the audacity to speak his mind.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-06477/7780597-1-eng-US/f0004-062.jpg" title="f0004-06" width="343" height="558"><figcaption class="caption-body">BILL DALY</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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PLUS MINUS

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-06173/7780635-1-eng-US/f0005-062.jpg" title="f0005-06" width="383" height="629"><figcaption class="caption-body">JOHN TORTORELLA</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-05297/7780642-1-eng-US/f0005-052.jpg" title="f0005-05" width="224" height="197"></div>&bull; The mergers and acquisitions game in the agency business continues as Gordon Kirke&rsquo;s KSR Sports Representatives has joined forces with powerhouse agency IMG. Kirke calls it a plus for KSR&rsquo;s clients, Rick Nash among them, who will continue to be affiliated with him and Joe Resnick while enjoying the backing of IMG&rsquo;s marketing and promotional clout.&bull; In case you&rsquo;re wondering, The Hockey News is running a simulated season using simulated players. Problem is, we locked them out. Some of our players have left to play in simulated European leagues.&bull; Members of the Toronto Raptors are saying the NBA is gearing up to lock out its players next fall. Don&rsquo;t worry, though, apparently only the final two minutes of an NBA lockout really matter.&bull; Tampa Bay Lightning coach John Tortorella is keeping busy doing the little things that can&rsquo;t get done during the season, but champing at the bit for NHL games to start. &ldquo;With no disrespect to the other 29 teams, but our situation is different than theirs,&rdquo; Tortorella said. &ldquo;We have the Stanley Cup and we want the challenge of defending it.&rdquo;&bull; Scoring is down once again in the NHL this season&hellip; &#9632;

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SNAPSHOTS

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-012003/7780673-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="206" height="106"></div><h3>The Hockey News</h3><h2>FROM THE EDITORS</h2>Transparency above all else.For all kids involved in minor hockey and for all those who would guide them, transparency should be the crucial buzz word for our times.It is simply not healthy for one person to exercise complete control over the life of another, to the deliberate and calculated exclusion of anyone else.It is simply not healthy for any person in a position of authority to extend his influence to all facets of a person&rsquo;s life, rather than only the one in which he supposedly has expertise.There should be no relationships that are somehow beyond outside scrutiny and there should be no coaches or &ldquo;advisors&rdquo; of young players who feel they must act as if they have something to hide.When such situations exist or are allowed to exist by those who have the power to take a closer look - the warning bells should go off.Where former St. Louis Blue Mike Danton and player agent David Frost are concerned, there was no transparency. There never has been, not since the day Frost met Danton more than a decade ago, an 11-year-old hockey player from Brampton, Ont. The results of such a relationship are plain to see.And it continues.Readers of our cover story by senior writei Mike Brophy will find that even as Danton was awaiting sentencing for conspiracy to commit murder, Frost continued to speak for him. Frost is planning for what might happen after Danton&rsquo;s release and for Danton&rsquo;s eventual return to the NHL. (See pgs. 8-12 and 38 for more on Danton.)<blockquote class="pullQuote">The father&rsquo;s mistake was not placing so much faith in Frost; it was placing that much faith in anyone.</blockquote>Prosecutors testified it was Frost who Danton wanted to have killed, and no evidence was ever produced that would suggest otherwise. The only person who continues to insist Frost was not the target is Frost himself. Clearly, his audacity knows no bounds, but that should not be surprising. Where Danton and any other clients he has had are concerned, Frost has always claimed for himself a monopoly on truth.The question is what can anyone do about it. If a player says nothing is wrong and a coach or authority figure says nothing is wrong, and nobody can prove any criminal wrongdoing, are we to throw our hands in the air?No, what we should do for our kids is pay attention earlier to the things that matter.At 11 years old, an NHL career should not be one of them.Danton&rsquo;s father, Steve Jefferson, admits he fell hard for the NHL dream that Frost&rsquo;s influence made closer. He now says entrusting his oldest son to Frost was the biggest mistake he ever made.But the mistake was not placing so much faith in Frost, in particular; it was placing that much faith in anyone.No coach or mentor who truly wants to be a positive influence on a child&rsquo;s life will demand full control as the price.If the authority figure is in it for the right reasons, transparency will be part of the package. &#9632;

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Importance of openness will be Danton’s legacy

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0006-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-021335/7780704-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg"></div> &#9632;

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ELSTON

<h2>THE BARE(NAKED) FACTS</h2>Have you ever attended a meeting where the speaker asked a question to which you had the perfect reply, only to have the guy in front of you respond with your answer?Well, this bald, kick-ass Maple Leafs fan had his opinion of the NHL lockout mirrored by Tyler Stewart, the bald, kick-ass drummer of the Barenaked Ladies. (THN, Oct. 5)Thank you, Tyler, for the humor and bare facts in your column. Well said!Doug Landon, Beaufort, S.C.<h2>PUT A CANUCK IN CHARGE OF NHL</h2>I read Mike Brophy&rsquo;s column on Gary Bettman and agree with him: Bettman must go! (THN, Oct. 5)I think I have the solution to the situation. As a proud American and Buffalo Sabres fan, I say&hellip;get a Canadian to run the game before the NHL is ruined for good!And before American hockey fans jump down my throat, I pose this question: do you want Peter Jennings running the NFL?Jim Pittaro, Lemoyne, Pa.<h2>REAY IN HALL OF FAME?</h2>It is very sad that Billy Reay, the greatest coach in Blackhawks history, isn&rsquo;t in the Hall of Fame.Reay ranks as the sixth-winningest coach in NHL history and won two Cups as a player. The teams he coached may not have won a Cup, but he led them to the final four times including after Chicago lost Bobby Hull to the WHA.Reay was an effective coach who loved the Hawks. In my opinion he is more than Hall of Fame-worthy.Peter von Buol, Chicago<h2>HULL&rsquo;S REMARKS HURT</h2>I&rsquo;ve always admired Brett Hull for speaking out honestly, but he went too far at the World Cup when he said he didn&rsquo;t care about NHL fans.I guess he forgot that fans pay his salary. I wonder how successful I&rsquo;d be if I ran around saying &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t give about my patients"?Wake up, Brett - and enjoy the empty arena.Dr. Jason Hull, Sandy Lake, Pa.<h2>THN&rsquo;S BEST YET TO COME</h2>I think the upcoming issues of The Hockey News will be very exciting. Where else can you see what players do during the lockout, while discovering players in lesser leagues who play for the love of the game?Kyle Erb, Wellesley, Ont.<h2>EURO JERSEYS DON&rsquo;T &rsquo;AD&rsquo; UP</h2>After reading the Oct. 5 issue and seeing the advertising-laden uniforms of Peter Forsberg and Olli Jokinen (in European leagues), I checked the cover to make sure I had The Hockey News and not The NASCAR News.Wayne O. Paton, Youngstown, Fla.<h2>NHLERS NOT OVERPAID</h2>Can we stop whining about NHLers being &ldquo;overpaid"?For every player fans are financially envious of, there are plenty of others who had a brief career. And what about the countless hordes of players who have followed their dreams by toiling in junior or minors for little more than pocket change?NHLers risk the better part of their youth in pursuit of their career. They&rsquo;re the best at what they do and their salaries should represent that.Larry Preston, Penticton, B.C.<h2>LETTER OF THE WEEK</h2>I was unsure of whose side I should be on concerning the NHL lockout until I read Chris Frenger&rsquo;s column, &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s Make a Deal". (THN, Oct.12)Pronger lost me when he argued teams that can&rsquo;t sign free agents whenever they choose &ldquo;will be stuck in the doldrums for a few more years while they try to draft well and hope they can loosen some payroll up.&rdquo;That mindset means fans of teams such as the Penguins, Hurricanes and Oilers - to name a few will continue to watch their favorite players go elsewhere, because they can no longer afford them under the free market system. That mentality eventually will choke the life out of the NHL.Drafting and developing players is the proper way by which teams should improve, not by gathering up all of the high-priced free agents.Thanks for the insight, Chris.Shane McLachlan, Oshawa, Ont.<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: <a href="mailto:aproteau@thehockeynews.com">aproteau@thehockeynews.com</a> 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">Mark Brender&nbsp;Senior Writer</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-021203/7780773-1-eng-US/f0007-022.jpg" title="f0007-02" width="412" height="667"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-011816/7780780-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg" title="f0007-01" width="206" height="106"></div>NHL players are told how hard to flick their wrists on a corner dump-in. They are instructed by coaches where to skate and how fast, when to forecheck hard and when to trap, what to do from a bad angle on the third-string goalie with the slow-twitch glove hand.Their hockey lives are micro-managed right down to the last-second faceoff play, all of it designed to give them the confidence that comes with having a strong game plan.These days, when no union game plan is in evidence beyond the rhetoric-laced &ldquo;wait for a fair deal&rdquo; holding pattern, rank-and-file NHLers have got to be wondering how the best-case scenario unfolds. So a penny for your thoughts, Bob Goodenow. On second thought, make that a billion three, or what stands to go up in smoke if the season goes down.Let&rsquo;s be honest, players don&rsquo;t have a clue how this is going to end, but it&rsquo;s all too easy to follow the NHL&rsquo;s road map.<h2>WHAT THE OWNERS COULD DO&hellip;</h2>Owners hold fast on the link between revenues and player costs. If the season dies in mid-winter, so be it. In one of the next three seasons spring, summer or fall, depending on whether they want to give bargaining a last-ditch effort to have real NHLers play in 2005-06 - the league declares an impasse, implements the terms of its last hard salary cap offer and opens the doors. Done.If Goodenow believes the owners will cave in December or January, just like they did in 1994, he may be the only one. Perhaps he believes the owners will try to use replacement players a year from now a move the union would certainly challenge in the courts and that NHLers won&rsquo;t cross the picket lines, fans won&rsquo;t support watered-down hockey and owners would eventually come crawling back, humble pie in stomachs and luxury tax in hand. Maybe he&rsquo;s even right.Except there&rsquo;ll be two seasons down the drain and $2.5 billion in lost salaries and maybe a couple teams gone belly-up before we get there.So that&rsquo;s one option.The other is for Goodenow to try to beat the owners at their own game. One strategic shift and the players would go from a position of no leverage to having it all.<h2>&hellip;& WHAT THE PLAYERS SHOULD DO</h2>The owners want a tie between league-wide revenues and player costs? Fine. But given that we&rsquo;re the ones making the grand concession, the players would say, we&rsquo;re in charge of this game now. Our share is going to be 60 per cent in a soft-cap system, not the 50 to 55 per cent that&rsquo;s on the table - and teams re-signing their own free agents above previous contract amounts don&rsquo;t count against the percentage.As for defining hockey revenue, our accountants are going to pore over every dime of every financial statement you&rsquo;ve ever produced and then some - and we&rsquo;ll go through every team, individually, to decide how to allocate revenue and determine what constitutes the hockey business.That hard team salary cap? Forget it. There won&rsquo;t be one. No individual player salary cap, either. Pay us what you want and if it&rsquo;s over 60 per cent, we&rsquo;ll pay the difference back the next season. But first you&rsquo;ve got to share 40 per cent of all gate receipts. You want the NFL, now you can prove it. We&rsquo;ll also take unrestricted free agency at 27, thanks much.Hmmm. This revenue-player expense link doesn&rsquo;t sound so bad after all.Best of all, by taking the leap, Goodenow would at least be guaranteeing a hard cap wouldn&rsquo;t happen. There&rsquo;s no way the NHL could impose a hard cap through impasse if the players&rsquo; union put such an offer on the table because impasse wouldn&rsquo;t exist.This is all academic, of course. Goodenow and Co. won&rsquo;t accept the revenue-player cost link. It&rsquo;s unacceptable, an abomination, a perversion of the cherished marketplace.If I&rsquo;m a player in the NHL, I give more than a penny of my lockout savings to have Goodenow explain again why this is so. You know, just to be sure I&rsquo;ve got the game plan straight.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-03735/7780766-1-eng-US/f0007-032.jpg" title="f0007-03" width="2235" height="2830"><figcaption class="caption-body">HOLDING ON&hellip;&hellip;but the players don&rsquo;t know where the CBA game will end. (GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-04480/7780759-1-eng-US/f0007-042.jpg" title="f0007-04" width="977" height="793"><figcaption class="caption-body">TIME OUT&nbsp;The 232-day strike by Major League Baseball players in 1994-95 is the longest work stoppage in pro sports.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

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What’s the plan, Bob?

<div class="byline">BY MIKE BROPHY</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0008-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-021424/7780846-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">(DALE MACUIlLAK/BBS/GETTY)</figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-011893/7780853-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="133" height="107"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div>The sentencing of Mike Danton on charges he tried to arrange the murder of his agent does not represent the end of one of hockey&rsquo;s most sensational stories ever.Not by a long shot.It very much remains a work in progress and the key players continue to be 23-year-old Danton, a 5-foot-9, 190-pound agitator with limited skill who beat the odds by making it to the NHL; his controversial agent, David Frost, who has been accused of being a cult-like leader with a small, dedicated following of players who look out for one another; and Danton&rsquo;s family, his mom and dad, Steve and Sue Jefferson, and 17-year-old brother, Tom. (Danton changed his surname in 2002.)Danton was expected to receive a jail sentence of between seven and nine years Oct. 22, the day after his 24th birthday. Because he pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring and using a telephone across state lines to arrange a murder, rather than go to trial, he is not expected to receive the maximum. Danton originally pleaded not guilty, but changed his mind prioi to the start of his trial which was to begin July 20. It is expected he will be transferred to a Canadian prison, where he will serve his term.Frost said he would not attend the sentencing and feels that after months of receiving psychiatric help that Danton&rsquo;s life has made a dramatic turn for the better. Nor will Danton&rsquo;s parents be there heaven forbid the two of them and Frost should be caught dead in the same room.Frost thinks he knows how things will shake down.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-021353/7780839-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg" title="f0010-02" width="946" height="915"></div><blockquote class="pullQuote">DAVID FROST HAS IT ALL FIGURED OUT - JUST LIKE HE ALWAYS HAS WHERE DANTON IS CONCERNED</blockquote>&ldquo;What we expect him to get is 7.3 years in the States,&rdquo; said Frost from his Kingston home Oct. 12. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s 28 months from a full parole and 14.5 months from day parole. For every two months he has done in the States, he&rsquo;ll automatically in Canada get one month free. We&rsquo;re going to apply when Mike gets to Canada to get 2-to-l time for the time he has already served, which is what judges in Canada automatically give somebody when they do any pre-sentencing or pre-plea time. So basically he&rsquo;ll land here in either March or June and he&rsquo;ll be out.&rdquo;Frost has it all figured out - just like he always has where Danton is concerned.Danton has pleaded guilty to plotting to kill a man; everybody but Frost acknowledges that man is Frost himself, and Frost is still trying to control Danton&rsquo;s life.The Jeffersons hope one day to be reunited with their son, to be a family again, even though that seems unlikely to happen any time soon. Frost says Danton remains firmly aligned with him.It is no secret David Frost and Steve Jefferson are mortal enemies. You can&rsquo;t have a conversation with one in which they don&rsquo;t try to bury the other.<h2>FROST ACCUSES FAMILY OF ABUSE</h2>Frost alleges Jefferson is a hard-drinking abusive father who failed to provide his son with the basic necessities of life. He claims both parents were neglectful of Mike, who, according to Frost, grew up in a filthy home with dog feces scattered all over the floor. According to Frost, the root of Jefferson&rsquo;s bitterness toward him is not about the lost relationship with his son, but his inability to cash in on his son&rsquo;s wealth.On Frost&rsquo;s accusation that Danton was abused at home, Jefferson offers: &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s see, Michael left home at 15 years old, tried to kill Frost at 23 years old and that was because of abuse he received at home. How does that add up?&rdquo;When The Hockey News visited the Jefferson home last spring, it was neat and clean. The family pet, a German shepherd, was very friendly, well-behaved and didn&rsquo;t leave its calling card on the floor during a two-hour visit.Steve and Sue Jefferson, along with Tom, seem like a nice family who genuinely miss Mike and wish he would return home to them. The Jeffersons might not be Ossie and Harriet, but they certainly aren&rsquo;t Ozzy and Sharon.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-03838/7780832-1-eng-US/f0010-032.jpg" title="f0010-03" width="1934" height="1518"><figcaption class="caption-body">SUPPORT GROUP St Louis Blues players and management attended Danton&rsquo;s court date to offer him support in the aftermath of his arrest in April. (GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Since her son has become estranged, Sue Jefferson has good days and bad days. She says she misses Mike dearly and worries about him constantly. At the same time, she has tried to maintain a sense of humor.&ldquo;We jokingly have said we should change our name to Danton,&rdquo; Sue said. &ldquo;That would get (Frost).&rdquo;Steve Jefferson says Frost has turned their son against the family and has turned other players he has represented against their families. For his part, Frost suggests two of his other clients, brothers Sheldon and Adam Keefe, have made inroads in the past year towards building a better relationship with their parents from whom they have been estranged. Jefferson, who knows the Keefes, says that is not true.It has been reported Frost&rsquo;s own wife, Bridget, has become estranged from her family. Bridget&rsquo;s father, the late John McAuley, was one of the best NHL referees of all time, and her brother, Wes, currently referees in the NHL.Jefferson says Frost tried to recruit Tom and wonders why, if life is so tough in their home, Tom seems to be prospering with no desire to leave his parents. Tom Jefferson is a rookie with the Ontario League&rsquo;s Windsor Spitfires this season.<h2>BLINDED BY HOCKEY DREAM</h2>There was a time when Jefferson thought Frost was sent to him by the hockey gods. He thought Frost&rsquo;s influence on his son was Mike&rsquo;s ticket to the NHL.Despite Frost&rsquo;s growing reputation as a loose cannon who was too tough on his players at the rink and too lenient and involved with them away from it, Jefferson proclaimed Frost to be, &ldquo;the best thing&rdquo; that ever happened to Mike.Today, he regrets ever having said or having believed that.&ldquo;I was chasing the Canadian dream,&rdquo; Jefferson admitted. &ldquo;Things were going on and Sue picked up on it way before I did. I turned a blind eye to things.&rdquo;The dream, he said, was for his son to play professional hockey, not for he and his wife to live off their son&rsquo;s earnings. In fact, Jefferson insists it is Frost who now controls and lives off Danton&rsquo;s money.Danton met Frost when they were 11 and 25 years old, respectively. Frost became his coach, then his agent. After Frost coached the Toronto Young Nats to the Ontario bantam championship in 1995-96, he arranged for a group of his players to skate for the expansion Jr. A Quinte Hawks the following year. It was while playing with Quinte that Danton began to pull away from his parents. The Jeffersons claim they were told by Frost, an assistant coach with Quinte, they were welcome to watch their son play, but to keep their distance following games.It also has been reported that, despite being billeted with a retired nurse, Danton would spend most of his time away from the rink in Room 22 of the Bay View Inn in Quinte where Frost and two of Danton&rsquo;s older teammates lodged and that it was a haven for the players to engage in sexual activity with female fans - groupies. Jefferson claims Frost bragged to him about the sexual activity that went on in Room 22.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-021184/7780825-1-eng-US/f0011-022.jpg" title="f0011-02" width="1868" height="2124"><figcaption class="caption-body">ACQUITTED&nbsp;Katie Wolfmeyer (center), the 19-year-old who was charged along with Danton, was cleared despite some jurors&rsquo; doubts over testimony in the trial</figcaption></div>Frost insists the accusations are false.&ldquo;I beg to differ,&rdquo; Frost said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s almost comical what has been said about what went on in Room 22.1 was a coach on a team and we were told we had a hotel suite that was set up like an apartment with two 20-year-old guys and everybody thinks it&rsquo;s a big deal because two 20-year-old guys had girlfriends.&rdquo;<h2>FROST DEFENDS HIS METHODS</h2>Frost makes no bones about the fact he was tough and demanding as a coach, but says he always had his players&rsquo; best interest at heart. &ldquo;Did I kick garbage cans and break a few sticks? Guilty,&rdquo; Frost said. &ldquo;But there isn&rsquo;t a coach in the NHL today who hasn&rsquo;t done that.&rdquo;If it seems a little strange that a player would try to have his agent murdered - on numerous occasions, according to the FBI - and yet would still be involved with that agent, then you have an idea of why this is such a bizarre tale.Danton was arrested April 16 in San Jose, the day after the Blues were eliminated by the Sharks from the NHL playoffs. According to the FBI, Danton and accomplice Katie Wolfmeyer, a 19-year-old nursing student, hired Justin Levi Jones, a police dispatcher, to kill Frost. Danton allegedly told Wolfmeyer someone was trying to kill him and wondered if she knew anyone who would kill that person for $10,000. Jones took the job, but informed the FBI of what was taking place.The FBI claims the relationship between Frost and Danton soured when Frost threatened to go to Blues management and tell them that Danton was drinking too much and was promiscuous. It was then, they say, that Danton went looking for a hit man.Upon Danton&rsquo;s arrest, he spent 12 days in a California jail before being transferred to Missouri. There, the FBI taped more than 1,000 minutes of conversation between Frost and Danton before the court banned Frost and his wife from having any contact with the prisoner.Jefferson says that was a joke.&ldquo;Sure, Frost couldn&rsquo;t talk to Mike, but (Frost associates) Shawn Cation and Larry Barron and Darryl Tiveron and Brad Bonello could,&rdquo; Jefferson said. &ldquo;If Frost wanted to get a message to Mike, he could do it through them.&rdquo;Frost bragged as much after the ruling was made.According to the FBI, one conversation between Danton and Frost concerning the alleged hit went as follows:Danton: I felt there was no other way. Frost: Are you having those feelings now?Danton: No.After telling Danton he was willing to forgive him, Frost said: The attempt to hire somebody is awful what?Danton: Stupid.Frost says the conversation was taken out of context and alleges that Danton was trying to have his own father killed; that Danton believed his father was coming from Canada to kill him.<h2>&rsquo;THIS GUY IS SO NUTS&rsquo;</h2>&ldquo;Why would he want to kill our own son, we love him,&rdquo; Sue Jefferson said. &ldquo;God, any money he has made he has worked really hard for and deserves it all for himself. Why would we want to take anything off of him? Geez, this guy (Frost) is so nuts and what he&rsquo;s doing to people is nuts.&rdquo;Wolfmeyer was found not guilty of conspiracy to murder and interstate use of a telephone in crime. Some jurors said afterwards they didn&rsquo;t feel she was entirely innocent, and that a lot of lies were told during the trial, but the prosecution failed to prove she was guilty. Wolfmeyer had faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.Frost says Danton&rsquo;s plan is to speak out about his troubled past following the sentencing. Danton, according to Frost, will waive his doctors&rsquo; confidentiality clause and allow them to speak about what they have determined happened to him psychologically. Frost also says Danton plans to start a foundation to assist abused athletes.Frost claims Danton has made great strides in therapy and has high hopes that he will be able to resume his NHL career after getting proper legal clearance. Frost says he will be surprised if Danton is not signed by an NHL team following his release from prison.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-03788/7780818-1-eng-US/f0011-032.jpg" title="f0011-03" width="935" height="924"></div><blockquote class="pullQuote">MIKE DANTON ALLEGEDLY TOLD WOLFMEYER SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO KILL HIM AND WONDERED IF SHE KNEW ANYONE WHO WOULD KILL THAT PERSON FOR $10,000</blockquote><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-021433/7780811-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="2173" height="1622"><figcaption class="caption-body">TOUGH TRIP TO MAKE&nbsp;Sue Jefferson (right), Danton&rsquo;s mother, and Linda Gebe, his aunt, made the trip to East St. Louis to attend the player&rsquo;s court hearing.</figcaption></div>&ldquo;I have already talked to (teams) that have interest in him as long as his paperwork is OK and the doctors have cleared him,&rdquo; Frost says.&ldquo;We&rsquo;re not talking about a criminal here. We&rsquo;re talking about somebody that had a significant sickness. Michael was sick. He had strong addictions and doctors have told him they are hereditary.&ldquo;There is some significant drug and alcohol abuse problems in the history of the family and they date back more than one generation. Mike was addicted. When he was in Albany, N.Y., playing hockey, he got into alcohol. We got him off that. A few years later he suffers a significant injury on his shoulder in early December&hellip;and from that point on Mike abused painkillers to the point where he was overdosing on a regular basis. He has a fear of being alone and uses females to try to intercede that feeling he has that he&rsquo;s alone and scared.&ldquo;The forensic doctor got to the bottom of what the problem was. He did an excellent job drilling to the core of Mike and finding out what the issues are. Now he&rsquo;s well on his way to a healthy recovery.&rdquo;There are those who believe as long as Danton remains involved with Frost, he will never be totally recovered.But that is a theory the new and improved Mike Danton will have to ponder on his own. &#9632;

f0008-02

COVER STORY

THE HARD TIMES OF MIKE DANTON

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0012-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-03927/7780905-1-eng-US/f0012-032.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">TODD BERTUZZI</figcaption></div><h2>UPDATE</h2><h3>THE CASE</h3>The Vancouver power forward faces a criminal assault charge stemming from his blindside attack on Colorado&rsquo;s Steve Moore on March 8. Bertuzzi was suspended the rest of the regular season and playoffs; Moore&rsquo;s NHL future is uncertain.<h3>WHAT&rsquo;S NEXT</h3>Bertuzzi has pled not guilty to the charges. His trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 17 in British Columbia Provincial Court. He faces a maximum sentence of 18 months in jail if convicted.<h2>UPDATE</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-04547/7780898-1-eng-US/f0012-042.jpg" title="f0012-04" width="1033" height="1876"><figcaption class="caption-body">DANY HEATLEY</figcaption></div><h3>THE CASE</h3>Though he signed to play during the lockout in Switzerland, Heatley&rsquo;s legal issues stemming from the car accident last fall that killed teammate Dan Snyder are far from settled. He still faces a felony charge of vehicular homicide and five other counts.<h3>WHAT&rsquo;S NEXT</h3>A court date is scheduled for Nov. 29, but it&rsquo;s unclear if Heatley will be required to return to Atlanta to appear. The maximum sentence if found guilty is 15 years, but the judge would have considerable latitude in sentencing.<h2>UPDATE</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-05393/7780891-1-eng-US/f0012-052.jpg" title="f0012-05" width="1029" height="1882"><figcaption class="caption-body">ALEXANDER PEREZHQGIN</figcaption></div><h3>THE CASE</h3>Perezhogin is serving a one-year suspension by the American League for an April 30 stickswinging blow on Cleveland&rsquo;s Garrett Stafford. Perezhogin was charged by authorities in Hamilton, Ont., with assault causing bodily harm and has pled not guilty.<h3>WHATS NEXT</h3>Perezhogin is playing this season in Omsk in the Russian Superleague. A set-date is scheduled for Nov. 17 in a Hamilton court, at which time a trial date could be scheduled. Perezhogin is not expected to appear.<h2>UPDATE</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-06319/7780884-1-eng-US/f0012-062.jpg" title="f0012-06" width="1024" height="1877"><figcaption class="caption-body">ROB RAMAGE</figcaption></div><h3>THE CASE</h3>The former NHL defenseman was charged with impaired driving and dangerous driving causing death in a December accident that killed passenger and ex-NHLer Keith Magnuson. The two were returning from the funeral of NHL Alumni Association chair Keith McCreary.<h3>WHAT&rsquo;S NEXT</h3>A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 18, 2005, in provincial court in Newmarket, Ont. Ramage is free on $100,000 bond and is living at his home in St. Louis. &#9632;

f0012-03

TRIAL UPDATES

<div class="byline">Ken Hitchcock&nbsp;Guest Columnist</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-021157/7780943-1-eng-US/f0013-022.jpg" title="f0013-02" width="413" height="666"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-011663/7780950-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg" title="f0013-01" width="109" height="111"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div>Some NHL coaches cope with down time by playing in pickup games or taking part in old timers hockey. When I get antsy, I just want to get back to coaching.That&rsquo;s why I spent mid-October in Corpus Cristi, Texas, working with the Corpus Cristi Rayz and New Mexico Scorpions of the Central League during their training camps.The coaches there, Bill Macdonald of New Mexico and Ken McRae of Corpus Cristi, both allowed me to work some drills at their practices and to run parts of their 90minute onice sessions, and for that I&rsquo;m grateful.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-03848/7780936-1-eng-US/f0013-032.jpg" title="f0013-03" width="2616" height="2529"><figcaption class="caption-body">LOCKED IN&nbsp;There&rsquo;s no NHL, but Ken Hitchcock is still getting his hockey fix.</figcaption></div>For the previous month I hadn&rsquo;t done much of anything except help out with some Flyers&rsquo; marketing events and watch our American League affiliate, the PhiladelphiaPhantoms. It wasn&rsquo;t nearly enough. As the lockout progressed, I started to feel that if I didn&rsquo;t have something planned to keep myself active, I&rsquo;d get stale and bored and wouldn&rsquo;t be effective whenever things get started up. You reach a point where sitting around and waiting for the phone to ring isn&rsquo;t an appealing option anymore.So it&rsquo;s my goal to be on the ice with one team or another once or twice a week from now until Christmas. I&rsquo;ll be travelling all over North America to work with teams at all levels - up to British Columbia to see some junior clubs, to Princeton and hopefully North Dakota to work with U.S. college players, to Philadelphia for a few hockey clinics and maybe I&rsquo;ll even make it back to Texas down the road.Right now I&rsquo;m happy just to be talking about hockey with anybody. It gives me my fix.As for the NHL lockout, I&rsquo;m past the point of frustration. I&rsquo;ve moved on. When it&rsquo;s done, we&rsquo;ll hit the ground running in Philadelphia because it&rsquo;s going to be a sprint. Travelling around, visiting all these teams and staying in the game allows me to be ready when the time comes.I stay in touch with the players mostly by talking to our captain, Keith Primeau. We chat about once a week and Keith updates me on what the guys are doing, where they&rsquo;re playing, if anything is new with their families. Hockey doesn&rsquo;t come up much in our conversations.I chat with our coaching staff once or twice a week as well. We have a plan for training camp ready to go based on a 60-game season; if more games are lost we&rsquo;ll have a conference call to get it down to 40 games. The big difference between the two is with the technical package we prepare. The shorter the time we have for camp and for the season, the less information players will be able to absorb. It will also be important to get them in the mindset of however many games there are. It&rsquo;s going to be like playoff hockey, so we&rsquo;d all better be ready.Being around the CHL would make anyone involved with the NHL reflect on how good we have it. After a few days of CHL training camps, you realize how much these guys must love the game, because things aren&rsquo;t nearly as cushy as they are in the NHL. These players are grinding it out on the ice and off, with long road trips and sleeper buses. It reminds me of the way things were in junior hockey, except these are professionals.I&rsquo;ve been impressed with the quality of play. I watched some games in this league seven or eight years ago and I can tell the CHL has improved dramatically.There are players from all over in the CHL graduates from major junior, Jr. A, NCAA, U.S. junior league, players from Europe. It&rsquo;s not a great living, but my hat&rsquo;s off to them because they&rsquo;re pursuing their dreams. They think with the right opportunity or the right break, they just might be able to make a go of pro hockey and they&rsquo;re willing to make the sacrifices needed to give it their best shot.- KEN HITCHCOCK COACHES THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS &#9632;

f0013-02

Going coach class

<div class="byline">BY ANDRE PICHER</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0014-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-021359/7780981-1-eng-US/f0014-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">HIS VISIONJohn Kerry has &rsquo;fantasized&rsquo; starting a professional over-50 league. (STEVE BABINEAU/SPORTS ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY)</figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-011806/7780988-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg" title="f0014-01" width="135" height="87"></div>The game of hockey may soon find it has a good friend in an especially high place. John Kerry, the Democratic candidate in the presidential election, loves the sport so much he brought his bag of equipment along the campaign trail to the White House.If he wins in November, he will become the first hockey-playing president in American history.Kerry picked up the game while attending St Paul&rsquo;s, an elite prep school in Concord, N.H. His first strides were carved into the surface of Turkey Pond where students have been playing hockey since the late 1800s. St. Paul&rsquo;s was the first school in the U.S. to have a hockey team and it&rsquo;s where American legend Hobey Baker got his start. Kerry took to the game quickly and joined the school team, where he played alongside another student who would later make the jump from pond hockey to Washington power plays. Robert Mueller, director of the FBI, captained St.Paul&rsquo;s.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>PASSIONATE IN DEFEATS</h2>While the team struggled for victories, one year going winless the entire season, Kerry&rsquo;s enthusiasm for the game blossomed and it has developed into a life-long passion.Kerry frequently quotes Wayne Gretzky&rsquo;s dictum, &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t go to where the puck is, go to where it&rsquo;s going to be,&rdquo; to explain his philosophy on politics and fife.His zeal for the sport is further revealed in his book A Call to Service: My Vision for a Better America, where he writes, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m so addicted to ice hockey that I still fantasize about starting a professional over-50 senior league.&rdquo;<blockquote class="pullQuote">A rink at the White House? &rsquo;That would be great. I&rsquo;d love that,&rsquo; Kerry said.</blockquote>When asked about what changes he would like to see to the NHL game Kerry said, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m just not a fan of all the grabbing and the clutching. I&rsquo;d like to see things open up a little more. I like the finesse game, like Jaromir Jagr&rsquo;s. The players are so big now, I&rsquo;m not sure the rinks are even big enough anymore for the game to be as wide open as it could be.&rdquo;While serving in the U.S. Senate, Kerry exercised his love of hockey by playing in regular early morning games in Washington. Even while campaigning across the country for the presidency, he found a way to mix his passion for the puck with his quest for the White House.In what was a first in the history of presidential electioneering, Kerry used a game of hockey as a major campaign event. In late January, three days before the pivotal New Hampshire Democratic primary, Kerry hosted a charity game in the state capital, Manchester, with players from local high schools and fire departments and alumni from the Boston Bruins and the U.S. women&rsquo;s Olympic teams.The appropriately named John F. Kennedy Memorial Coliseum was filled to capacity with New Hampshire voters and press from all over the world.The presidential hopeful carried his lanky frame well on his skates that afternoon. Long, smooth, strides propelled him across the ice with speed and ease. He scored two goals in the game.When asked what it was like to play with ex-NHLers, Kerry replied, &ldquo;Like you&rsquo;re a kid in heaven. I mean, you come off your shift and your tongue is hanging out and you look over and there&rsquo;s Ray Bourque sitting next to you&hellip;It doesn&rsquo;t get any better than that.&rdquo;It wasn&rsquo;t the first time the two had connected. On June 26, 2001, the day Bourque announced his retirement from the NHL, Kerry delivered a speech from the floor of the Senate recalling the defenseman&rsquo;s many achievements in the sport and praising him for the character and class he displayed throughout his career. In the dressing room after the game, Bourque was asked for his thoughts on Kerry mixing hockey with politics.&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s a great occasion to get out in front of people and we had a great crowd out there,&rdquo; Bourque said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve played a few games with Senator Kerry and he loves the game. It&rsquo;s a lot of fun having him out there.&rdquo;Teammate Cam Neely agreed: &ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s fabulous. He&rsquo;s a hockey fan and he loves to play hockey. He&rsquo;s played in a lot of charity games that we&rsquo;ve had in Boston, so I think it&rsquo;s a good fit for Senator Kerry.&rdquo;<h2>WHITE HOUSE HOCKEY</h2>After the game, Kerry took two laps around the rink to wave to the applauding crowd. As he stepped off the ice and began heading to the dressing room, he stopped to sign autographs for a group of young kids.When he was finished, Kerry was reminded that President Eisenhower had a sand trap and putting green built into the White House lawn so he could practise his golf game at home. In light of that, the reporter wanted to know, if Kerry wins in November, should we expect to see a rink in his new backyard?A smile came to his face as he considered it for a moment and replied, &ldquo;That would be great. I&rsquo;d love that.&rdquo;It remains to be seen if he can bring hockey from one of its American cradles to the country&rsquo;s highest office, but it seems clear that wherever John Kerry ends up, he&rsquo;ll be bringing along a pair of skates, his hockey stick and a love for the game. &#9632;

f0014-02

Puck passions in Kerry’s blood

<div class="byline">BY NATHAN WHITE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-021165/7781019-1-eng-US/f0015-022.jpg" title="f0015-02" width="783" height="671"><figcaption class="caption-body">Goalie Gene Chiarello isn&rsquo;t shy about his three-inch scar of courage.</figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-011649/7781026-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg" title="f0015-01" width="151" height="206"></div>When Gene Chiarello took a break from chemotherapy last year to visit the University of New Brunswick, he stood at center ice, pointed at the net and said he&rsquo;d be standing in front of it this season.Some people probably didn&rsquo;t believe the goaltender could recover that quickly from a year that included two brain surgeries and six months of chemo. His doctor said he&rsquo;d be lucky to walk up a flight of stairs. Yet in front of that net is exactly where he was on Oct. 6, getting the start for the Varsity Reds in an exhibition game against cross-town rival St. Thomas.&ldquo;Especially after the doctor said, &rsquo;You can&rsquo;t do it,&rsquo;&hellip;that was pretty much my invitation,&rdquo; said Chiarello, who has a three-inch scar along his nose and a brand new growth of hair under his goalie mask.Chiarello said he visualized the comeback &ldquo;every day for the past 12 months. The emotions that were going through me, it&rsquo;s something I looked forward to every day and every time that I said I&rsquo;d be back&hellip;1 was just glad I was able to keep a promise.&rdquo;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s just one of those miracles,&rdquo; said Reds forward Colin Sinclair. The team thought Chiarello&rsquo;s surgery in September of 2003 would be his last and that he might return in January. But the tumor was malignant and his nightmare year was only beginning.Chiarello, 25, had his second surgery July 9 in Toronto after recovering from the months of 18-hour-a-day chemo treatments. Stepping back on the ice for the first time was special.&ldquo;The other guys are skating around, but they&rsquo;re so unaware of the party you&rsquo;re having inside your head. Nobody&rsquo;s been with me through every day, nobody knows what I&rsquo;m thinking&hellip;To be able to step on the ice again was a real special moment.&rdquo;Through everything he endured, he maintained a positive attitude and inspired his teammates on the way to a silver medal at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport University Cup.&ldquo;He was a true inspiration,&rdquo; Sinclair said. &ldquo;Now to have him in the room as one of your buddies this year, it&rsquo;s just a great feeling.&rdquo;As incredible as it was for Chiarello to don a jersey less than three months after his second surgery, stopping 16 shots for the win in his return was icing on the cake.&ldquo;He played unbelievable for us and he was a spark for us; it was a great win,&rdquo; said Reds captain Craig Mahon. &ldquo;Just looking at the guy getting ready to go out there on the ice, I had chills on the back of my spine.&rdquo;Although it was a great moment for him, Chiarello isn&rsquo;t satisfied yet.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s great to be here, but I certainly don&rsquo;t want to be a weak link,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Whenever my name&rsquo;s called out by the coach, I want to be ready.&rdquo;<h2>HOCKEY WORLD IN BRIEF</h2><h3>GRETZKY A COACH? NOT YET</h3>Wayne Gretzky is toying with the notion of possibly coaching the Phoenix Coyotes, according to a report in the Mesa Tribune. A source said a decision wouldn&rsquo;t be made until after the NHL lockout, but the Coyotes are the only NHL team without a coach. Gretzky, himself, said he has a busy enough schedule. &ldquo;I have so much on my plate with my personal and business commitments that I haven&rsquo;t really sat down to seriously discuss the idea,&rdquo; Gretzky said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s the closest thing to playing and I do miss being around the team atmosphere.&rdquo;<h3>NHLERS STAYING ACTIVE IN EUROPE</h3>Dany Heatley, Patrice Brisebois, Daniel Briere and Derek Armstrong have pushed the total to more than 200, the number of NHLers playing in Europe during the lockout. Heatley and Briere agreed to play for Bern, Brisebois for Kloten and Armstrong for Geneva-Servette, all in Switzerland. Like the majority of NHLers playing in Europe, they have clauses that permit them to return to the NHL if the lockout ends.<h3>HOCKEY LOSES IN POLL</h3>Most Americans are unaware of the NHL lockout, according to a poll by Zogby InternationaL The Rogers Sportsnet poll of 1,183 U.S. citizens showed 56 per cent were not aware of a lockout and just six per cent were interested in watching NHL action when a settlement is declared. Meantime, an Ipsos-Reid/TSN poll showed 70 per cent of Canadians believe the entire NHL season will be cancelled, up from 50 per cent a month ago.<h2>NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER!</h2>NHLers who have gotten older - technically - during the lockout:Oct. 21Mike Danton, UFA, 24Oct. 22Miroslav Satan, Buf, 30Scott Lachance, Clb, 32Stephane QuintaL LA, 36Matt Pettinger, Wsh, 24Ron Tugnutt, UFA, 37Oct 24Jamal Mayers, StL, 30Clarke Wilm, Tor, 28Oct 26Miikka Kiprusoff, Cgy, 28 &#9632;

f0015-02

Goalie keeps his promise

<div class="byline">BY THN STAFF</div>Chris Chelios is speaking out against the NHL commissioner again, but Gary Bettman doesn&rsquo;t have to worry about his well-being.The 42-year-old defenseman told the Detroit Free Press that Bettman is to blame for the lockout, should be dismissed, the league has too many poor markets and should contractChelios chastised Bettman for enforcing a gag order on owners and not letting dissenters speak their mind.&ldquo;How can an owner that&rsquo;s not in favor of this have no opinion and not speak his mind?&rdquo; Chelios asked. &ldquo;The guys who know how to run their teams, they should let them speak. What do you want, be fined $50,000 every time you (talk)? It&rsquo;s ridiculous.&ldquo;Gary Bettman has put the league in this situation. A guy who doesn&rsquo;t do his job shouldn&rsquo;t be there.&rdquo;During the lockout in 1994-95, Chelios made a bizarre statement for which he later apologized:&ldquo;If I was Bettman, I&rsquo;d be worried about my family. Some crazed fan or player might figure if they get him out of the way, this might get settled.&rdquo;Away from hockey, Chelios is toying with the idea of trying out for the Greek bobsled team for the 2006 Winter Olympics. He took three bobsled runs on a four-man team driven by Jean Racine and John Napier in Lake Placid, N.Y. Oct. 13.&ldquo;What a rush,&rdquo; he said.UNION SUPPORT Major League Baseball&rsquo;s union is offering a friendly shoulder to the NHL Players&rsquo; Association.MLBPA executive director Donald Fehr sent a letter to players announcing its support for the NHLPA&rsquo;s stance against a salary cap.The NHL and MLB are the only two major pro leagues that do not have a cap and baseball&rsquo;s CBA expires Dec. 17,2006. A hockey cap would hurt MLBPA&rsquo;s bargaining position.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-03812/7781057-1-eng-US/f0015-032.jpg" title="f0015-03" width="345" height="541"><figcaption class="caption-body">CHRIS CHELIOS</figcaption></div>&ldquo;Simply put,&rdquo; Fehr wrote, &ldquo;this is a battle over free agency: hockey owners want to eliminate it, the players want &ldquo;to preserve it There is nothing more central to players&rsquo; rights in pro team sports than maintaining a free market.&ldquo;The NHL players deserve and have our full support.&rdquo;LINDEN STATEMENT The president of the NHLPA issued a statement Oct. 13 which was supposed to be the opening day of the NHL season emphasizing blame should be placed on the owners. &ldquo;We are left waiting for the league to step forward with a meaningful, non-salary cap proposal,&rdquo; wrote Vancouver&rsquo;s Trevor Linden. &ldquo;The owners have shown no such willingness to find a common ground. They have been fixated since 1998 to lock out the players in the hopes of extracting a salary cap. Bettman and the owners hold the key to getting the season underway.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0015-03

Chelios blames Bettman

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0016-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-021237/7781088-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Celebration line or picket line? The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and their NHL counterparts won&rsquo;t be doing any of the former during the lockout. The burning question now is, how long will they be banned from work?</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-011595/7781095-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg" title="f0016-01" width="206" height="210"></div>Here&rsquo;s a look at each club as the NHL lockout hit mid-October:ANAHEIM The Ducks had a movie night on the beach Oct. 1, showing Miracle to 1,000 fans&hellip;also held skating parties for season-ticket holders.ATLANTA There&rsquo;s a coaching clinic Nov. 14. The team also will have a 4-on-4 corporate challenge, with proceeds for the Thrashers Foundation.BOSTON The FleetCenter hosted Denis Leary&rsquo;s fifth annual &rsquo;Celebrity Hat Trick&rsquo; Oct. 3 to raise money for firefighter charities.BUFFALO The Sabres host two AHL games (Nov. 5, Dec. 28) at HSBC Arena and will also make the rink available for youth clinics.CALGARY Most of the team&rsquo;s resources are being put into the WHL&rsquo;s Calgary Hitmen, which the Flames own, to reduce losses.CAROLINA Canes owner Peter Karmanos was to hold a town hall meeting for season-ticket holders Oct. 14 - home opener.CHICAGO Aside from offering season-ticket holders a 10 per-cent discount on their plans, the Hawks had nothing scheduled for fans.COLORADO NHLPA executive rep Bob Boughner: &ldquo;Everything&rsquo;s been very, very quiet and I don&rsquo;t see anything happening in the near future.&rdquo;COLUMBUS The radio team of Bill Davidge and George Matthews and TV duo of Jeff Rimer, Brian Engblom make public appearances.DALLAS The Stars will placate fans with an online tribute. The &rsquo;Ultimate Dallas Stars Collection&rsquo; will profile 25 great games in team history.DETROIT The only game at Joe Louis Arena is an Oct. 22 CCHA tilt: Lake Superior and Michigan.EDMONTON The coaching staff (Craig MacTavish, Charlie Huddy, Craig Simpson) had a clinic for 240 minor hockey coaches.FLORIDA John Vanbies-brouck, the 1996 Cup final hero, signed autographs at &rsquo;Hockey Night in South Florida&rsquo; Oct. 16.LOS ANGELES There&rsquo;s an Oct. 23 AHL game at Staples Center between Manchester and Salt Lake City. The 12,000 season-ticket holders get in free.MINNESOTA The Wild opened the Xcel Energy Center for fans to play interactive games, tour the dressing rooms and kibitz with team executive.MONTREAL The Habs held a September clinic for Quebec minor hockey coaches.NASHVILLE Milwaukee, the Preds&rsquo; AHL affiliate, hosted Rochester in Nashville Oct. 16NEW JERSEY The Devils plan some charity events and a Q&A session with the new ownership.NY ISLANDERS The Isles team up with Bridgeport (AHL) to offer packages to Sound Tigers games.NY RANGERS The annual Rangers Golf Classic had alumni only. Retirees Andy Bathgate, Ed Giacomin and Emile Francis were honored.OTTAWA The Sens are turning the Corel Centre into a community center, offering public skates for $5.PHILADELPHIA The AHL Phantoms get to play in the Wachovia Center for their first two games, Oct. 22 and 27.PHOENIX The Coyotes and Blues battle over who pays injured left winger Brian Savage.PITTSBURGH The Penguins plan to announce plans to compete for license to run a slots parlor in Pittsburgh.ST. LOUIS Local cable TV will air classic Blues games (once Cardinals have been eliminated from baseball playoffs).SAN JOSE The HP Pavilion will host an AHL game Nov. 9 between Edmonton and Cleveland.TAMPA BAY The Bolts are running hockey camps for kids, with Tampa&rsquo;s coaching staff guiding the troops.TORONTO The Leafs are offering season-ticket holders 4.79 per-cent interest on their ticket deposits.VANCOUVER Sixty media members will vie for 20 jobs on a Making the Cut-style team that will play a game against a Canucks alumni team.WASHINGTON Business is operating as close to normal as possible, a Caps spokesman said, although &ldquo;the sales staff is feeling it the most.&rdquo; I<h2>TEAM REPORTS</h2>The NHL team reports include a player-by-player listing of what NHLPA members are up to during the lockout. Players can&rsquo;t go into NHL arenas, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean those buildings are collecting dust with inactivity. &#9632;

f0016-02

No hockey…so what’s up?

<div class="byline">- DAN WOOD</div>Anaheim might be in good shape if the NHL season ever gets going, if only because half its players are skating in either Europe or the American League with Cincinnati.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-03929/7781133-1-eng-US/f0016-032.jpg" title="f0016-03" width="297" height="373"></div><h2>THE DUCKS</h2>Ilya Bryzgalov, G Main man in AHL again rather than backing up Giguere.Garrett Burnett, LW Fourth-liner biding time in B.C.Keith Carney, D Tracking his four young kids instead of NHL scorers.Stanislav Chistov, RW Speedster looking to find confidence in AHL.Sergei Fedorov, C Plans to be part of a European December tour.Ryan Getzlaf, RW Back playing junior with Western League&rsquo;s Calgary Hitmen.J-S Giguere, G Playing on Quebec tour with fellow French-Canadian NHLers.Michael Holmqvist, RW Back in AHL, hoping to build on promising Ducks debut.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-04700/7781126-1-eng-US/f0016-042.jpg" title="f0016-04" width="331" height="332"></div>Mike Leclerc, LW Raring to go after knee surgery.Jaffrey Lupul, RW Last year&rsquo;s rookie standout honing his game in AHL.Chris Kunitz, LW Second AHL season for former Ferris State star.Tomas Malec, D Ex-Hurricane trying to open some eyes while at Cincinnati.Andy McDonald, C Getting a taste of German hockey with Ingolstadt.Rob Niedermayer, LW Enjoying the scenery in Cranbrook, B.C.Sandis Ozolinsh, D Residing with his family in Southern California.Samuel Pahlsson, C Third-liner playing for Frolunda in Sweden.Steve Rucchin, C Leading sparsely attended practices at Anaheim rink.Ruslan Salei, D Might play in Russia, but won&rsquo;t start any earlier than November.Martin Skoula, D Returned to Czech Republic to skate with Litvinov.Alexei Smirnov, LW Trying to regain organization&rsquo;s belief in Cincinnati.Petr Sykora, RW Playing with Magnitogorsk in Russia.Vitaly Vishnevski, D Playing with Khimik in his native Russia.Lance Ward, D Waiting it out in his hometown of Lloydminster, Alta. &#9632;

f0016-03

Half of Ducks’ roster finds place to play

<div class="byline">- JOHN MANASSO</div>Sixteen Thrashers are playing either in Europe or with the team&rsquo;s American League affiliate in Chicago, leaving only a small handful of veterans to work out on their own.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-05506/7781171-1-eng-US/f0016-052.jpg" title="f0016-05" width="295" height="373"></div><h2>THE THRASHERS</h2>Serge Aubin, C Working out in his native Quebec.Kip Brennan, LW Enforcer playing in AHL with Chicago.Braydon Coburn, D Returned to the Western League, where he is playing with Portland.Garnet Exelby, D Working out in Atlanta. He has offers from Chicago (AHL) and European teams.Niclas Havelid, D Playing in Sweden with Sodertalje.Dany Heatley, RW Signed with SC Bern in Switzerland.Jani Hurme, G Recovering from mysterious back ailment in native Finland.Tomas Kloucek, D Playing in native Czech Republic with Slavia Praha.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-06425/7781164-1-eng-US/f0016-062.jpg" title="f0016-06" width="334" height="333"><figcaption class="caption-body">(GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Ilya Kovalchuk, LW Playing in Russian League with Ak Bars Kazan.Slava Kozlov, LW Playing with Voskresensk in Russian league.Brad Larsen, RW Playing in AHL with Chicago.Kari Lehtonen, G No. 1 prospect in minors last season returns as Wolves&rsquo; starter.Ivan Majesky, D Expected to sign with Slovakian team once wrist heals.Shawn McEachern, LW Working out with other NHLers at off-season home in Massachusetts.Jaroslav Modry, D Working out in Atlanta with fellow NHLers Patrik Stefan and Byron Dafoe.Pasi Nurminen, G Finn playing for hometown team of Lahti.Ronald Petrovicky, RW Playing in Slovakia for hometown team (Zilnia).Marc Savard, C Signed with B-level team of Thurgau in Swiss league.Patrik Stefan, C Working out in Atlanta with Modry and Dafoe.Andy Sutton, D Signed with Swiss B-league team.Daniel Tjarnqvist, D Playing in native Sweden with Djurgarden.Ben Simon, C Playing with Chicago, where he won Calder Cup.J-P Vigier, RW Playing in AHL with Chicago. &#9632;

f0016-05

Chicago a popular city for young Thrashers

<div class="byline">- NANCY MARRAPESE-BURRELL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-021098/7781209-1-eng-US/f0017-022.jpg" title="f0017-02" width="267" height="371"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-011423/7781216-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg" title="f0017-01" width="100" height="105"></div>For the most part, Bruins players have either migrated overseas to find jobs or are toiling with Providence of the American League. Others have signed with the Original Stars League or the Quebec Charity League.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>THE BRUINS</h2>P-J Axelsson, LW Playing for Frolunda in his native land.Patrice Bergeron, C Playing for Providence rather than returning to major junior.Brad Boyes, C In Providence, but when NHL resumes, he&rsquo;ll be promoted.Nick Boynton, D One of team&rsquo;s leaders last year now playing with Original Stars League.Tom Fitzgerald, RW Veteran hasn&rsquo;t hooked on anywhere, but might if lockout continues.Hal Gill, D Still recovering from broken foot suffered during the World Cup.Jonathan Girard, D Continues remarkable recovery from auto accident; playing in OSHL.Sergei Gonchar, D Playing for Magnitogorsk in native Russia.Peter Hamerlik, G Playing for Providence and continuing to develop.Andy Hilbert, LW Playing for Providence.Ivan Huml, LW Signed on with Kladno of his native Czech Republic.Milan Jurcina, D Big defenseman, expected to be a regular in Boston, is in Providence.Zdenek Kutlak, D Now with Karlovy Vary of his native Czech Republic.Martin Lapointe, RW Bruising, veteran winger skating with Quebec Charity League.Ian Moran, D One of Boston&rsquo;s better blueliners playing for the Original Stars League.Colton Orr, RW Playing in Providence and expected to be the next Boston enforcer.Andrew Raycroft, G Restricted free agent playing for the Original Stars League.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-03785/7781202-1-eng-US/f0017-032.jpg" title="f0017-03" width="333" height="337"></div>Sergei Samsonov, LW Flashy forward is skating in the Detroit area and could head over to Europe in the new year.Martin Samuelsson, RW Playing in Providence.Joe Thornton, C Bruins captain was leading scorer for HC Davos in Swiss Elite League as of mid-October.Hannu Toivonen, G In Providence; should become Raycroft&rsquo;s backup when NHL resumes. Sergei Zinovjev, C Extremely talented pivot with questionable work ethic playing in native Russia for Kazan Ak-Bars. &#9632;

f0017-02

Bruins finding places to play, but some remain sidelined

<div class="byline">- JIM KELLEY</div>Girls may just want to have fun, but Buffalo Sabres hockey players apparently just want to play hockey, somewhere, anywhere. The Sabres have players in Russia, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and the Czech Republic, with others opting to play in the American League, a Quebec-based barn-storming charity league and the Original Stars League.<h2>THE SABRES</h2>Maxim Afinogenov, RW Following up strong World Cup for Russia by playing with Moscow Dynamo.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-04575/7781254-1-eng-US/f0017-042.jpg" title="f0017-04" width="291" height="376"></div>Eric Boulton, RW Scheduled to play in the Original Stars League.Daniel Briere, C Had two-game stint with SC Bern in Switzerland, returned home for a few weeks and then signed another contract with Bern.Brad Brown, D Contemplating the Original Stars.Brian Campbell, D Another possible Original Stars player.Tim Connolly, C In return from concussion, signed to play with Langnau in Switzerland.Chris Drury Working out at home.J-P Dumont, RW Scheduled to play in series of Quebec charity games organized by Ranger Joel Bouchard.Rory Fitzpatrick, D Considering the Original Stars loop.Mike Grier, RW Working out at home.Jochen Hecht, LW Playing for Mannheim in the German league.Jeff Jillson, D Playing for Rochester in the AHL.Dmitri Kalinin, D Playing for Magnitogorsk in Russia.Adam Mair, C/RW Working out on his own.Jay McKee, D Working out in Buffalo.Andrew Peters, LW/RW Tough guy rounding out game with Boden in the Swedish league.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-05399/7781247-1-eng-US/f0017-052.jpg" title="f0017-05" width="331" height="336"></div>Taylor Pyatt, LW Working out at home.Derek Roy, C Assigned to AHL Rochester.Miroslav Satan, LWWorking.out in Slovakia while contemplating offers from Slovakian clubs.Hendrik Tallinder, D Playing for Link&ouml;ping of Swedish league.Doug Janik, D Assigned to Rochester.Martin Biron, G Working out on his own.Mika Noronen, G Working out in Finland. &#9632;

f0017-04

Sabres traveling the world in search of hockey hotbeds

<div class="byline">- RANDY SPORTAK</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-021116/7781292-1-eng-US/f0018-022.jpg" title="f0018-02" width="291" height="380"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-011472/7781299-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="108" height="107"></div>While most NHLers playing in Europe are in hockey countries such as Sweden, Finland, Russia and the Czech Republic, Steve Montador and Steven Reinprecht signed to play in France.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>THE FLAMES</h2>Chris Clark, RW Three-game gig for Bern in Switzerland pulled him overseas.Mike Commodore, D Signed AmericanLeague deal with Lowell.Shean Donovan, RW In Ottawa with his young family.Andrew Ference, D Assistant coach with Bow Valley Eagles of AJHL.Martin Gelinas, LW Lighting it up for Forward Morges in Switzerland.Jarome Iginla, RW Restricted free agent awaiting birth of first child.Miikka Kiprusoff, G Continuing stellar play with Timra IK in Sweden. ChuckKobasew, RW Aiming to regain goal-scoring touch in Lowell.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-03795/7781285-1-eng-US/f0018-032.jpg" title="f0018-03" width="335" height="334"></div>Daymond Langkow, C In Phoenix skating with former teammates.Jordan Leopold, D On mend from concussion suffered in World Cup.Matthew Lombardi, C Recovering slowly from concussion in playoffs.Lynn Loyns, LW Returned to Lowell after three heart surgeries.Toni Lydrnan, D Healing at home from two playoff concussions.Steve Montador, D Honing offensive skills while playing in France.Ville Nieminen, LW Finn back with Tappara club he once played on.Marcus Nilson, LW Skating with Djurgarden in Swedish homeland.Robyn Regehr, D Recovering from World Cup with long vacation.Steven Reinprecht, C Working way back from shoulder surgery.Byron Ritchie, C Regaining scoring touch with Rogle in Sweden.Chris Simon, LW At home in Wawa, Ont..Roman Turek, G In Calgary, where his children attend school.Rhett Warrener, D Working out in Calgary.Jason Wiemer, C Splits time between Calgary and hometown of Kimberley, B.C..Stephane Yelle, C In Denver with new wife. &#9632;

f0018-02

Montador, Reinprecht off to play in France

<div class="byline">LUKE DECOCK</div>After Erik Cole&rsquo;s deal with Eisb&auml;ren Berlin was voided by L.A. Kings (and Berlin) owner Philip Anschutz and Pavel Brendl left Trinec of the Czech League after only two games, seven &rsquo;Canes remained overseas, with a core group still hanging around Raleigh.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-04517/7781344-1-eng-US/f0018-042.jpg" title="f0018-04" width="294" height="311"></div><h2>THE HURRICANES</h2>Kevyn Adams, C Team&rsquo;s union rep is working out in Raleigh.Ryan Bayda, LW Back for third season in Lowell of American League.Jesse Boulerice, RW Enforcer is working out in Raleigh.Pavel Brendl, RW Signed with Trinec, but left after two games.Rod Brind Amour, C Veteran is working out in Raleigh.Erik Cole, RW In limbo after German team backed out of contract.Matt Cullen, C Free agent signee playing in Italy.Brad Fast, D Possible future power play quarterback playing for Lowell.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-05344/7781337-1-eng-US/f0018-052.jpg" title="f0018-05" width="335" height="333"></div>Martin Gerber, G Playing for Langnau in native Switzerland.Bret Hedican, D In Raleigh and not interested in playing elsewhere.Frantisek Kaberle, D Recovering from World Cup groin injury.Marty Murray, C Home in Clear Lake, Man.; may play in OSHL.Jeff O&rsquo;Neill, RW In Raleigh and fully healed after shoulder surgery.Allan Rourke, D In Lowell after making NHL debut last season.Eric Staal, C After going from junior to NHL, takes step back to AHL.Bruno St. Jacques, D Depth defenseman playing for Lowell.Josef Vasicek, C Back with Slavia Prague in native Czech Republic.Radim Vrbata, RW Czech native playing for Liberec in ExtraLiga.Niclas Wallin D Playing for Lulea in native Sweden.Aaron Ward, D Skating with other NHLers in Detroit.Cam Ward, G Goalie of future moves from Western League to AHL.Glen Wesley, D Veteran blueliner working out in Raleigh.Justin Williams, RW Joined team-mate Wallin with Lulea in Sweden.Mike Zigomanis, C Playing for Lowell after difficult contract talks.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-06266/7781330-1-eng-US/f0018-062.jpg" title="f0018-06" width="1630" height="1791"><figcaption class="caption-body">Eric Daze, who missed 63 games last year, is healthy and working out in Chicago.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0018-04

Seven Hurricanes find work in Europe

<div class="byline">- TIM SASSONE</div>With a handful of players eligible to play in the American League, the lockout was allowing many of the Blackhawks&rsquo; best prospects a chance to get a little more seasoning.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-07225/7781382-1-eng-US/f0018-072.jpg" title="f0018-07" width="290" height="372"></div><h2>THE RLACKHAWKS</h2>Craig Anderson, G One of team&rsquo;s top goalie prospects playing in American League for Norfolk.Tyler Amason, C Home in Winnipeg working out at least, team hopes so.Matthew Barnaby, LW Scheduled to join Jassen Cullimore in Original Stars League.Mark Bell Antsy to play, he is ready to look for a deal in Europe.Bryan Berard, D Rumored to be going to Original Stars League.Curtis Brown, C Working out in Chicago.Kyle Calder, RW Staying put at home in Alberta.Jassen Cullimore, D Committed to play in Original Stars League.Eric Daze, LW Training with teammates in Chicago.Michael Leighton, G Other top goalie prospect also with Norfolk.Steve McCarthy, D Finally bought place in Chicago and stayed to work out with teammates.Travis Moen, LW Despite playing in all 82 games for Hawks last season, he was eligible to play in the minors and got assigned to Norfolk.Scott Nichol, C In Chicago now, but may pursue European offers.Eric Nickulas, RW Agreed to AHL contract and is playing at Norfolk.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-08167/7781375-1-eng-US/f0018-082.jpg" title="f0018-08" width="334" height="333"></div>Steve Poapst, D Organizing workouts in Chicago and hoping lockout doesn&rsquo;t end his career.Stephane Robidas, D The only Hawk presently playing in Europe (for Frankfurt in Germany).Tuomo Ruutu, C Franchise player is in Chicago rehabbing left shoulder he hurt in World Cup tourney.Jocelyn Thibault, G Working out in Chicago, rehabbing wonky hip.Jim Vandermeer, D Signed AHL deal and is playing at Norfolk.Mikhail Yakubov, C Trying to live up to potential at Norfolk. &#9632;

f0018-07

Young Blackhawks hone game in minors

<div class="byline">- ADRIAN DATER</div>The Avs are a fairly active group during the lockout. Only a few can be classified as taking it easy, though everybody is staying in shape.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-09142/7781420-1-eng-US/f0018-092.jpg" title="f0018-09" width="287" height="357"></div><h2>THE AVALANCHE</h2>David Aebischer, D Playing for HC Lugano of Swiss league.Rob Blake, D Recently recovered from shoulder surgery. May play some charity games in L.A. area.Bob Boughner, D Taking correspondence courses, living with family in Ontario.Vincent Damphousse, C Playing in Quebec charity league.Adam Foote, D Rehabbing from shoulder injury suffered during World Cup. Staying in Denver.Peter Forsberg, C Playing for Modo of Swedish league. Ineligible to play for Avs until next season.Chris Gratton, C Not playing anywhere during lockout.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-10127/7781413-1-eng-US/f0018-102.jpg" title="f0018-10" width="331" height="332"><figcaption class="caption-body">(GETTY IMAGE)</figcaption></div>Riku Hahl, C Playing for HPK of Finnish league.Milan Hejduk, RW Playing for Pardubice of Czech league.Darby Hendrickson, C Playing for Riga of Latvian league.Dan Hinote Rehabbing injury with Avalanche, living in Denver.Steve Konowalchuk, LW Staying in Denver with family.Antti Laaksonen, LW In Denver, where he played college hockey.Ian Laperriere, C Playing in Quebec charity league.John-Michael Liles, D In Denver rehabbing from broken foot suffered in World Cup.Brett McLean, C Playing for Malmo of Swedish league.Joe Sakic, C Working out and spending time with family in Denver.Kurt Sauer, D Played in Original Stars League.Karlis Skrastins, D Playing in Latvia for native Riga team.Marek Svatos, RW Playing for Hershey in AHL.Alex Tanguay, LW Playing for HC Lugano of Swiss league.Peter Worrell In Denver, rehabbing an injury.Ossi Vaananen, D Working out in native Finland. &#9632;

f0018-09

Avalanche active despite lockout

<div class="byline">- AARON PORIZUNE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-021011/7781458-1-eng-US/f0019-022.jpg" title="f0019-02" width="287" height="370"></div>A handful of Blue Jackets get together at a rink in the Columbus suburbs, where they skate, workout and sign a few autographs.<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-011358/7781465-1-eng-US/f0019-012.jpg" title="f0019-01" width="108" height="110"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>THE BLUE JACKETS</h2>Andrew Cassels, C In Columbus, staying in shape.Marc Denis, G In Quebec, playing in a 4-on-4 tournament.Dan Fritsche, C Will return to Ontario League&rsquo;s Sarnia Sting as soon as his shoulder is healthy.Arturs Irbe, G Using lockout to rehab a lingering knee injury.Tim Jackman, RW Sent to Syracuse of American League.Aaron Johnson, D Keeping skates sharp and working on passing skills with Syracuse.Rostislav Klesla, D Playing in native Czech Republic may help his skills resurface.Scott Lachance, D Part of group that is in Columbus, ready to go when settlement is struck.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-03684/7781451-1-eng-US/f0019-032.jpg" title="f0019-03" width="332" height="335"></div>Trevor Letowski, LW Staying sharp in Columbus.Manny Malhotra, C Working out and skating in Toronto.Todd Marchant, C Staying sharp for second season in Columbus.Rick Nash, LW Playing in Davos, Switzerland on Joe Thornton&rsquo;s line.Luke Richardson, D Living and working out in Columbus.Geoff Sanderson, LW Working out in Columbus, trying to rediscover 30-goal touch.Jody Shelley, LW On extended honeymoon in central Ohio.Jaroslav Spacek, D Back to old stomping grounds with Plzen of Czech league.Radoslav Suchy, D Not playing, but back home in Slovakia.Alexander Svitov, C In Syracuse, trying to develop two-way game.David Vyborny, RW With Sparta Prague in native Czech Republic.Duvie Westcott, D Playing with Jyvaskyla in Finland.Tyler Wright, C With a new baby in the family, midnight feedings have replaced morning skates.Nikolai Zherdev, RW Back with CSKA Moscow, the club that wouldn&rsquo;t let him go last year. &#9632;

f0019-02

Some Jackets remain in Columbus suburbs

<div class="byline">- MIKE HEIKA</div>Stars coach Dave Tippett was able to use the time off during the lockout to rehab successfully. Tippett had surgery in September to repair nerve damage in his hand.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-04523/7781510-1-eng-US/f0019-042.jpg" title="f0019-04" width="291" height="317"></div><h2>THE STARS</h2>Jason Arnott, C In Dallas with family.Stu Barnes, C Still recovering from shoulder surgery.Philippe Boucher, D Had recent eye surgery and hoped to play in Quebec charity tournaments.Trevor Daley, D Playing for Hamilton in American League.Rob DiMaio Planning to play in OSHL.Aaron Downey Also planning to play in OSHL.Dan Ellis Playing for Hamilton of the AHL.John Erskine, D Expected to log big minutes with Houston of the AHL.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-05391/7781503-1-eng-US/f0019-052.jpg" title="f0019-05" width="333" height="336"></div>Bill Guerin, RW Coaching daughter&rsquo;s soccer team in Dallas.Niko Kapanen, C Playing well with Zug in Swiss League.Jon Klemm, D Spending time with family in Chicago of the AHL.Jere Lehtinen, RW Considered playing in Finland, but will stay in Dallas with family.Junior Lessard C Playing with Houston of the AHL.Antti Miettinen, LW Playing with Hamilton of the AHL.Mike Modano, C Studying European possibilities, but insurance demands will likely keep him home.Brenden Morrow, LW Studying a number of opportunities, including Oklahoma of Central League.Steve Ott, C Playing for Hamilton.Mike Smith, G Most likely the team&rsquo;s backup in Houston of the AHL.Don Sweeney, D Training and spending time with family in Boston.Jaroslav Svoboda, RW Playing in Czech league.Patrick Traverse, D Playing with Houston of the AHL.Marty Turco, G Planning to play in OSHL.Pierre Turgeon, C Spending time with family in Dallas.Sergei Zubov, D Spending time with family in Dallas.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-06290/7781496-1-eng-US/f0019-062.jpg" title="f0019-06" width="1615" height="1786"><figcaption class="caption-body">Detroit&rsquo;s Pavel Datsyuk is in the Russian league, where there&rsquo;s no Mats Sundin.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0019-04

Tippett takes time to heal hurting hand

<div class="byline">- NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA</div>Not knowing if he&rsquo;ll play hockey again, Chris Chelios is thinking about bobsledding for Greece at the 2006 Olympics. He has worked out with U.S. athletes in Lake Placid, N.Y. Most other Red Wings are sticking around the Detroit area.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-07252/7781548-1-eng-US/f0019-072.jpg" title="f0019-07" width="291" height="351"></div><h2>THE RED WINGS</h2>Chris Chelios, D Running suburban Detroit restaurant.Mathieu Dandenault, D Back home in Montreal working out.Pavel Datsyuk, C Showing off moves for Moscow Dynamo.Kris Draper, C Working out in Detroit area.Jiri Fischer, D Rehabbing shoulder injury suffered in World Cup.Derian Hatcher, D Using time to get into shape after missing most of last season because of knee injury.Tomas Holmstrom, LW Rejoined old Swedish team, Lulea.Jiri Hudler, C Playing for American League affiliate in Grand Rapids.Curtis Joseph, G Working out back home in Toronto area.Niklas Kronwall, D Playing with Grand Rapids.Manny Legace, G Playing pickup hockey in Detroit area.Nicklas Lidstrom, D Might go to Sweden if lockout lasts into January.Kirk Maltby Enjoying married life after tying knot last summer.Darren McCarty, RW With family in suburban Detroit.Mark Mowers Playing in OSHL.Jamie Rivers, D Playing in OSHL.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-08224/7781541-1-eng-US/f0019-082.jpg" title="f0019-08" width="330" height="336"></div>Mathieu Schneider, D Free agent working out in Los Angeles area.Brendan Shanahan, LW One of Red Wings spotted at Ryder Cup.Ray Whitney, LW Working out in Detroit area.Jason Williams, RW Working out back home in London, Ont.Jason Woolley, D Playing pickup hockey in suburban Detroit.Steve Yzerman, C Continuing to recover from eye injury suffered in playoffs.Henrik Zetterberg C Playing for old Swedish team, Timra. &#9632;

f0019-07

New Olympic dream draws Ghelios to sled

<div class="byline">- ROB TYCHKOWSKI</div>While some Oilers have elected to play overseas, the majority are staying put for now. Most of the Europeans have gone home, while most of North Americans are staying home and spending time with their families.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-09190/7781586-1-eng-US/f0019-092.jpg" title="f0019-09" width="265" height="378"></div><h2>THE OILERS</h2>Marc-Andre Bergeron, D Trying to keep in shape in Edmonton.Eric Brewer, D Working out in BC, considering pro options.Ty Conklin, G Skating with former college team in New Hampshire.Cory Cross, D Working out in hometown of Edmonton.Radek Dvorak, LW Returned home to Czech Republic, where he is still entertaining Elite league offers.Ales Hemsky, RW Returned to old team, Pardubice, in Czech league.Shawn Horcoff, C Signed with Mora of Swedish league.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-10165/7781579-1-eng-US/f0019-102.jpg" title="f0019-10" width="333" height="336"></div>Brad Isbister, LW Pondering options, which include OSHL or Europe.Georges Laraque, RW Turned down Original Stars offer to stay in Edmonton and work out.Jussi Markkanen, G Playing for Lada Togliatti in Russian league.Ethan Moreau, LW Working out in Edmonton after considering Europe.Fernando Pisani, RW Still working out in Edmonton.Alex Semenov, D Honing skills with St. Petersburg in Russian league.Jason Smith, D Working out at home in Calgary.Ryan Smyth, LW After the World Championship and World Cup, he&rsquo;s not playing anywhere.Jarret Stoll, C Will be one of the top players for the American League&rsquo;s Edmonton Road Runners.Raffi Torres, LW Skated with OSHL before league went on hiatus.Marty Reasoner, C Rehabilitating his injured right knee.Steve Staios, D Originally going to Europe, but changed mind when he discovered the cost of insurance.Igor Ulanov, D Decided to stay at home in Toronto.Mike York, C Signed to play with Iserlohn Roosters of German league. &#9632;

f0019-09

Some Oilers overseas, but most stay home

<div class="byline">- MICHAEL RUSSO</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-02887/7781624-1-eng-US/f0020-022.jpg" title="f0020-02" width="288" height="375"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-011254/7781631-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg" title="f0020-01" width="109" height="109"></div>Defenseman Sean Hill is one of three Panthers not playing during the lockout. Twenty are, including eight in San Antonio (the team&rsquo;s American League affiliate) and eight in Europe.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>THE PANTHERS</h2>Eric Beaudoin, LW Back in San Antonio after a strong 20-goal, 42-point half-season there last year.Christian Berglund, LW Playing with Farjestad in Sweden.Mathieu Biron, D Giant blueliner skating in Quebec charity tour.Jay Bouwmeester, D Suiting up with San Antonio.Eric Cairns, D Enforcer signed with Florida and will play in OSHL.Niklas Hagman, LW Playing alongside Joe Thornton with Davos of Swiss League.Sean Hill, D Staying at home in Raleigh with family.Darcy Hordichuk, LW Playing 4-on-4 game in Original Stars League.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-03625/7781617-1-eng-US/f0020-032.jpg" title="f0020-03" width="335" height="335"></div>Nathan Horton, RW In San Antonio rehabilitating shoulder.Kristian Huselius, LW Back in Sweden, playing well for Link&ouml;ping.Olli Jokinen, C Quitting Swiss team in Kloten to join Sodertalje of Swedish League.Alexander Karpovtsev, D Playing for Sibir Novosibirsk in Russian League.Juraj Kolnik, RW Close to signing deal with San Antonio.Lukas Krajicek, D Aiming to continue development in San Antonio.Joel Kwiatkowski, D Playing for San Antonio after signing AHL deal.Roberto Luongo, G Playing 4-on-4 hockey in Quebec.Jamie McLennan, G With Texas Wildcatters, ECHL team he co-owns.Branislav Mezei, D Roaming Czech League with Trinec.Vaclav Nedorost, C Back in Czech League playing for Liberec.Serge Payer, C Signed independent deal with San Antonio.Denis Shvidki, RW With Lokomotiv Yaroslav in Russia.Stephen Weiss, C With San Antonio - and excited about it.Mike Van Ryn, D Skating with former junior team in London, Ont. &#9632;

f0020-02

Panthers in Europe, American League

<div class="byline">- MATT MCHALE</div>In early September, Kings president Tim Leiweke said he expects some 55 full-time team employees to keep their jobs. More recently, he said 30 to 40 could be facing layoffs or reassignment.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-04417/7781676-1-eng-US/f0020-042.jpg" title="f0020-04" width="278" height="358"></div><h2>THE KINGS</h2>Derek Armstrong, C Playing in Swiss league for Geneva.Sean Avery, LW Working out in L.A.Scott Barney, RW With Manchester of American League.Eric Belanger, C Playing in 4-on-4 charity tournament in Canada.Dustin Brown, RW With underage exemption, playing for Manchester.Mike Cammalleri, C Playing for Manchester.Roman Cechmanek, G Playing in Czech league for Vstin.Noah Clarke, LW Playing at Manchester.Craig Conroy, C Working out in upstate New York.Joe Corvo, D Working out in Chicago.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0019-11149/7781669-1-eng-US/f0019-112.jpg" title="f0019-11" width="334" height="332"></div>Jeff Cowan, LW Working out in Ontario.Nathan Dempsey, D Working out in Calgary.Alexander Frolov, LW Playing for CSKA in Russia.Mathieu Garon, G Playing for Manchester.Tim Gleason, D Playing with top defensive unit at Manchester.Denis Grebeshkov, D Playing with top power play unit at Manchester.Jason Holland, D Working out in Alberta.Trent Klatt, RW Member of NHLPA Executive.Aaron Miller, D Working out in L.A.Mattias Norstrom, D Working out in L.A., not riding his Harley.Esa Pirnes, C Playing for Lukko Rauma in Finland.Stephane Quintal, D Working out in Montreal.Luc Robitaille, LW Working out in L.A., Salt Lake City.Martin Straka, LW Playing for Pizen in Czech league.Lubomir Visnovsky, D Playing for Bratislava in Slovakian league.Tomas Zizka, D Playing for Spartak in Russian league.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-05239/7781662-1-eng-US/f0020-052.jpg" title="f0020-05" width="1626" height="1779"><figcaption class="caption-body">Wild center Pierre-Marc Bouchard is polishing his game in Houston (AHL).</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0020-04

Kings employees could face layoffs

<div class="byline">- BRIAN MURPHY</div>Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Brent Burns headline a cast of six Wild players refining their skills in the American League. Meantime, home is where the heart is for Alex Henry, Marian Gaborik and four Quebec natives playing for charity.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-06187/7781714-1-eng-US/f0020-062.jpg" title="f0020-06" width="295" height="334"></div><h2>THE WILD</h2>Pierre-Marc Bouchard, C In Houston (AHL) on two-way contract.Andrew Brunette, LW At University of Minnesota playing with teammates.Brent Burns, D In Houston, learning new position.Marc Chouinard, C Touring Quebec in 4-on-4 charity league.Alexandre Daigle, LW Playing in Quebec 4-on-4 charity league.Pascal Dupuis, LW Playing in Quebec 4-on-4 charity league.Manny Fernandez, G Playing in Quebec 4-on-4 charity league.Marian Gaborik, RW Playing for Dukla Trencin in Slovakian league.Alex Henry, D Taking classes at University of Western Ontario.Matt Johnson, LW Rehabbing injured shoulder in Minnesota.Mikko Koivu, C Playing in Houston.Filip Kuba, D Skating with teammates at University of Minnesota.Zbynek Michalek, D Playing in Houston.Willie Mitchell, D Exploring options in Europe.Richard Park, RW Skating with teammates on UM campus.Dwayne Roloson, G Exploring options in Finland, Sweden.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-07160/7781707-1-eng-US/f0020-072.jpg" title="f0020-07" width="334" height="333"></div>Brian Ralston, C Settling into new home, playing with toddler sons.Nick Schultz, D Skating for Kassel Huskies of German league.Stephane Veilleux, LW Antsy forward playing in Houston.Rickard Wallin, C Playing in Houston on two-way contract.Wes Walz, C Rehabbing nagging abdominal injury in Minnesota.Kyle Wanvig, RW Parked in Houston for another season.Andrei Zyuzin, D Playing for Salavat Yulaev of Russian league. &#9632;

f0020-06

Bouchard and Burns power Wild in Houston

<div class="byline">- HERB ZURKOWSKY</div>Half of the Canadiens have gone to Europe, while eight others, including goaltender Jose Theodore, will remain closer to home, participating in a 4-on-4 Quebec charity tour.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-08114/7781752-1-eng-US/f0020-082.jpg" title="f0020-08" width="292" height="329"></div><h2>THE CANADIENS</h2>Steve Begin, LW Playing in Quebec charity tour.Radek Bonk, C Playing for Trinec in Czech league.Francis Bouillon, D Playing in Quebec charity tour.Patrice Brisebois, D Playing with Kloten in Swiss league.Jan Bulis, LW Skating for home-town team in Pardubice.Pierre Dagenais, LW Will play in the Caravane, but probably would have been better suited playing more competitive games.Jim Dowd, C With Hamburg Freezers in Germany.Karl Dykhuis, D Playing in Quebec charity tour.Marcel Hossa, LW Playing with Mora of Swedish league.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-0986/7781745-1-eng-US/f0020-092.jpg" title="f0020-09" width="334" height="332"><figcaption class="caption-body">(GETTY IMAGES)</figcaption></div>Cristobal Huet, G Tending goal for Adler Mannheim in German league.Saku Koivu, C Staying in Finland, recovering from wrist injury.Mike Komisarek, D Playing for Hamilton of the American League.Andrei Markov, D Playing for Moscow Dynamo in Russia.Mike Ribeiro, C Playing in Quebec charity tour.Craig Rivet, D One of few anglo-phones playing in Quebec charity tour.Michael Ryder, RW Playing with Leksand of Swedish league.Sheldon Souray, D Turned down offer from Russian team to play for Farjestad in Sweden.Niklas Sundstrom, RW Has returned to Swedish league with MoDo, his team for four years before he came to the NHL.Jose Theodore, G Has enough money and fame to take it easy on Quebec charity tour.Jason Ward, RW With the Original Stars League on uncertain footing, could wind up playing in Hamilton.Richard Zednik, LW Signed with Zvolen in his native Slovakia. &#9632;

f0020-08

Quebec charity tour involves many Habs

<div class="byline">- DAVID BOCLAIR</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-02620/7781790-1-eng-US/f0021-022.jpg" title="f0021-02" width="294" height="323"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-011009/7781797-1-eng-US/f0021-012.jpg" title="f0021-01" width="109" height="109"></div>The Predators have proved to be a bunch of homebodies.Virtually all of the team&rsquo;s Europeans have gone home and the North Americans have stayed on this side of the Atlantic.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>THE PREDATORS</h2>Jamie Allison, D Living and training in Toronto.Denis Arkhipov, C Playing with Kazan in Russia.Mark Eaton D Living and training primarily in Nashville.Martin Erat, LW Playing with Zlin in Czech Republic.Adam Hall, RW Signed to play with Kalpa in Finland.Dan Hamhuis, D Playing again at Milwaukee of American League after establishing his skills at NHL level last season.Scott Hartnell, LW Living and training in Nashville.Andrew Hutchinson, D Playing at Milwaukee of the AHL.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-03380/7781783-1-eng-US/f0021-032.jpg" title="f0021-03" width="334" height="333"></div>Greg Johnson, C Living and training in the Detroit area.David Legwand, C Dividing time and training between Nashville and Detroit.Andreas Lilja, D Playing with Mora in Sweden.Chris Mason, G Has been mentioned as part of Original Stars league.Jim McKenzie, LW Living and training in Nashville.Vladimir Orszagh, RW Playing with Banska Bystrica in Slovakia.Jeremy Stevenson, RW Living is Sault St. Marie, may play in OSHL.Steve Sullivan, LW Has received interest from OSHL, but hasn&rsquo;t committed.Kimmo Timonen, D Living and training in Nashville; has indicated he will return to Finland if lockout drags on too long.Jordin Tootoo, RW Getting first exposure to minor hockey at Milwaukee.Tomas Vokoun, G Playing with Znojemsti in Czech league.Scott Walker, RW Nashville&rsquo;s union rep is staying abreast of lockout while in the Detroit area.Marek Zidlicky, D Playing with HIFK Helsinki in Finland. &#9632;

f0021-02

Majority of Predators staying in Nashville

<div class="byline">- RICH CHERE</div>There were times last season when rookie defensemen Paul Martin and David Hale seemed inseparable, tut the lockout has managed to separate the two. Martin will sit out the lockout without pay, while Hale is playing for Albany in the American League.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-04276/7781842-1-eng-US/f0021-042.jpg" title="f0021-04" width="270" height="362"></div><h2>THE DEVILS</h2>Martin Brodeur, G Part of IMG&rsquo;s tour of Europe.Sergei Brylin, C At home, investigating offers to play in Russia.Scott Clemmensen, G Signed twoway contract, playing for Albany.Patrik Elias, LW Playing for Znojmesti Orli in Czech league.Jeff Friesen, LW Staying in southern California because he doesn&rsquo;t want to take another player&rsquo;s job.Brian Gionta, RW Staying at home in Rochester, N.Y.Scott Gomez, C Playing host to his parents in New Jersey.David Hale, D Honing consistency in Albany.Jan Hrdina, C Skating with HC Kladno in Czech league.Viktor Kozlov, C Playing for Lada Togliatti in Russia.Darren Langdon, RW Likely to wait out the lockout at home.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-05188/7781835-1-eng-US/f0021-052.jpg" title="f0021-05" width="332" height="333"></div>Jamie Langenbrunner, RW Staying in New Jersey with his family.John Madden, C Keeping low profile in New Jersey after controversial comments regarding lockout.Grant Marshall, RW Training at home in P.E.I. and &ldquo;being a dad.&rdquo; Paul Martin, D Skating in Minnesota.Richard Matvichuk, D No long-range plans.Scott Niedermayer, D Spending time with family.Krzysztof Oliwa, LW Plans to join Polish national team.Jay Pandolfo, LW In early stages of training in Boston.Brian Rafalski, D Team&rsquo;s player rep is at his Wisconsin home.Erik Rasmussen, LW Sticking close to home in the midwest.Scott Stevens, D Looking for clean bill of health after post-concussion syndrome.Colin White, D Staying at home in New Jersey.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-06144/7781828-1-eng-US/f0021-062.jpg" title="f0021-06" width="1635" height="1800"><figcaption class="caption-body">Islander Adrian Aucoin, an annual ice time leader, isn&rsquo;t playing at all right now.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0021-04

Martin and Hale travel separate routes

<div class="byline">- PETER BOTTE</div>A handful of Islanders remained on Long Island during the lock-out, but one team employee said he &ldquo;hadn&rsquo;t heard from even one guy other than the minor-leaguers&rdquo; during the first month without hockey. Six Islanders are playing in Europe.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-07122/7781880-1-eng-US/f0021-072.jpg" title="f0021-07" width="282" height="376"></div><h2>THE ISLANDERS</h2>Adrian Aucoin, D Staying with family on Long Island.Shawn Bates, LW Will play Boston University charity game Oct. 24 for paralyzed Travis Roy and 9/11 victim Mark Bavis.Sean Bergenheim, LW Playing in American League with Bridgeport.Jason Blake, LW Back with family in Minnesota.Sven Butenschon, D Playing in Germany with Adler Mannheim.Rick DiPietro, G Playing in pickup games on Long Island.Wade Dubielewicz, G Back at Bridgeport for more seasoning.Eric Godard, RW Isles&rsquo;s tough guy also in Bridgeport.Roman Hamrlik, D Restricted free agent with Zlin ZPS in Czech league.Kenny Jonsson, D Could reunite with brother Jorgen in native Sweden if lockout doesn&rsquo;t end soon.Oleg Kvasha, C Playing for Severstal Cher in native Russia.Radek Martinek, D Earning check in Czech league with Ceske Budejovice.Janne Niinimaa, D Remains in Finland.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-0899/7781873-1-eng-US/f0021-082.jpg" title="f0021-08" width="333" height="332"></div>Mark Parrish, RW Working out in Minnesota.Tomi Pettinen, D Playing with Ilves Tampere in native Finland.Justin Papineau, LW Anchoring power play in Bridgeport.Michael Peca, C Back in Buffalo, prepared to sit out another season as he did during contract dispute.Dave Scatchard, C Working out on Long Island, preparing for upcoming wedding.Mattias Weinhandl, RW Playing with MoDo and reunited with Sedin twins in Swedish league.Alexei Yashin, C Not playing in Europe because NHL&rsquo;s most absurd contract makes him uninsurable. &#9632;

f0021-07

Isles a quiet bunch early on in lockout

<div class="byline">- LARRY BROOKS</div>Recuperating from arthroscopic surgery on a right knee meniscus tear sustained in the World Cup, defenseman Darius Kasparaitis was not medically cleared to play by Oct. 13 and will be paid until he&rsquo;s fully recovered.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-0977/7781918-1-eng-US/f0021-092.jpg" title="f0021-09" width="263" height="360"></div><h2>THE RANGERS</h2>Jozef Balej, R Prime sniping prospect opening with Wolf Pack.Blair Betts, C Center recovering from shoulder surgery under AHL contract.Mike Dunham, G Netminder spending time with young daughter and wife.Bobby Holik, C Spending time at his ranch in Florida.Jaromir Jagr, RW Early season league Czech League scoring leader playing for Kladno.Darius Kasparaitis, D Rehabbing World Cup injury.Maxim Kondratiev, D Opening season in Hartford, could still return to Russia this season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-1062/7781911-1-eng-US/f0021-102.jpg" title="f0021-10" width="332" height="332"></div>Jamie Landmark, C Declined invitation to play in Hartford in favor of Bolzano in Italian League.Garth Murray, LW On sidelines after suffering broken left thumb during pre-season Wolf Pack scrimmage.Michael Nylander, C Free agent signee playing for Karpat Oulu in Finland.Jed Ortmeyer, RW Last year&rsquo;s winner of Ranger &ldquo;Extra Effort&rdquo; award, sophomore pro giving his all for AHL Wolf Pack.Thomas Pock, D Ranger-ready sophomore pro nursing abdominal pull suffered during Wolf Pack training camp.Tom Poti, D Skating off-and-on at home in New England.Dale Purinton, D Working out, continuing vegan lifestyle.Karel Rachunek, D Playing for Znojmesti Orli in native Czech Republic.Fedor Tyutin, D Honing in skills with AHL Wolf Pack after spending last year&rsquo;s final 25 games on Broadway.Kevin Weekes, G First-year Ranger staying in shape at home. &#9632;

f0021-09

Handful of Rangers recovering from woes

<div class="byline">- BRUCE GARRIOCH</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-02815/7781956-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="289" height="361"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-011134/7781963-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="111" height="109"></div>Some Ottawa Senators have traveled south to the team&rsquo;s American League affiliate in Binghamton, while others are playing in the fledgling Original Stars League. A few are sprinkled around Europe.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>THE SENATORS</h2>Daniel Alfredsson, RW Left Sweden to avoid tough tax laws, but the captain may play there starting in January.Zdeno Chara, D Signed to play in Farjestad in Sweden.Greg de Vries, D Not playing.Mike Fisher, C Plans to play in OSHL.Dominik Hasek, C Back from two-week conditioning stint with the Baby Sens and getting ready for OSHL.Martin Havlat, RW Playing with Znojmo in Czech league.Marian Hossa, RW Playing for Trencin in Slovakian league.Curtis Leschyshyn, D Skating with other NHLers in Denver.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-03599/7781949-1-eng-US/f0022-032.jpg" title="f0022-03" width="334" height="335"></div>Chris Neil, RW Planning to play in OSHL.Chris Phillips, D Skating with &ldquo;buddies and a men&rsquo;s league team&rdquo; in a suburb of Ottawa.Brian Pothier, D Playing key role on blueline in Binghamton.Martin Prusek, G Playing in Czech Republic with Vitkovice and trying to stay healthy if there&rsquo;s a season.Wade Redden, D Recovering from shoulder injury in Calgary.Peter Schaefer, LW Skating in Vancouver.Bryan Smolinski, C Skating in Detroit area.Jason Spezza, C Playing in Binghamton, telling everybody he&rsquo;s happy to be there. Seriously.Vaclav Varada, LW Skating with Vitkovice in Czech Republic.Antoine Vermette, C Playing in Binghamton.Anton Volchenkov, D Is doing a stint in Binghamton and trying to get a better grasp on the English language.Todd White, C Trying to find available ice in Ottawa and getting ready to play in OSHL. &#9632;

f0022-02

Sens split down time between AHL, Europe

<div class="byline">- WAYNE FISH</div>A core group of five Flyers are keeping busy skating at a rink in New Jersey; four are playing for teams in Europe and two are with the Phantoms of the American League. The rest are either playing in fringe leagues or training on their own.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-04419/7782001-1-eng-US/f0022-042.jpg" title="f0022-04" width="293" height="339"></div><h2>THE FLYERS</h2>Tony Amonte, RW Training at home after World Cup jump-start.Donald Brashear, LW Staying in shape in Quebec semi-pro league.Sean Burke, G Recovering from off-season hip surgery.Eric Desjardins, D Maintaining training regimen in Quebec.Robert Esche, G Putting together charity hockey tournament in his hometown of Whitesboro, N.Y.Todd Fedoruk, LW Works out with small group of Flyers at South Jersey suburban rink.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-05308/7781994-1-eng-US/f0022-052.jpg" title="f0022-05" width="333" height="335"></div>Simon Gagne, LW Playing in Quebec-based touring charity loop.Michal Handzus, C Recovering from torn bicep muscle.Kim Johnsson, D Playing with Ambri-Piotta of the Swiss League.Sami Kapanen, RW Working out with the South Jersey group.Mike Knuble, RW Free agent signee playing in Link&ouml;ping, Sweden.John LeClair, LW Working out with the South Jersey group.Danny Markov, D No plans to play in any organized hockey.Joni Pitkanen, D Top &rsquo;D&rsquo; on AHL Philadelphia Phantoms.Keith Primeau, C Organizing force behind South Jersey get-togethers.Branko Radivojevic, RW Slovak plays for Vsetin in Czech League.Marcus Ragnarsson, D Joined South Jersey group in early October.Jeremy Roenick, C Undergoing tests for post-concussion symptoms.Dennis Seidenberg, D Getting loads of ice time with Phantoms.Patrick Sharp, C Should lead Phantoms in scoring.Radovan Somik, RW At home with Radivojevic on Vsetin squad.Turner Stevenson, RW At his home in Washington State.Mattias Timander, D Committing to full season for Modo (Sweden). &#9632;

f0022-04

South Jersey skates keep Flyers together

<div class="byline">- JERRY BROWN</div>Of the 28 players expected to attend training camp for the Coyotes, 14 aren&rsquo;t playing. Five are playing in Europe; four are involved with the Original Stars League; three are playing for Utah in the American League; and two are rehabbing injuries.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-06238/7782039-1-eng-US/f0022-062.jpg" title="f0022-06" width="267" height="371"></div><h2>THE COYOTES</h2>Brian Boucher, G In Rhode Island.Jason Chimera, LW Playing in Original Stars League.Dan Cleary, LW Playing for Mora in Sweden.Mike Comrie, C Playing in OSHL.Boyd Devereaux, C Preparing for birth of first child in December.Shane Doan, RW Spending time with family in Alberta.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-07199/7782032-1-eng-US/f0022-072.jpg" title="f0022-07" width="333" height="333"></div>Brad Ference, D Training, knowing he could be trade bait in future.Denis Gauthier, D Rehabbing knee injury.Brett Hull, RW Training after poor World Cup.Cale Hulse, D Training after marrying actress Gena Lee Nolan.Brent Johnson, G Training in St. Louis, waiting for shot at No. 1 job.Mike Johnson, RW Playing in OSHL.Krys Kolanos. C Playing in OSHL.Paul Mara, D Team&rsquo;s player representative is training.Derek Morris, D Skating in Colorado.Ladislav Nagy, LW Playing for Kosice in Slovakia.Tyson Nash, LW Skating with Sean Burke and Daymond Langkow.Andrei Nazarov, LW Playing for Novokuznetsk in Russia.Petr Nedved, C Playing for Sparta Prague in Czech Republic.Sean O&rsquo;Donnell, D At home in Arizona.Mike Ricci, C Skating in California. Mike Rupp, C Training, recovering from shoulder injury.Oleg Saprykin, LW Playing for Central Army in Russia.Brian Savage, LW Rehabbing from shoulder surgery.Fredrik Sjostrom, LW Playing for Utah and will get first line minutes.Matthew Spiller, D With Utah. Jeff Taffe, C Playing for Utah. David Tanabe, D Rehabbing knee injury. &#9632;

f0022-06

Half of Coyotes roster sitting on sidelines

<div class="byline">- JOE STARKEY</div>Long known for their European flavor, the Penguins saw 11 of their players sign contracts to play in Europe during the lockout. The only one who does not have an escape clause is right winger Aleksey Morozov.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-08161/7782077-1-eng-US/f0022-082.jpg" title="f0022-08" width="291" height="377"></div><h2>THE PENGUINS</h2>Ramzi Abid, LW Trying to rebuild game, and his knee, with Wilkes-Barre (AHL).Matt Bradley, LW Working on his offensive game in four-on-four Original Stars League.Sebastien Caron, G Top goalie for Saguenay in Quebec semi-pro loop.Rico Fata, C One of four NHLers in Italian league; plays for Asiago.Marc-Andre Fleury, G Will split time with Andy Chiodo on the farm in Wilkes-Barre.Ric Jackman, D After break-through year, skating forBjorkloven in Swedish second division.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-09146/7782070-1-eng-US/f0022-092.jpg" title="f0022-09" width="333" height="333"></div>Konstantin Koltsov, RW Speedster signed with Dynamo Minsk (Belarus).Milan Kraft, C One goal in 11 games with HC Plzen in Czech Extraleague.Mario Lemieux, C Staying fit in Pittsburgh, keeping low profile.Ryan Malone, LW After stellar rookie season, skating for Espoo in Finland.Josef Melichar, D Three assists in four games for Sparta Prague.Aleksey Morozov, RW Signed with Ak Bars Kazan in Russia.Brooks Orpik, D Working out with Boston College; helping coach younger brother&rsquo;s midget club.Lasse Pirjeta, RW Competes against Malone with HIFK Helsinki.Mark Recchi, RW Working out in Pittsburgh.Michal RozsivaL D Signed with HC Trinec of Czech league.Rob Scuderi, D Steady blueliner back in Wilkes-Barre.Martin Strbak, D Competes for HS Kosice in native Slovakia.Dick Tamstrom, D Playing for Sodertalje in Sweden.Ryan VandenBussche, LW Discovering offensive touch in Original Stars League. &#9632;

f0022-08

Morozov in Russia, NHL lockout or not

<div class="byline">DERRICK GOOLD</div>Many of the St. Louis Blues have opted to stay local as they wait for the end of the lockout. Only a few went abroad, while three others are playing in 4-on-4 tours.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-10134/7782115-1-eng-US/f0022-102.jpg" title="f0022-10" width="288" height="357"></div><h2>THE BLUES</h2>Christian Backman, D Returned to Vastra Frolunda in Swedish league.Eric Boguniecki, RW Playing for SC Langenthal in Switzerland.Petr Cajanek, C Playing with Zlin in Czech league.Reinhard Divis, G Training and waiting for attractive opening.Dallas Drake, LW Training at local rink in Michigan.Barret Jackman, D Staying in St. Louis, playing in pickup league.Ryan Johnson, C Spending time in St. Louis with teammates.Alexander Khavanov, D Left St. Petersburg team in Russia shortly after start of the season.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-11125/7782108-1-eng-US/f0022-112.jpg" title="f0022-11" width="332" height="333"></div>Patrick Lalime, G Playing on charity tour in Quebec.Reed Low, RW Running his new salon in suburban St. Louis. Fittingly, the store is called &ldquo;Uppercuts".Jamal Mayers, RW Joined OSHL briefly before returning to St. Louis and following teammates to community league.Chris Pronger, D Working toward business degree at local university.Mark Rycroft, RW Played for the OSHL and expects to join team-mates or drift back out to Denver, where he attended college.Bryce Salvador, D Playing with community team in Brentwood, Mo.Peter Sejna, LW Starting on left wing for Worcester (AHL). Expectations are the year will only bolster confidence.Mike Sitlinger, C In Phoenix, playing 4-on-4 games with a few Coyotes at a local rink.Keith Tkachuk, LW Carpooling his kids, skating with teammates.Doug Weight, C Spending most of the time with newborn daughter.Eric Weinrich, D Practising with NHLers in a Philadelphia suburb.Matt Walker, D Skating with team-mates, awaiting new CBA. &#9632;

f0022-10

Most Blues players choose to stay around

<div class="byline">- ROSS MCKEON</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-02695/7782153-1-eng-US/f0023-022.jpg" title="f0023-02" width="288" height="382"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-011021/7782160-1-eng-US/f0023-012.jpg" title="f0023-01" width="107" height="109"></div>Four Sharks are playing in Europe and five others are plying their trade in the American League with Cleveland, San Jose&rsquo;s top affiliate.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2>THE SHARKS</h2>Matt Carkner, D Signs AHL deal with Cleveland.Jonathan Cheechoo, RW In Canada, not playing in any league.Rob Davison, D Recently married, playing for Cardiff in the U.K.Niko Dimitrakos, RW Practicing with college boys at Maine.Christian Ehrhoff, D Assigned to Cleveland; will be kept busy.Nils Ekman, RW Skating for Djurgarden in Sweden.Jim Fahey, D Avoids waivers by signing AHL deal with Cleveland.Marcel Goc, C Should be a main scoring cog in Cleveland.Scott Hannan, D Fresh offCanada&rsquo;s World Cup win, relaxing at off-season home in B.C.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-03497/7782146-1-eng-US/f0023-032.jpg" title="f0023-03" width="333" height="333"></div>Alexander Korolyuk, LW Playing in Russia for Vitaz Cechov.Patrick Marleau, C Spending time on family farm in Aneroid, Sask.Alyn McCauley, C Skating in suburban Toronto and taking classes through Athabasca University.Kyle McLaren, D Working out on his own at home in San Jose.Milan Michalek, RW Continues to rehab second of two knee surgeries; slated for Cleveland (AHL).Evgeni Nabokov, G New dad staying close to San Jose home.Scott Parker, RW Assumed to be skating on his own.Tom Preissing, D Skating with Wild players at U. of Minnesota.Wayne Primeau, C Working out at off-season home in Ontario.Mike Rathje, D Working out in San Jose.Marco Sturm, LW Playing for ERC Ingolstadt in his native Germany.Mark Smith, C Playing acoustic guitar on stage in San Jose area.Brad Stuart, D Working out in San Jose.Scott Thornton, LW Playing Mr.Mom in San Jose.Vesa Toskala, G In Finland, but not playing at moment. &#9632;

f0023-02

Staying in San Jose best option for many

<div class="byline">- TOM JONES</div>Some members of the Lightning are in the Original Stars League and a handful of their European players returned home to play. For most, though, some time off is welcome after a lengthy post-season run.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-04352/7782198-1-eng-US/f0023-042.jpg" title="f0023-04" width="292" height="371"></div><h2>THE LIGHTNING</h2>Dmitry Afansenkov, LW Skating with Lada Togliatti in Russia.Dave Andreychuk, LW Captain playing in OSHL.Dan Boyle, D Rebuilding his house, which burned during the Cup final, and playing in the OSHL.Martin Cibak, C Playing in Slovak league for HK Liptovsky Mikulas.Chris Dingman, LW Rugged winger working out at home.Ruslan Fedotenko, LW Decided not to play during lockout.John Grahame, G Working out, but considering playing minor league hockey.Nikolai Khabibulin, G Chose not to go to Russia; hanging out in Tampa.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-05261/7782191-1-eng-US/f0023-052.jpg" title="f0023-05" width="334" height="334"></div>Pavel Kubina, D Skating again for HC Vitkovice of the Czech league.Vincent Lecavalier, C Splitting time between Montreal and Tampa.Brad Lukowich, D Skating for Fort Worth Brahmas in Central League.Fredrik Modin, LW Playing for Timra in Swedish league.Eric Perrin, C Skating with Hershey in American League.Nolan Pratt, D Joining buddies Andreychuk and Boyle in OSHL.Vinny Prospal, C Playing for HC Ceske in Czech league.Brad Richards, C Taking some rest by traveling. Last seen at Monday Night Football game in Green Bay.Andre Roy, RW Hanging out and working out in Montreal.Darren Rumble, D Playing for team&rsquo;s AHL affiliate in Springfield.Cory Sarich, D Working out on his own.Martin St. Louis, RW After MVP season and World Cup, taking a lit. tie rest and relaxation.Darryl Sydor, D Like D-Day from Animal House, his whereabouts are unknown.Tim Taylor, C Supposed to play in Original Stars League, but didn&rsquo;t show for pre-season games. &#9632;

f0023-04

Original Stars League popular spot for Bolts

<div class="byline">- KEN CAMPBELL</div>The Maple Leafs will have the highest payroll in the NHL, at least for the month of October. Ed Belfour, Alexander Mogilny, Owen Nolan and Tie Domi were all on the mend from off-season surgeries and needed to be paid until they were cleared. Their combined salaries for this season total $22 million.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-06206/7782236-1-eng-US/f0023-062.jpg" title="f0023-06" width="275" height="384"></div><h2>THE MAPLE LEAFS</h2>Nik Antropov, RW Staying put in Toronto for now.Wade Belak, LW Playing in the Original Stars League.Ed Belfour, G Had back surgery over the summer, continues rehab.Aki Berg, D Playing in front of best friend Miikka Kiprusoff with Timra in Sweden.Tie Domi, RW Recovering from off-season hip surgery.Tomas Kaberle, D Joined JaromirJagr on Kladno of Czech League.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-07179/7782229-1-eng-US/f0023-072.jpg" title="f0023-07" width="333" height="334"></div>Chad Kilger, LW Working out on his own.Ken Klee, D Has taken up hunting in a big way and is looking for big game in Colorado.Brian Leetch, D Working out on his own, with no plans to play.Bryan McCabe, D Working out with junior team in Long Island.Joe Nieuwendyk, C Working out on his own.Owen Nolan, RW Continues to rehab his injured knee and shoulder.Nathan Perrott, LW Spending season back in AHL with St. John&rsquo;s.Karel Pilar, D Playing 30 minutes nightly for Sparta Prague in Czech League.Alexei Ponikarovsky, LW Staying and skating in Toronto.Gary Roberts, LW Operating his health club in Toronto.Matt Stajan, C Sophomore pro skating with St. John&rsquo;s in AHL.Mats Sundin, C Would likely join Djurgarden of the Swedish League after Christmas.Mikael Tellqvist, G Will earn $250,000 with St. John&rsquo;s (AHL).Darcy Tucker, LW Working out in Toronto.Clarke Wilm, RW Toiling for St. John&rsquo;s. &#9632;

f0023-06

Leafs still shell out even during lockout

<div class="byline">- ELLIOTT PAP</div>Brendan Morrison is playing in Sweden and Swede Mattias Ohlund is hanging out in Vancouver, driving his two kids to pre-school and working out with other stay-at-home Canucks. Yes, the NHL lockout works in mysterious ways.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-08155/7782274-1-eng-US/f0023-082.jpg" title="f0023-08" width="266" height="376"></div><h2>THE CANUCKS</h2>Bryan Allen, D Original Stars League beckoning. Alex Auld, G Ready for prime time, but in AHL with the Moose.Todd Bertuzzi, RW Suspended forward laying low in Kitchener, Ont.Tyler Bouck, LW Waiting it out and working out in Kelowna, B.C.Wade Brookbank, D Making Moose tracks in AHL.Artem Chubarov, C Russian plying trade with Moscow Dynamo.Dan Cloutier, G BoltedOriginal Stars after two exhibition games to work out in Vancouver.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-09129/7782267-1-eng-US/f0023-092.jpg" title="f0023-09" width="332" height="335"></div>Matt Cooke, LW Plarming to be be a part of Original Stars League.Ed Jovanovski, D Rehabbing knee injury in Vancouver.Ryan Kesler, RW Second-year pro continues AHL development.Jason King, RW Scorer trying to rediscover goal touch with Moose.Trevor Linden, C NHLPA president answering his cell phone and working out in Vancouver.Marek Malik, D Playing in Czech Republic with old club Vitkovice.Brad May, RW Organizing Vancouver charity game.Brendan Morrison, C Skating with old college linemate Mike Knuble on Swedish team Link&ouml;ping.Markus Naslund, LW Tax issues sent star Swede back to Vancouver.Mattias Ohlund, D Skating and working out in Vancouver.Sami Salo, D Finn hops countries to play with Frolunda in Sweden.Daniel Sedin, LW Back with Modo in hometown of Ornskoldsvik.Henrik Sedin, C See twin brother, Daniel.Brent Sopel, D Skating in Vancovuer with group of Canucks.Jarkko Ruutu, C Playing in native Finland for IFK Helsinki. &#9632;

f0023-08

Morrison and Ohlund play trading places

<div class="byline">- DAVE FAY</div>The Capitals were late jumping into hockey&rsquo;s world tour, but are catching on in a hurry. Seven Washington veterans which is pretty much all of them are in Europe; no other Capitals are anticipating a job across the pond.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-1198/7782312-1-eng-US/f0023-112.jpg" title="f0023-11" width="294" height="378"></div><h2>THE CAPITALS</h2>Jared Aulin, RW Learning Caps&rsquo; system with Portland in American League.Josef Boumedienne, D Playing for Brynas IF Gavle in Sweden.Jakub Cutta, D Playing in Portland.Jason Doig, D Tending the home fires in his native Montreal.Steve Eminger, D Continuing to hone his game, only in Portland.Boyd Gordon, RW A steadying influence in Portland.Jeff Halpern, C Joined HC Ajoie in Porrentruy, Switzerland.Jakub Klepis, C Stock continues to rise with Portland.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0023-10116/7782305-1-eng-US/f0023-102.jpg" title="f0023-10" width="332" height="334"></div>Olie Kolzig, G Coaching goalies where it all started, the Tri-City Americans of the Western League.Brooks Laich, C Part of star-studded cast of forwards in Portland.Shaone Morrisonn, D Estabfishing bond with Capitals in Portland.Maxime Ouellet, G Easily won the starting job in Portland.Alexander Ovechkin, LW Playing with Moscow Dynamo in the Russian league.Stephen Peat, RW Taking it easy back home in Vancouver.Matt Pettinger, LW Playing for ZM Olimpija in Slovenia.Alexander Semin, LW Suspended by Caps for not honoring contract; playing for Lada Togliatti in Russia.Brian Sutherby, C Easing way back into routine with Portland.Darcy Verot, C In Portland, doing what comes naturally, agitating.Trent Whitfield, C Experienced, energetic team leader in Portland.Brian Wilkie, RW Playing for ZM Olimpija in Slovenia.Brendan Witt, D Re-thinking recent decision to move to Florida.Dwayne Zinger, D Provides size and experience for Portland.Dainius Zubrus, C Bruising bodies in Russia for Lada Togliatti. &#9632;

f0023-11

Majority of Capitals playing in Portland

<div class="byline">BY KEVIN OKLOBZIJA</div>An overabundance of young players has the AHL contemplating an increase in game night rosters from 17 skaters to 18.While 18 skaters is customary in the NHL, the AHL uses one fewer as a way to keep costs down. Salaries, workman&rsquo;s compensation insurance and travel expenses are major factors for the lower roster limit in hockey&rsquo;s top development league.However, the NHL lockout has pushed dozens of players back to the AHL. The return of those bona fide NHLers, plus the annual influx of prospects out of college and junior, have left several teams overflowing with players. Some NHL teams are exerting pressure on their affiliates to find room for their kids.The Utah Grizzlies and Rochester Americans broke camp carrying 24 players.&ldquo;If a GM comes to our games and he&rsquo;s seeing one of his draft picks sitting in the press box, he&rsquo;s probably not happy,&rdquo; said AHL president<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-03432/7782454-1-eng-US/f0025-032.jpg" title="f0025-03" width="327" height="316"><figcaption class="caption-body">AHL WEST NOTEBOOK</figcaption></div>Dave Andrews. &ldquo;But at the same time, in January when you&rsquo;re flying in a guy from Tallahassee, you&rsquo;re wondering why we&rsquo;re dressing 18 (skaters) and two (goalies).&rdquo;Andrews said the issue of roster size comes up every year.&ldquo;There is always pressure to increase rosters, but what looked like a deep roster in October isn&rsquo;t so deep by November because of injuries and recalls,&rdquo; Andrews said. &ldquo;With no recalls or injuries in the NHL, this is a unique year.&rdquo;LOST DOGS The season hadn&rsquo;t even started and the Hamilton Bulldogs were already without their best defenseman, Mike Komisarek, and one of their best forwards, Antti Miettinen.Komisarek&rsquo;s hip problem was diagnosed as a muscle tear. The third-year defenseman, a member of the 2003 AHL all-rookie team, is hoping to avoid surgery but will miss the first four to five weeks.Miettinen, a Dallas Stars prospect on loan to the Montreal farm club, sustained a shoulder injury during the pre-season and underwent surgery. He&rsquo;ll miss four to six months.NEW EXPOSURE The NHL lockout means Rogers Sportsnet will carry 22 AHL games, all involving at least one of the four Canadian-based teams.The Hamilton Bulldogs will be on 12 times, Manitoba Moose and Edmonton Road Runners 11 times and St. John&rsquo;s Maple Leafs 10 times.Peter Loubardias, Jim Hughson and Kevin Quinn will handle the play-by-play. Sam Cosentino, John Garrett and Ray Ferraro will be the analysts.<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-04273/7782447-1-eng-US/f0025-042.jpg" title="f0025-04" width="1340" height="1918"><figcaption class="caption-body">Center Nathan Smith, the 23rd overall pick by Vancouver in 2000, scored just four goals in 76 games last year with Manitoba (AHL).</figcaption></div><h2>HOCKEY NATION AT A GLANCE</h2>The International Ice Hockey Federation is the world&rsquo;s governing body for hockey. In each issue this season, we profile one of 63 national association members.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-05194/7782440-1-eng-US/f0025-052.jpg" title="f0025-05" width="201" height="187"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-06159/7782433-1-eng-US/f0025-062.jpg" title="f0025-06" width="743" height="361"></div><h3>AUSTRALIA</h3>Member of IIHF since 1938Pop. of country 19,913,144Registered players 2,797Ice facilities 21Major league (six teams)Australian Hockey League 2004 champion Newcastle 2004 top playoff scorersVladimir Rubes, SydneyDaryl Bat, NewcastlePavel Shtefan, NewcastleAssociation website <a href="http://www.iha.org.au">www.iha.org.au</a>Head office Canberra2004 world ranking No. 35 Best world rank No. 9 (1960) &#9632;

f0025-03

Teams call for higher roster limit

<div class="byline">BY MIKE MASTOVICH</div>Florida Everblades center Reggie Berg had a taste of the Kelly Cup final experience last season.This year, Berg is counting on the ECHL runner-up Everblades taking the next step.&ldquo;We had a great year last year and I think we i can build off that a little bit,&rdquo; said Berg, who recently signed on for his fifth season with the I Everblades, to The Daily News in Naples, Fla.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really looking forward to being a part of this team.&rdquo;Berg has been a big help to the organization. The 28-year-old native of Anoka, Minn., began camp third on Florida&rsquo;s all-time list for points (173), goals (84) and assists (89). His plus-56 rating is an all-time high for the Blades.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been with the organization for the better part of four years,&rdquo; said Berg, whose playing time has been limited by multiple con cussions. &ldquo;My wife and I have made Southwest Florida our home. I cannot wait for the season to start.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0025-07140/7782485-1-eng-US/f0025-072.jpg" title="f0025-07" width="299" height="279"><figcaption class="caption-body">NOTEBOOK</figcaption></div>Last year, Berg had 47 points in 40 games and added 19 points in 16 playoff games as the Everblades captured the Eastern Conference crown and lost to Kelly Cup champion Idaho.JAPANESE IMPORT Bakersfield signed goalie Yutaka Fukufuji, who was the second Japanese player ever selected in the NHL draft when the Los Angeles Kings took him in the eighth round this year.Fukufuji, who has a two-way deal with AHL Manchester, actually made his ECHL debut with the Cincinnati Cyclones at Johnstown two seasons ago and had a 4-3-0 record with 3.13 goals-against average in 2002-03.Fukufuji played on the Japanese national team at the World Championship last spring in the Czech Republic.OH, CANADA The ECHL played its first games outside the U.S. Oct. 15-16 as the Victoria Salmon Kings played a pair of exhibition games in B.C. against defending Kelly Cup-champion Idaho. &#9632;

f0025-07

Berg sharpening Blades for Kelly run

<div class="byline">BY ROBIN SHORT</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-02763/7782516-1-eng-US/f0026-022.jpg" title="f0026-02" width="301" height="473"><figcaption class="caption-body">ROBBIE FTOREK</figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-011101/7782523-1-eng-US/f0026-012.jpg" title="f0026-01" width="135" height="132"></div>Nobody can accuse Robbie Ftorek of nepotism. The Albany coach made the tough call of cutting his son at training camp.Right winger Sam Ftorek was released by the River Rats after appearing in two American League exhibition games. The 29-year-old free agent was in camp hoping to earn a roster spot.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s always tough cutting a player,&rdquo; said Robbie Ftorek. &ldquo;But sure, it&rsquo;s tougher when it&rsquo;s one of your own.&rdquo;Robbie Ftorek took over the Rats from Dennis &rsquo;Red&rsquo; Gendron, who was fired with 28 games left to go last year.This is Ftorek&rsquo;s second run as coach in Albany and he has also coached with New Haven and Utica. At the NHL level he was the bench boss in Los Angeles, New Jersey and Boston. And, of course, Ftorek enjoyed a 14-year pro career, primarily in the WHA and NHL.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>Sam Ftorek appeared in 52 games for I Manchester last season. He also spent time with Greensboro of the ECHL.While home in New Hampshire last season before the Rats called, Ftorek watched his son play for the Monarchs.&ldquo;Sam&rsquo;s objective coming into camp was to make the team,&rdquo; said the coach, &ldquo;and our objective as an organization was to see if he could play at this level. I know he can play because I watched him last year.&ldquo;Things didn&rsquo;t work out here, but a lot of good will come out of this. He&rsquo;s in better shape now and because he played in two exhibition games, other teams have seen him.&rdquo;For Robbie Ftorek, though, the best part of all was just being together with his son for a couple of weeks. That doesn&rsquo;t happen a lot during the season. &ldquo;We shared something together,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and that was a great thing.&rdquo;Sam Ftorek is now playing for Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL. &#9632;

f0026-02

Cutting son not easy chore for Ftorek

<div class="byline">BY ROBIN SHORT</div>There was more money to be pocketed in Europe, but in the end Jeff Hamilton figured home is where the heart is.The AHL&rsquo;s leading goal scorer last season signed a one-year AHL contract with Hartford, giving the Wolf Pack a dandy one-two punch with reigning MVP and top goalie Jason LaBarbera keeping pucks out of the net.Hamilton netted 43 goals last season with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, despite missing 13 games with an eye injury. His 15 game-winning goals are a league record.A restricted free agent, Hamilton rejected the New York Islanders qualifying offer.&ldquo;I only wanted a one-year deal and got what I wanted (monetarily),&rdquo; said Hamilton of the Hartford deal. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m very happy.&rdquo;Hamilton attended Connecticut&rsquo;s Avon Old Farms prep school and is Yale&rsquo;s career scoring leader. So being close to his adopted home, said the Englewood, Ohio native, was a bonus.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-03612/7782561-1-eng-US/f0026-032.jpg" title="f0026-03" width="327" height="317"><figcaption class="caption-body">AHL EAST NOTEBOOK</figcaption></div>&ldquo;I could have chased the money, but I wanted to play in the AHL and get better,&rdquo; he said.PACK RALLIES The Hartford Wolf Pack scored three goals in the final 55 seconds to beat Bridgeport 4-3 in an exhibition game.With LaBarbera pulled for an extra attacker, Jozef Balej made it 3-1 before Dominic Moore scored twice, with 28 and 2.6 seconds left in regulation to force overtime and a shootout, which Hartford won.&ldquo;It was crazy, amazing,&rdquo; said LaBarbera, who stopped six of seven shootout shots. &ldquo;It was only a pre-season game, but it was awesome - and pretty nerve-wracking.&rdquo;GLAD TO BE BACK After undergoing back surgery last April, Dean McAmmond is happy to be playing again, even if it&rsquo;s in the AHL.McAmmond scored 17 goals for Calgary last season, but missed the Stanley Cup run following surgery to repair an injured disc. He signed with the New Jersey Devils as a free agent and was assigned to Albany.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not 21, I&rsquo;m 31,&rdquo; said the veteran of 645 NHL games. &ldquo;I need to keep playing and show everybody I&rsquo;m healthy and want to still play.&rdquo;FRIENDS TURN COMPETITORSBinghamton defeated Wilkes-Barre o-z. in an exhibition game with the Sens&rsquo; Jason Spezza scoring the winner on Pens&rsquo; goalie Andy Chiodo. The two grew up together in Toronto, played minor hockey together and the families are friendly. But Chiodo is clearly a competitor. &ldquo;We play each other eight times,&rdquo; Chiodo said, &ldquo;so I&rsquo;m not about to sit here and toot his horn, that&rsquo;s for sure. I feel equally as strong.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-04433/7782554-1-eng-US/f0026-042.jpg" title="f0026-04" width="1345" height="1936"><figcaption class="caption-body">After 11 NHL seasons with five teams, winger Dean McAmmond is trying to prove himself in the AHL with the Albany River Rats.</figcaption></div> &#9632;

f0026-03

Top sniper prefers AHL over Europe

<div class="byline">- PAVEL BARTA</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-05319/7782592-1-eng-US/f0026-052.jpg" title="f0026-05" width="598" height="228"></div>Future and former NHLers are playing in Europe this season. Here are four such players with NHL rights in parentheses:&bull; Marian Gaborik, 22, RW, (Minnesota). Gaborik, who scored 40 points in 65 games with the Wild last season, is the top scorer in the Slovakian league, with nine goals and 20 points in 10 games with Trencin.&bull; Kristian Huselius, 25, LW, (Florida). Huselius, who played 233 games with the Panthers in three NHL seasons, leads all scorers in the Swedish league, with six goals and 14 points in eight games with Link&ouml;ping.&bull; Steve Kelly, 28, C, (free agent). Kelly played 147 NHL games with four teams in eight seasons. He is tied for the German league scoring lead with 13 points in nine games with Mannheim.&bull; Ville Nieminen, 27, LW, (Calgary). The Flames grinder was third overall among Finnish league scorers and led Tappara Tampere with four goals and 10 points in 10 games. &#9632;

f0026-05

EYE ON EUROPE

<div class="byline">- BRENDAN SAVAGE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-06257/7782623-1-eng-US/f0026-062.jpg" title="f0026-06" width="253" height="126"></div>Fort Wayne and Missouri had an unexpected guest when they met in the United League&rsquo;s pre-season opener: Scotty Bowman. The legendary coach was in Fort Wayne to visit his daughter Alicia, who recently moved to the city. Bowman decided to catch the game, a 5-2 Komets&rsquo; win, from the stands. &ldquo;I really like this,&rdquo; said Bowman to the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. &rsquo;There&rsquo;s not a big difference between this and the NHL, just a couple of stars here or there. I&rsquo;ll be back a few times.&rdquo; Komets president Michael Franke said Bowman is welcome at Allen County Memorial Coliseum anytime and joked that he was at the game to keep Fort Wayne coach Greg Puhalski on his toes. Puhalski, however, isn&rsquo;t worried about Bowman stealing his job. &ldquo;Hey, he hasn&rsquo;t won a game in three years,&rdquo; Puhalski cracked. &#9632;

f0026-06

NOTEBOOK

<div class="byline">- DAVID HENRY</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-07224/7782654-1-eng-US/f0026-072.jpg" title="f0026-07" width="226" height="121"></div>Shortly after Fort Worth of the Central League signed locked-out Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Brad Lukowich, the CHL issued several restrictions on teams stockpiling NHL talent. Each team can sign only one NHLer, and goaltenders can&rsquo;t be signed; the player&rsquo;s salary must be a part of the CHL salary cap ($8,500 a week for 18 players); the player&rsquo;s salary can&rsquo;t be more than $650 a week; and the player&rsquo;s insurance must meet team policy. The league didn&rsquo;t say anything about locked-out NHL coaches, though. Philadelphia coach Ken Hitchcock made the most of his down time, assisting in the combined training camp of New Mexico and Corpus Christi. Hitchcock won the Stanley Cup in 1999 as coach with the Dallas Stars. (See pg. 13 for more on Hitchcock.) &#9632;

f0026-07

<div class="byline">- NICK GATES</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0026-08186/7782685-1-eng-US/f0026-082.jpg" title="f0026-08" width="201" height="151"><figcaption class="caption-body">(GETTY IMAGE)</figcaption></div>Winston-Salem Polar Twins coach Bryan Wells has found recruiting easier than expected. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had to tell probably 100 kids they couldn&rsquo;t come (to training camp),&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had more resumes than we can handle.&rdquo; The team, last year known as the T-Birds, had the league&rsquo;s worst record (18-38) and averaged just 772 fans. But a fresh start - new ownership, GM and coach - made Wells&rsquo;s job easier. Wells talked a couple of his former players, blueliners Rhett Dudley and Trevor Folk, both of whom played for Wells in Wichita (CHL), into joining him in Winston-Salem. The rest of the defense corps will be young. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve probably got a dozen coming for seven spots,&rdquo; Wells said. &ldquo;I always try to keep an extra (spot) around because two or three weeks into the season, everyone is looking more.&rdquo; &#9632;

f0026-08

<div class="byline">BY WILLY PALOV</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-011050/7782730-1-eng-US/f0027-012.jpg" title="f0027-01" width="283" height="150"></div>Jonathan Boutin is finally delivering on the promise he has shown since he was 16.The 19-year-old P.E.I. Rocket goalie got off to a phenomenal start this season, posting a 6-1-1-0 record, 1.12 goals-against average and .955 save percentage in eight games. It was enough to earn him the Quebec League&rsquo;s first two defensive player-of-the-week honors, as well as the Canadian Hockey League&rsquo;s second player-of-the-week award.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-02689/7782723-1-eng-US/f0027-022.jpg" title="f0027-02" width="331" height="363"></div>A third round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2003, Boutin&rsquo;s career took off after being traded to the Rocket by the Halifax Mooseheads last January. He played well in the second half of 2003-04, but it wasn&rsquo;t until this season that Boutin established himself.Playing for ex-Montreal Canadiens coach Alain Vigneault, Boutin has found the confidence he lacked in Halifax.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s way different here,&rdquo; Boutin said. &ldquo;Alain talked to me and (backup) Ryan (Mior) at the start of the season and told us whoever takes the ball is going to keep playing. We have a lot of good practices. He coached in the NHL so&hellip;he runs good (drills) and has a lot of experience. I am really learning a lot from him.&rdquo;BACK IN THE SADDLE Mario Durocher figured it was only a matter of time before he was back behind a QMJHL bench, he just didn&rsquo;t figure it would be this soon.The highly regarded former Canadian national junior team coach took over from Sylvain Couturier after he was fired by the Acadie-Bathurst Titan just nine games into his rookie season.&ldquo;I&rsquo;m happy to get my chance again,&rdquo; Durocher said. &ldquo;You can never stay too far away from the game for too long because people seem to forget pretty quickly. Unfortunately, Sylvain lost his job and I feel bad for him. But I knew that this season would be like every year when some team would want to make a change and I thought maybe I would get a call from somebody.&rdquo; Durocher coached in Victoriaville, Sherbrooke and Lewiston. DIAMOND EYES Tyler Hawes&rsquo;s biggest dream is to play in the NHL, but he may also get the chance to compete at the highest level in another sport.The P.E.I. Rocket left winger received an invitation to try out for Canada&rsquo;s national junior softball team. The 17-year-old caught the eye of national team scouts when he was named an all-star at the 2004 national midget softball championship.<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-03471/7782716-1-eng-US/f0027-032.jpg" title="f0027-03" width="349" height="888"></div> &#9632;

f0027-01

Boutin finds game, confidence in P.E.I.

<div class="byline">BY JIM CRESSMAN</div>The Russians are coming again and this time they&rsquo;re assuring the Canadian Hockey League they&rsquo;ll be more competitive.The Barrie Colts and Mississauga IceDogs are the Ontario League teams chosen to play host to games in the 2004 CHL Canada-Russia Challenge Series.OHL president David Branch, also president of the CHL, expects the Russians to ice a much better team than last year when Canada won five games of the six games and outscored its opponent 30-9.&ldquo;We were disappointed last year with the caliber of the Russian team,&rdquo; said Branch, adding he has been assured they&rsquo;ll send a competitive team this year. &ldquo;They too were embarrassed.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-04318/7782768-1-eng-US/f0027-042.jpg" title="f0027-04" width="367" height="286"></div>The OHL beat the Russians 7-1 and 4-0 last year as did the Western League team (4-1 and 7-1). The Russians split against the Quebec League team, winning 3-2 and losing 6-3. Branch said it cost the CHL $250,000 to tour the Russians last year.The Russians will play the OHL team Nov. 25 in Barrie and Nov. 29 in Mississauga. Other games are Nov. 22 in Quebec City and Nov. 23 in Montreal against the QMJHL, and Dec. 1 in Red Deer, and Dec. 2 in Lethbridge against the WHL.The respective CHL teams will be comprised of players eligible to play for Canada at the World Junior Championship in Grand Forks, N.D., and will be selected by a management team and Hockey Canada scouting director Blair Mackasey.Nineteen of the Canadians who played in last year&rsquo;s series played for Canada in 2004.CLARKSON SIDELINED Kitchener Rangers coach-GM Peter DeBoer sent videotape to the league office to seek justice.The Rangers lost center David Clarkson for at least three weeks with a broken wrist when slashed Oct. 9. Plymouth Whalers center Mike Martinelli was assessed a minor penalty for slashing Clarkson after he scored, but DeBoer said it was center John Armstrong who slashed Clarkson.&ldquo;They got the wrong guy,&rdquo; DeBoer said. &ldquo;David is leading us with six goals in four games and that&rsquo;s a big hole in our lineup for an extended period. I very rarely send the tape in, but it&rsquo;s significant enough of an injury that we didn&rsquo;t have any choice.&rdquo;LEADING THE PACK Anaheim first-rounder Corey Perry led the league with 20 points for London as the Knights won their first eight games. The record for most wins to begin the season is 11. shared by Peterborough in 1992-93 and Gnelnh in &rsquo;95-96<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-05209/7782761-1-eng-US/f0027-052.jpg" title="f0027-05" width="347" height="886"></div> &#9632;

f0027-04

Russians promise to be competitive

<div class="byline">BY ROB VANSTONE</div>Saskatoon Blades right winger Ryan Keller knows all about the unlucky sevens. Keller & Co. weathered a 2003-04 Western League season in which the Blades won only seven games.&ldquo;Teams have been through struggles and that, but to go two months without a win gets real hard,&rdquo; Keller said. &ldquo;You learn a lot about yourself and your teammates.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-06151/7782806-1-eng-US/f0027-062.jpg" title="f0027-06" width="366" height="351"></div>&ldquo;As a group, it was difficult to stay positive and to come into each game feeling good about yourselves. It was a challenge.&rdquo; It was a downhill season from the beginning for the Blades. They finished with a dismal 7-52-11-2 record. The next poorest team was 32 points ahead of them in the standings. One of the biggest challenges was to show up in a proper frame of mind.&ldquo;It was hard,&rdquo; Keller said. &ldquo;There were times when you&rsquo;d go for the afternoon nap and kind of want to hit the snooze button again. It was tough on everyone, but we tried our best to come in every night and give our best effort.&rdquo; That still applies. However, the Blades&rsquo; fortunes have changed for the better. With a 5-2-0-0 record, the Blades - winners of their first three games - led the East Division.&ldquo;The fans have been unbelievable so far,&rdquo; said Keller, who had seven goals through seven games. &ldquo;Everybody has been rallying around it. It&rsquo;s good to see everybody excited again to come out to the rink.&ldquo;As long as we display a good work ethic, I think they&rsquo;re going to want to come back.&rdquo; BOTTOM LINE The Regina Pats were picked to finish dead last in the 20-team league by The Hockey News. Pats GM Brent Parker begs to differ.&ldquo;We won&rsquo;t finish 20th,&rdquo; Parker said. &ldquo;If people want to put us down there, that&rsquo;s fine. I&rsquo;m very confident we&rsquo;ll finish much better than that.&rdquo; The Pats stumbled out of the gate, losing six of their first seven games, before posting back-to-back road victories.&ldquo;I honestly think we&rsquo;re going to be OK,&rdquo; Parker said. &ldquo;We skate too well, our defense is too mobile and our goaltending is too good for us to finish down there.&rdquo;BAN THE DRUM SLOWLY The Tri-City Americans have banned fans from banging drums at their home games.&ldquo;We appreciate the support the drummers have given us, but they became not only disruptive to visiting players, but to our fans and teams as well,&rdquo; said Americans owner Darryl Porter. &ldquo;This leaves me with no choice but to implement this ban.&rdquo;<h2>SPOTLIGHT</h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-07126/7782799-1-eng-US/f0027-072.jpg" title="f0027-07" width="348" height="886"></div> &#9632;

f0027-06

Blades close ground on ’unlucky’ seven

<div class="byline">- PAUL SHAHEEN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-08108/7782844-1-eng-US/f0027-082.jpg" title="f0027-08" width="505" height="151"></div>One of the USHL&rsquo;s most highly regarded netminders, Chicago&rsquo;s Shane Connelly, committed to Wisconsin next season after entertaining offers from Bowling Green, Michigan and Colorado College.&ldquo;Every one of them were excellent schools,&rdquo; said Connelly, 17, &ldquo;but when I visited Wisconsin, I just loved the energy everyone had, the players, the coaches, and Madison&rsquo;s such a great sports town.&rdquo;The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Connelly could have committed last year, but opted to take his time.&ldquo;In a day and age when kids are in a rush to make a commitment, I have to give credit to Shane and his family in how they handled things,&rdquo; says Steel coach Wil Nichol. &ldquo;They took their time, but didn&rsquo;t drag out the process either.&rdquo; Connelly went 20-13-1 with a .917 save percentage in 2003-04. He&rsquo;s eligible for the 2005 NHL draft, but was not among the top 100 prospects identified by International Scouting Services.<h3>SPOTLIGHT TEAM</h3><h2>KELOWNA ROCKETS</h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-0998/7782837-1-eng-US/f0027-092.jpg" title="f0027-09" width="1408" height="680"></div>Arena Skyreach Place Capacity 6,007GM Bruce Hamilton Coach Jeff Truitt10th SEASON IN WHL BEST Mem Cup in 2003-04 ACTIVE NHL DRAFT PICKS Blake Comeau, 47th, NYI, &rsquo;04 Shea Weber, 49th, Nsh, &rsquo;03 Mike Card, 241st, Buf, &rsquo;04 &#9632;

f0027-08

UNITED STATES LEAGUE

<div class="byline">BY PHILIP COLVIN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-02744/7782882-1-eng-US/f0028-022.jpg" title="f0028-02" width="365" height="294"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-011086/7782889-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg" title="f0028-01" width="120" height="119"></div>With a long list of top players, goalie has become the CCH&Aacute;s glamor position.The league&rsquo;s highest-profile netminder is Michigan junior Al Montoya, drafted sixth overall by the Rangers in 2004. Montoya led the U.S. to their first-ever World Junior Championship title last season and was named second-team all-CCHA and a NCAA West second-team all-America.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>The conference also boasts Bowling Green senior Jordan Sigalet, a first-team all-CCHA selection last year and Ferris State senior Mike Brown, a first-team all-America two years ago.Notre Dame and Lake Superior have it even better and must pick between two proven guys. The Fighting Irish can go with senior Morgan Cey or sophomore David Brown, while the Lakers have the choice of senior Matt Violin or sophomore Jeff Jakaitis.&ldquo;I have a nice, albeit hard, decision. Some nights I may go with both of them, at the same time, and only four skaters,&rdquo; joked Notre Dame coach Dave Poulin.NHL PROSPECT WATCH After scoring 26 goals in 43 games as a freshman, Michigan left winger Jeff Tambellini&rsquo;s production dropped off last season. Drafted 27th overall by Los Angeles in 2003, Tambellini suffered through a frustrating sophomore year that included a l&oacute;-game scoring drought, a broken hand and 15 goals in 39 games.A top-end skater with an accurate, blistering wrist shot, Tambellini starts his junior campaign healthy and confident.&ldquo;When you&rsquo;re drafted high you tend to have a sub-par year that year,&rdquo; said Wolverines coach Red Berenson. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a lot of pressure to produce. But I expect Jeff to bounce back.&rdquo;NOTEBOOK There are three sets of players with identical names on league rosters this year. One of the pairs plays for Lake Superior where sophomore forward Derek Smith (now identified as Derek R. Smith) is joined on the Lakers by freshman blueliner Derek Smith. One player named Dan Knapp is a junior forward at Ohio State and the other is a sophomore defenseman with Nebraska-Omaha. One player named Mike Brown is a senior goalie at Ferris State and the other is a sophomore forward for Michigan.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-04365/7782875-1-eng-US/f0028-042.jpg" title="f0028-04" width="637" height="1002"></div> &#9632;

f0028-02

CCHA enjoying an abundance of solid goalies

<div class="byline">BY LARRY MAHONEY</div>Hockey East, the youngest of the four major Division I conferences, has become one of the nation&rsquo;s elite leagues, but commissioner Joe Bertagna said there is still plenty of room for improvement. &ldquo;Internally, the coaches have asked us to get more active in branding,&rdquo; said Bertagna referring to ventures that will further promote the league.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-03537/7782920-1-eng-US/f0028-032.jpg" title="f0028-03" width="366" height="307"></div>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to do around six TV shows about the league on NESN (New England Sports Network) spanning January, February and March.&rdquo;Bertagna added that newly hired director of marketing, Kathy Walsh, has some other promotional ventures in mind.&ldquo;Kathy got the marketing people together from all the schools and that had never been done before,&rdquo; Bertagna said. &ldquo;It was a way to call attention to the common interests in promoting the league, the game and each other. We&rsquo;re blessed because all the schools in the league make hockey a priority.&rdquo;He said the league&rsquo;s television exposure has never been better. &ldquo;In addition to our games on NESN, some of the schools have their own television packages,&rdquo; Bertagna said. &ldquo;I think there will be 70-plus games (overall) and that&rsquo;s a new record for number of games on TV.&rdquo; He said they want young hockey players, especially in New England, to aspire to play in Hockey East.NHL PROSPECT WATCH Providence right winger Colin McDonald will take a more prominent role this season and Friars coach Paul Pooley expects the 6-foot-3, 200-pounder to continue his improvement.&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a great kid with a great work ethic,&rdquo; said Pooley, who has McDonald on the power play and penalty-killing units. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s big, he skates and he can score and set up plays.&rdquo; McDonald, who was drafted 51st overall by Edmonton in 2003, had a productive freshman year last season with 10 goals and 16 points in 37 games.NOTEBOOK UMass-Amherst forward Matt Anderson, who sat out last season as a medical redshirt due to shoulder surgery, made a dramatic return to the lineup with his first career hat trick and two assists in a season-opening 6-4 win over Clarkson Oct. 8. &#9632;

f0028-03

Marketing push aimed at raising league profile

<div class="byline">BY ANDY BAGGOT</div>Second-year Michigan Tech coach Jamie Russell believes he has two elite players in junior right winger Chris Conner and senior left winger Colin Murphy.Conner, the fourth-leading goal-scorer in the conference last season, is the only returnee with 20 or more (25) goals.Murphy, the Huskies&rsquo; captain, enters the season with 43 goals and 99 points in 108 career games.<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-06237/7782989-1-eng-US/f0028-062.jpg" title="f0028-06" width="362" height="261"></div>But Russell knows the only way Michigan Tech, which finished 8-25-5 last season, will climb out of the second division of the WCHA is to find enough pieces to fit around those two.&ldquo;We need some more scoring depth and take a little bit of pressure off,&rdquo; Russell said.The search has taken Russell, whose club has not finished with a record over .500 since 1992-93, to consider 11 newcomers.Five of the freshmen are forwards, who will get a chance to help a team that averaged a league-low 2.36 goals per game last season.Tech finished in last place a year ago - the fifth time that has happened since 1993-94 - but the lack of offense is not its only issue.&ldquo;If we can improve our team defense and get our penalty kill squared around,&rdquo; Russell said, &ldquo;hopefully we can make a big step.&rdquo;NHL PROSPECT WATCH Top-end size, skill and instincts are why Buffalo drafted North Dakota right winger Drew Stafford with the 13th overall pick in 2004.But Stafford, a 6-foot-2,200-pound sopho-more, is showing a knack for being clutch.In 38 career games with the Fighting Sioux, Stafford has five game-winners. That includes the two he scored during a season-opening sweep of Maine.The 19-year-old Milwaukee native scored 11 goals and 32 points in 36 games in his freshman year.NOTEBOOK Wisconsin, the NCAA attendance leader for the last six years, has sold nearly 3,000 more season-tickets than it did a year ago when it averaged 11,701 fans per game at the Kohl Center&hellip; MSU-Mankato winger Adam Gerlach, wife Brye and son Joey were scheduled to appear on an Oct. 17 episode of America&rsquo;s Funniest Home Videos. &#9632;

f0028-06

Huskies wingers will be central to Tech attack

<div class="byline">BY ADAM PROTEAU</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-02638/7783027-1-eng-US/f0029-022.jpg" title="f0029-02" width="633" height="957"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-01963/7783034-1-eng-US/f0029-012.jpg" title="f0029-01" width="101" height="103"></div>Charlie Simmer was renowned for back-to-back 56-goal seasons with the Los Angeles Kings. But truth be told, he was halfway to happy when he hit the 20-goal mark.&ldquo;A 20-goal season in the NHI was my bench-mark growing up,&rdquo; said Simmer, now a TV analyst for the PhoenixCoyotes. &ldquo;But once you&rsquo;re given the chance to succeed, the goals you have for yourself grow by leaps and bounds.&rdquo;Simmer&rsquo;s career began with the Ontario Association&rsquo;s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 1973. Taken 39th overall by the California Seals the next summer, Simmer spent the initial years of his pro career shuttling between his NHL club and its Central League affiliate in Salt Lake City. The mixed messages he received regarding his role in the organization didn&rsquo;t make the adjustment any easier.</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>&ldquo;They wanted me to be a checking centerman, but then they&rsquo;d send me down because I didn&rsquo;t score enough,&rdquo; Simmer said. &ldquo;It was discouraging to keep bouncing around. At one point, I was ready to quit hockey altogether.&rdquo;Luckily for Kings fans, Simmer reconsidered. He signed as a free agent with L.A. in 1977 and spent most of the 1977-78 season with Springfield in the American League, but his fortunes improved for a couple of reasons.&ldquo;I moved to left wing and played under Bob Berry,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;When Bob took over as Kings coach the next year, he knew what I was capable of doing.&rdquo;Simmer was recalled for good mid-way through the &rsquo;78-79 season and g scored 21 goals in 38 games. He followed that up with a 56-goal, 101-point performance in 1979-80.That was the season Simmer teamed up with Marcel Dionne and Dave Taylor on the &rsquo;Triple Crown Line&rsquo;, a unit that put fear into the opposition for years. &ldquo;Marcel was the true star of our team,&rdquo; Simmer said. &ldquo;It was the job of Davey and to surround him with our skills. What we had as a unit was special.&rdquo;Simmer equalled his scoring output a season later, but his totals, were abruptly halted when he fractured his leg in a game in Toronto.&ldquo;It was depressing - not as much for me as it was for the team,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We thought we could i do well in the playoffs, but we lost to the Rangers in the first round. It was tough not being able to contribute.&rdquo;Simmer came back and had a 44-goal season in 1983-84, out a contract dispute with the Kings got him traded to Boston. &ldquo;That was a hard situation,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I loved being in L.A., but Boston was a great place to play in its own right&rdquo;Simmer&rsquo;s goal-scoring capacity didn&rsquo;t wane in Boston, as he had 29 or more goals in each of his three years there. But the injury bug bit Simmer again, holding him to 55 games in &rsquo;85-86. &ldquo;Injuries were the worst part of my career,&rdquo; said Simmer, who won the 1986 Bill Masterton Trophy for dedication to hockey. &ldquo;My goal in life was to play in the NHL, so I did whatever I could to keep playing. It was nice to be honored for that.&rdquo;<div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-03429/7783020-1-eng-US/f0029-032.jpg" title="f0029-03" width="1391" height="2582"><figcaption class="caption-body">CHARLIE SIMMER LOS ANGELES KINGS</figcaption></div>After a single season in Pittsburgh, Simmer left the NHL in 1988, playing in Germany and San Diego, where he also served as assistant coach before retiring in 1991. He dabbled in real estate before turning to broadcasting.&ldquo;The technical side was challenging,&rdquo; Simmer said, &ldquo;but otherwise, it&rsquo;s been nothing but a pleasure because I just love talking about the game.&rdquo;Simmer&rsquo;s days with Taylor and Dionne provide some of the highlights of his career.&ldquo;I have such great memories of Marcel and Davey,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We may not have won a Stanley Cup together, but I don&rsquo;t think any of us would trade our time together for anything.&rdquo; I &#9632;

f0029-02

Simmer’s career about dedication

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0029-04" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-04301/7783086-1-eng-US/f0029-042.jpg"></div>TREATING THE GUMP&nbsp;Rangers goaltender Gump Worsley takes his medicine during a hospital visit. Regardless of what his prognosis was, Worsley did something right &mdash; he enjoyed a 22-year NHL career and remains 15th all-time among the league&rsquo;s win leaders (335).<h2>REMEMBER WHEN?</h2>Headlines from The Hockey News archives Week of October 26<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-05250/7783079-1-eng-US/f0029-052.jpg" title="f0029-05" width="304" height="397"></div><h3>4 YEARS AGO 2000</h3>&bull; Brett Hull passes father Bobby, then Mario Lemieux for eighth place on NHL&rsquo;s all-time goal-scoring list&bull; NHL heralds &ldquo;crackdown&rdquo; on slashing, obstruction&bull; Monument to 1972 Team Canada squad announced, to be located outside Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-06203/7783072-1-eng-US/f0029-062.jpg" title="f0029-06" width="303" height="397"></div><h3>14 YEARS AGO 1990</h3>&bull; Troy Crowder shocks NHL, cuts Bob Probert in fight&bull; NHL files lawsuit against makers of Koho equipment, alleges price-fixing conspiracy&bull; Former Blackhawks announcer Lloyd Pettit withdraws bid to bring expansion NHL team to Milwaukee<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-07167/7783065-1-eng-US/f0029-072.jpg" title="f0029-07" width="305" height="399"></div><h3>34 YEARS AGO 1970</h3>&bull; Vic Hadfield leads list of NHLers caught up in newfound and widespread contract disputes between teams, players&bull; Dave Keon walks out on Maple Leafs after &ldquo;exorbitant&rdquo; contract demand of $125,000 per season is rejected&bull; Gus Bodnar takes coach-GM job with Salt Lake City Eagles &#9632;

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October 26, 2004

Around the league

Bears’ Rowan grabs No. 1 role in senior year

EUROPEAN STATISTICS

Once a suspect, Finley now a prospect