BRETT HULL

The scene could have occurred anywhere in North America, youngsters crowding around members of the St. Louis Blues for autographs. But this wasn’t just anywhere. It was Dusseldorf, West Germany, where the Blues were making new friends on the NHL’s Friendship Tour. “Kids are the same everywhere,” says St. Louis Blues’ superstar right winger Brett Hull. They know the value of a puck, particularly one signed by you-know who. With German newspapers hyping the “eishockey-millionare,” and public address announcers introducing him as “der superstar,” Hull was a popular target of German collectors and autograph seekers. Never mind that they seemed a little confused at times. One group of kids let Hull walk by unnoticed while they cornered Herb Raglan. Another kid asked Kelly Chase to sign Hull’s picture, noticing they had similar haircuts. They didn’t…

GARY SUTER

With high-profile players Al Maclnnis, Joe Nieuwendyk and Doug Gilmour gamering much of the attention in Calgary, Gary Suter’s accomplishments are often overlooked. But faced with the facts, it’s difficult to ignore one of the best defensemen in the game. Drafted 180th overall by the Flames in 1984, Suter defied the odds to capture the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in 1985-86. The Madison, Wise., native has played in the All-Star Game three of his five NHL seasons, was named to the second All-Star team in 1988 and holds the Flames’ record for points by a defenseman (91 in 1987-88). Entering this season, Suter, whose 1986-87 O-Pee-Chee rookie card sells for about $3.50, was averaging just less than a point a game (346 in 362 games).…

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Thank you, Kevin McClelland. Less than a year ago, I ran into the Detroit Red Wings’ right winger in the visitors’ dressing room at Maple Leaf Gardens. The Wings had rallied from a 7-3 deficit to tie Toronto, largely on the strength of a Jimmy Carson hat trick. After the game, I walked into the dressing room to interview Carson. I saw Steve Yzerman. Shawn Burr. Gerard Gallant. But no Carson. A player I didn’t recognize asked me who I was looking for. Jimmy Carson, I said. I was told Carson was in the trainer’s room being attended to. I was about to leave when McClelland, who observed the exchange, piped up. “Why don’t you go look at a hockey card,’’ McClelland said. “He (Carson) is right over there.” Actually, he did say something else,…

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