UKRAINIAN PRO HOCKEY UPDATE
by Ihor Stelmach
The NHL in 1998-99: a season of change
The NHL used to be called the Original Six. Now the ever-changing NHL has the Original Six Divisions. Like football and baseball, the NHL now has half-a-dozen divisions with the addition of the Southeast and Northwest.
Below we present our annual NHL preview column, giving readers the inside skinny on the plusses and minuses of every team headed into still another season. Part I includes the teams of the Eastern Conference, by division, with teams listed in order of predicted finish.
Our 1998-1999 preview theme: "The good, the bad and the Ukes."
ATLANTIC DIVISION
Philadelphia Flyers
Good news: The Flyers can go through this season without worrying about Eric Lindros' contract. Philly was the Eastern Conference's top scoring squad in 1997-1998. Flyers traded for a goaltender. John Vanbiesbrouck always had good rapport with coach Roger Neilson.
Bad news: Team chemistry always seems amiss in Philadelphia. Vanbiesbrouck is coming off a poor season. Flyers don't seem to get much scoring from their defense.
Uke(s): Speedy minor leaguer Mike Maneluk made the team and starts the season on the top line with Lindros and LeClair.
New Jersey Devils
Good news: D Scott Stevens is the best hitter/checker in hockey. If there were no Dominik Hasek, GT Martin Brodeur would be the toast of hockey. New coach Robbie Ftorek might let the offensive horses run a bit more.
Bad news: The Devils made no significant off-season moves. Key players Stevens, and Ukrainians Kenny Daneyko and Dave Andreychuk are long in the tooth. If the youngsters don't come on, the Devils will have trouble scoring. Bobby Holik's scoring fell off late last season.
Uke(s): Andreychuk's production fell off to 14 goals, though countered with 34 assists; Daneyko returned from alcohol rehab and posted 57 PIMS in only 37 games.
New York Rangers
Good news: With Wayne Gretzky in the line-up the Rangers are a pleasure to watch. Brian Leetch plays about half the game on defense. John MacLean should pick up the offensive production lost when Pat LaFontaine retired.
Bad news: Leetch wasn't at his best last season. Gretzky is 37 years young. Goalie Mike Richter is also coming off a sub-par campaign.
Uke(s): Gretzky notched 23 goals and 67 assists for 90 points in 1997-1998. Veteran Brent Fedyk made the club as a free agent in training camp.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Good news: Even without Ron Francis, Jaromir Jagr will contend for the scoring crown. GT Tom Barrasso might be playing the best of his career. Coach Kevin Constantine has made his team better defensively.
Bad news: Darius Kasparaitis is on the disabled list for a few months. Goal scoring was already on the decline, and now Francis is gone. A big tough winger is needed. The division switch did the Pens no favors.
Uke(s): Eddie Olczyk's third line scoring (11 G-11 A-22 PTS) will be counted on in the Windy City this season.
New York Islanders
Good news: Isles boast the league's best collection of young defensemen. Ziggy Palffy has blossomed into an elite scorer. Kenny Jonsson has become the darling of the organization.
Bad news: Trevor Linden's best seasons are behind him. Team might have trouble scoring. A messy lease situation.
Uke(s): Yevgeny Namestnikov re-upped for another two years, although he has never truly gotten a fair shot at making it on the Isle.
NORTHEAST DIVISION
Buffalo Sabres
Good news: Dominik Hasek might be the most mentally intimidating netminder since the golden days of Ukrainian Terry Sawchuk. Michael Peca is one of the league's best and most irritating defensive forwards. Ukrainian Alexei Zhitnik is among the league's most underrated players.
Bad news: The team's top 1997-1998 point producer, Miroslav Satan, had only 46. Goal scoring by committee is better on paper than in reality. If Hasek were injured, the Sabres would define the word "crisis."
Uke(s): Zhitnik moved closer to Norris Trophy consideration with his solid 15 G-30 A-45 PTS and 102 PIMs as defensive stalwart and power play quarterback.
Boston Bruins
Good news: Rookie of Year Sergei Samsonov could easily score 30 goals. Good power play, keyed by the incomparable Ray Bourque and great checking line (Tim Taylor, Per Axelsson and Rob DiMaio). Opponents tend to take this team lightly.
Bad news: Top players still very young. Baby B's haven't proved they can score enough as a team. Defense lacks depth. Sooner or later Bourque won't be able to play 30 minutes per game.
Uke(s): Winger Dimitri Khristich (29 G-37 A-66 PTS with 66 PIM) had great inaugural year in Hub. Plays on top line with Allison and Samsonov.
Montreal Canadians
Good news: Team plays better defensively than you think. Their scorers seem to catch defenses by surprise. Playoff win over Pittsburgh was big confidence booster. 'Twas their first series win in five years.
Bad news: Les Canadiens were strangely non-aggressive in the offseason. Montreal goaltenders are talented, but young. They could use a tough scoring winger and another puck-handling defenseman.
Uke(s): None
Toronto Maple Leafs
Good news: Move back East restores natural rivalry with Montreal. Acquiring goaltender Curtis Joseph as a free agent allows Toronto to deal Felix Potvin to get needed help at center and defense. New coach Pat Quinn has instant credibility with players and fans.
Bad news: Maple Leafs scored 2.4 goals a game in 1997-1998. Team really didn't open the vault to improve in the off-season. Not enough depth here to open up offense for superstar Mats Sundin.
Uke(s): None
Ottawa Senators
Good news: Under Jacques Martin, the Senators play a sound, efficient defensive style. Players picked up an ample supply of confidence when they upset the Devils in the post-season. Alexei Yashin and Daniel Alfredsson are wondrous offensive players.
Bad news: Alfredsson (knee) starts season on disabled list. As well as goalie Damian Rhodes performed in the playoffs, he's still not viewed as a prime-time keeper. Some non-playoff teams improved themselves over the summer; the smaller-payroll Senators did not.
Uke(s): None
SOUTHEAST DIVISION
Washington Capitals
Good news: Move to Southeast gives Caps chance to win first division title since 1989. Fans finally are starting to discover and appreciate the immense talents of Peter Bondra. Richard Zednik and Yogi Svejkovsky are two of the NHL's best young guns to come.
Bad news: Captain Dale Hunter is 38 and Adam Oates is 36. The Caps seem to always get hit hard by injuries. As well as Ukrainian Andrei Nikolishin plays, you wonder why he doesn't get more points.
Uke(s): Bondra tallied 52 goals and 78 points in 76 regular season games and 7-5-12 in 17 playoff matches. Gritty and oft-injured Steve Konowalchuk had 106 G-24 A-34 PTS-80 PIM in 80 games. Nikolishin returned from knee injury to play 38 regular season games (6-10-16), but sparkled in the Cup playoffs, garnering a solo goal and 13 assists in 21 Cup faceoffs. Brian Bellows came over from Europe for the last 11 games of the seascn. He managed nine points, including six goals. He added six more lamplighters in the playoffs, totalling 13 points. Yes! A quartet of contributing Ukes in our nation's capital.
Carolina Hurricanes
Good news: No team was more aggressive than the Hurricanes in trying to rebuild. Three solid scoring lines. Keith Primeau seems primed to have an All-Star season, and Ron Francis makes those around him that much better.
Bad news: Canes really need a dynamic offensive defenseman. If goaltender trevor Kidd is injured, team has no proven back-up. This franchise has missed the playoffs six consecutive seasons.
Uke(s): Veteran blueliner Curtis Leshyshyn doesn't score (2-10-12), but he's not out there to get points. Youngster Steve Halko saw action in 16 games last season and will be the first rear guard call-up.
Florida Panthers
Good news: Viktor Kozlov looks like he's going to be a leading scorer. The Panthers believe if they are healthy and a couple of players have big years, they will be league's most improved team. Ed Jovanovski is still only 22.
Bad news: Dean Burke has to prove he's still the goalie he once was. Rob Niedermayer has a history of concussions. Media and fans, who loved the Panthers in 1996, have turned on them.
Uke(s): Winger David Nemirovsky has apparently worn out his welcome, despite scoring nine goals and 12 assists in 41 games for a weak scoring club. He's been outrighted to the minors.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Good news: Coach Jacques Demers is the most optimistic man in hockey. John Cullen's return from cancer is an inspiration to all. GT Bill Ranford would like to prove he's still one of the league's best.
Bad news: Depth of talent is iffy at best. The defense does not have enough puck-handlers. Wendel Clark's ability to play a whole season without getting hurt seems quite doubtful.
Uke(s): None
Coming up: In part II of our preview, the inside scoop on all the clubs in the Western Conference.
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, November 8, 1998, No. 45, Vol. LXVI
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