UKRAINIAN PRO HOCKEY UPDATE
by Ihor Stelmach
Mid-season report cards
Anaheim: Vitaly Vishnevski - B. Bouncing back from regression last two seasons; has taken on increased defensive role while chipping in offensively for first time in career.
Buffalo: Alexei Zhitnik - B. Durable logging tons of minutes five-on-five, penalty kill unit and point on power play; finally a few goals to go with lots of assists off slapshots.
Carolina: Ryan Bayda - C-. Pretty much of a non-factor during lengthy call-up early in season; zero production compared to surprising scoring contribution in rookie year last season.
Colorado: Steve Konowalchuk - A-. Amazed new club with eight goals in initial 14 games playing on top forward unit; Capitals greatly miss this gritty ex-captain whose forte is still aggressive, defensive checking game.
Andre Nikolishin - B+. Phenomenal faceoff man and penalty killer on an offensive powerhouse club; management never thought he was this good when trade was made with Chicago.
Columbus: Nikolai Zherdev - B+. Will soon be mentioned in kind with the prolific Ilya Kovalchuk as superstar in the making; wicked stickhandler and creatively gifted talent who will eventually notch many goals to go along with high assist totals.
T.B.: Columbus: Darryl Sydor - C. Losses in Columbus put loads of self-induced pressure on offensive defenseman, forcing mid-season trade to Lightning; will quarterback Tampa power play with no stress.
Dallas: Richard Matvichuk - B. Bouncing back solidly from mediocre 2002-2003 season; helped fill void created by Derian Hatcher's departure via free agency; veteran presence has stabilizing effect on younger blueliners.
Florida: Darcy Hordichuk - C. Likened to baseball's battery duo: can pitch punches with the best of them, but sometimes will catch one in return; hopefully some day gets chance to play left wing and not just enforcer.
Nashville: Jordin Tootoo - C. Probably endured way too much early season hype, causing unrealistic expectation level; role reduced to fourth-line shift disturber, unafraid to drop gloves with bigger foe.
Ottawa: Curtis Leschyshyn - C+. Veteran blueliner has seen limited playing time due to bountiful defense corps; still very reliable stay-at-home type who'll either see more ice time or get moved at trading deadline.
Philadelphia: Todd Fedoruk - C+. The most improved forward on the Flyers had his potential breakthrough season slowed by a severe facial injury; following layoff has gradually returned to pugnacious defensive role.
Pittsburgh: Drake Berehowsky - C+. Struggling all season due to lack of talented partners on thin defense corps; productive point producer on power play; traded to Toronto to bolster Leafs' backline.
St. Louis: Keith Tkachuk - A. Notched 19 goals in first 30 games; one of league's top 15 scorers in 2003-2004; out to prove he's still one of NHL's elite power forwards; where would his Blues be without this team leader?
Tampa Bay: Dave Andreychuk - B. Still a monster on faceoffs, double-digit goal scorer and true leader of up-and-coming play-off contender; don't be too shocked to see him attempt yet another comeback year in 2004-2005!
Brad Lukowich - B. Always involved physically, has elevated his overall defensive game to earn top-four status; rebounded nicely from inconsistent last season; Dallas should have hung on to this blue collar guy.
Ruslan Fedotenko - C+. Struggled mightily through first third of 2003-2004 until given chance to skate with club's top forwards in hopes of a jump start; offensive output up significantly since; watch for him rest of way.
Toronto: Alexei Ponikarovsky - B+. Finally came to life after four years of barely mediocre play, mostly with St. John's on the AHL farm; finally utilizing speed and size (6'3", 225) as left winger who can clean up in front of net, set up a linemate or lay out an opponent.
Wade Belak - B-. Tough guy shows versatility skating at wing on checking line or lining up on defense; torn abdominal muscle halted his season for longest while at only 30 games played; Leafs deem him quite valuable.
Matt Stajan - B. Unknown rookie given little chance to make a deep squad survived training camp to land full-time third line role; has played center (needs to improve faceoff draws) and wing (double-digit goal scorer).
Washington: Peter Bondra - B. Got off to rather slow start, then zoomed into his usual scoring pace; should reach 30-goal plateau still again, this time with less talent up front with departure of Jagr and others; still a Capital asset who might go in trade deadline salary purge.
Ukrainian transactions/injuries:
CAROLINA - Ryan Bayda, LW, assigned to Lowell (AHL).
CHICAGO - Anton Babchuk, D, recalled from Norfolk (AHL) and later returned.
COLORADO - Jordan Krestanovich, RW, recalled from Hershey (AHL); Andrei Nikolishin, C, sprained knee, mid-December; Krestanovich assigned to Hershey; Nikolishin strained abdominal muscle, day-to-day.
COLUMBUS - Zenith Komarniski, LW, acquired from Vancouver for Sean Pronger; Darryl Sydor, D, and fourth-round pick in 2004 traded to Tampa Bay for Alexander Svitov, C, and third-round pick in 2004; Joe Motzko, RW, recalled from Syracuse (AHL) and later returned.
DALLAS - Richard Matvichuk, D, swollen left knee, day-to-day.
FLORIDA - Steve Ludzik named assistant coach; Darcy Hordichuk, LW, broken foot, late December; Ivan Novoseltsev, RW, traded to Phoenix for future considerations.
NASHVILLE - Tony Hrkac, C, signed contract and assigned to Milwaukee (AHL).
NEW JERSEY - Rob Skrlac, RW, recalled from Albany (AHL) and later reassigned.
N.Y. ISLES - Dieter Kochan, GT, recalled from Bridgeport (AHL) and later returned.
OTTAWA - Curtis Leschyshyn, D, back spasms, day-to-day.
PHILADELPHIA - Todd Fedoruk, LW, broken orbital bone in left eye, surgery, indefinite; Fedoruk assigned to Philadelphia (AHL) and later recalled; traded Jeff Woywitka, D, and two draft picks to Edmonton for Mike Comrie, C.
PHOENIX - Ivan Novoseltsev, RW, concussion, day-to-day.
PITTSBURGH - Drake Berehowsky, D, broken finger, day-to-day; Berehowsky traded to Toronto for Ric Jackman, D.
SAN JOSE - Seamus Kotyk, GT, recalled from Cleveland (AHL) and later returned. Kotyk recalled and returned a second time.
TORONTO - Wade Belak, D/RW, torn abdominal muscle, indefinite; Belak, torn knee ligaments, mid-February.
UKRAINIAN UTTERINGS: Senators' owner Eugene Melnyk didn't panic over his team's mediocre start. He told President Roy Mlakar, GM John Muckler and Coach Jacques Martin in a meeting on November 30: "People had said the sky was falling and the sky is not falling. I didn't want them to feel that was happening here."...Those same Ottawa Senators are competing for the league's President's Trophy for the club with the most overall points. ... Nashville's Jordin Tootoo will finish his rookie season with the second most penalty minutes for a first-year player, behind only Patrick Cote's 242 in 1998-1999 ... Coyotes' center Chris Gratton (not a Uke) became the second-youngest NHLer to reach the 800-game mark. Brian Bellows (a Uke) was the youngest at 28, 141 days - 39 days quicker than Gratton. ... The No. 99 Edmonton Oilers jersey worn by Coyotes managing partner Wayne Gretzky at the Heritage Classic sold for $26,600 during an Internet auction on eBay...
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
| Keith Tkachuk | St. Louis | 59 | 26 | 32 | 58 | 73 |
| Peter Bondra | Wash-Ottawa | 60 | 23 | 17 | 40 | 24 |
| Ruslan Fedotenko | Tampa Bay | 60 | 13 | 18 | 31 | 24 |
| Steve Konowalchuk | Wash-Colorado | 66 | 15 | 16 | 31 | 64 |
| Dave Andreychuk | Tampa Bay | 65 | 14 | 15 | 29 | 34 |
| Alexei Zhitnik | Buffalo | 65 | 4 | 24 | 28 | 100 |
| Matt Stajan | Toronto | 63 | 12 | 12 | 24 | 20 |
| Drake Berehowsky | Pitt-Toronto | 53 | 5 | 18 | 23 | 65 |
| Alexei Ponikarovsky | Toronto | 58 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 38 |
| Darryl Sydor | Columbus-TB | 65 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 30 |
| Nikolai Zherdev | Columbus | 41 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 32 |
| Richard Matvichuk | Dallas | 59 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 28 |
| Vitaly Vishneyski | Anaheim | 59 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 43 |
| Brad Lukowich | Tampa Bay | 64 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 18 |
| Andrei Nikolishin | Colorado | 45 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 22 |
| Jordin Tootoo | Nashville | 58 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 125 |
| Ivan Novoseltsev | Flor-Phoenix | 19 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 |
| Curtis Leschyshyn | Ottawa | 49 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 12 |
| Todd Fedoruk | Philadelphia | 44 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 132 |
| Darcy Hordichuk | Florida | 46 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 126 |
| Ryan Bayda | Carolina | 31 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| Wade Belak | Toronto | 30 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 81 |
| Anton Babchuk | Chicago | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Rob Skrlac | New Jersey | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 22 |
| Zenith Komarniski | Columbus | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Motzko | Columbus | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joey Tetarenko | Carolina | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jordan Krestanovich | Colorado | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, March 21, 2004, No. 12, Vol. LXXII
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