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October 6, 1989
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.
CARPENTER’S FIRST FIX-IT JOB: SPECIAL TEAMS
If the Toronto Maple Leafs are to escape the Norris Division basement, they can start by reversing last year’s terrible performance on the special teams. New coach Doug Carpenter will stress the power-play and penalty-killing units in an effort to lead the team to the playoffs. The Leafs’ lack of success with these squads in recent years is a major reason for their continuing downward spiral. “You can divide most games in the National Hockey League nowadays into three categories,” explained Carpenter. “There’s a third that you play on the power play, a third when you’re killing penalties and a third when you’re at even strength. “I think a lot of times most teams are at a standoff when you go five-on-five. Where most of the games are won or lost is on the…
EVERYONE’S HAPPY AS DINEEN GETS NEW DEAL
Kevin Dineen needed a new contract to be happy. The Hartford Whalers needed Dineen if they were to have any shot at a successful season. So when the right winger signed a four-year deal worth in excess of $2 million Sept. 22, both sides were happy—especially Dineen, who satisfied his goal of becoming the Whalers’ highest-paid player. “It wasn’t done easy, but if it was easy you’d wonder,” said Dineen, who had team-leading and career-high totals of 45 goals and 89 points last season. “It took a while, but to get something you’re happy with, it usually takes time. It was very tough, very serious, very fair.” Dineen, 25, will receive a base salary in the area of $500,000 a year. Individual bonuses for goals, points and plus-minus and teams bonuses could raise the…
TANTI TAKES NEW ATTITUDE INTO SEASON
During the off-season, Tony Tanti traded his limited edition Avanti sports car for a four-door sedan. It’s a natural life progression, considering the right winger turned 26 on Sept. 7 and his wife Chris is expecting the couple’s first child in October. But if you want to stretch the analogy, the switch in transportation from the fancy to the practical represents the profound change in Tanti’s performance last season. He went from being the Vancouver Canucks’ acknowledged sniper to a role player on a workmanlike team. He ripped up his American Express gold card and picked up a lunch bucket. The Canucks had the third-best defensive record in the NHL in 1988-89 (253 goals against) but finished last overall in goals scored with 251. The pressure was on Tanti, who had averaged 41…
CHORSKE MAKES HIS MARK AT HAB CAMP
Tom Chorske came into the Montreal Canadiens’ training camp as an unknown commodity. But the 23-year-old left winger knew exactly what he could do. “I came in with some pretty high expectations, I think,” said Chorske, in his first pro season after a three-year career with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. “I had delayed coming to camp and I felt when I got here I had to perform. “I had to show that the road I took was going to pay off. I guess I set some goals, such as being the leading scorer in rookie camp and things like that. I think I accomplished some of them.” Even though he was moved to right wing during the rookie camp, Chorske impressed with five goals on the first day. In the main training…
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