UKRAINIAN PRO HOCKEY UPDATE (01/29/06)

UKRAINIAN PRO HOCKEY UPDATE

by Ihor Stelmach

A captain passes

Ukrainian Paul Shmyr, an early star in the fledgling World Hockey Association and an unsung leader, died after a battle with throat cancer at age 58. The Cudworth, Saskatchewan, native played parts of three seasons with Chicago in the late 1960s before leaving the NHL for the upstart rival WHA.

He went on to win top defenseman honors in 1976 and was voted a first-team all-star three times in stints with Cleveland, San Diego and Edmonton. Shmyr served as captain for six-WHA seasons, including 1978-1979 in Edmonton, when a youngster named Wayne Gretzky broke into pro hockey.

After the NHL absorbed four WHA teams, Shmyr went on to play three more seasons with Minnesota and Hartford before retiring at age 36 in 1982.

"He's street-wise in the game, a tough player and a great team man," former Minnesota GM Lou Nanne said after acquiring Shmyr in 1979.

"Paul was a terrific teammate and pound for pound, probably one of the toughest guys to play hockey," former teammate Al Hamilton told the Edmonton Sun. "He had a zest for life, which carried right through to his courageous bout with cancer over the last 10 years."

Shmyr demonstrated a most unusual demeanor after being swapped to lowly expansion California by the Blackhawks in 1971. The Golden Seals directed him to catch a plane and join his new team. But he ignored every communication attempt, not even bothering to return pages or calls.

He wanted his new car in his new locale, so ignoring all inquiries about his whereabouts, he made the three-day trip by land. The Seals' management speculated he had retired - or he was perhaps drowning his sorrows in Las Vegas. But Shmyr finally arrived in the sunshine state out west and became invaluable to the Seals' defense corps.

Predators carve new role for Tootoo in Milwaukee

At some point in his career, Jordin Tootoo (his mother is Ukrainian, his father is of Inuit heritage) won't be just a whirling, driving dynamo, sent onto the ice for the sole purpose of banging bodies and creating a spark for his teammates.

At least that's what the Nashville Predators believe and hope. Oh, they truly loved what Tootoo provided the fourth line in that role during his 2003-2004 rookie season. But they want him to take advantage of the new NHL rules by learning a new role with the American League's Milwaukee Admirals.

The numbers suggest Tootoo has been an above average student. In 18 AHL games, he has scored six goals and assisted on four others for a total of 10 points. And he has cut down on his customary penalty box time with a scant 48 minutes.

Yet statistics don't tell the entire developmental story, according to Milwaukee Admirals coach Claude Noel.

"I think he has come along very well," Noel told Kevin Oklobzija of The Hockey News' AHL West beat. "He plays so hard and plays with a lot of courage. He has a great attitude and I like his progress. He's begun to get rewarded on the scoresheet, he's made good plays."

Tootoo is learning a 5-foot-9 player can't spend his 12 to 15 minutes plowing into opponents who are 30 and 40 pounds heavier. He is channelling his speed and energy more into creative offensive forays, less into just banging away at opposing fourth-line intimidators.

"We're going to have to find the answer to that," Noel said. "If you're in a seven- to eight-minute role on the ice in the NHL, you can. But you're probably not going to be able to play that role as a 14-minute player in the NHL.

"And that's the role we want him to learn. We want him to go from that seven- to eight-minute player who's an energy guy to a third line or second line right winger."

At a glance: Tootoo's career

Right wing. Shoots right. 5'9", 194 lbs. Born, Churchill, Manitoba, February 2, 1983. Nashville's sixth choice, 98th overall, in 2001 Entry Draft.

1997-1998 Spruce Grove - AMBHL
1998-1999 OCN Blizzard - MJHL
1999-2000 Brandon - WHL
2000-2001 Brandon - WHL
2001-2002 Brandon - WHL
2002-2003 Brandon - WHL
2003-2004 NASHVILLE - NHL
2004-2005 Milwaukee - AHL

WHL East First All-Star Team (2003).

Devils give Matvichuk four-year deal

Back in the summer of 2004, the strong possibility of a lockout and a rising payroll which had GM Lou Lamoriello promising eventual cuts did not stop the Devils from the rare pursuit of a top free agent.

Lamoriello, who vowed he wouldn't give players from outside the organization long-term contracts like those he gave John Madden and Jay Pandolfo "and will not even consider it," changed his mind and signed free agent defenseman Richard Matvichuk to a four-year, $8.4 million contract.

Matvichuk, then 31 years old, accepted less money than the $2.2 million he earned with Dallas in 2003-2004 for the security of a multi-year deal. His four-year contract calls for $1.8 million per season with $300,000 in bonus clauses.

"There were other teams, probably five or six offers," Matvichuk told Rich Chere of the Newark Star-Ledger. In 75 games his final season in Dallas, Matvichuk tallied 20 assists and 21 points. "With the term of the deal and New Jersey's commitment to winning, I felt it was the right place. I'm very happy with the deal," the Ukrainian told Chere.

"I have a four-year deal in place," Matvichuk said. "Look around the league ... guys are signing for one year, two years. There is a lot of uncertainty."

Lukowich assumes leadership role

It didn't take long for defenseman Brad Lukowich to emerge as one of the new outspoken leaders of this year's New York Islanders.

Imported to the club because he won Stanley Cup rings with Dallas and Tampa Bay, Lukowich lambasted his new teammates following an early-season loss to Philadelphia. He aptly said the Flyers "kicked the living snot out of us," in a quote given to Peter Botte of the New York Daily News. Lukowich went on to call out the team's stars to pick up their play and work ethic.

Lukowich and holdover right winger Mark Parrish were named alternate captains during training camp. Alexei Yashin was named captain when Michael Peca was traded to Edmonton.

Tkachuk's absence devastates Blues' offense

The St. Louis Blues could definitely not afford to lose power forward Keith Tkachuk, but that's just too bad.

Tkachuk, first thought to have only sore ribs after being buttended by his own stick, ended up with three non-displaced ribs and was kept out until mid-December. He had played in just two of the Blues' first 20 games.

With the Blues' offense missing its most dangerous weapon, coach Mike Kitchen had to simplify his plan of attack - especially with the abundance of youngsters in his line-up. The Blues' losing streak topped out at 11 games with their early November win over the Blue Jackets. The losing streak was one of the worst in team history.

"It affects your power play, it affects your 5-on-5 play," Kitchen said to beat writer Tom Timmerman of the St. Louis Post Dispatch. "We have to play smarter and eliminate mistakes."

Of course it wouldn't hurt to have Keith Tkachuk back healthy, standing his ground in front of the opponent's crease, banging in rebounds for goals, spearheading the Blues' offensive attack.

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