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May 27, 2008
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.
PLUS/MINUS
FLYING HIGH AGAIN Who had the Flyers going to the final four after a 56-point season just one year ago? LAST SHOT OF JAGR? If we’ve seen the last of Jaromir Jagr, at least he left playing great hockey in the playoffs. WINGS SCOUTS Lidstrom 53rd overall; Franzen 97th; Datsyuk 171st; Zetterberg 210th…talk about theft in Detroit. BIG NO It’s not all on Joe Thornton, but truly great players find a way to elevate their game in the spring. A LITTLE HALP? Team USA and Tampa Bay both dealt a blow when Jeff Halpern ruptured his ACL, putting him on the shelf for six to eight months. PRICE HIKE Kings and Hawks both raise ticket prices after missing playoffs.…
NY RANGERS
GM Team CEO Jim Dolan says Glen Sather has the job, “for as long as he wants it.” Armed with that kind of security, Sather’s biggest immediate challenge is the impending unrestricted free agency of Jaromir Jagr. Sather also faces the loss of potential free agents Sean Avery, Brendan Shanahan, Martin Straka, Michal Rozsival and Paul Mara. COACH Tom Renney has overseen the birth of a renaissance immediately following the franchise’s dark ages. His strengths include his ability to relate on a personal level to disparate personalties in Jagr, Shanahan, Avery, Henrik Lundqvist and Scott Gomez, and his patience with young players like Marc Staal and Brandon Dubinsky. His weakness is his loyalty to a fault with players. He’s safe after three straight playoff berths.…
WASHINGTON
GM The Caps’ late-season run erased speculation about his job status, but George McPhee still plays everything close to the vest. He’ll spend the off-season trying to convince UFA goalie Cristobal Huet to stay in D.C. and working to lock up some key RFAs (Boyd Gordon, Mike Green, Shaone Morrisonn). McPhee’s mission is to find inexpensive, productive players who can grow around superstar Alex Ovechkin, whose 13-year contract kicks in next season COACH Bruce Boudreau, Washington’s unexpected savior, was signed to a multi-year extension, although McPhee refuses to say for how long or how much. Boudreau will further put his stamp on the Capitals, finding some role players who can excel in his forechecking scheme.…
PHILADELPHIA
GM When the team owner says the GM should be the leading candidate for executive of the year and the GM calls the coach one of the best young minds in the business, it’s safe to say all is well in Flyer Nation. Conference final appearances – one year after the worst record in hockey – have a way of doing that to grown men. Paul Holmgren, however, still has to sign RFAs Jeff Carter and R.J. Umberger, decide if he wants to keep veteran UFAs such as Jason Smith, Vaclav Prospal and Jim Dowd, and perhaps create enough salary space for a high-priced free agent defenseman such as Brian Campbell. COACH Meanwhile, John Stevens, who’s signed through 2009, can relax this summer and wait for the phone to ring with…
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