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October 18, 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.
Injuries, new rules wreak ‘D’ havoc
A significant question mark right from the get-go of training camp, the Rangers defense became even more of a concern with nagging injuries limiting the ice time for both Marek Malik and Michael Rozsival, newcomers who each struggled in the pre-season. Malik, signed to a three-year, $7.5-million free agent contract, was notably having trouble with speed and adapting to the zero-tolerance obstruction enforcement. With Tom Poti and rookie Maxim Kondratiev also suffering extremely skittish pre-seasons, the Blueshirts’ blueline will go into the season led by Darius Kasparaitis and Fedor Tyutin. EARLY RETURNS If alleged sniper Jozef Balej’s disappointing camp earned him a quick assignment to the American League, 23-year-old right winger Petr Prucha was doing his best to force the Blueshirts to keep him on the roster. A dazzler with the puck…
Canes get worse as games wear on
While the Hurricanes adjusted well to the NHL’s new officiating standards in their first four games, all at home against substandard opposition, they struggled in the next four, all on the road against legitimate rosters. After allowing only 5.6 power play opportunities per game in the first half of the pre-season, the Canes allowed 10.3 per game in the second half as the pace of the game accelerated. After a few shaky performances early in the pre-season, Martin Gerber played well in his final two outings to cement his position as the Canes’ No. 1 goalie. Rookie Cam Ward was hot and cold, but shut down Tampa Bay in his final appearance. Their play will remain an issue given the duo’s lack of NHL experience – Gerber has never played more than…
Milwaukee still big contender
A year ago, the talent level in the American League was at an all-time high, thanks to the NHL lockout. In every AHL city, as many as five NHLers were playing. This year, normalcy has returned. That means there are more prospects fresh out of junior and college trying to show what they can do, and there can be a reward for great play. “It becomes easier to sell hope,” said Milwaukee Admirals coach Claude Noel. Some of those sales pitches will be made in new cities. There are four new franchises in the Western Conference. The Calgary Flames are sending prospects to the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben (Neb.) Knights; Dallas Stars prospects are playing for the Iowa Stars; the Peoria Rivermen are being stocked by the St. Louis Blues; and, the Toronto Maple Leafs ended…
Haydar skilled at beating odds
The numbers piled up by Darren Haydar with the Milwaukee Admirals suggest there’s little doubt he can play the game. The Nashville Predators, however, don’t necessarily agree. He was among the first wave of cuts in training camp. The rest of the NHL apparently wonders, too, since Haydar was on the waiver wire in late September and went unclaimed. “Wherever I go, I always have to prove to people I can play,” Haydar says. “I don’t think that will stop.” Thus, as Haydar embarks on his fourth season in the American League, the 5-foot-9, 170-pound right winger will once again be out to show the critics are wrong. He did it in college, when he scored 102 goals and 219 points in 158 games for the University of New Hampshire. An afterthought in the…
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