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November 21, 2006
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.
Hawks’ hand forced by rash of injuries
DEFENSE Adrian Aucoin After signing as a free agent in the summer of 2005, injuries limited Aucoin to 33 games last season. Coach Trent Yawney was using Aucoin 21:59 per game this year and while he was struggling to find his game, both defensively and on the power play, Aucoin’s performance still stood out as one of the better ones amongst a floundering Hawks crew. FORWARD Bryan Smolinski Before they were hurt, Martin Havlat and Michal Handzus played more minutes than the Hawks’ defensemen some nights. Replacing them hasn’t been easy. Center Bryan Smolinski was doing what he could to fill Handzus’ role. Smolinski was averaging 17:57 of ice time, playing in all situations. The Hawks were looking for Smolinski to play a bigger role offensively than he did with the…
Lidstrom continues ice time dominance
DEFENSE Nicklas Lidstrom Since he entered the NHL in 1991-92, it’s safe to say nobody has logged more minutes than Lidstrom, who is always among league leaders in ice time. Lidstrom has missed only 20 of a possible 1,305 regular season and playoff games in 14-plus seasons. “He never looks tired, either,” said center Henrik Zetterberg. “I don’t know how he does that.” The four-time Norris Trophy winner is averaging 25:41 per game. That’s about two minutes less than he’s averaged the past several seasons, but no Wing logs more key minutes or plays in more important situations. FORWARD Henrik Zetterberg The center (who can also play wing) is the team’s jack-of-all-trades among forwards, an all-around player who averages 19:31 per game in all situations. He’s on the first power play…
Baring teeth
OVER THE COURSE of the Nashville Predators’ first several seasons, the team came under fire for failing to sign an impact free agent. GM David Poile’s response may not have satisfied all the fans, but the message was always consistent. “It was never the right time,” Poile said. “Anything we would have done in those early years might have gotten us a few more wins, but it probably wouldn’t have made us a playoff team and it would have come at the detriment of improving our young players.” It was only when those young players had developed and formed the core of a post-season contender that Poile made a spending splash by signing Paul Kariya in the summer of 2005. “For me, it was the time you felt that you were leaving the expansion…
Numminen: He’s got games
FOR TEPPO NUMMINEN, surviving more than 1,200 games in the NHL is nothing compared to what he endured when he was 16. Numminen arrived from his home in Tappara, Finland, in 1984-85 to play for something called the Whitby Lawmen of the Ontario Jr. A League. The Law-men weren’t exactly a law-abiding bunch, led by Rob Ray, who had 318 penalty minutes in just 35 games. “We won nine games that year,” Ray said. “We were playing in these little rinks in Orillia and places like that against all these older guys who had played in the OHL. Back then the league was all fighting and physical play.” Numminen, who returned home after playing 16 games for the Lawmen, honed his survival skills quite well, considering that he was scheduled Nov. 13 to…
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