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.

November 3, 2008

The Hockey News - Nov-03-08

<div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-05493/9352561-1-eng-US/f0009-052.jpg" title="f0009-05" width="143" height="150"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>HE BLACKHAWKS have the two highest-paid door openers in the world. When Nikolai Khabibulin plays, backup Cristobal Huet gets $68,598 per game to work the door from his seat at the end of the bench. When Huet plays, Khabibulin gets $82,317 a night to display his latch skills.</p><p>BRIAN HAYWARD&rsquo;S famous shark mask, featured in The Hockey News <i>Greatest Masks of All-Time</i>, actually had a twin. Designer Greg Harrison was given credit for the shark-tooth creation, but the original designer was Don Strauss of Armadilla Mask. Strauss came up with the idea, presented it to Hayward prior to 1991-92 and the Sharks goalie used it for most of that season before switching to the similar-looking Harrison mask. Check out the stories behind your favorite masks in this collector&rsquo;s edition magazine.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

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THE STANDARDS

SNAPSHOTS

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0003-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-012108/9352088-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg"></div><p>THE BLUES&rsquo; ANDY MCDONALD goes airborne after being tripped up by the Maple Leafs&rsquo; Pavel Kubina.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-031001/9352081-1-eng-US/f0003-032.jpg" title="f0003-03" width="143" height="144"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p>Check out <a href="http://thehockeynews.com">thehockeynews.com</a> to see photos of the week.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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IN THIS ISSUE

THE BIG PICTURE

<p>Nikolai Khabibulin 19%</p><p>Wade Redden 18%</p><p>Ryan Smyth 14%</p><p>Michal Rozsival 11%</p><p>Ryan Malone 10%</p><p>Brian Campbell 7%</p><p>Mike Commodore 5%</p><p>Mike Fisher 5%</p><p>Mathieu Schneider 5%</p><p>Michael Ryder 4%</p><p>Other 2%</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-08129/9352333-1-eng-US/f0006-082.jpg" title="f0006-08" width="347" height="485"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(KHABIBULIN: PHILLIP MACCALLUM/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>SPIT IT OUT!</b></h2><h3><b>GET IT OFF YOUR CHEST</b></h3><p><i>SEND US AN E-MAIL</i></p><p><a href="mailto:letters@thehockeynews.com">LETTERS@THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM</a></p><p><i>OR LOG ON</i></p><p><a href="http://www.thehockeynews.com">WWW.THEHOCKEYNEWS.COM</a></p><p><i>SEND US SNAIL MAIL</i></p><p>Letters, The Hockey News 25 Sheppard Ave. W., Suite 100 Toronto, ON., M2N 6S7, Canada</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-1061/9352326-1-eng-US/f0006-102.jpg" title="f0006-10" width="143" height="144"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>BONUS!</b></h2><p>All subscribers get exclusive content on <a href="http://thehockeynews.com">thehockeynews.com</a> with an ALL-ACCESS PASS!<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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POLL RESULTS

<div class="byline">&#x2013; RUSS COHEN</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-012021/9352485-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg" title="f0009-01" width="819" height="797"><figcaption class="caption-body">Spectrum spectators: You just don&rsquo;t see fans like this anymore. <span class="photo-credit">(MELCHIOR DIGIACOMO/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>HERE WAS A not-so-memorable parade before the first NHL game at the Philadelphia Spectrum, which opened in 1967 and will close its doors forever sometime in 2009.</p><p>&ldquo;I remember the parade, they introduced the team,&rdquo; said Lou Angotti, the Flyers&rsquo; first captain. &ldquo;They had a parade down Broad Street somewhere. There was nobody there.&rdquo;</p><p>In the last NHL game ever played at the Spectrum &ndash; actually, a pre-season Flyers-Phantoms game in early October &ndash; owner Ed Snider, the coaches and top-level Flyers employees wore orange blazers made from the original fabric they wore on opening day 41 years ago. &ldquo;To see Mr. Snider in his bright orange jacket today&hellip;that gives us all a good chuckle,&rdquo; said Kevin Dineen, the captain in 1993-94.</p><p>Another former captain, Mel Bridgman, had his own memory. &ldquo;Playing the Russians (the Red Army team, in 1976),&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We had pep talks in our dressing room from the strangest people. (NHL president) Clarence Campbell couldn&rsquo;t stand us, the way we played or anything about us&hellip;(but) he was in there telling us we represent the NHL and all the rest and to &lsquo;Go and play your game.&rsquo; And we did. The game was memorable, we beat the Russians 4-1.&rdquo;</p><p>Dave Poulin, who was captain from 1984-89, had his own take. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s unique, it&rsquo;s a tiny building,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The focus here is on the ice. It&rsquo;s a little vertical building and somehow that made the fans closer to you physically, so they were closer to you emotionally&hellip;The Flyers and the Spectrum managed to chase a whole political system out of the building, not just the (Red Army) team. They chased communism out of the building.&rdquo;</p><p>The Spectrum has some AHL memories, too. &ldquo;I think of it as home,&rdquo; said Bill Barber, who coached the Phantoms to a Calder Cup in 1998. &ldquo;I am going to miss this building. A lot of good things happened here, some Stanley Cup teams, the Russian game, the 35 games without a loss (in 1979-80)&hellip;&rdquo;</p><p>Last but not least, Philadelphia&rsquo;s favorite son logged a lot of ice time at the Spectrum over his career. &ldquo;I played here 15 years, so there are a lot of memories,&rdquo; said Flyers legend Bobby Clarke. &ldquo;The biggest by far was winning the Cup.&rdquo;</p><p>Even a first-time captain has a special Spectrum memory. &ldquo;Having the captains on the ice was pretty special for me,&rdquo; said Mike Richards, the team&rsquo;s current leader. &ldquo;To be presented with the &lsquo;C&rsquo; with Mr. Snider out there and then the other captains is something that I&rsquo;m not going to forget.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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SPECTRUM: A SPECIAL RINK

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-012128/9352126-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="563" height="472"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(MARK WILSON)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>F YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE THEORY being espoused by some financial forecasters, the NHL should put a claim in on that lucky loonie that was buried at center ice of the 2002 Olym-pics. And dig beneath the seat cushions in its arenas for loose change.</p><p>On the other side of the ledger, there are those who maintain the impact of the worldwide economic crisis and the nose-diving Canadian dollar on our favorite diversion will be minimal, particularly this season. Increased ticket revenue &ndash; much of it already accounted for &ndash; strong merchandise sales and a leveraging of the digital explosion will keep the NHL in relatively calm waters.</p><p>So who to believe? Who knows?</p><p>Projecting the direction of the volatile stock markets and the domino effect on the economy in general is a little like trying to pick a Stanley Cup winner prior to the start of a season. Anyone can make a guess, some more educated than others, but the games will always need to be played to determine winners and losers.</p><p>How, as fans, should we feel? Should we be bracing for Armageddon, Part 2?</p><p>Not in the immediate future. We sense any trickle-down impact will be a couple years way.</p><p>Of course, it&rsquo;s the long term that has us skittish. The collective bargaining agreement can be re-opened by the players at the end of this season, an eventuality that is about as likely as Ryan Hollweg winning the Lady Byng. While the union may find areas in the CBA it feels it can improve, this remains a good deal for them. Very good.</p><p>The owners, on the other hand, have already been grumbling about the shortcomings of the pact. A bust economy will do nothing to enhance that outlook. Come 2011, when the deal officially expires, it&rsquo;s probable the owners will be seeking more restrictive concessions from the players, asking a union they had apparently broken to bleed a little more.</p><p>What they won&rsquo;t have this time, however, is public sympathy, at least not to the same degree. The NHL governors played that game masterfully in 2004-05 and many of us, even if it was grudgingly, sided with them.</p><p>Cost certainty came at a great expense, but the saving grace was supposed to be a fail-safe system that would keep 30 markets happy and, by extension, millions of fans. That was the promise. If it&rsquo;s not the reality, they can&rsquo;t expect us to be onside again.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-021805/9352119-1-eng-US/f0004-022.jpg" title="f0004-02" width="407" height="218"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

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LONG-RANGE VIEW HAS US SKITTISH

<div class="byline">JULIAN SCHUBACH, OCEANSIDE, N.Y.</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-012115/9352205-1-eng-US/f0005-012.jpg" title="f0005-01" width="880" height="1018"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(ELIOT J. SCHECHTER/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-021534/9352212-1-eng-US/f0005-022.jpg" title="f0005-02" width="179" height="179"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span> have been an avid Islanders fan since I could sit on my father&rsquo;s lap at the Nassau Coliseum as a little kid and I have never, throughout all the controversial issues surrounding the franchise, been more angry.</p><p>They need to keep the fans informed about &ldquo;franchise player&rdquo; Rick DiPietro and his current condition. It is a see-saw argument: one side says D.P. is hurt, the Isles insist he is not. What is the truth? Why so secretive? The Islanders are a business and they rely on the fans to financially drive them. If they are not up front and truthful with their fan base, this franchise may be doomed, sooner than later.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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WHITHER, D.P.?

<blockquote class="pullQuote">&ldquo;If you watch goals scored &lsquo;back then,&rsquo; they were horrible</blockquote><h2><b>HOLL IN THE HEAD</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>A</span>s a die-hard Leafs fan, I am disgusted and embarrassed by the play of Ryan Hollweg. For the second time this season and fourth time in the past 42 games, he has been in trouble with the league for hitting from behind.</p><p>After sitting for two games, he hits another guy within 25 minutes of getting back into the lineup. What doesn&rsquo;t he get? The Leafs are tarnishing an already deteriorating reputation by allowing this guy to stay in the lineup. Let&rsquo;s release him and move on.</p><p>RYAN PACKER, MILTON, ONT.</p><h2><b>GREEN GOALIE</b></h2><p>Thank you for the piece on Mike Richter (Oct. 14). As a longtime Devils fan, it&rsquo;s inherently wrong (and equally difficult) to like a Blueshirt. However, for me at least, that was never the case with Mr. Richter.</p><p>He was always the consummate professional and a classy guy both on and off the ice. To see him doing such great work to save a seriously endangered environment makes me appreciate him and his efforts even more.</p><p>In a day and age when athletes are too often in the news for the wrong reason, it is refreshing to see the good work Mike is doing and the support so many NHLers are giving to save the planet.</p><p>STEVEN PENN, LAKE FOREST, ILL.</p><h2><b>DIRE CONSEQUENCES</b></h2><p>Alexei Cherepanov was a young player with a lot of talents we&rsquo;ve could have potentially seen in North America next year, or in two years at the very least, but now that will never happen.</p><p>If everyone over here had a chance to see him play in the NHL, they would have loved seeing him play the game, with his speed, shooting and puckhandling skills. This year three players passed away (Cherepanov, Luc Bourdon and Mickey Renaud) and they were all prospects, with hopes and dreams of establishing long careers in to the big league.</p><p>Now we only have memories from what they did, mostly in junior and the World Junior Championships.</p><p>This has been a bad year in the world of hockey. RIP Cherepanov, we will miss you.</p><p>JORDAN PHILBERT, SHERBROOKE, QUE.</p><h2><b>MODERN STOPPERS</b></h2><p>I just want to comment on the article about goalie equipment becoming smaller (Oct. 14). I don&rsquo;t really think it&rsquo;s going to affect current NHL goalies too much.</p><p>If you watch goals scored &ldquo;back then,&rdquo; they were horrible. A slapshot from the point goes top shelf. Come on, anyone could save those. What&rsquo;s really the difference is the condition the goalies are in and their styles.</p><p>TRENT PODREBARAC, FONTHILL, ONT.</p><h2><b>HIT WHERE IT HURTS</b></h2><p>Why doesn&rsquo;t the NHL make hitting from behind an automatic sevenminute major?</p><p>I think a 10-minute major would be a huge deterrent, but who would go for it? They could also make it a five-minute major for hitting from behind, followed by a two-minute minor for boarding. I&rsquo;m sure there would be a &ldquo;slight&rdquo; infl ux of goals.</p><p>JOHN BIRD, ST. CATHARINES, ONT.</p><h2><b>BOO TO TSN2</b></h2><p>A sarcastic congratulations to TSN and the NHL for alienating more fans.</p><p>It seems a recent game between the Flyers and the Penguins was only being shown on TSN2, a new channel the network has created that my cable subscriber does not carry. I tried to get it on the Center Ice package, <i>which I pay for</i>, but it wasn&rsquo;t on there either. My daughter, who is a Penguins fan, was very disappointed, as I&rsquo;m sure were many others.</p><p>Maybe Sean Avery is right, the NHL has no idea how to market this great game!</p><p>GARRETT ENGLISH, ALLISTON, ONT.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

CROWD SHOTS

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-012354/9352250-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg" title="f0006-01" width="518" height="484"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(CORVO: GRANT HALVERSON/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-021587/9352257-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="95" height="57"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p><i>ISAAC TURNER FROM KENT-VILLE, N.S., ASKS</i> What is the most important skill for a puck-moving defenseman to have?</p><p>Probably just seeing the ice as well as you can. Also, keeping your head up and knowing what your options are when you have the puck.</p><p><i>DEVON</i>&nbsp;<i>SHEPHERD FROM STONY PLAIN, ALTA., ASKS</i> Who was your favorite player growing up and why?</p><p>Doug Wilson or Chris Chelios. I grew up watching them and I was always impressed by the crispness with which the Blackhawks played.</p><p><i>DEVON MARSON FROM NORTH BAY, ONT., ASKS</i> I&rsquo;m a defense-man and I have a problem with guys cutting through the middle. I try to hit them, but usually miss. Any advice?</p><p>You can&rsquo;t treat it as an all-or-nothing situation, which is what happens when you go for the big hit. Work on your angles, because if you have the proper angle on the guy, you can&rsquo;t miss.</p><p><i>BRANDON KAWASHIMA FROM LOS ANGELES ASKS</i> Who&rsquo;s your favorite band?</p><p>That&rsquo;s tough, because I listen to a lot of random songs. If there was one band I&rsquo;ve consistently listened to, though, it&rsquo;s Metallica, especially the old stuff.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-07212/9352243-1-eng-US/f0006-072.jpg" title="f0006-07" width="143" height="144"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p>Visit <a href="http://thehockeynews.com">thehockeynews.com</a> to ask your questions of NHL stars!<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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FAN SHOOTOUT WITH JOE CORVO

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-06332/9352295-1-eng-US/f0006-062.jpg" title="f0006-06" width="563" height="425"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(SCHENN: DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>Adam,</p><p class="dropcap"><span>W</span>hen a rookie (who is not eligible to be sent down to the minors) signs an entry level contract like Luke Schenn did recently, does he still get paid if he is sent down to his junior team?</p><p>Thanks, Jeff Miron, Barrie, Ont.</p><p>Jeff,</p><p>All rookies, like all players, are paid a pro-rated sum for each NHL game they play. But unlike the veterans, they must play at least 10 games for their full-season salary to kick in; otherwise, they&rsquo;ll have to make do with whatever NHL signing bonus they agreed to while playing with their junior team.</p><p>Adam,</p><p>What&rsquo;s with the referees kicking players out of the faceoff? I always see players switching. Can you give me the reasoning behind why this happens?</p><p>Adam Scicluna, Toronto</p><p>Adam,</p><p>As noted under Rule 76.3 of the NHL rulebook, linesmen can kick a player out of the faceoff if (a) one or both centers aren&rsquo;t in proper position; (b) one or both centers don&rsquo;t have their sticks on the ice; (c) any non-center moves into the faceoff circle; (d) any player makes physical contact with an opponent; and (e) any player is off-side. As I&rsquo;m sure you know, one of those things happens quite often.</p><h2><b>SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS AT <a href="http://thehockeynews.com">thehockeynews.com</a></b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-0984/9352288-1-eng-US/f0006-092.jpg" title="f0006-09" width="143" height="144"></div><p>Need more of your questions answered? Read Proteau&rsquo;s &lsquo;Ask Adam&rsquo; column every Friday at <a href="http://thehockeynews.com">thehockeynews.com</a><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

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ASK ADAM

<div class="byline">&#x2013; KEN CAMPBELL</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-012105/9352378-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg" title="f0007-01" width="273" height="273"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-06358/9352371-1-eng-US/f0008-062.jpg" title="f0008-06" width="3491" height="3096"><figcaption class="caption-body">Dion Phaneuf</figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>W</span>ITH HALLOWEEN fast approaching, our focus turns away from Jack O&rsquo;Callahan and toward Jack-O-Lanterns. With just two NHL games scheduled for Oct. 31, there will be more trick-or-treat and less dump-and-chase.</p><p>Ironically, New Jersey won&rsquo;t be playing on Devils night, which falls the night before Halloween. There are 12 games that evening, but the Dallas Stars aren&rsquo;t playing either, which leaves Sean Avery free to play Nicky-Nicky-Nine-Door well into the night. But we can&rsquo;t get away from hockey entirely. With that in mind, we present the NHL&rsquo;s 10 scariest players:</p><p><b>1. DION PHANEUF</b> He can be engaging, charming and funny off the ice, but once he puts on his Calgary Flames uniform, Phaneuf becomes Darth Vader. If the death stare isn&rsquo;t enough to send the faint of heart into the safe areas of the ice, his devastating bodychecks should just about do it. With 17 goals and 182 penalty minutes last season, Phaneuf casts a long and ominous shadow over his opponents.</p><p><b>2. HENRIK ZETTERBERG/PAVEL DATSYUK</b> Pick your poison. The Red Wings mates take turns being the most scary-good players in the NHL. Datsyuk does it with spectacular individual moves, while Zetterberg does it with dogged determination and a wicked sense of opportunity.</p><p><b>3. ALEX OVECHKIN</b> Sixty-five goals and 220 hits last year. Enough said.</p><p><b>4. MARTIN HAVLAT</b> He&rsquo;s scary on a couple of counts. When he&rsquo;s on his game, he can be one of the most spectacular offensive players in the league, a blend of speed and skill that is something to behold. But Hawks fans live in constant fear the scoreboard is going to fall on him.</p><p><b>5.</b>&nbsp;<b>JAROME IGINLA</b> With two fights and 12 PIM in his first three games, Iginla got off to a rather ornery start for the struggling Flames. What makes Iginla so scary is that he can do it all &ndash; score, hit, make plays and fight. He smiles easily and is unusually accommodating almost all the time, but behind the smile lies the heart of an assassin.</p><p><b>6. DEREK BOOGAARD</b> How scary is Boogaard? Well, aside from the fact that his name begins with &ldquo;Boo,&rdquo; consider that Marian Gaborik dressed up as Boogaard for the Minnesota Wild&rsquo;s Halloween party last year. Boogaard has had only 10 fighting majors each of the past two seasons, but when you break a player&rsquo;s jaw the way Boogaard did to Todd Fedoruk a couple of years ago, guys tend to steer clear.</p><p><b>7. DANIEL ALFREDSSON</b> He isn&rsquo;t fooling anyone with that shaveddown-to-the-wood head and scruffy beard. It just isn&rsquo;t that scary and the fact Alfredsson is one of the NHL&rsquo;s truly great people makes it much more difficult for him. But make no mistake, he&rsquo;s a scary character, no more so than when he&rsquo;s killing a penalty. With seven shorthanded goals last year, game-breaking speed and lots of skill, he often takes the power out of a power play.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-012249/9352364-1-eng-US/f0008-012.jpg" title="f0008-01" width="888" height="587"><figcaption class="caption-body">Detroit&rsquo;s Henrik Zetterberg relies on his scary-good skills to frighten opponents. <span class="photo-credit">(ZETTERBERG: GREGORY SHAMUS/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p><b>8.</b>&nbsp;<b>SHELDON SOURAY</b> When he&rsquo;s healthy, he has the hardest shot in the league. When he winds up from the point, watch the pained expressions on the faces of those who are in his shooting path.</p><p><b>9. MIKE KOMISAREK</b> Whether he plays with Roman Hamrlik or Andrei Markov, Komisarek provides a huge nasty quotient to his tandem. Last season he led the league in hits and blocked shots.</p><p><b>10. LUKAS KASPAR</b> We don&rsquo;t know much about the Sharks rookie, but anyone with the name Kaspar has to be scary, yet a little friendly, too. If you don&rsquo;t get that, you obviously didn&rsquo;t read enough comic books when you were a kid.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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FRIGHT NIGHT: NHL’S 10 SCARIEST PLAYERS

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-021705/9352423-1-eng-US/f0008-022.jpg" title="f0008-02" width="281" height="250"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-031199/9352416-1-eng-US/f0008-032.jpg" title="f0008-03" width="457" height="457"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(BRUNNSTROM: GLENN JAMES/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>FABULOUS FABIAN Dallas rookie Fabian Brunnstrom becomes just third player to score hat trick in NHL debut.</p><p>SHARP SABRE Thomas Vanek is not only scoring, but scoring in all situations for the Buffalo Sabres.</p><p>NICE TRIBUTE Statues of Ted Lindsay and Alex Delvecchio join the one of Gordie Howe outside Joe Louis Arena.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-04668/9352409-1-eng-US/f0008-042.jpg" title="f0008-04" width="393" height="393"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(SAVARD: JAMIE SABAU/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>NO SAVVY Did four games really convince the Hawks that Denis Savard was the wrong coach? Why not make the move during the summer?</p><p>BOO-DAJ Avs goalie Peter Budaj has downright scary start to year.</p><p>DIRTY DOZEN The Bruins have lost 12 straight regular season games to their old rivals from Montreal.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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PLUS/MINUS

<p>10 JAMES NEAL made the Stars proud by scoring in his first NHL game.</p><p>9 St. Louis&rsquo; PATRIK BERGLUND won 66.7 percent of his faceoffs against Nashville.</p><p>8 TY CONKLIN has already proven his worth as a backup in Detroit.</p><p>7 A breakaway winner by NIKOLAI KULEMIN pushed the Leafs over the Wings.</p><p>6 ALEX AULD&rsquo;S work against Pittsburgh bested Martin Gerber&rsquo;s for Ottawa.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0008-05474/9352454-1-eng-US/f0008-052.jpg" title="f0008-05" width="448" height="345"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(VOROS: JOE KLAMAR/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>5 AARON VOROS had a fight and an assist in his debut for the Blueshirts.</p><p>4 Columbus found another scrapper against Phoenix in young DEREK DORSETT.</p><p>3 ANTTI MIETTINEN gave Minnesota secondary offense right off the bat.</p><p>2 The Rangers got early offense from big off-season pickup MARKUS NASLUND.</p><p>1 First game, first hat trick. Not bad for Dallas newbie FABIAN BRUNNSTROM.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0008-05

Starting from 10

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-03866/9352523-1-eng-US/f0009-032.jpg" title="f0009-03" width="328" height="328"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-021409/9352530-1-eng-US/f0009-022.jpg" title="f0009-02" width="230" height="223"></div><p>&ldquo;I brought my passport for sure. I forgot it one road trip and that didn&rsquo;t go over too well. I brought my Xbox 360 for the hotel. I&rsquo;ve got NHL 09 and I have a season going with the Leafs; that&rsquo;s going pretty good. I also have a lucky tie. It&rsquo;s hard living out of a suitcase. I&rsquo;ve packed light and I&rsquo;m starting to wear the same clothes over and over.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-04658/9352516-1-eng-US/f0009-042.jpg" title="f0009-04" width="328" height="328"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0009-03

WHAT’S IN YOUR SUITCASE, LUKE SCHENN?

<div class="byline">BRIAN COSTELLO Senior Editor </div><div class="byline">&#x2013; Senior editor Brian Costello&#x2019;s blog appears every weekend at </div><div class="byline">THN.com</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-012216/9352599-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg" title="f0010-01" width="779" height="793"><figcaption class="caption-body">Brian Campbell <span class="photo-credit">(DON SMITH/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-031024/9352606-1-eng-US/f0010-032.jpg" title="f0010-03" width="89" height="98"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p>EVERYTHING LOOKED TO BE going so well for the Chicago Blackhawks.</p><p>After most of the past decade out of the playoffs and a fan base that was dwindling down to the diehards, the management and ownership of the Original Six franchise started turning the corner a few seasons ago. An abundance of high draft picks has resulted in a gushing pipeline of young talent, the next generation of Wirtz ownership started giving back to the fans and expectations rose above sea level for the first time since the days of Jeremy Roenick and Chris Chelios.</p><p>Then when Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews arrived last season and electrified the city and league with their rookie exploits, the Blackhawks got greedy. And careless.</p><p>Rather than develop the likes of Cam Barker and Corey Crawford for the blueline and goal and continue the steady upward ascension, Hawks GM Dale Tallon overpaid for available free agents Brian Campbell and Cristobal Huet. He wanted it all to happen right away.</p><p>Then when it looked like the chemistry wasn&rsquo;t clicking immediately, the team fired coach Denis Savard, a Hawks icon and a central figure in the progression of Kane and Toews. Both Savard and Hawks fans deserved better. If Savard wasn&rsquo;t the man for the next stage of development, why not dismiss him in the summer rather than embarrass the organization with a ridiculous firing now?</p><p>Tallon acted harshly and imprudently when he signed Campbell for $57 million over eight years and Huet for $22.5 million over four years. After years of painstaking building, he put the quick fix at the top of his job list. If Campbell&rsquo;s name was Pronger or Chara or Phaneuf, then a long-term, big-money deal makes sense. But Campbell isn&rsquo;t one of the top six or eight defensemen in the league. His contract will surely cause headaches down the road when it&rsquo;s used as a barometer for other Hawks deals.</p><p>And $5.625 million for Huet, who isn&rsquo;t one of the top 10 or 12 goalies in the league? That made no sense when Nikolai Khabibulin is already on the books for $6.75 million. Is Huet really that much of an upgrade? And what does this do for prospect Crawford, who was ready for NHL backup duty?</p><p>Those big contracts are going to have a domino effect on the rest of the team. What are Kane, Toews and Duncan Keith going to demand when they&rsquo;re up for contracts in 2010? Campbell bucks?</p><p>And how do the Hawks justify Barker, the third overall draft pick in 2004, not developing into an NHL player. Was he a flop waiting to happen or did he not receive the appropriate mentoring?</p><p>So should we really be surprised the Hawks fired the coach? It has all the fingerprints of a franchise that tried to get too good too quickly.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-021611/9352592-1-eng-US/f0010-022.jpg" title="f0010-02" width="143" height="144"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>Best from the &lsquo;Net</b></h2><p>What we&rsquo;re saying at <a href="http://thehockeynews.com">thehockeynews.com</a><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0010-01

HAWKS GET GREEDY

<div class="byline">by Michel Roy $37.95</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-04712/9352637-1-eng-US/f0010-042.jpg" title="f0010-04" width="259" height="388"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-05521/9352644-1-eng-US/f0010-052.jpg" title="f0010-05" width="41" height="255"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he legendary goaltender&rsquo;s father takes fans behind the scenes for this incredibly detailed look at the life of one of the NHL&rsquo;s best players ever.</p><p>At over 500 pages long, there are certainly some parts of this book that could have been trimmed, but getting the lowdown on the 1986 Stanley Cup, the trade to Colorado and Roy&rsquo;s childhood is all fascinating stuff.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0010-04

BEST OF THE BOOKS

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-06390/9352731-1-eng-US/f0010-062.jpg" title="f0010-06" width="254" height="173"></div><p>1 Montreal Canadiens</p><p>(NHL)</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-07275/9352724-1-eng-US/f0010-072.jpg" title="f0010-07" width="230" height="242"></div><p>2 Rimouski Oceanic</p><p>(QMJHL)</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-08204/9352717-1-eng-US/f0010-082.jpg" title="f0010-08" width="271" height="201"></div><p>3 Detroit Red Wings</p><p>(NHL)</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-09156/9352710-1-eng-US/f0010-092.jpg" title="f0010-09" width="262" height="219"></div><p>4 Ontario Reign</p><p>(ECHL)</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-10130/9352703-1-eng-US/f0010-102.jpg" title="f0010-10" width="230" height="228"></div><p>5 North Dakota Fighting Sioux</p><p>(WCHA)</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-11104/9352696-1-eng-US/f0010-112.jpg" title="f0010-11" width="234" height="204"></div><p>6 Chicago Blackhawks</p><p>(NHL)</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-1282/9352689-1-eng-US/f0010-122.jpg" title="f0010-12" width="215" height="229"></div><p>7 Toronto Maple Leafs</p><p>(NHL)</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-1359/9352682-1-eng-US/f0010-132.jpg" title="f0010-13" width="284" height="219"></div><p>8 Florida Everblades</p><p>(ECHL)</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-1447/9352675-1-eng-US/f0010-142.jpg" title="f0010-14" width="109" height="112"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p>To see full results of the logo competition, visit <a href="http://thehockeynews.com">thehockeynews.com</a><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0010-06

Fan-favorite Logos

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0012-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-031091/9352776-1-eng-US/f0012-032.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Marty Turco is dedicated to grass-roots hockey in the U.S. and Canada. <span class="photo-credit">(GLENN JAMES/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><blockquote class="pullQuote">I don&rsquo;t play to see my name in a headline &ndash; I play to bring the Cup home.</blockquote><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-012162/9352783-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg" title="f0012-01" width="207" height="246"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>T&rsquo;S LATER IN THE EVENING one night in mid-October and Marty Turco is hosting a Thanks-giving celebration for the Canadian contingent on the Dallas Stars. At the very same time, he&rsquo;s trying to convey how he feels as he begins his eighth and perhaps most fruitful NHL season.</p><p>Turco&rsquo;s twilight juggling act wasn&rsquo;t anything out of the ordinary; for as long as he&rsquo;s been involved in the game, he&rsquo;s also extended himself far beyond its on-ice requirements.</p><p>From his extensive community and charity efforts, to his humor and leadership in the dressing room, to the yeoman&rsquo;s work he did with the NHL Players&rsquo; Association, Turco might be the hardest-working player in the league.</p><p>No wonder the 33-year-old is regarded as one of hockey&rsquo;s best ambassadors &ndash; and someone who has one of the best chances of winning a Stanley Cup this season.</p><p>&ldquo;The things I&rsquo;ve been building towards in my career are coming together,&rdquo; said Turco, who was the driving force behind Dallas&rsquo; run to the Western Conference final last season. &ldquo;My wife and I just had our third child, and I&rsquo;ve got a great team and fans to play for. I&rsquo;d obviously like to win a Cup&hellip;but everything&rsquo;s still going up for me.</p><p>&ldquo;Everything&rsquo;s kind of coming full circle now from the obscure days. And it feels rewarding at times and it&rsquo;s still fun and I&rsquo;m as passionate as ever to go as far and further than we went into the playoffs last year.&rdquo;</p><p>Ah, last year. That was when Turco once and forever debunked the theory he was anything but a big-time twine protector by posting a 2.08 goals-against average in 18 playoff games.</p><p>Indeed, it&rsquo;s a mystery why those folks needed to be convinced in the first place. In the 2007 playoffs, all Turco did was lead all goalies in GAA (1.30), while shutting out the Stars&rsquo; first round opponents (Vancouver) in all three of Dallas&rsquo; wins and allowing just 11 goals in total.</p><p>Unfortunately, as Dallas had just suffered its third consecutive first round exit, few were in a credit-lending mood at the time. Rather, many murmured about monkeys on backs and crumbling under pressure when they referred to Turco.</p><p>His teammates knew full well. that was a load of b.s.</p><p>&ldquo;For Marty, the past four years have probably been pretty tough,&rdquo; said former Star and new Maple Leafs winger Niklas Hagman. &ldquo;He just played so well in the regular season every year, and then to get kicked out of the first round as (Dallas) did, the media sees the same goalie and (criticizes) him.</p><p>&ldquo;But for us as players, we knew it wasn&rsquo;t his fault the team lost. You can&rsquo;t blame Marty. Last year he was unbelievable, he carried that team.&rdquo;</p><p>Added Stars captain Brenden Morrow, Turco&rsquo;s best friend on the team: &ldquo;We probably would&rsquo;ve made more of an attempt to defend or change that perception if we thought it affected him. It didn&rsquo;t, though. Now, if we don&rsquo;t win our final game of the season, he&rsquo;s never going to be happy. But are we confident he can win the big game? Without a doubt.&rdquo;</p><p>From his earliest days in net, confidence &ndash; either in himself, or the confidence he&rsquo;s provided to his teammates &ndash; has been key to Turco.</p><p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s what&rsquo;s made him successful,&rdquo; Morrow said. &ldquo;Even his first year coming in &ndash; which probably is why his relationship with (then-Stars teammate) Eddie (Belfour) wasn&rsquo;t the best &ndash; Marty believed in himself. You need that confidence to be a top goalie. That mental toughness is his biggest strength.&rdquo;</p><p>Said Turco: &ldquo;The teams I played on growing up were always better than we should&rsquo;ve been, compared to our skill level, compared to other teams we played. That&rsquo;s because we weren&rsquo;t ever satisfied.</p><p>&ldquo;Yeah, it felt great to be in the Western Conference final last year, to play against the eventual Stanley Cup champs, to beat the eventual Stanley Cup champs. But at the end of the day, we still didn&rsquo;t win. I don&rsquo;t play to see my name in a headline. I play to bring the Cup home.&rdquo;</p><p>Turco&rsquo;s focus on a championship has caused him to scale down his dealings with the NHLPA. But as a former member of the executive committee that helped bring in director Paul Kelly in 2007, he remains keen on both strengthening the union and growing the game.</p><p>&ldquo;I think Mr. Kelly is doing a wonderful job,&rdquo; Turco said. &ldquo;I still think our relationship with the NHL needs some working on. I don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;s developed as much or as well as I anticipated just coming out of the way people were talking post-lockout.</p><p>&ldquo;But I&rsquo;m an optimistic person. And I don&rsquo;t see why, even though the game is a business, it can&rsquo;t be a cohesive business where we&rsquo;re all working towards similar goals &ndash; to win, have parity and make money.&rdquo;</p><p>Part of what drives Turco to go above and beyond the call of duty is his sincere affection for the sport.</p><p>&ldquo;My biggest thing I focused on when I got involved with the union was, I just felt so passionately about hockey,&rdquo; Turco said. &ldquo;I believe in hockey so much &ndash; not just as a sport that you play, make your money and get out &ndash; but hockey at the grassroots level and as a team sport.</p><p>&ldquo;To grow up and be involved in it, to see what it gives back to you and your family, your community, and the life lessons you learn from it, has meant a lot to me. So I just want the sport to continue to grow in Canada and the U.S. As corny as that sounds, I really do just hope the game grows.&rdquo;</p><p>When he&rsquo;s not helping his teammates, or his union, or his family, Turco usually can be found at work with local charities, including the Stars&rsquo; &ldquo;Stick With Reading&rdquo; program he has served as the spokesperson for since the 2001-02 season.</p><p>&ldquo;He doesn&rsquo;t flaunt it, but everyone here knows what he does in the community,&rdquo; Morrow said. &ldquo;Pretty much every charity there is in Dallas, he&rsquo;s part of it. On top of that, he&rsquo;s always busy with his family and at the same time he&rsquo;s a huge leader on our team. I&rsquo;m telling you, it&rsquo;s hard to keep up with the guy.&rdquo;</p><p>Added Hagman: &ldquo;You respect Marty for what he does on the ice, but you have maybe even more respect for what he does off the ice with his family and in the city. Honestly, there&rsquo;s nothing bad I could say about him.&rdquo;</p><p>With the exception of the many who have tried in vain to score on Turco, nobody says anything bad about him.</p><p>And Turco has nothing but positive vibes about the season to come.</p><p>&ldquo;I really do look forward to the ups and downs of this team and seeing how it all plays out this year,&rdquo; Turco said.</p><p>&ldquo;This team has as legit a chance as anyone to win a Stanley Cup. And I just want myself and my teammates to be able to look each other straight in the eyes and say, &lsquo;Yeah, we may not have been at our best, but we tried our best.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0013-011922/9352769-1-eng-US/f0013-012.jpg" title="f0013-01" width="1168" height="1481"><figcaption class="caption-body">Brenden Morrow <span class="photo-credit">(RONALD MARTINEZ/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-021695/9352762-1-eng-US/f0012-022.jpg" title="f0012-02" width="82" height="83"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p>For Adam&rsquo;s web-exclusive Screen Shots column, visit <a href="http://THN.com">thn.com</a><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0012-03

TESTED TURCO READY FOR MORE

<div class="byline">By Wayne Fish</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0014-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0014-012138/9352828-1-eng-US/f0014-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JENNIFER POTTHEISER/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>H</span>is time in the NHL always had been sort of represented by the numbers on his back: &lsquo;1&rsquo; as in team first and &lsquo;2&rsquo; as in personal career second.</b></p><p>But there was a startling juxtaposition of those digits last February when Philadelphia&rsquo;s No. 12, Simon Gagne, announced that he was sitting out the rest of the 2007-08 season.</p><p>Post-concussion symptoms forced the veteran Flyers winger to make the difficult decision and standing in front of glaring TV lights for a makeshift press conference in a basketball dressing room certainly didn&rsquo;t help matters.</p><p>Even though the verdict had been made by team doctors, Gagne felt personally responsible, almost as if in some way, he was letting down his teammates.</p><p>Eight months later and seemingly healthy again, the 28-year-old can look back on those dark times with sober clarity.</p><p>He&rsquo;s made it through training camp and the first few games of the regular season without incident. The symptoms are gone, his fitness is reaching pre-injury levels and even his annual 40-plus goal-scoring touch appears to be coming back.</p><p>That&rsquo;s good news for the Flyers, who can breathe a sigh of relief. In many ways, this is their franchise player; the one star who&rsquo;s been through it all, including a pair of trips to the conference final in 2000 and 2004.</p><p>If Gagne had been forced to walk away from hockey, it would have been a very bleak development.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s always tough when you have to stop playing,&rsquo;&rsquo; said Gagne of that night in February. &ldquo;It was maybe the first time in my career I had to think of myself before the team.</p><p>&ldquo;That day was the toughest of my career &ndash; to announce I was taking the rest of the season off and I couldn&rsquo;t come back to help the team.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><p>Being able to talk with former teammate and good friend Keith Primeau helped get him through the roughest patches. Concussion-related problems forced Primeau from the game prematurely in 2006. Gagne had someone who could relate to his trouble.</p><p>&ldquo;You need someone to talk to,&rsquo;&rsquo; Gagne said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s tough, the doctors don&rsquo;t really know because they haven&rsquo;t been through a concussion, they don&rsquo;t know what it feels like, but Keith does.</p><p>&ldquo;He knew what I was going through. He just gave me some tips, like knowing the right time to go back. I got a lot of help from him.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><p>Gagne&rsquo;s troubles began in a game at Florida last Oct. 24 when he was injured in a collision with Florida defenseman Jay Bouwmeester. He sat out until Nov. 2, tried to return, then missed 26 games from Nov. 8 to Jan. 8 when the symptoms came back.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0015-011894/9352821-1-eng-US/f0015-012.jpg" title="f0015-01" width="1168" height="1497"><figcaption class="caption-body">Simon Gagne is back skating and scoring after a washout season in &rsquo;07-08. <span class="photo-credit">(BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><blockquote class="pullQuote"><b>That day was the toughest of my career &ndash; I couldn&rsquo;t come back to help the team.</b></blockquote><p>In what proved to be his final return, Gagne played until Feb. 10, only to be felled again on a hit from Pittsburgh&rsquo;s Gary Roberts.</p><p>Doctors still aren&rsquo;t sure if Gagne&rsquo;s season-long health problem stemmed from a series of separate concussions or simply one initial one that never properly healed.</p><p>Whatever the case, Gagne said he&rsquo;s glad it&rsquo;s behind him.</p><p>Looking back, he admits there were a few moments when he thought his career might be threatened.</p><p>&ldquo;You have to stay positive,&rsquo;&rsquo; he said of last winter. &ldquo;Injuries, concussions are part of the game. It&rsquo;s frustrating. You don&rsquo;t know what&rsquo;s going to happen. You just hope you get better each day.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><p>The low point, of course, came that night at the Wachovia Center when he had to face a large gathering of media and go over his symptoms, his emotions, in fine detail.</p><p>At one juncture, he had to put his head down to gather his composure.</p><p>&ldquo;My symptoms weren&rsquo;t that bad,&rsquo;&rsquo; he said. &ldquo;I had energy. The headache was the one symptom that stayed with me all the time. As soon as the headache went away, I knew I was going to be OK.</p><p>&ldquo;Right now I&rsquo;m happy I took the time off because I&rsquo;m back playing and I&rsquo;ve felt pretty good.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><p>One of the complications with Gagne&rsquo;s condition was sporadic neck pain, believed to be connected to his concussion.</p><p>To help speed his recovery, Gagne went to see a New Jersey physician, Scott Greenberg, who is pioneering some new medical procedures in the field.</p><p>Greenberg, who works at the Magaziner Center for Wellness and Anti-Aging in Cherry Hill, N.J., uses prolotherapy, a natural pain-relieving technique involving injections of an anesthetic solution to reduce inflammation.</p><p>Prior to the treatments, Gagne was experiencing debilitating pain in his jaw, neck, back and hips, causing a loss of coordination and balance. But prolotherapy apparently did the job.</p><p>Ironically, with a lot of time on his hands, Gagne watched a lot of television (<i>Lost</i> and <i>24</i> are among his favorites) and he learned about Greenberg from an infomercial on TV.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-011911/9352814-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg" title="f0016-01" width="778" height="1197"><figcaption class="caption-body">The Flyers are happy to see Gagne battling opponents, not headaches. <span class="photo-credit">(LEN REDKOLES/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;At that time, the concussion wasn&rsquo;t too bad, but the neck was a problem,&rsquo;&rsquo; Gagne said. &ldquo;(After the treatments) the headaches started to go away. I was able to get on a bike. That treatment was maybe the start of getting a lot better.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><p>By May, Gagne felt so good there was talk he might attempt to come back if the Flyers had gotten past Pittsburgh in the Eastern Conference final and gone on to compete for the Stanley Cup.</p><p>&ldquo;I started to feel better and that was maybe the first time I thought maybe I could go back and play,&rsquo;&rsquo; he said. &ldquo;But I knew I had another four months to get back in shape. I was a lot more confident when I made it through the summer without any setbacks.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><p>Gagne said he hasn&rsquo;t experienced any setbacks or bad days. Final clearance came from Colorado-based concussion expert Dr. Jim Kelly just prior to training camp.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m just going through what players go through when they come back from a long summer,&rsquo;&rsquo; Gagne said. &ldquo;I get tight and sore after games. But symptom-wise, it&rsquo;s totally gone. That&rsquo;s very good news for myself.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><p>Gagne even drew a few laughs when he took a roughing penalty on his first shift of the pre-season against Carolina.</p><p>He looks like the old Gagne to linemate Daniel Briere.</p><p>&ldquo;He came in right off the bat and started rolling,&rsquo;&rsquo; Briere said. &ldquo;He, (Mike) Richards and I started playing together and every game it just got better and better.</p><p>&ldquo;From our standpoint he looks comfortable. It looks like he&rsquo;s over it, like the old Simon is back.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><p>As far as precautions go, Gagne said he&rsquo;s always worn a plastic mouthpiece. But he did change to a helmet with more protective padding.</p><p>Late summer was spent going through a grueling training regimen and the results are beginning to show: Gagne scored goals in Philadelphia&rsquo;s first four games this season.</p><p>&ldquo;One of my big concerns was his fitness level, he&rsquo;d been off so long,&rsquo;&rsquo; said Flyers coach John Stevens. &ldquo;He wasn&rsquo;t able to do anything and you can quickly fall out of game shape. To his credit, he worked extremely hard this summer &ndash; from diet to training regimen to getting back to the ice.</p><p>&ldquo;Now we&rsquo;re seeing him start to really get to the next level. In practice, he&rsquo;s the one able to push the work. His fitness level is getting to the level he was before. We&rsquo;ve asked a lot but he&rsquo;s played well.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><p>Gagne is confident he can return to the form that allowed him to score a combined 88 goals in the first two seasons after the lockout.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to ask a lot of myself,&rsquo;&rsquo; he said. &ldquo;I want to be the player I was two years ago. I still want to be a threat out there. It might take time, but I believe I can do it again.&rsquo;&rsquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0014-01

SPOTLIGHT

Simon says I can do it ‘AGAIN‘

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-021472/9352859-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="682" height="2071"></div><p>*Source: Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, Nov. 2008<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0016-02

Head Games

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0018-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-03978/9352897-1-eng-US/f0018-032.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Scott Niedermayer was under contract when he sat out 34 games.</figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-011790/9352904-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="207" height="246"></div><blockquote class="pullQuote">Niedermayer set into motion a toppling of dominos that almost crippled Anaheim</blockquote><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>HERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO question that, despite his advancing age, Scott Niedermayer is still an elite defenseman in the NHL. When he was out of the Anaheim Ducks lineup last season, they went 14-16-4 and were only &ldquo;slightly&rdquo; better when he returned, ripping off a 33-11-4 mark after he rejoined the team from his self-imposed hiatus. And that wasn&rsquo;t just a coincidence.</p><p>Niedermayer has won every trophy imaginable and is a shoo-in for induction in the Hall of Fame. He&rsquo;s the only player in hockey history to have won the Memorial Cup, Stanley Cup and Canada/World Cup along with a junior and senior world championship and an Olympic gold medal. He&rsquo;s an upstanding guy, a great teammate and after being a peripheral leader for most of his career, he has seized the responsibility that comes with being a team stalwart.</p><p>Oh yes, and he has ruined the Ducks.</p><p>The fact is, the Ducks have never been the same since Niedermayer sat on the sidelines for the first 34 games last season, deciding whether or not he wanted to continue playing hockey. His absence caused a huge distraction and threw the team into a spiral of salary cap hell from which it hasn&rsquo;t been able to emerge.</p><p>Of course, the Ducks&rsquo; performance in the playoffs last year and their awful start to the season can&rsquo;t all be laid at Niedermayer&rsquo;s feet. Nobody held a gun to GM Brian Burke&rsquo;s head and told him to sign Todd Bertuzzi last season and the prospect of losing Ryan Getzlaf and/or Corey Perry to another team&rsquo;s offer sheet forced Burke into overpaying them with long-term deals. And the fact the Ducks can&rsquo;t seem to play on the right side of the rulebook certainly isn&rsquo;t Niedermayer&rsquo;s fault, either.</p><p>But what Niedermayer did last season cannot be sugar-coated. It was a contract holdout, plain and simple, and is light years removed from Teemu Selanne, who didn&rsquo;t play for the Ducks for much of last season because he didn&rsquo;t have a contract. Niedermayer, on the other hand, had a four-year deal that he signed in good faith and simply broke because he wanted more time to figure out his future.</p><p>It&rsquo;s no different than what notorious holdouts such as Keith Tkachuk and Alexei Yashin did under the old system that allowed players to hold their teams hostage until their contracts were renegotiated.</p><p>Players and executives talk about &ldquo;the code&rdquo; all the time and part of that code should be that players and teams must live up to the commitments they make. Niedermayer didn&rsquo;t do that and he painted the Ducks into a corner the same way others have done to their teams in the past.</p><p>When it comes down to it, he held out for more time. When you have as much in career earnings as these guys have, is there really any difference between a guy who holds out for money and one who holds out for time?</p><p>That set into motion a toppling of dominos that has almost crippled the Ducks. Not knowing whether Niedermayer would return, Burke went out and signed Mathieu Schneider to a two-year deal with an annual cap hit of $5.625 million. It was an impetuous move on Burke&rsquo;s part to be sure, and in this case the decisiveness that has helped Burke so many times in the past probably proved to be his undoing.</p><p>And that&rsquo;s precisely where the Ducks fell off the rails. The Schneider signing forced the Ducks to rid themselves of backup goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, who has been a pillar for the Phoenix Coyotes. The worst part of it wasn&rsquo;t that they lost Bryzgalov, but that their salary constraints forced them to lose him for nothing. Then they lost a very serviceable player in center Andy McDonald, a guy who gave the Ducks secondary scoring down the middle and fit well into their system. This time, though, the Ducks were forced to take Doug Weight, simply because he was in the last year of his contract and they could take advantage of the complex &ldquo;tagging&rdquo; rule to fit him under the cap.</p><p>The bottom line is, are the Ducks better with Niedermayer than they would have been with Schneider, Bryzgalov and McDonald (or what any of those players might have fetched in a legitimate trade)? Probably not.</p><p>And what of Schneider, who signed with the Ducks in part because he wanted to be a contributor on a Stanley Cup contender? In return for his commitment, he has been exiled to Atlanta and at the age of 39, is further from the Cup than he ever has been in his career.</p><p>Nobody will say it, but the Ducks would have been far better off if Niedermayer retired last season.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-021351/9352890-1-eng-US/f0018-022.jpg" title="f0018-02" width="83" height="83"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p>For Ken&rsquo;s web-exclusive Campbell&rsquo;s Cuts column, visit <a href="http://THN.com">thn.com</a><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0018-03

DUCKS STUCK THANKS TO SCOTTY

<div class="byline">JAY GREENBERG</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0027-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-02920/9352935-1-eng-US/f0027-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">The Sedin twins will be inked to multiyear deals by the Canucks. Very long multi-year deals. <span class="photo-credit">(CHRISTIAN PETERSEN/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0027-011309/9352942-1-eng-US/f0027-012.jpg" title="f0027-01" width="207" height="246"></div><p><b>MY CRYSTAL BALL</b> got smashed when Chris Neil tried to stickhandle it. So I shined up Bruce Boudreau&rsquo;s head instead.</p><p>Hey, even if Alex Tanguay was not Mike Keenan&rsquo;s cup of tea, the leaves are readable. I see all and know all. Well, maybe I&rsquo;ll never see what anybody sees in Patrick Lalime, but otherwise the future of the NHL&rsquo;s 2008-09 season is clear. And you read it here first:</p><p><b>OCT. 23</b> With the U.S. presidential election perhaps swinging on Pennsylvania&rsquo;s 21 electoral votes, Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden and unanimous Hockey Dad contest winner Henry Staal drop the puck in a ceremony before a Penguins game against Carolina.</p><p>The Flyers quickly announce that Sarah Palin will return to the Wachovia Center, this time with Grace Sutter. With political appearances prompting sellout crowds throughout the NHL, the Dallas Stars announce that during the Devils&rsquo; visit in 2009-10, Martin Brodeur and Sean Avery will engage in a debate rather than a hockey game.</p><p><b>NOV. 15</b> Jason Blake&rsquo;s 120-foot goal gives the Leafs a 2-1 win over the Canucks, whose net was empty because Roberto Luongo, the NHL&rsquo;s first goalie captain in 60 years, is busy getting a penalty explanation from referee Don Koharski.</p><p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to hear it,&rdquo; said Koharski, who positions himself in the corner of the offensive zone so that the enraged Luongo, not allowed to cross the red line, gets drowned out by crowd noise.</p><p>Meanwhile, Luongo denies rumors his teammates don&rsquo;t respect his leadership after they schedule a Christmas party outside the trapezoid, where NHL rules prohibit him from attending.</p><p><b>DEC. 2</b> Because of the growing number of incarcerated owners, the NHL&rsquo;s board of governors moves its meetings from The Breakers at West Palm Beach to the Federal Correctional Institution at Tallahassee.</p><p>&ldquo;Hard times,&rdquo; said Warden Gary Bettman, asked about declining revenues due to the recession. &ldquo;Some of our owners are in The Hole.&rdquo;</p><p>The latest sell-off of players by the Nashville Predators has cut attendance by 70 percent, but owner &lsquo;Boots&rsquo; Del Biaggio insists his team is rebuilding. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m doing a 10-to-20 year plan,&rdquo; he says.</p><p><b>JAN. 25</b> The Western Conference defeats the Eastern Conference, 118-116, at the NHL All-Star Game at Montreal&rsquo;s Bell Centre, where, appropriately, the Canadiens&rsquo; 100th anniversary season is celebrated on a goal by original Hab Chris Chelios. When Chelios forgets to come to the interview room, Sidney Crosby is named MVP.</p><p><b>MARCH 3</b> Minutes before the 3 p.m. trade deadline, Detroit signs pending free agent Tomas Holmstrom to a 17-year contract. Vancouver moves quickly to extend Henrik and Daniel Sedin for another 18 years. After Edmonton locks up Ales Hemsky with a 20-year deal and Tampa Bay signs Evgeny Artyukhin for 34 seasons.</p><p>&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t know how good he is,&rdquo; explains GM Brian Lawton, &ldquo;but if we don&rsquo;t sign somebody, there won&rsquo;t be any players left for decades.&rdquo;</p><p>Detroit re-ups Chelios for 100 more years.</p><p><b>JUNE 13</b> Evgeni Malkin&rsquo;s two goals in Game 6 give the Penguins the Stanley Cup and a measure of revenge over the Detroit team that defeated Pittsburgh in the 2008 final. When free-agent-to-be Marian Hossa, on the losing end in a final for the second straight year, is asked about his plans, he says: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m signing back with Pittsburgh. I always say &lsquo;If you can&rsquo;t beat &rsquo;em, join &rsquo;em!&rsquo;&rdquo;</p><p><b>JULY 8</b> Rebuffed by all the top free agents, the Islanders nevertheless load up with 39-year-old Joe Sakic, 40-year-old Brendan Shanahan, 57-year-old Anders Kallur and 119-year-old Sprague Cleghorn.</p><p>Saku Koivu, offered 35 years and $300 billion by owner Charles Wang, told the Isles he won&rsquo;t be playing this year because his aunt has shingles. Maxim Afinogenov begged off by saying he had a headache, while Marian Gaborik produced a doctor&rsquo;s excuse indicating he needs operations on all three knees.</p><p><b>JULY 13</b> Lou Lamoriello signs Bob Hoffman and Mel Bridgman to put the Devils payroll to $185 trillion over the cap. The wily GM then sends Vitaly Vishnevski (again), plus Mike Mottau, Kevin Weekes, Zach Parise, Patrik Elias and Martin Brodeur to Traktor Chelyabinsk, where the Devils have bought a team in the Kontinental League.</p><p>&ldquo;If they don&rsquo;t shape up there, I have the ultimate leverage,&rdquo; Lamoriello says. &ldquo;I can threaten to send them to New Jersey.&rdquo;</p><p>Asked how he could exile some of his best players following a post-season run to the East final, Lamoriello&rsquo;s conference call with reporters suddenly ends when he goes over his monthly limit of minutes.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0027-02

THE YEAR TO COME IN NHL NEWS

<div class="byline">By Ken Campbell</div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>A</span> VETERAN</b>&nbsp;<b>SCOUT</b> once said that projecting 18-year-old hockey players as NHLers is akin to walking into a high school classroom and picking out which pimply-faced students will turn out to be the doctors, lawyers and captains of industry. Such is the inexact science of scouting.</p><p>But scouts aren&rsquo;t the only ones, particularly when it comes to the league&rsquo;s six Canadian-based teams these days, who are charged with the task of forecasting an uncertain future. Those who guard the purse strings on the Canadian NHL teams must hedge their bets against a fluctuating Canadian dollar the same way a bird dog stakes his reputation on the team&rsquo;s next power forward. Much has been made of the Canadian dollar, particularly in the post-lockout era of the NHL. Its robustness has been credited with saving the Canadian franchises and brightening the financial picture across the board for the entire league. So when it dips to 84 cents against the American greenback, as it did in mid-October, it causes no end of consternation.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Dollar Daze

f0029-01

On the Rise

<div class="byline">By Jay Feaster </div><div class="byline">&#x2013; Jay Feaster was GM of the Bolts from February of 2002 until last June. He blogs regularly on </div><div class="byline">thn.com</div><div class="byline">.</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-02941/9353266-1-eng-US/f0034-022.jpg" title="f0034-02" width="432" height="601"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(FEASTER: BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-011370/9353259-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg" title="f0034-01" width="943" height="1263"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(TAMPA: SCOTT AUDETTE/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>W</span>HEN</b>&nbsp;<b>THE HOCKEY NEWS</b> asked if I would be willing to share some of the lessons I learned under the new collective bargaining agreement during my time in Tampa Bay, I was happy to accommodate. I continue to maintain that no organization was more negatively impacted by the new CBA than the Lightning. I say this for a number of reasons.</p><p>First, no other team in the NHL was the reigning Stanley Cup champion when the CBA was put into place. Playoff MVP runner-up Nikolai Khabibulin was about to become an unrestricted free agent, while regular season MVP and Art Ross Trophy winner Martin St-Louis and top defenseman Dan Boyle were restricted free agents in need of new contracts. The Lightning would enter the NHL&rsquo;s new world against the backdrop of having to pay for its ultimate success in 2004.</p><p>Second, the CBA&rsquo;s liberalized free agency rules meant that budding superstar Vincent Lecavalier, who also needed a new contract in the summer of 2005, could become a UFA in the summer of 2006 at the unprecedented age of 26. And Brad Richards, fresh off a Conn Smythe Trophy, could become a UFA in the summer of 2007, in the prime of his career at age 27. Here, then, are some of the salary cap lessons I learned while GM of the Lightning:</p><h2><b>1. DIVERSIFY YOUR PORTFOLIO</b></h2><p>While many critics suggested our signing of Lecavalier, St-Louis and Richards was designed to break the mold and go against traditional thinking, that was not our plan. We tried to sign Khabibulin, but were unsuccessful. The hard reality is, had we signed Khabibulin, St-Louis probably would have been the odd man out.</p><p>We didn&rsquo;t want to lose any of these players. I went so far as to suggest Khabibulin, Lecavalier, St-Louis and Dan Boyle sit down in a room with their individual agents, cut up the salary pie in a manner acceptable to each, and come back to me with the numbers. Needless to say, none of the players&rsquo; agents were too keen on that idea. Khabibulin signed elsewhere and we retained the Big Three forwards, but not because we were trying to be mavericks.</p><p>For an example of a well-diversified portfolio, look no further than the Penguins. GM Ray Shero has locked up his top two forwards (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin), No. 1 goalie (Marc-Andre Fleury) and top defenseman (Ray Whitney). This diversification will pay dividends in Pittsburgh for years to come.</p><h2><b>2. NEGOTIATE DURING THE SEASON</b></h2><p>Before the lockout, I believed negotiating player contracts during the regular season led to negative results and distractions. The new CBA has caused me to change my stance. Our history in Tampa demonstrated that if we failed to re-sign any potential UFAs before the end of the regular season, we were going to lose that player on July 1 (Khabibulin, Pavel Kubina, Ruslan Fedotenko, Corey Sarich, etc.) For this reason, it is important to negotiate with potential UFAs during the summer before their UFA year as well as during the regular season if necessary.</p><h2><b>3. IF NO DEAL, TRADE THEM</b></h2><p>In Tampa, I was always convinced we should &ldquo;run it hot&rdquo; and do everything we could to make the playoffs. After all, once you qualify for the post-season, anything can happen. We were successful pre-lockout (2003 and &rsquo;04) and again in &rsquo;06 and &rsquo;07, but suffered first-round playoff losses in those latter years. We also lost key players to free agency in the summers that followed.</p><p>While those defections meant we had cap space to acquire replacements (for example, Kubina&rsquo;s $3.5-million salary was replaced by Filip Kuba at $3 million), failing to trade those potential UFAs at the trade deadline cost us organizational depth. Moving players such as Kubina, Fedotenko and Sarich would&rsquo;ve enabled us to stockpile prospects and draft picks that could&rsquo;ve helped us down the road. Trading Vaclav Prospal to Philadelphia at the past deadline in February was a perfect example as we moved a potential UFA for solid young defense prospect, Alexandre Picard, and a second round pick in 2009.</p><h2><b>4. BE PREPARED TO WALK AWAY</b></h2><p>When faced with the threat of another team giving one of your restricted free agents an offer sheet, you must be prepared to walk away. When we were negotiating with Richards in the summer of &lsquo;06, he was an RFA who was one year away from UFA status. We had information that another team planned to tender an offer sheet if Richards wasn&rsquo;t signed by July 1. While it would take another year for such offer sheets to materialize (the Oilers went after Thomas Vanek and Dustin Penner in the summer of &rsquo;07), we believed the threat was real on Richards. A former playoff MVP and our leading scorer in three of the past five seasons  at the time, he was a player we were not prepared to lose.</p><p>In retrospect &ndash; and with all due respect to Brad &ndash; we should&rsquo;ve been prepared to walk away from an offer sheet and also used Lecavalier&rsquo;s then-average salary of $6.875 million as our maximum for Richards. While prevailing wisdom at the time was that teams should match any offer sheets &ndash; failure to do so might expose organizational weakness and, ultimately, invite more offer sheets against your club &ndash; Anaheim GM Brian Burke&rsquo;s bold decision to walk away from Edmonton&rsquo;s offer sheet for Penner is the direction teams must be ready to take going forward. Otherwise, you may severely overpay for players and limit your ability to address any other needs.</p><p>Winning the Cup in &rsquo;04 and the new CBA in &rsquo;05 created the &ldquo;perfect storm&rdquo; for the Lightning. As rough and choppy as the seas were those next three years, I wouldn&rsquo;t trade 2004 for anything. Perhaps others will benefit from our experiences.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-1002/9353252-1-eng-US/f0034-1002.jpg" title="f0034-100" width="315" height="137"></div><h2><b>St. Louis</b></h2><p>KARIYA 6,000,000</p><p>BREWER 4,250,000</p><p>BOYES 4,000,000</p><p>TKACHUK 4,000,000</p><p>MCKEE 4,000,000</p><p>E. JOHNSON 3,700,000</p><p>JACKMAN 3,625,000</p><p>MCDONALD 3,333,333</p><p>C. MASON 3,000,000</p><p>STEMPNIAK 2,500,000</p><p>BACKES 2,500,000</p><p>PIETRANGELO 2,225,000</p><p>LEGACE 2,150,000</p><p>OSHIE 1,275,000</p><p>BERGLUND 1,246,667</p><p>HINOTE 1,000,000</p><p>MCCLEMENT 950,000</p><p>PERRON 918,333</p><p>WAGNER 872,500</p><p>JUNLAND 868,333</p><p>WOYWITKA 725,000</p><p>WEAVER 700,000</p><p>POLAK 603,333</p><p>JANSSEN 550,000</p><p>KING 533,333</p><p>Y. STASTNY 500,000</p><p><b>CAP HIT $56,025,832</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-03749/9353245-1-eng-US/f0034-032.jpg" title="f0034-03" width="371" height="137"></div><h2><b>San Jose</b></h2><p>J. THORNTON 7,200,000</p><p>D. BOYLE 6,666,667</p><p>MARLEAU 6,300,000</p><p>NABOKOV 5,375,000</p><p>R. BLAKE 5,000,000</p><p>M. MICHALEK 4,333,333</p><p>EHRHOFF 3,100,000</p><p>CHEECHOO 3,000,000</p><p>GRIER 1,775,000</p><p>PAVELSKI 1,637,500</p><p>CLOWE 1,600,000</p><p>LUKOWICH 1,566,667</p><p>SETOGUCHI 1,246,667</p><p>VLASIC 1,100,000</p><p>ROENICK 1,100,000</p><p>GOC 775,000</p><p>MITCHELL 725,000</p><p>SHELLEY 725,000</p><p>SEMENOV 650,000</p><p>BOUCHER 650,000</p><p>KASPAR 600,000</p><p>D. MURRAY 550,000</p><p>PLIHAL 500,000</p><p><b>CAP HIT $56,175,834</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-07390/9353238-1-eng-US/f0034-072.jpg" title="f0034-07" width="270" height="137"></div><h2><b>Tampa Bay</b></h2><p>LECAVALIER 6,875,000</p><p>ST-LOUIS 5,250,000</p><p>MALONE 4,500,000</p><p>MESZAROS 4,000,000</p><p>STAMKOS 3,725,000</p><p>PROSPAL 3,500,000</p><p>M. CARLE 3,437,500</p><p>VRBATA 3,000,000</p><p>KOLZIG 2,500,000</p><p>ROBERTS 2,420,000</p><p>HALPERN 2,000,000</p><p>J. JOKINEN 1,812,500</p><p>RECCHI 1,500,000</p><p>GRATTON 1,250,000</p><p>KRAJICEK 1,100,000</p><p>M. SMITH 950,000</p><p>ARTYUKHIN 950,000</p><p>RANGER 933,333</p><p>CRAIG 787,500</p><p>LUNDIN 687,500</p><p>J. WARD 675,000</p><p>HALL 600,000</p><p>NISKALA 600,000</p><p>KOCI 525,000</p><p>HEWARD 475,000</p><p><b>CAP HIT $54,920,000</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-08338/9353231-1-eng-US/f0034-082.jpg" title="f0034-08" width="372" height="137"></div><h2><b>Toronto</b></h2><p>KUBINA 5,000,000</p><p>T. KABERLE 4,250,000</p><p>J. BLAKE 4,000,000</p><p>TOSKALA 4,000,000</p><p>FINGER 3,500,000</p><p>HAGMAN 3,000,000</p><p>VAN RYN 2,900,000</p><p>SCHENN 2,225,000</p><p>PONIKAROVSKY 2,105,000</p><p>ANTROPOV 2,050,000</p><p>STAJAN 1,750,000</p><p>STEEN 1,700,000</p><p>KULEMIN 1,487,500</p><p>MAYERS 1,333,333</p><p>COLAIACOVO 1,283,333</p><p>FROGREN 1,065,000</p><p>MOORE 900,000</p><p>TLUSTY 855,000</p><p>GRABOVSKI 850,000</p><p>I. WHITE 850,000</p><p>STRALMAN 731,667</p><p>JOSEPH 700,000</p><p>HOLLWEG 512,500</p><p>J. MITCHELL 487,500</p><p><b>CAP HIT $49,069,166</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-09281/9353224-1-eng-US/f0034-092.jpg" title="f0034-09" width="369" height="137"></div><h2><b>Vancouver</b></h2><p>LUONGO 6,750,000</p><p>DEMITRA 4,000,000</p><p>BIEKSA 3,750,000</p><p>H. SEDIN 3,575,000</p><p>D. SEDIN 3,575,000</p><p>W. MITCHELL 3,500,000</p><p>SALO 3,500,000</p><p>OHLUND 3,500,000</p><p>BERNIER 2,500,000</p><p>KESLER 1,750,000</p><p>PYATT 1,575,000</p><p>R. JOHNSON 1,100,000</p><p>WELLWOOD 997,500</p><p>O&rsquo;BRIEN 950,000</p><p>RAYMOND 883,333</p><p>HORDICHUK 775,000</p><p>SANFORD 650,000</p><p>DAVISON 560,000</p><p>EDLER 550,000</p><p>NYCHOLAT 550,000</p><p>BROWN 522,500</p><p>RYPIEN 522,500</p><p>HANSEN 508,333</p><p>BURROWS 483,333</p><p><b>CAP HIT $47,394,166</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-10252/9353217-1-eng-US/f0034-102.jpg" title="f0034-10" width="371" height="137"></div><h2><b>Washington</b></h2><p>OVECHKIN 9,538,462</p><p>GREEN 5,250,000</p><p>NYLANDER 4,875,000</p><p>SEMIN 4,600,000</p><p>THEODORE 4,500,000</p><p>FEDOROV 4,000,000</p><p>POTI 3,500,000</p><p>C. CLARK 2,633,333</p><p>V. KOZLOV 2,500,000</p><p>POTHIER 2,500,000</p><p>BACKSTROM 2,400,000</p><p>LAICH 2,066,667</p><p>MORRISONN 1,975,000</p><p>BRASHEAR 1,250,000</p><p>BRADLEY 1,000,000</p><p>JURCINA 881,250</p><p>JOHNSON 812,500</p><p>SCHULTZ 763,889</p><p>FEHR 735,000</p><p>FLEISCHMANN 725,000</p><p>GORDON 725,000</p><p>ERSKINE 537,500</p><p>STECKEL 512,500</p><p><b>CAP HIT $56,031,101</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0034-02

What I’ve Learned

f0036-02

NHL TEAM REPORTS

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-011128/9353587-1-eng-US/f0039-012.jpg" title="f0039-01" width="414" height="158"></div><h2><b>THURSDAY OCTOBER 30</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>t&rsquo;s the opening clash between the Western Conference titans, as the Detroit Red Wings visit the shark tank in San Jose. The Sharks are serious Cup contenders and they&rsquo;ll be gunning for the defending champions. Detroit won the 2007-08 season series 3-1, winning twice in San Jose.</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-02736/9353580-1-eng-US/f0039-022.jpg" title="f0039-02" width="88" height="88"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><p>For a live scoreboard, recaps and more, visit <a href="http://thehockeynews.com">thehockeynews.com</a><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0039-01

WATCH THIS!

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0042-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-01747/9353632-1-eng-US/f0042-012.jpg"></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-02472/9353639-1-eng-US/f0042-022.jpg" title="f0042-02" width="145" height="101"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>WESTERN CONFERENCE</b></h2><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-02502/9353625-1-eng-US/f0043-022.jpg" title="f0043-02" width="141" height="101"></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><h2><b>EASTERN CONFERENCE</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0043-01736/9353618-1-eng-US/f0043-012.jpg" title="f0043-01" width="2374" height="2950"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0042-01

Depth charts

<div class="byline">BY KEVIN OKLOBZIJA </div><div class="byline">&#x2013; KEVIN OKLOBZIJA</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-01638/9353705-1-eng-US/f0044-012.jpg" title="f0044-01" width="969" height="1193"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(COURTESY OF SYRACUSE CRUNCH)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-03298/9353698-1-eng-US/f0044-032.jpg" title="f0044-03" width="214" height="214"></div><p>NIKITA FILATOV</p><p>Syracuse Crunch</p><p>Ht. 6-0</p><p>Wt. 172</p><p>Pos. LW</p><p>Age 18</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-04241/9353691-1-eng-US/f0044-042.jpg" title="f0044-04" width="228" height="229"></div><p>AND COUNTING 2.06</p><p>Filatov&rsquo;s points per game mark for CSKA-2 in 2007-08.</p><p>NIKITA FILATOV MAY BE RUSSIAN, born and raised, but he has been learning the English language since he was six.</p><p>He didn&rsquo;t have a choice. His mother, Helen, speaks English fluently and taught him as he grew up in Moscow.</p><p>&ldquo;She speaks English so well,&rdquo; Filatov said, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s impossible to know she&rsquo;s Russian.&rdquo;</p><p>Perhaps Mom knew it would some day come in handy for her son. Call it mother&rsquo;s intuition.</p><p>Filatov was drafted sixth overall in June by the Columbus Blue Jackets and, despite being just 18, he&rsquo;s close to carving out a permanent NHL spot.</p><p>&ldquo;This has been a very big goal of mine since I was 12,&rdquo; Filatov said. &ldquo;I have wanted to play in the NHL and I can feel I&rsquo;m so close.&rdquo;</p><p>Closer than the Blue Jackets perhaps envisioned when training camp began. Although hampered by a lower-leg injury, Filatov performed well in NHL camp before being sent to the Syracuse Crunch.</p><p>The speedy, dynamic winger looked right at home when the season began, too, scoring a goal in each of his first two AHL games. Of course, considering his talent, it&rsquo;s not really a surprise.</p><p>&ldquo;His skill is off the chart,&rdquo; said Chris MacFarland, assistant GM of the Blue Jackets. &ldquo;Skill-wise I don&rsquo;t think there&rsquo;s any doubt he can play in the NHL.&rdquo;</p><p>Filatov is in a bit of a unique situation because he was not immediately furnished with a release from Russia allowing him to play major junior hockey in North American. Because of that, he was either going to start the season in the NHL or AHL, though a stint with the Ontario League&rsquo;s Sudbury Wolves (who hold his junior rights) cannot be completely ruled out.</p><p>Just three games into their season, the Jackets recalled Filatov when Jared Boll went on injured reserve. That&rsquo;s an indication of how close Filatov came to making the team out of camp and even if he&rsquo;s returned to the AHL, that won&rsquo;t bother him a bit.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited because I like it here,&rdquo; said Filatov before his recall. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s OK that I&rsquo;m here in Syracuse. There&rsquo;s a very big difference in the (North American) game because it&rsquo;s so fast and tough. This league will help me with the physical game.&rdquo;</p><p>The adjustment is a big one. And because the Crunch&rsquo;s home arena, the Onondaga County War Memorial, is seven feet shorter than a standard NHL rink, it looks tiny compared to international ice.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s got great skills, speed and he sees the ice very well,&rdquo; said Crunch coach Ross Yates. &ldquo;But he&rsquo;s only 18. We have to be patient with him. He has to learn the pro game and adapt to North American rinks.&rdquo;</p><h3><b>NOTES FROM THE WEST</b></h3><h2><b>Looking for redemption</b></h2><p>Iowa Chops left winger Joakim Lindstrom, 24, hasn&rsquo;t earned a spot on Anaheim&rsquo;s NHL roster, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean the Ducks are giving up on him.</p><p>Lost on waivers to the Chicago Blackhawks when camp ended, the Ducks reclaimed Lindstrom four days later.</p><p>The left winger, picked up from Columbus in a July trade, is skilled and brings some grit, too. He scored 25 goals and 60 points in 49 AHL games last season with Syracuse and three goals and seven points in 25 NHL games with Columbus.</p><p>AIMING HIGH Marc Denis is hoping he can play his way back to the NHL with the Hamilton Bulldogs.</p><p>Denis, 31, stopped 68 of 72 shots in a pair of road wins over powerhouse Manitoba on opening weekend.</p><p>Denis was an NHL regular from 1999-2000 through &lsquo;06-07, going 110-172-30 with a 3.00 goals-against average and .906 save percentage.</p><p>He last played for Tampa Bay, but lost his job with the Lightning early last season after starting 1-5 with a 4.05 GAA and .859 save percentage.</p><p>NOT DONE Tough-guy right winger Jesse Boulerice, cut by the Chicago Blackhawks, joined Lake Erie on a tryout contract and the 10-year pro promptly scored two goals in his first two games with the Monsters.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-05204/9353684-1-eng-US/f0044-052.jpg" title="f0044-05" width="186" height="271"></div><h2><b>GOALS-AGAINST AVERAGE</b></h2><p>NOLAN SCHAEFER</p><p>Houston Aeros</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-06179/9353677-1-eng-US/f0044-062.jpg" title="f0044-06" width="229" height="228"></div><p>0.49 &rarr; GAA</p><p>Peter Mannino, Bri 0.93</p><p>Brian Elliott, Bin 0.96</p><p>Scott Munroe, Phi 1.00</p><p>Drew MacIntyre, Mil 1.50</p><p>ON TOP</p><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0044-02398/9353670-1-eng-US/f0044-022.jpg" title="f0044-02" width="143" height="144"></div><p>For more on hockey&rsquo;s best prospects, check out Ryan Kennedy&rsquo;s Hot List in the feature section on <a href="http://thehockeynews.com">thehockeynews.com</a><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p></div>

f0044-01

PROSPECTS UNLIMITED

FILATOV LEARNING THE ROPES

<div class="byline">BY PHIL JANACK </div><div class="byline">&#x2013; PHIL JANACK</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-01545/9353778-1-eng-US/f0045-012.jpg" title="f0045-01" width="969" height="1193"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(JOHN WRIGHT)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-02351/9353771-1-eng-US/f0045-022.jpg" title="f0045-02" width="214" height="214"></div><p>TY WISHART</p><p>Norfolk Admirals</p><p>Ht. 6-5</p><p>Wt. 203</p><p>Pos. D</p><p>Age 20</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-03295/9353764-1-eng-US/f0045-032.jpg" title="f0045-03" width="228" height="229"></div><p>AND COUNTING 67</p><p>Wishart&rsquo;s point total in his final junior season</p><p>OTHER THAN THE NHL, Ty Wishart can&rsquo;t imagine a better place to get his pro career started than where he already is.</p><p>The highly touted defense prospect begins his first full season in Norfolk, where the Admirals are coached by award-winning journeyman defenseman Darren Rumble.</p><p>A veteran of 966 pro games in North America and Europe, including 193 in the NHL, Rumble, 39, is in his first season as coach.</p><p>&ldquo;He definitely has a lot to teach,&rdquo; Wishart said. &ldquo;He knows what it takes. He&rsquo;s been there. He&rsquo;s a real good player&rsquo;s coach. It&rsquo;s definitely going to be a great experience working with him every day.</p><p>For his part, Rumble is looking forward to working with the 20-year-old Wishart, a first round pick of the San Jose Sharks in 2006 who was part of the trade sending Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich to California.</p><p>Rumble was also a first-rounder, taken 20th by Philadelphia in 1987. In 1997, he won the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL&rsquo;s top defenseman.</p><p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s not too many situations that I haven&rsquo;t seen that I can&rsquo;t sort of look him in the eye and say, &lsquo;I&rsquo;ve experienced this,&rsquo; good or bad, &lsquo;and here&rsquo;s a good way to handle it,&rsquo;&rdquo; Rumble said.</p><p>&ldquo;Ty is sort of similar to the type of player I was, so we kind of have something in common there. I think it&rsquo;s going to be a good relationship.&rdquo;</p><p>At 6-foot-5 and 203 pounds, Wishart already has NHL size. A strong skater with good hands and a heavy shot, he had 16 goals and 67 points in 72 games in his final Western League season.</p><p>When it was over, Wishart got a taste of the pro life with five scoreless games for the Worcester Sharks.</p><p>Tampa Bay made Wishart part of their future by dealing a pair of veterans and he&rsquo;s grateful for it.</p><p>&ldquo;It caught me off guard at first, but after a while I got used to it and I&rsquo;m really happy I got traded,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;They&rsquo;ve got a great coaching staff there and it really doesn&rsquo;t matter how old you are or anything like that. As long as you&rsquo;re playing good, they&rsquo;re going to give you a shot.&rdquo;</p><p>Wishart will have his share of growing pains, which Rumble feels are an important part of developing.</p><p>&ldquo;The biggest thing for guys coming out of junior is sort of a sense of urgency,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;These guys, they&rsquo;ve been the best guy on the team. Now, you&rsquo;re playing against all the best guys. You can&rsquo;t do some of the things you&rsquo;ve been able to do in the past and you certainly don&rsquo;t have as much time to do it.</p><p>&ldquo;The other thing is consistency. The only way to get that consistency into your game is by gaining experience, playing a lot and making a ton of mistakes so you eventually recognize the situation and handle it better.&rdquo;</p><h3><b>NOTES FROM THE EAST</b></h3><h2><b>Final season for Spectrum</b></h2><p>By this time next year, the Philadelphia Phantoms will be playing at the Wachovia Center and the Wachovia Spectrum will be nearing demolition.</p><p>The Spectrum opened in 1967 and was home to the NHL&rsquo;s Flyers until 1996. Since then, the Phantoms have been the arena&rsquo;s primary tenants.</p><p>This season the Phantoms will pay tribute to the Spectrum&rsquo;s storied history of hosting hockey, concerts and events with special recognitions.</p><p>When the Phantoms beat Bridgeport 2-1 in their regular season/home opener, Hall of Fame goalie Bernie Parent dropped the ceremonial first puck between the two captains of the first NHL teams to play at the Spectrum, Lou Angotti of the Flyers and Ab McDonald of the Pittsburgh Penguins.</p><p>BEARS HAVE BITE</p><p>The Hershey Bears started the year 3-0, scoring a league-high 17 goals, including eight in their 71st season opener at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. It marked the most goals the team has ever scored in a season opener on the road and the most for the team&rsquo;s first game of the season since an 8-1 rout of Providence in 1967.</p><p>Former Bears captain Graham Mink had a hat trick in his return to the team and newcomer Keith Aucoin debuted with five points, including the first goal of the AHL season.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-06204/9353757-1-eng-US/f0045-062.jpg" title="f0045-06" width="175" height="175"></div><h2><b>CHRIS BOURQUE,</b>&nbsp;<b>EXPECT THE CALL</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-05235/9353750-1-eng-US/f0045-052.jpg" title="f0045-05" width="189" height="118"></div><p>Hershey&rsquo;s speedy, skilled son of Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque had six points in six pre-season games with the Caps. The numbers game cost him an NHL job, so far.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-04263/9353743-1-eng-US/f0045-042.jpg" title="f0045-04" width="202" height="276"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0045-07180/9353736-1-eng-US/f0045-072.jpg" title="f0045-07" width="292" height="68"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0045-01

LEARNING TO RUMBLE

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0046-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-01543/9353823-1-eng-US/f0046-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Jaromir Jagr at the funeral for 19-year-old Alexei Cherepanov.</figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>H</span>E WAS YOUNG</b> and he was going to be a New York Ranger. He was young and on his first day in New York City in June of 2007, he was already a star, visiting the famous Russian community in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, and posing with participants in the Coney Island Mermaid Parade.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-03249/9353816-1-eng-US/f0046-032.jpg" title="f0046-03" width="251" height="273"></div><p>He was young, so young. He was so full of life, so full of promise. And then, 16 months later, Alexei Cherepanov was gone. Gone to apparent acute heart failure that struck during a league game in Chekhov, 40 miles south of Moscow, on Oct. 13.</p><p>Inexplicably gone at just 19 years of age.</p><p>&ldquo;Alexei always impressed me as being a really happy kid who had a smile on his face all the time,&rdquo; said Jay Grossman, Cherepanov&rsquo;s agent, just before leaving for Omsk, Russia, to participate in remembrance services for the Rangers&rsquo; 2007 first round draft pick. &ldquo;And yet, there was a serious side to Alexei, a desire to compete and to achieve.</p><p>&ldquo;He was a rare talent and a rare young man.&rdquo;</p><p>The circumstances that contributed to Cherepanov&rsquo;s death are under investigation in Russia. The medical care, or lack thereof following his collapse on the bench late in a game between his Avangard Omsk team and Vityaz Chekhov, is under indictment.</p><p>At this point, however, there is no way to determine whether Cherepanov, who appears  to have had a pre-existing heart condition that was not detected during testing at the NHL scouting combine before the 2007 entry draft, could have been saved with better care.</p><p>There is also no way to determine the heights Cherepanov might have achieved in the NHL with the Rangers.</p><p>The team had projected him to become a first-line right winger from the moment they selected him 17th overall.</p><p>The top-five rated talent slid almost exclusively because of trepidation about getting him out of Russia without a transfer agreement.</p><p>&ldquo;To me, this game has no boundaries,&rdquo; said Rangers coach Tom Renney in Columbus, the site of the 2007 draft. &ldquo;To those who choose to neglect that, that&rsquo;s their choice. But if we have the opportunity to get the best player, we&rsquo;re going to do everything we can to get him.</p><p>&ldquo;We owe our fans the best team possible. To exclude a player because of geography or politics is the wrong thing to do.&rdquo;</p><p>Two days after his selection, Cherepanov was taking the tour of Brighton Beach. The week after that, he was on the ice, wearing Rangers colors at the team&rsquo;s prospect camp. He was a Ranger that week. He is a Ranger forever.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0046-02342/9353809-1-eng-US/f0046-022.jpg" title="f0046-02" width="969" height="1372"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(IHA)</span></figcaption></div><p>Mike Pelino, an assistant coach with New York, visited Omsk in late August and spent a week watching Cherepanov. The Rangers have a relationship with Avangard, due partly to Cherepanov and due partly to the presence of former Blueshirts captain Jaromir Jagr, who left the NHL this summer and is playing his first KHL season.</p><p>&ldquo;Alexei was a very engaging young man and very excited about what would be awaiting him in New York,&rdquo; said Pelino on the night of Cherepanov&rsquo;s death. &ldquo;He was full of energy and full of enthusiasm.</p><p>&ldquo;He said he was looking forward to the day he could come to New York to play for the Rangers. After seeing him on the ice with Jaromir, the way he asserted himself, noticing how much he had improved since the rookie camp, I thought, &lsquo;Wow, we did get something special here.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p><p>Cherepanov left his home in Barnaul at the age of 12 to live 400 miles away in Omsk to pursue a hockey career, just as young men across Canada and the U.S. leave their homes to pursue their puck dreams. He became a teenage star in an elite men&rsquo;s league and a driving force at the under-18s in Finland immediately preceding the 2007 entry draft.</p><p>&ldquo;His role models were people like Sergei Fedorov, Alex Mogilny and Pavel Bure,&rdquo; Grossman said. &ldquo;Everyone could see something special in this kid from a very young age, not only the way he was able to compete, but in his personality.</p><p>&ldquo;When I spoke to his father (after Alexei&rsquo;s death), I have never had a more courageous response. He was in his car driving overnight to Omsk to await the body.</p><p>&ldquo;Through the translator, he told me that the time they&rsquo;d spent in New York after the draft was the happiest and proudest time of their lives.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0046-01

A LIFE TOO SHORT

<p class="dropcap"><b><span>M</span>ATT BROWN HAS A ROLE</b>&nbsp;<b>MODEL</b> who&rsquo;s always nearby. His father, Winston, had a four-year baseball career in the late 1980s as an outfielder in the farm systems of the Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s told me about his experiences in pro baseball and some things he should&rsquo;ve done differently,&rdquo; said Brown, a 17-year-old left winger with the Moncton Wildcats. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s given me advice. I never got to see him play pro, but I have his baseball card so that&rsquo;s pretty cool.&rdquo;</p><p>Brown, a first round pick in the 2007 QMJHL draft, is a sophomore who&rsquo;s ranked 84th by International Scouting Services for the 2009 NHL draft. He attended selection camp this summer, but didn&rsquo;t make Team Canada for the World Under-18 Championship.</p><p>&ldquo;That was the first time I&rsquo;ve ever been cut from a team, but it was an honor to be among the top 44 players in my age group in Canada,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It just makes me work harder to keep improving. I take pride in my plus-minus and being solid at both ends.&rdquo;</p><p>Brown, 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, is a natural athlete who has also competed at a high level in baseball and track and field. The Truro, N.S., native played hockey for Team Atlantic at the 2008 World Under-17 Championship.</p><p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t see him as a real creative player right now, but the potential is there because he does handle the puck in crowds down low and he does go to the net,&rdquo; said a scout. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s also got that element where, being strong on his feet and a good skater, he can play a checking role.&rdquo;</p><p>Brown is a versatile player, but needs to improve his speed and strength. Moncton coach Danny Flynn compares him to Ottawa&rsquo;s Mike Fisher or Philadelphia&rsquo;s Mike Richards.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a hard-working, gritty, determined player who blocks shots and battles for every inch,&rdquo; Flynn said. &ldquo;Those are the kind of guys you win with. His biggest strength is his second effort on the puck and his fearlessness to make a play.&rdquo;</p><p>Flynn sees Brown becoming a player who severely impacts games in the near future.</p><p>&ldquo;As his skill level improves and he gains size and experience, he&rsquo;s going to develop into one of the best two-way forwards in this league,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;He has good hockey sense and he&rsquo;s highly competitive.</p><p>&ldquo;For a 17-year-old, he&rsquo;s very strong physically. He scores goals on pure strength where he out-battles guys for the puck. He&rsquo;s a coach&rsquo;s player.&rdquo;</p><p><b>&ndash; NEIL HODGE</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-01501/9353896-1-eng-US/f0047-012.jpg" title="f0047-01" width="765" height="1009"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(RICHARD WOLOWICZ/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-02328/9353889-1-eng-US/f0047-022.jpg" title="f0047-02" width="278" height="151"></div><p>MATT BROWN</p><p>Moncton Wildcats</p><p>Ht. 5-11</p><p>Wt. 190</p><p>Pos. LW</p><p>Age 17</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-03262/9353882-1-eng-US/f0047-032.jpg" title="f0047-03" width="356" height="68"></div><p>Draft Status</p><p>Ranked No. 84 overall by ISS for the 2009 NHL draft</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-04201/9353875-1-eng-US/f0047-042.jpg" title="f0047-04" width="229" height="225"></div><p>AND COUNTING 30</p><p>Brown&rsquo;s &rsquo;08-09 goal pace after scoring nine last year</p><h2><b>Winnipeggers invade Tri-City</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-05151/9353868-1-eng-US/f0047-052.jpg" title="f0047-05" width="228" height="229"></div><p>The Tri-City Americans might want to change their nickname to the Jets. &ldquo;That wouldn&rsquo;t be a bad idea at all,&rdquo; said a chuckling Johnny Lazo, who is one of 14 Winnipeg-born players on the team&rsquo;s 25-man roster. Tri-City brass says the heavy concentration of Winnipeggers is not by design, but a sign of a fertile developmental system in the Manitoba capital. &ldquo;There are a lot of good players there,&rdquo; said Americans coach Don Nachbaur. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve cultivated a few and found a few.&rdquo; The Winnipeg influence is such that, two years ago, players and parents from that area chartered a bus to training camp in Kennewick, Wash. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s pretty awesome,&rdquo; said Lazo, a 19-year-old center. &ldquo;When we scrimmage, we play Winnipeg against the rest of the team.&rdquo;</p><p><b>&ndash; ROB VANSTONE</b></p><h2><b>Bulls&rsquo; Burnett back for more</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-06122/9353861-1-eng-US/f0047-062.jpg" title="f0047-06" width="228" height="229"></div><p>George Burnett is in no rush to return to the NHL. He&rsquo;s busy fast-tracking his Belleville Bulls to perhaps a second straight Memorial Cup appearance. Burnett, who recently became the ninth coach in OHL history to reach 400 career wins, took the Bulls to the big tournament last May as league runner-up after losing to Kitchener in the final. The Bulls are his fourth team, starting with Niagara Falls. He&rsquo;s also spent seven seasons in the pro ranks, including a 35-game stint as the Oilers bench boss in 1994-95. He coached Guelph to the OHL crown and a berth in the Memorial Cup final in &rsquo;97-98 before guiding Oshawa for four seasons. Burnett, 46, joined the Bulls in 2004-05 and rebuilt a team that finished last overall the previous season.</p><p><b>&ndash; JIM CRESSMAN</b></p><h2><b>Chouinard sees changes</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-0797/9353854-1-eng-US/f0047-072.jpg" title="f0047-07" width="228" height="229"></div><p>The QMJHL is celebrating its 40th anniversary and P.E.I. Rocket coach Guy Chouinard has witnessed plenty of changes. &ldquo;It used to be a league where three hours was a long trip,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Now, with expansion to the Maritimes and the U.S., it&rsquo;s more of a professional environment. You&rsquo;re on the road for longer periods with hotels, restaurants and longer bus rides. It gets you more prepared for the pros.&rdquo; It&rsquo;s now an 18-team QMJHL compared to 10 when Chouinard began playing in 1971-72. Chouinard holds the &lsquo;Q&rsquo; coaching records for most seasons (18) and wins (542). &ldquo;With expansion, you don&rsquo;t play some teams that often,&rdquo; said Chouinard, 52. &ldquo;You have to rely more on video to scout opponents because you don&rsquo;t know them as well.&rdquo;</p><p><b>&ndash; NEIL HODGE</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0047-01

NATURAL ATHLETE FINDING HIS PLACE

<p class="dropcap"><b><span>F</span>IRST,</b>&nbsp;<b>THERE WERE</b> the penalties. Then, there was the knee injury. But if Clarkson defenseman Phil Paquet has his way, nothing will keep him from showing off his true talent in his final year of college hockey.</p><p>&ldquo;Phil has the potential to be a dominant player in our league,&rdquo; said Clarkson coach George Roll.</p><p>The potential has always been there, but the results have been erratic.</p><p>The 6-foot-3, 213-pound native of Quebec City was a steady performer on the Golden Knights blueline as a freshman, but a trend emerged when he picked up 91 penalty minutes. The bad penalties kept coming as a sophomore and there were games where Paquet was a healthy scratch as punishment for spending too much time in the box.</p><p>&ldquo;Things just started to snowball,&rdquo; said Paquet, who was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the seventh round (229th overall) of the 2005 draft. &ldquo;I was taking dumb penalties and then I just started playing worse and worse.&rdquo;</p><p>By the end of his sophomore year, however, Paquet started to show signs of maturity and was instrumental in helping the Golden Knights win the ECAC tournament championship.</p><p>But last year, he sustained a knee injury during a captain&rsquo;s practice in September and didn&rsquo;t get back into the lineup until late December. Now, he&rsquo;s 100 percent healthy and raring to go.</p><p>Although Roll would love to see Paquet, a co-captain this season, get more involved in the offense, Paquet wants to concentrate on his defense first.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got to stay focused on my own end,&rdquo; said Paquet, noting Clarkson has two young goalies.</p><p>Maturity has played a big part in Paquet&rsquo;s development at Clarkson. Although he&rsquo;s a senior, Paquet is only 21 and won&rsquo;t turn 22 until March.</p><p>&ldquo;Last year was tough for Phil because of the injuries, but he was good down the stretch,&rdquo; Roll said. &ldquo;He needs to bring up his confidence level, as far as carrying the puck and jumping into the play. We were at the Wisconsin tournament a couple of years ago and he made the all-tournament team because he took the puck and just went with it. I&rsquo;d really like to see him do more from an offensive standpoint.&rdquo;</p><p>All the tools are there, including a fluid skating motion, quick release and a physical presence on the ice. For Paquet, it&rsquo;s just a matter of staying healthy and staying out of the box.</p><p><b>&ndash; TOM BOGGIE</b></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-01378/9353976-1-eng-US/f0048-012.jpg" title="f0048-01" width="765" height="1009"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(COURTESY OF CLARKSON UNIVERSITY)</span></figcaption></div><div class="container"><div class="figure-block image-float"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-02238/9353969-1-eng-US/f0048-022.jpg" title="f0048-02" width="149" height="150"></div><p>PHIL PAQUET</p><p>Clarkson</p><p>Ht. 6-3</p><p>Wt. 213</p><p>Pos. D</p><p>Age 21</p></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-03165/9353962-1-eng-US/f0048-032.jpg" title="f0048-03" width="356" height="68"></div><p>Draft Status</p><p>Selected 229th overall by Montreal in 2005</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-04137/9353955-1-eng-US/f0048-042.jpg" title="f0048-04" width="229" height="229"></div><p>AND COUNTING 53</p><p>Drop in Paquet&rsquo;s PIMs from sophomore to junior year</p><h2><b>Four officials for all games</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-05101/9353948-1-eng-US/f0048-052.jpg" title="f0048-05" width="229" height="229"></div><p>On the heels of the CCHA cracking down on clutching and grabbing four years ago, D-1 leagues have now moved to a tworeferee, two-linesman system. &ldquo;It was determined that (it&rsquo;s) the best system to put officials in the best position and sight lines to positively enforce the NCAA rules,&rdquo; said Steve Piotrowski, CCHA director of officials. While some CCHA coaches voiced concerns about adding another skater to an already-crowded surface and possible increased stoppages of play, Western Michigan coach Jim Culhane welcomed the change: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a positive step for our league.&rdquo;</p><p><b>&ndash; PHILIP COLVIN</b></p><h2><b>Maine men green in goal</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-0684/9353941-1-eng-US/f0048-062.jpg" title="f0048-06" width="228" height="229"></div><p>Maine has been Goalie U in Hockey East, producing eight NHLers since 1984-85. But the Black Bears will be inexperienced in goal this season with the premature departure of Ben Bishop to St. Louis after his junior year. But 6-foot-5 freshman Scott Darling, a sixth round pick of Phoenix, and undrafted junior Dave Wilson, who&rsquo;s played 18 college games, aren&rsquo;t stuck in the past. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a honor to follow guys like Ben Bishop and Jimmy Howard and all the great goalies who have played here,&rdquo; Darling said. &ldquo;But I&rsquo;m not focusing on that. I&rsquo;m just trying to do my job and stop pucks.&rdquo;</p><p><b>&ndash; LARRY MAHONEY</b></p><h2><b>Engineering a bright future</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-0771/9353934-1-eng-US/f0048-072.jpg" title="f0048-07" width="229" height="229"></div><p>Although the win-loss totals don&rsquo;t reflect it yet, RPI coach Seth Appert is turning into one of the league&rsquo;s top recruiters. Last year, he convinced goalie Allen York, a Columbus draft pick, to play for the Engineers. This year, he&rsquo;s gotten a verbal commitment from left winger Jerry D&rsquo;Amigo, one of the top players on the U.S. NTDP&rsquo;s under-18 team. D&rsquo;Amigo, who&rsquo;s 2009 draft eligible, was the only player in the program to play all 64 games for the under-17 team last year, fi nishing with 11 goals and 28 points. &ldquo;He makes things happen with his speed,&rdquo; said U.S. coach Ron Rolston.</p><p><b>&ndash; TOM BOGGIE</b></p><h2><b>No shootouts in the West</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0048-0848/9353927-1-eng-US/f0048-082.jpg" title="f0048-08" width="228" height="229"></div><p>League coaches have shot down the shootout. A general consensus is until shootout results can be factored into the NCAA&rsquo;s pairwise rankings &ndash; which are used to align the 16-team national tournament &ndash; the format shouldn&rsquo;t be used. &ldquo;My feeling is if it&rsquo;s such a great idea, then let&rsquo;s do it in the NCAA tournament,&rdquo; said Minnesota coach Don Lucia. &ldquo;If we played 80 games, I wouldn&rsquo;t have a problem with the shootout. But 28 is too few.&rdquo; But fans like shootouts, right? &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think someone comes to a game based on, &lsquo;Boy, there may be a shootout,&rsquo;&rdquo; Lucia said.</p><p><b>&ndash; ANDY BAGGOT</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0048-01

ROLL CALLS FOR MORE OFFENSE

<h3><b>ECHL</b></h3><h2><b>Big fish goes home</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-01342/9354056-1-eng-US/f0049-012.jpg" title="f0049-01" width="229" height="229"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>V</span>ictoria, B.C., native Sean O&rsquo;Connor was accustomed to being noticed each time he skated on his hometown ice versus the Salmon Kings. He&rsquo;s 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds with long, golden locks. And he plays all-out, all the time. He also led the Phoenix RoadRunners with 27 goals last season and had 14 points in his previous 12 games against Victoria. But this season, he&rsquo;s going home to play for the Salmon Kings. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s great to come back home and hopefully be part of something big,&rdquo; O&rsquo;Connor, 27, told the Victoria <i>Times Colonist</i>. &ldquo;Victoria fans are so knowledgeable about hockey and I&rsquo;m really looking forward to playing for them.&rdquo;</p><p><b>&ndash; MIKE MASTOVICH</b></p><h3><b>UNITED STATES LEAGUE</b></h3><h2><b>Gravel road taking shape</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-02249/9354049-1-eng-US/f0049-022.jpg" title="f0049-02" width="230" height="229"></div><p>Having played just one season of midget triple-A, 16-year-old Marquette Rangers rookie defenseman Kevin Gravel is making a name for himself. And it&rsquo;s well deserved. From Kingsford, Mich., the 6-foot-4, 175-pound Gravel hit the radar screen over the summer at the U.S. Select 16 festival. He has size, a long reach, a solid skating stride and moves the puck well. All he needs to do now is get stronger and fill out. &ldquo;Kevin has huge upside,&rdquo; said Rangers coach Kenny Miller. &ldquo;He has tons of talent.&rdquo; Eligible for the 2010 NHL draft, Gravel is entertaining D-1 offers. One destination could be St. Cloud State, where his father played.</p><p><b>&ndash; PAUL SHAHEEN</b></p><h3><b>INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE</b></h3><h2><b>Trailblazer back in net</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-03189/9354042-1-eng-US/f0049-032.jpg" title="f0049-03" width="229" height="229"></div><p>Manon Rheaume was back playing pro during the Port Huron Icehawks&rsquo; pre-season opener. The only woman to ever play an NHL game was in net for the first period of the team&rsquo;s exhibition opener against the Flint Generals, stopping eight of 10 shots in an 8-6 victory. The game promoted the launch of her foundation to help provide scholarships to young women. &ldquo;I had a great time,&rdquo; Rheaume, 36, told the Port Huron <i>Times Herald</i>. &ldquo;This experience was even better than the first time around because this group of guys was so great.&rdquo; Coach Stan Drulia was also happy. &ldquo;We were trying to help her out, she helped us out, too,&rdquo; Drulia said.</p><p><b>&ndash; BRENDAN SAVAGE</b></p><h3><b>CENTRAL LEAGUE</b></h3><h2><b>Helping out a former Eagle</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-04171/9354035-1-eng-US/f0049-042.jpg" title="f0049-04" width="228" height="229"></div><p>The Colorado Eagles beat the Rocky Mountain Rage 6-3 in an October pre-season game. But the outcome was not the focus. Nor was working on systems or finalizing team rosters. The game benefitted Les Borsheim, a former Eagles defenseman paralyzed in a June motorcycle accident. Proceeds totaling $100,000 towards his medical expenses raised at the game, a golf tournament and through donations were presented to Borsheim at the Budweiser Events Center. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m just amazed by tonight and by the support of the people,&rdquo; Borsheim, 29, told the Loveland <i>Reporter-Herald</i>. &ldquo;I love hockey, so I&rsquo;m always going to be around it.&rdquo;</p><p><b>&ndash; DAVID HENRY</b></p><h3><b>SOUTHERN PRO LEAGUE</b></h3><h2><b>Moffat on comeback trail</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-05131/9354028-1-eng-US/f0049-052.jpg" title="f0049-05" width="229" height="228"></div><p>Sleep driving is a condition that can be caused by insomnia drugs and it cost Caleb Moffat one-and-a-half seasons of his career and very nearly his life. The 25-year-old winger &ndash; who is attempting a comeback with Knoxville this season &ndash; got out of bed in the middle of the night on Jan. 29, 2006, got in his car and drove away from his apartment in Ponte Vedra, Fla. The Oakville, Ont., native &ndash; who remembers little of the accident &ndash; was ejected through the sun roof. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a miracle,&rdquo; said Moffat, who broke his shoulder and a rib, punctured a lung and went into a coma. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s the only way I could have come out. My car was completely crushed.&rdquo;</p><p><b>&ndash; NICK GATES</b></p><h3><b>CANADIAN JR. A</b></h3><h2><b>Stokes&rsquo; fire still burning</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-0676/9354021-1-eng-US/f0049-062.jpg" title="f0049-06" width="229" height="231"></div><p>Doug Stokes has a heart for hockey that not even triple-bypass surgery could darken. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve always thought hockey is important and that hasn&rsquo;t changed,&rdquo; said the 50-year-old coach of the Manitoba Junior League&rsquo;s Winnipeg Saints. &ldquo;But you still realize it is a game and there are things much more important.&rdquo; Stokes, who has coached in the MJHL for 23 years, had surgery Aug. 12, but was back at training camp 13 days later. His eldest son, Trevor, is a Saints assistant. &ldquo;When I get a little frustrated with the officiating, he&rsquo;s a good reminder to keep my cool,&rdquo; Doug said. &ldquo;Luckily I had a doctor who kept pursuing it or I wouldn&rsquo;t be telling the story.&rdquo;</p><p><b>&ndash; TIM SWITZER</b></p><h3><b>CANADIAN UNIVERSITY</b></h3><h2><b>Merry times in Maritimes</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-0756/9354014-1-eng-US/f0049-072.jpg" title="f0049-07" width="229" height="228"></div><p>When you only lose once during an entire regular season, it&rsquo;s hard to improve. But coach Gardiner &lsquo;Mac&rsquo; MacDougall knows his New Brunswick Varsity Reds, who lost in the 2008 CIS final, will have to do just that in 2008-09. The Atlantic University Sport conference, as a whole, is coming off one of its best recruiting summers ever. &ldquo;Every team added top-notch players,&rdquo; MacDougall said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s tough on coaches, but it&rsquo;s great for the fans.&rdquo; MacDougall&rsquo;s recruiting class includes four former major junior captains in Daine Todd (Medicine Hat), Jordan Clendenning (Acadie-Bathurst), John Harty (Everett) and Bretton Stamler (Edmonton).</p><p><b>&ndash; JEFF RENAUD</b></p><h3><b>THE WOMEN&rsquo;S GAME</b></h3><h2><b>Four Nations full of youth</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0049-0836/9354007-1-eng-US/f0049-082.jpg" title="f0049-08" width="228" height="228"></div><p>Lake Placid, N.Y., is the place to be if you&rsquo;re interested in catching the best young talent from Canada, the U.S., Finland and Sweden. For the Four Nations Cup, which runs Nov. 4 to 9, Canada has its youngest squad yet with 12 players under 25. Coach Melody Davidson says the Four Nations is one of the few places to assess young players because they&rsquo;re able to take a brief hiatus from their university teams. The only other events where that&rsquo;s the case are the under-22 and under-18 tournaments in Europe after Christmas. &ldquo;All the players are in a position to challenge for a spot on our 2009 worlds team,&rdquo; Davidson said.</p><p><b>&ndash; ELIZABETH ETUE</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0049-01

BEST OF THE REST

<div class="byline">by Nicolas Chabot</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0050-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0050-01323/9354094-1-eng-US/f0050-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(DAVE SANDFORD/GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><h2><b>A KIDS&rsquo; GAME&hellip;OR IS IT?</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>N A LEAGUE with a teenaged scoring champ (Sidney Crosby) two seasons ago and 18-year-olds making headlines daily, you might think the NHL is a young man&rsquo;s domain. It&rsquo;s not. In the first season after the lockout, 2005-06, the average age of NHLers was the highest it had been in 36 years. That number was close to the highest average of the past 60 years (28.71 in 1966-67), but significantly different than the lowest average age of the period (25.32 in 1981-82). And, especially recently, having an old team has been advantageous. Detroit has sat at or near the top of the standings since 2000 and is favored to repeat as Stanley Cup champs. But the Wings have iced seven of the 20 oldest teams of the past 40 seasons and are on track to make it eight. Chris Chelios, 46, the second-oldest player in NHL history, sure helps.</p><p><b>SPOTLIGHT</b></p><p><b>28.09</b></p><h2><b>NHL AVERAGE AGE</b></h2><p>For the past 60 years, here&rsquo;s a season-by-season look at the average age of NHL players (at least 25 games played).</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0052-01284/9354087-1-eng-US/f0052-012.jpg" title="f0052-01" width="5100" height="3225"></div><p>Can&rsquo;t get enough numbers? Visit our online &lsquo;Stats&rsquo; section every day at <a href="http://thehockeynews.com">thehockeynews.com</a><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0050-01

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

<div class="byline">BY WAYNE FISH</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0056-01211/9354125-1-eng-US/f0056-012.jpg" title="f0056-01" width="642" height="779"><figcaption class="caption-body">Ben Stafford won a Calder Cup in the AHL, but hockey wasn&rsquo;t his calling. <span class="photo-credit">(LEN REDKOLES)</span></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><b><span>H</span>E WAS ALWAYS THERE</b> for his hockey teammates and now Ben Stafford is bringing that same Semper Fi &ndash; &ldquo;always faithful&rsquo;&rsquo; &ndash; allegiance to his new U.S. military brethren in Iraq.</p><p>The former Philadelphia Flyers prospect and member of the Phantoms&rsquo; 2004-05 Calder Cup-championship AHL team left hockey shortly after that celebration to enroll in medical school.</p><p>But his country&rsquo;s situation in the Middle East was never far from his thoughts and he decided to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps and become an officer.</p><p>In an eerie coincidence, Stafford was deployed to Iraq on Oct. 5, the day the Flyers arrived for the start of a three-day, preseason visit/retreat at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.</p><p>At the beginning of his career, many in the Flyers organization thought the Yale University graduate had a bright future in hockey. But there are players who will admit that Stafford, 29, seemed destined for &ldquo;other things.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><p>All are aware of the boldness of Stafford&rsquo;s decision. It&rsquo;s a courageous move, similar to the one taken by the late Pat Tillman of the Arizona Cardinals (NFL), who lost his life in a &ldquo;friendly fire&rdquo; incident during combat in Afghanistan.</p><p>Flyers coach John Stevens, who was at the helm of that &rsquo;04-05 Phantoms club, said Stafford has the right qualities for an officer.</p><p>&ldquo;It puts things into perspective,&rsquo;&rsquo; Stevens said. &ldquo;Ben is a lowmaintenance guy who did everything right for our team. When he gets his mind set on a mission or a goal, he jumps in with both feet.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><p>Stevens and several Flyers players who were teammates with Stafford on the Phantoms had a chance to talk to him by telephone just a few days before the West Point trip.</p><p>The conversation was limited because the Edina, Minn., native couldn&rsquo;t divulge his whereabouts or status due to security concerns.</p><p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t want to see anybody going to Iraq because it&rsquo;s a pretty dangerous place, but when it&rsquo;s a friend of yours it&rsquo;s tough,&rsquo;&rsquo; said goaltender Antero Niittymaki, one of the stars of the &rsquo;04-05 Phantoms team.</p><p>&ldquo;We talked about it a lot, but it&rsquo;s what he wants to do. It&rsquo;s his thing. He likes it.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><p>Stafford was a quick forward who played 244 games with the Phantoms. Year in and year out, he was always among the fittest players in the organization.</p><p>Riley Cote plays the role of tough guy in hockey, but he said in real life Stafford is about as tough as they come.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s ironic that while we were here at West Point, that&rsquo;s what we were talking about (with a sports psychologist), comparing sports to war,&rsquo;&rsquo; Cote said. &ldquo;They were telling us that being on a team and athletics prepares you for battle and there are a lot of similarities &ndash; the discipline, the teamwork and all that.</p><p>&ldquo;I know Stafford has that mentality. He does everything the best way possible. He was one of the most in-shape guys we&rsquo;ve ever had in camp and he&rsquo;s a fierce competitor. That&rsquo;s the mentality he has to have where he&rsquo;s going. I have the ultimate respect for him as a person for doing that.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><p>A team source said Stafford will be in Iraq until at least May, 2009.</p><p>Like Stevens, Flyers equipment manager Derek Settlemyre was on the championship Phantoms club and got to know Stafford on a personal basis.</p><p>Settlemyre said he has concerns, but after speaking with Stafford, a first lieutenant in the USMC, some of his fears have been assuaged.</p><p>&ldquo;You hear how confident he is and he tells you he&rsquo;s ready,&rsquo;&rsquo; Settlemyre said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s leading a battalion and he makes you feel confident, too. I&rsquo;m worried, but there&rsquo;s no talking to him when he has his mind set on something like this.</p><p>&ldquo;Ben went to their boot camp and finished at the top of the class. He&rsquo;s in charge of a whole group of people. He&rsquo;s got a good head on his shoulders&hellip;he&rsquo;ll be fine.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p><p>The 5-foot-11, 184-pound Stafford has always striven to be the best and usually achieves his goals.</p><p>Growing up in Edina, he helped his high school team finish third in the state his sophomore year, second his junior year and win the state championship his senior year. He even played a winner when he was 12 with a small movie role in <i>The Mighty Ducks</i>.</p><p>So, it&rsquo;s no big revelation that people predict success in Stafford&rsquo;s newest career.</p><p>&ldquo;Everyone&rsquo;s reaction was a little surprised, especially because he went into medical school and (it) had been a long process to get in there,&rdquo; Stevens said. &ldquo;But, I was one of his references to become an officer in the Marine Corps. After he explained his reasons for wanting to do it &ndash; he was a history major at Yale, he has strong beliefs in serving his country and he has such good team values &ndash; I knew he would be great at whatever he does.</p><p>&ldquo;You understand why he wants to do it and where he&rsquo;s coming from.&rsquo;&rsquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0056-01

FORMER FLYER FIGHTING IN IRAQ

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0057-02" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-02138/9354170-1-eng-US/f0057-022.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><span class="photo-credit">(By Larry Humber)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-01196/9354177-1-eng-US/f0057-012.jpg" title="f0057-01" width="155" height="155"></div><h2><b>CROSSWORD</b></h2><h3><b>ACROSS</b></h3><p>1 Scott Gordon now coaches this team</p><p>8 Pittsburgh&rsquo;s arena has been dubbed &lsquo;The ___&rsquo;</p><p>9 A Western League city</p><p>10 In a ___ battle, the lead changes several times</p><p>11 One of the Hulls</p><p>12 Idaho is home of the ECHL&rsquo;s &lsquo;___heads&rsquo;</p><p>14 What the C used to stand for in ECHL</p><p>17 Homeland of Mats Sundin and Markus and Mats Naslund</p><p>19 NHL teams played this many games from 1974-75 to 1991-92</p><p>20 Auditions</p><p>21 Jeff ___ tended net for more than a decade</p><p>22 Sidney Crosby is one, and so is Alex Ovechkin</p><h3><b>DOWN</b></h3><p>2 Former Duck ___ Rucchin</p><p>3 Assisting</p><p>4 Suit up</p><p>5 The Flyers share their building with this NBA team</p><p>6 Strikes with one&rsquo;s stick</p><p>7 He had some great years behind the bench in San Jose, but now calls Toronto home</p><p>11 The first Newfoundlander to hoist the Cup, pictured</p><p>13 Mixed it up</p><p>15 Championships, the Habs have the most</p><p>16 Role models</p><p>17 ___ Savard was a Smythe Trophy winner</p><p>18 Overtime, ___ time</p><p>Answers available in the next issue and at <a href="http://THN.com/XWORD">THN.com/xword</a></p><p>LAST WEEK&rsquo;S CROSSWORD SOLUTION ACROSS 1. JOE MALONE, 8. VAULT, 9. STANDUP, 10. CENTRE, 11. ASTROS, 12. ICING, 14. X-RAYS, 17. SWEATS, 19. TREVOR, 20. MUSEUMS, 21. EDDIE, 22. RON WILSON. DOWN 2. OATES, 3. MINORS, 4. LOUIS, 5. EVGENI, 6. AUSTRIA, 7. STRENGTHS, 11. ALEX STEEN, 13. MAKES DO, 15. SCORER, 16. NEWELL, 17. SQUAW 18. TEMPO.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-0481/9354163-1-eng-US/f0057-042.jpg" title="f0057-04" width="156" height="155"></div><h2><b>JERSEY HOUND</b></h2><p>If international play has taught us anything lately, it&rsquo;s that Latvians know how to party when their boys are playing. It should be no surprise then, that Riga&rsquo;s entry into the Kontinental League represents Latvian maroon to the fullest.</p><p>Along with the scripted &lsquo;D&rsquo; used by all Dynamo teams (ie Dynamo Moscow, Dynamo Minsk), Dinamo Riga accents their main letter with a majestic lion on each side, which also appears on the shoulders. Another nice touch is the steeple-dominated skyline along the bottom of the sweater.</p><p>&ndash; Ryan Kennedy</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-0551/9354156-1-eng-US/f0057-052.jpg" title="f0057-05" width="815" height="744"><figcaption class="caption-body"><p>DINAMO RIGA (KHL)</p><p><b>2008-09</b></p></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0057-02

LAST MINUTE OF PLAY

<div class="byline">charlieteljeur</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0057-03" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0057-03100/9354208-1-eng-US/f0057-032.jpg"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0057-03

hockeysockpuppettheatre

<div class="image-hero"><img title="c0004-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/c0004-01327/9354239-1-eng-US/c0004-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body">Mason Raymond <span class="photo-credit">(ANDY DEVLIN/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)</span></figcaption></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/c0004-02213/9354246-1-eng-US/c0004-022.jpg" title="c0004-02" width="206" height="246"></div><blockquote class="pullQuote">There&rsquo;s no doubt in my mind we&rsquo;ve got three lines capable of scoring goals</blockquote><p><b>ROBERTO LUONGO HAS A</b>&nbsp;theory about why Alex Burrows is suddenly scoring goals at a record pace.</p><p>&ldquo;Now that he&rsquo;s sitting next to me in the dressing room,&rdquo; opined Luongo dryly, &ldquo;I can give him tips.&rdquo;</p><p>Luongo &ndash; aka Captain Canuck &ndash; is smiling as he says this, to let you in on the joke. Indeed, there is a positive vibe in the Vancouver Canucks&rsquo; dressing room on a Saturday morning early in the season. One year removed from a first-to-worst freefall in the Northwest Division standings, the Canucks went into the season with only one real question mark &ndash; two, if you count health on the blueline. It isn&rsquo;t in net, where Luongo is solid and very often spectacular, one of the elite netminders in the league and the first to captain his team in 60 years. It isn&rsquo;t defense, where the Canucks boast as solid a collection of Nos. 1-to-6 defensemen as any team in the league (at least when everybody&rsquo;s healthy).</p><p>No, the primary issue for the Canucks was to find additional scoring, beyond what the Sedin twins provide on an annual basis.</p><p>Burrows &ndash; and his center, Ryan Kesler &ndash; actually did a commendable job of that even last year, when the Canucks missed the playoffs in the tightly contested Northwest.</p><p>A 2003 first-rounder, Kesler&rsquo;s potential was identified early in a most compelling way &ndash; after the Philadelphia Flyers tried to steal him away as a restricted free agent, back in the Dave Nonis days. Burrows&rsquo; emergence as a legitimate NHLer was a little more circuitous. After playing as a 20-year-old with Shawinigan in the Quebec League in 2001-02, he spent most of two years in the ECHL, where many NHL dreams die a quick death.</p><p>But the Manitoba Moose saw something in Burrows and signed him to an AHL contact in October of 2003. The year after the NHL lockout ended, Burrows split time between the Moose and the Canucks, where he agitated his way into the NHL mix. Last year, he suddenly managed 31 points &ndash; including 12 goals &ndash; to go with 179 penalty minutes and became part of an effective third line.</p><p>The real test for the Canucks will be if their newly minted second line &ndash; featuring an old hand in Pavol Demitra and a fresh face in Mason Raymond &ndash; can provide the balance that was missing a year ago. Demitra is a reliable point-producer  when he&rsquo;s healthy; Raymond, a second-year winger, has drawn comparisons to Glenn Anderson for the way he drives to the net, but he&rsquo;s still a work in progress.</p><p>Comparing any player to Anderson is risky business, only because the soon-to-be-inducted Hall Of Famer was such a multi-dimensional talent. Raymond doesn&rsquo;t possess Anderson&rsquo;s edgy side, but his willingness to go to the net is eerily similar.</p><p>That&rsquo;s the quality Luongo particularly likes about Raymond.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s got a great skill set for sure. His biggest asset is his speed. He skates fast and brings the puck to the net, so even though he&rsquo;s a smaller guy he&rsquo;s not afraid to go into those tough areas to score.&rdquo;</p><p>New Canucks GM Mike Gillis tried to make a splash in the unrestricted free agent market, offering eye-popping money to Mats Sundin to add a proven scorer to the mix. Sundin ultimately said no &ndash; like he did to every NHL team this summer.</p><p>Sundin&rsquo;s indecision left the Canucks with a few extra dollars to spare &ndash; now or soon or maybe not until next year, when a new crop of free agents hit the market. Going with so many youngsters was a clear Plan B, but a Plan B with an upside, depending upon how well Burrows, Raymond, Steve Bernier, Taylor Pyatt, Jannik Hansen and others adapt. For his part, Raymond says he has a greater comfort level this year over the previous season.</p><p>&ldquo;Last year was last year and I learned a lot,&rdquo; said Raymond, 23. &ldquo;Obviously, this year, coming into camp and knowing what to expect, I&rsquo;m a lot more relaxed for sure.&rdquo;</p><p>None of which will matter if the results don&rsquo;t come. Eventually, those extra dollars will burn a hole in Gillis&rsquo; pocket, if the club&rsquo;s offense is found to be lacking.</p><p>&ldquo;If we can play the way we can play,&rdquo; Raymond said, &ldquo;we&rsquo;re going to put points on the board and come out with points at the end of the night as a team.&rdquo;</p><p>Luongo thinks so, too. He faces these young Canucks every day in practice. Does the new captain think the secondary scoring will come through when it matters?</p><p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s no doubt,&rdquo; Luongo said. &ldquo;All three lines can score &ndash; even Kesler, Burrows and Hansen. They&rsquo;re very capable of chipping in. There is no doubt in my mind that this year, we&rsquo;ve got three lines capable of scoring some goals.&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

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November 3, 2008

SNAPSHOTS

THE BIG PICTURE

POLL RESULTS

SPECTRUM: A SPECIAL RINK