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October 4, 2005
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.
Wings won’t dominate
The new CBA wasn’t created to help clubs like the Detroit Red Wings. This formerly free-spending team watched its payroll shrink dramatically, from an estimated $60 million during the canceled 2004-05 season to less than $39 million this season. The Red Wings were forced to buy out the contracts of a trio of veterans (Derian Hatcher, Darren McCarty, Ray Whitney) to get under the salary cap. They weren’t able to make their usual big splash in the free agent market because they had little money left after resigning their own players. Budding star Pavel Datsyuk threatened to remain in Russia, but was expected to return to Detroit and accept the Wings’ offer of two years for $3.8 million a season. Their fourth line is no longer as strong as the second or third…
SEPARATED AT BIRTH
GLENN HEALY Bagpiper, NHL analyst once played goal for New Haven Nighthawks DON HENLEY Singer, environmental activist plays drums for the Eagles Submit ideas for Separated at Birth to jhodgson@thehockeynews.com…
Cup champs try for two
The season had not even started. Heck, the pre-season had not even begun – it was a news conference to talk about training camp – and coach John Tortorella already laid down the law. He doesn’t want to talk about the players who aren’t in Tampa Bay anymore (read: Nikolai Khabibulin) and he doesn’t want to talk about anything that happened the last time hockey was played (read: the Lightning won the Stanley Cup). But how the Lightning handles the loss of Khabibulin and how it reacts to its new success will determine what kind of season the team will have. Replacing Khabibulin is a tricky task. “Let’s face it,” Tortorella said, “Nik Khabibulin is a world-class goalie. Do John Grahame and Sean Burke combine to be a world-class goalie? Probably not. But…
Hall class of 2007 all set
The September retirements of Mark Messier, Ron Francis, Al MacInnis and Scott Stevens all but made it a certainty the four will enter the shrine together in two years. The announcement won’t be made until June of 2007, but the 18-member selection committee will never have an easier decision. Each of the four had a star-studded career, full of individual awards, Stanley Cup titles and mind-boggling statistics. A maximum of four players may be inducted in each class and a player has to be at least three years removed from his last pro game. Although Messier, Francis, MacInnis and Stevens didn’t retire until 2005, their final games were played in 2003-04. “I’ve been asked whether these gentlemen will be part of the 2007 or 2008 class because of what happened in 2004-05 with…
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