UKRAINIAN PRO HOCKEY UPDATE (05/16/99)

UKRAINIAN PRO HOCKEY UPDATE

by Ihor Stelmach

Go look outside. It's reigning again. Yup, reigning.

Thanks in large part to the dizzying deals they made at the NHL's trading deadline, the Detroit Red Wings are the odds-on favorites to become the franchise to win three consecutive Stanley Cups since the New York Islanders accomplished that feat in the early 1980s.

Of course, the Wings should face plenty of competition - particularly from within their own conference. The Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche are ranked very high as this year's Cup contenders. Here's the skinny on this season's 16 playoff qualifiers, listed in order of overall strengths. (Teams marked with an asterisk were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.)

No. 1 - Detroit Red Wings

Primary strength is depth. No team has four lines that can score and grind like these guys. As long as netminder Chris Osgood does his job, as he did last spring, the rejuvenated Wings with Chris Chelios, Wendel Clark and company should win another Stanley Cup.

No. 2 - Dallas Stars

The league's premier defensive squad is led by the league's best six-man blueline unit, which can also generate some offense. Extremely disciplined, effective special teams, these Stars are best suited to winning low-scoring games. That's playoff hockey! Ukrainian defenseman Richard Matvichuk back from knee injuries. Fellow countryman Brad Lukowich on playoff roster. Tony Hrkac is a spare forward who can make the power play unit go.

* No. 3 - New Jersey Devils

The Devils' attack, much improved under coach Robbie Ftorek, is the most diverse in league - 13 players scored in double digits. New Jersey thrives playing on the road (No. 1 in the league). Foot speed is a concern on a veteran defense that is under the gun more with team's more open offense. Ukes Kenny Daneyko and Dave Andreychuk are definitely main men.

No. 4 - Colorado Avalanche

The Avs have unrivaled pure offense and skill, led by Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic and Theo Fleury. Patrick Roy tends the nets. If they're on all cylinders, they can take their game to the next level, but they are vulnerable to defensive breakdowns.

No. 5 - Buffalo Sabres

Though he struggled at times in the second half and ran into injury problems, the Dominik Hasek factor can never be discounted. He's special and is capable of winning a series or two by himself. Realistically speaking, all signs point to this team not being on the right track and lacking in offensive firepower. Defenseman Alexei Zhitnik came on strong in last month.

No. 6 - Toronto Maple Leafs

Primary strengths are offense and goaltending. Leafs had the top attack in league in regular season. Numbers suggest the Leafs won't succeed in the playoffs, but there's an indefinable quality to this team that suggests they may be a team of destiny this season.

* No. 7 - Phoenix Coyotes

The Coyotes have the personnel to play a bruising, physical game. When healthy and rested, their defense is skilled and mobile. Netminder Nikolai (he's Russian) Khabibulin is capable of playoff heroics. Not an easy team to play against. Captain Coyote Keith Tkachuk leads this team in every sense of the word. Youngster Oleg Tverdovsky a bit inconsistent on the backline with less production.

* No. 8 - Ottawa Senators

The Sens are well coached and play a patient trapping system that frustrates their foes. Boast excellent team speed and their transition is to be feared. Weakness: almost zero playoff experience, which means these guys may have to lose before they learn how to win.

No. 9 - Boston Bruins

Coach Pat Burns knows what it takes to win in the playoffs and has a grinding defensive team (No. 2 overall) anchored by stellar netminder "Lord" Byron Dafoe. Best penalty killing in league. Capable of winning two rounds, but lack the horses to go much further.

No. 10 - Pittsburgh Penguins

In Jaromir Jagr, the Penguins have most dominant player in the game and he's aptly supported by anonymous yet productive supporting cast. Coach Kevin Constantine gets more out of this team than one would expect. Jagr getting hurt as playoffs began not a good omen. Uke Greg Andrusak made dramatic return to Pittsburgh late in season after playing a while in Europe.

* No. 11 - Philadelphia Flyers

Even without injured superstar and team captain Eric Lindros, the Flyers have a solid offense led by John LeClair, Mark Recchi and Rod Brind'Amour. The team's attitude was Cup final or bust, but Lindros' injury and their defensive/goaltending inadequacies shifted the Flyers into the extreme darkhorse category.

No. 12 - St. Louis Blues

Al MacInnis, likely to win the Norris (top defenseman) Trophy, and Chris Pronger, give St. Louis a dynamic blueline duo that set the tone for the team that gave up the fewest shots on goal in the league. Goals are difficult to come by. Goalie Grant Fuhr was on and off all of 1998-1999. Good coaching, but strong shortage of guns on offense.

* No. 13 - San Jose Sharks

The Sharks had the fifth-best goals against average, second best in the West. Two good goaltenders and Vincent Damphousse's arrival jump-started a flat offense. Terrific speed. As Boston may be the team to avoid in the East, so San Jose is the equivalent out West.

* No. 14 - Carolina Hurricanes

Diminutive goaltender Arturs Irbe has a playoff track record and captain Keith Primeau is capable of elevating his play to a high level. Unfortunately, Carolina had the league's worst power play and lowest production from its defense, which was ravaged by injuries late in the season. Lucky to have made the playoffs, period.

* No. 15 - Anaheim Mighty Ducks

Teemu Selanne and Paul Kariya, in that order, are a clear and present danger every time they skate out on the ice. Guy Hebert's .924 save percentage was impressive. However, team defense is suspect and no team relies as heavily on two players as the Ducks do with the aforementioned combo. They accounted for 40 percent of team's goals. Will not go far.

* No. 16 - Edmonton Oilers

On a lot of nights this past regular season Edmonton had a terrific team, with speed and an ornery, abrasive attitude teams hated to match up against. But not often enough. Goaltending, at best, is a question mark, as newcomer Tommy Salo proved inconsistent. No chance against Dallas in first round.

FINAL UKRAINIAN TRANSACTIONS (player movements and injuries):

BOSTON - Dimitri Khristich, LW, shoulder separation, day-to-day.

CALGARY - Lee Sorochan, D, acquired in trade with N.Y. Rangers; Sorochan assigned to St. John (AHL), recalled and returned.

CAROLINA - Steve Halko, D, recalled from New Haven (AHL); Curtis Leschyshyn, D, strained groin, day-to-day; Halko returned to New Haven.

CHICAGO - Mike Maneluk, RW, released.

COLORADO - Wade Belak, D, traded to Calgary in Theo Fleury deal; Belak assigned to St. John (AHL), recalled and reassigned to St. John after end of regular NHL season.

DALLAS - Brad Lukowich, D, recalled from Michigan (IHL); Richard Matvichuk, D, groin strain and MCL strain, late April; Lukowich returned to Michigan and later recalled.

DETROIT - Joey Kocur, RW, lower abdominal muscle strain, day-to-day.

FLORIDA - Peter Ratchuk, D, assigned to New Haven (AHL).

LOS ANGELES - Acquired Dave Babych, D, from Philadelphia in trade.

N.Y. RANGERS - Mike Maneluk, RW, claimed off waivers from Chicago; Wayne Gretzky, C, neck disk protrusion, late March; Gretzky announced his retirement from hockey.

PITTSBURGH - Greg Andrusak, D, signed to contract and assigned to Houston (IHL); Andrusak recalled from Houston.

WASHINGTON - Peter Bondra, RW, broken right hand, out for season; Steve Konowalchuk, LW, concussion, out for season.

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