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Yearbook 2006-07
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.
Flames’ attack gets re-ignited
So exciting, yet so disappointing. Proving their ride to the 2004 Stanley Cup final was no fluke, the Flames returned to the NHL’s upper echelon last season and claimed their first division title in 11 years. Throughout the regular season, the upstarts from two years ago out-gritted, outworked and out-performed all comers in the very strong Northwest Division and staked a 103-point campaign. Thanks to stifling defense and award-winning goaltending from Miikka Kiprusoff, the Flames were able to reach a top perch despite being one of the most offensively challenged teams in the league. However, that elation was quickly tempered by a first round playoff loss. Now the pressure is on to be more than just a regular season success – which was the case in so many seasons in the early 1990s. But the Flames…
Sutters, Staals and Stanley
ERIC’S YOUNGER BROTHERS MAY HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE LONGER FOR THEIR STANLEY CUP RINGS In 81 NHL seasons combined, hockey’s famed six Sutter brothers won a total of six Stanley Cups. So far, the Staal boys are batting .500. OK, only one of the four Staal brothers, Eric, has played in the NHL and he was lucky enough to win the Cup in his second season. All things being equal, Eric might be the only Staal with a Cup ring for a while, maybe even forever. But according to Dennis MacInnis, director of scouting for International Scouting Services, the four Staals do have other things in common: “The one thing that stood out to our scouts dealing with every one of them over the years is they’re all very humble…
DiPIETRO
Rick DiPietro has been hailed as a revolutionary goalie of the future since the New York Islanders made him a landmark draft pick. Six years later, the Isles are still waiting for the revolution – or DiPietro’s evolution – to finish. One rookie goalie (Carolina’s Cam Ward) hoisted the Stanley Cup last season and another (the Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist) took New York by storm. DiPietro, the first goalie ever drafted first overall (in 2000), has yet to accomplish either feat. Now, more than ever, the Islanders need DiPietro to finally serve as a stabilizing force in 2006-07 – especially following a circus-like summer that included friend and former backup goalie Garth Snow’s unprecedented ascension to the GM’s office. “I’ve been here a while now and look at all the changes and think the best…
Ovie and Olie only sure bets
Let’s be honest. The Washington Capitals had a few negatives on their stat sheet last season. In fact, eliminate one young Russian left winger and the Caps had very few positives. Defense was Washington’s primary problem; specifically, a pronounced inability to play it. The Caps led the league with 660 penalties. That’s a bad stat made infinitely worse by the fact the team’s penalty killing ranked last on the road and 28th overall. Washington gave up 306 goals, second-worst in the NHL, and were outscored by 69. The power play scored only 14.7 per cent of the time, the fifth-worst average in the league. None of this was a shock to anyone familiar with the team. It has been rebuilding since the great salary purge of 2003-04 and has been trying to restock from…
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