UKRAINIAN PRO HOCKEY UPDATE (04/26/98)

UKRAINIAN PRO HOCKEY UPDATE

by Ihor Stelmach

Andreychuk: healthy again, yet struggling to score

The broken ankle healed faster than the broken heart. Dave Andreychuk, who saw his dream for a first Stanley Cup championship shattered when he suffered a non-displaced fracture of his left ankle in the New Jersey Devils' final game of the regular season, was finally able to leave the disappointment behind.

"It was a tough summer," Andreychuk recalled in a brief trip down memory lane several months ago. Or should we say a trip down memory pain. "Two in a row. My first year here we didn't make the playoffs, and then last year I couldn't contribute."

The Devils were primed for the 1997 playoffs when Andreychuk skated behind the net during a meaningless game on April 13 in Philadelphia. Knocked off balance by Flyers, rookie Janne Niinimaa, the big winger fell awkwardly on his ankle. He missed nine of the Devils' 10 playoff games, rushing back to play the final game against the Rangers, even though he truly wasn't ready.

"If we had led the series, we would have thought a little more of resting him another game," said Coach Jacques Lemaire. "He was getting so close and he wanted to come back. That's why we did it."

There were twinges in the ankle during training camp, but Andreychuk pronounced himself at full strength both physically and mentally. With Doug Gilmour around for an entire season and the Devils' depth intact, Andreychuk was quite optimistic.

Goal-scoring slumps never much concerned Andreychuk, because the veteran left-winger was always able to knock in a power play goal and regain the magic that may someday earn him a spot in the Hall of Fame. But well into his 16th National Hockey League season, there were fears Andreychuk might have finally lost that golden scoring touch.

Since he notched his 500th goal on March 15 last season, little has gone right. Andreychuk has battled injuries and a slump that had him on pace to match a career-low in goals (a projected 14) this season for the New Jersey Devils. "The chances have been there for him. It just doesn't go in sometimes," said teammate Doug Gilmour. "We've all been through it."

Including the lockout-shortened 1994-1995 season and an abbreviated rookie campaign, Andreychuk has averaged 34 goals per season. His single-season high was 54 (1992-1993 with the Buffalo Sabres/Toronto Maple Leafs) while his previous low of 14 came in 43 games during his freshman year (1982-1983 with Buffalo). He admitted he felt pressure to start putting the puck in the net.

"Yeah, but not just me. Everybody wants to stay in the line-up," he said. "We've got guys in the press box capable of playing for a lot of teams. That's not a bad thing to have. It makes their [Devils' coaches'] decisions tougher."

With Andreychuk, Brian Rolston, Petr Sykora, Patrik Elias and rookie enforcer Krzysztof Oliwa all left-wingers, coach Jacques Lemaire faced the difficult decision of scratching a player who deserved to be playing. Unlike Elias, Andreychuk was not likely to be sat out.

"The kid (Elias) has a chance to become the best rookie. Too bad I can't keep him in the line-up every night," Lemaire said. "The reason is simple. We have experienced hockey players on our club that have to play. If you take them out, it's the wrong thing to do. An example is Andy." (Andreychuk's nickname on the team.)

"If I pull an older player, it'll be to give him a rest."

And so Andreychuk struggled on.

"I've had lots of chances in the last few games. I felt like I was going to the net a little more. Pucks will start going in as long as I'm getting chances," he said.

Chances are they really will. They always have before for Ukrainian sniper Dave Andreychuk.

Injured Matvichuk plays on, raises Dallas Stars' game

Injury problems continued to mount for the Dallas Stars, yet they utilized their great depth to battle through a list that was becoming quite extensive.

Defenseman Richard Matvichuk was the latest victim. His left knee was wrenched when he caught an edge while being crushed by St. Louis Blues' winger Kelly Chase on January 14. His anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) was snapped - the same one on which Matvichuk had surgery in 1994, forcing him to miss most of the 1994-1995 season.

"It's really unfortunate because he was having a heck of a year," said Stars' Coach Ken Hitchcock. "Matty really stepped up to become a big part of our top four."

Matvichuk's offensive contributions are always going to be somewhat limited, although he had 11 points through 49 games, almost matching the 12 he had in 73 games last season. But it was his defense that had picked up. Paired with captain Derian Hatcher, Matvichuk was playing between 20 and 22 minutes per game and typically against the opposition's best forwards.

"The thing about his minutes is they're all defending minutes - he's not playing on the power play at all," Hitchcock said. "What we have to do now is work to cover those minutes by spreading them out throughout our defense."

There was talk Matvichuk might not be back with the team this season. Because the ACL is detached, it would require season-ending surgery to re-attach it. However, teammate Joe Nieuwendyk has played with a detached ACL for seven years and that's the plan Matvichuk attempted.

"Joe has done it, so I'm hoping I can too," Matvichuk said at the time of his hurt. "I have to strengthen the other ligaments to see how it holds up."

After a recent game Matvichuk stood in the middle of the Dallas Stars' dressing room, his body covered with bruises.

"The next guy that gets injured," the defenseman said, only half-jokingly, "gets fined."

The Stars survived the injury blight of the Ides of March when as many as seven regulars were out of the line-up due to injury or suspension. And Matvichuk was no small reason the Stars were able to burst out of an 0-3-2 slump to post three consecutive victories and maintain its status as the top team in the Western Conference.

"He has really grown up as a player and it's showing right now," said Coach Hitchcock. "He's taking his game to a different level and he's accepting a lot of responsibility. We need him, and he's coming through."

Matvichuk, now 25 saw his minutes jump from 22 to a whopping 31 during the height of the injury problems. And to add to the physical beating, he was playing a game that saw him throw his body around. In a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings on March 17, Matvichuk was officially credited with 10 blocked shots. Ten blocked shots! That's about as many as a goalie gets in a super-active period of play.

"I think on most of those, I was trying to get out of the way," Matvichuk quipped modestly.

His performance, however, is no joke. With Derian Hatcher, Sergei Zubov, Craig Ludwick and Shawn Chambers out at one point, Matvichuk had to be the pillar of the defense.

"He's a different player now," Hitchcock said.

Wakaluk ready to return after knee procedures

An entire year came and went and, finally, Darcy Wakaluk is back where he belongs: at practice, facing shots between the pipes for the Phoenix Coyotes.

"It feels good to get hit with the puck again," Wakaluk said soon after resuming workouts for the first time in 12 months following four straight knee operations to repair ligament and cartilage damage. Wakaluk, a nine-year NHL veteran, was 8-3-1 with a 2.99 goals-against average last season as a solid back-up to No. 1 goalie Nikolai Khabibulin.

But on January 3, 1997, during a game against the Washington Capitals, a team that was coached by Phoenix coach Jim Schoenfeld, Wakaluk heard a pop in his right knee. One surgery became two. Two very quickly became three. Just before the start of this season, he was forced to undergo a fourth. Wakaluk had missed 105 straight games as the NHL season took a break to accommodabe the Winter Olympics.

"It has been real frustrating watching [the team] come and go and not being able to do what you love doing," Wakaluk said. "Watching them play every night from the stands, I find myself taking home a lot of their frustrations. If you're playing, I think you can leave that stuff around the rink a little more. I've been a real bear to live with, but my wife [Dawn] has been super."

After about a week's worth of practice, Wakaluk was close to pronouncing his jointed knee fit for action. But with Khabibulin and new back-up Jimmy Waite providing capable relief, Wakaluk's future this season remained unknown.

Darcy started his professional career in 1986-1987 with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League after playing three seasons of juniors in the Western League. He saw spot duty that season, but took over the No. 1 job a year later when he appeared in 55 games.

He got into 22 games with the Buffalo Sabres, who drafted him 144th overall, over two years before he was traded to the Minnesota North Stars in 1991 Wakaluk established himself as a full-time NHLer in 1992-1993 with the Stars' organization, which relocated to Dallas, and signed as a free agent with the Coyotes in 1996. Wakaluk knows he has to work hard to get his job back.

"Nobody owes me anything," he said. "Last year is over. In order for them to play me, I've got to be able to contribute."

Ukrainian transactions

Calgary: Todd Hlushko, C/RW, assigned to St. John (AHL) for conditioning; Hlushko recalled by Calgary, later returned and again recalled.

Carolina: Steve Halko, D, recalled from New Haven (AHL).

Chicago: Ryan Huska, LW, recalled from Indianapolis (IHL) and later reassigned.

Colorado: Wade Belak, D, recalled form Hershey (AHL); Belak, sore stomach out day-to-day; Belak, strained groin, indefinite. Belak returned to Hershey and later recalled.

Dallas: Tony Hrkac, C, recalled from Michigan (IHL). Brad Lukowich, D, recalled form Michigan (IHL); Lukowich later re-assigned.

Richard Matvichuk, D, torn left knee ligament.

Edmonton: Tony Hrkac, C, claimed on waivers from Dallas. Hrkac, separated shoulder, out until approximately January 20, day-to-day. Drake Berehowsky, D, separated shoulder, indefinite.

Florida: David Nemirovsky, RW, assigned to New Haven (AHL) and recent recalled. Joey Tetarenko, D, signed pro contract.

New Jersey: Dan Ratushny, D, acquired from Quebec (IHL) and assigned to Albany (AHL). Peter Sidorkiewicz, GT, recalled from Albany and later returned. Kenny Daneyko, D, returned from voluntary substance abuse program for alcoholism.

N.Y. Isles: Yevgeny Namestnikov, D, recalled from Utah (IHL) and later returned.

Philadelphia: Dave Babych, D, bruised left foot, indefinite.

Phoenix: Oleg Tverdovsky, D, signed multi-year contract. Tverdovsky out with twisted knee, day-to-day. Darcy Wakaluk, GT, right knee surgery, indefinite. Keith Tkachuk, LW, broken rib, early April.

Pittsburgh: Eddie Olczyk, RW, depressed cheekbone, late January.

Vancouver: Dave Babych, D, sore back, indefinite. Babych and sixth round draft choice traded to Philadelphia for third round pick in 1998 draft.

Washington: Peter Bondra, RW, bruised ankle, day-to-day. Bondra agreed to four-year contract extension. Andrei Nikolishin, C, assigned to Portland (AHL) for conditioning. Nikolishin recalled by Washington. Brian Bellows, LW, signed to contract as free agent.

(Quotes courtesy of Rich Chere, Mike Heika and Bob McManaman, beat writers respectively, for New Jersey, Dallas and Phoenix, respectively.)