Search for your favorite player or team
© The Hockey News. All rights reserved. Any and all material on this website cannot be used, reproduced, or distributed without prior written permission from Roustan Media Ltd. For more information, please see our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Yearbook 1995-96
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.
BUFFALO SABRES
While explaining his trade of Alexander Mogilny at the NHL draft, Buffalo Sabres’ I GM John Muckier said he dealt the Russian 1 to the Vancouver Canucks, “because these were teams going in two different directions. The Canucks are Stanley Cup conI tenders. We’re in transition.” I Translation: Why pay $20 million to lose in the first round every year when we could 1 do it for a lot cheaper? The suddenly frugal Sabres did get three top prospects in exchange for Mogilny, but the trade could also come back to haunt them for years. Remember, Mogilny scored 76 goals in 1992-93. Buffalo also lost veteran center Dale Hawerchuk, who signed a lucrative deal with the I St. Louis Blues the day before the draft. ’ Muckier is convinced the Sabres have i what…
LOS ANGELES KINGS
Look who’s playing for the Mickey Mouse I organization now. Wayne Gretzky called the New Jersey Devils a Mickey Mouse organization 13 I years ago and it has come back to haunt him, especially since the Devils won the | Cup and the Kings are a complete mess on I and off the ice. It’s hard to believe this team was in the Stanley Cup final just three years ago. Now the Kings are among the NHL’s worst teams with no reason to believe things will take a turn for the better this season. It was a tumultuous season and off-season I for the Kings. Former owner Bruce McNall I ran the franchise into financial ruin and new owners were busy trying to sell a team with as big a debt as most…
NEW YORK ISLANDERS
The long-term future looks good for the New York Islanders. The present? Now that’s a different story. They Islanders have accumulated one of the strongest group of prospects in the league in goaltender Eric Fichaud, defensemen Bryan McCabe and Wade Redden and right winger Todd Bertuzzi. Their Denver Grizzlies farm team also won the International League title last season. But little of that will matter when new coach Mike Milbury presides over his first training camp this fall. The former Boston Bruins’ player, coach and assistant GM is taking over a team that has fallen from 13th in the standings and an appearance in the semifinals against the Montreal Canadiens in 1992-93 to 15th the following season all the way to 25th last year. Milbury had an impressive .628 winning percentage during his…
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
The Tampa Bay Lightning hasn’t made the playoffs in its first three seasons and there’s a good chance it won’t be there this season, either. But all is not lost, despite the fact the Lightning slipped from 21st overall to 23rd. While the Lightning regressed in the standings, a host of its young players made noticeable progress. Roman Hamrlik, Cory Cross, Chris Gratton, Alexander Selivanov and Jason Wiemer all give the Lightning hope for the future. Unfortunately, while the team waits for those five, as well as Aaron Gavey and Drew Bannister who are expected to make serious bids to make the club this season, the Lightning is not likely to enjoy much success. Hamrlik, 21, made the most significant leap forward. The No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 draft, Hamrlik enjoyed…
Made possible with the support of
