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September 30, 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.
AGITATOR ON BOARD
IN A WHIRLWIND two-day tour of Dallas this summer, free agent winger Sean Avery talked up his love life on the radio, sent zingers at the Rangers and Isles at his press conference and assessed the fashion sense of key Stars on TV. Can you imagine a full season of this guy? Avery has proven he is anything but subtle and his assimilation into the Stars is expected to be an interesting chemistry experiment. Will the 28-year-old give Dallas the sandpaper it needs to get back to the top of a tough Pacific Division? Can he be the difference in a playoff series against Detroit? Is he the missing piece for pretty much any team that’s smart enough to sign him? To this, Avery would say…hell, yes. “Watching the playoffs last year and watching…
LEFT WINGERS
1 ALEX OVECHKIN CAPITALS A strong case can be made that Alex Ovechkin is the most electrifying left winger the NHL has seen since Bobby Hull ruled the rink. The league’s top goal-scorer – Ovechkin’s 65 tallies last season were the most since Mario Lemieux fired 69 in 1995-96 – and most valuable player appears primed to get his team, the Washington Capitals, back into the playoffs. If his supporting cast proves capable, there’s no telling how far the Caps can go. As has been the case the past three seasons, the NHL’s most intriguing subplot will be: Who is better, Ovechkin or Sidney Crosby? Meanwhile, the left side, once bereft of top-end talent, has become home to some of the NHL’s most skilled performers. 2. DANY HEATLEY, Senators 3. BRENDEN MORROW, Stars 4. ILYA KOVALCHUK,…
DEFENSEMEN
1 NICKLAS LIDSTROM RED WINGS OK, so Dion Phaneuf has his eyes on the Norris Trophy. Just don’t expect the old guys to bow down and let him walk off with the award. Chris Pronger, for one, has been putting himself through three-a-days in preparation for what he expects to be his best NHL season yet. Nicklas Lidstrom is, well, Nicklas Lidstrom. He’ll be right in the thick of things when it comes time to vote for the NHL’s best defender. And we probably haven’t seen the best Andrei Markov has to offer. If, as many expect, the Canadiens do well this season, you can bet the Russian blueliner will play a big role. As well, let us not forget Brian Campbell. The Blackhawks will be expected to build on last season’s improvement and Campbell…
VS.
For our annual season-opening predictions, 35 NHL correspondents and five THN staffers were asked to predict which coaches would be fired first. The two winners – if they can be called that – were St. Louis’ Andy Murray and Vancouver’s Alain Vigneault.…
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