UKRAINIAN PRO HOCKEY UPDATE (CONCLUSION) (11/26/06)

UKRAINIAN PRO HOCKEY UPDATE

by Ihor Stelmach

CONCLUSION

Continuing our preview of the 2006-2007 hockey season, here's a look at the NHL's Western Conference.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Anaheim Ducks

Key ingredients: D Chris Pronger, D Scott Niedermayer, C Andy McDonald. Recipe for success: Shorter nickname (not Mighty in name), new logo/colors and another All-Star defenseman in Chris

Pronger will be identifiable for all of hockey world. Pronger-Niedermayer form top 1-2 blueline duo in league. Solid goaltending and offensive depth mean only injuries or unknown factors can derail these Ducks from Stanley Cup finals. Ukrainian flavor: TODD FEDORUK patrols the left side on any of the four forward lines, providing muscle and physical presence. Minor leaguer ZENON KONOPKA signed lucrative deal in Europe.

2. San Jose Sharks

Key ingredients: C Joe Thornton, RW Jonathan Cheechoo, GT Vesa Toskala. Recipe for success: Continue the biggest turnaround of any team last season after acquiring eventual MVP Joe Thornton from Boston. Mark Bell brought in to join Thornton and Cheechoo on top line. Curtis Brown and Mike Grier arrive to take face-offs and kill penalties. Great depth on defense. Evgeni Nabokov and Vesa Toskala two top-flight netminders. Ukrainian flavor: DAVID BARARUK invited to training camp, but released.

3. Calgary Flames

Key ingredients: RW Jarame Iginla, LW Alex Tanguay, GT Mikka Kiprusoff. Recipe for success: Former Avalanche sniper Tanguay must add scoring punch to club's top line. He should make captain Iginla an even better performer. Watch new coach Jim Playfair's more factful management style relieve the tension in the dressing room. However, GM Darryl Sutter's (ex-coach) defense-first strategy will remain in place. Ukrainian flavor: 2005 top draft pick MATT PELECH projected in NHL by 2008-2009 campaign.

4. Detroit Red Wings

Key ingredients: GT Dominik Hasek, C Pavel Datsyuk, LW Henrik Zetterberg, D Nicolas Lidstrom. Recipe for success: Torch passed to younger players after captain Steve Yzerman retired after 20 years in Detroit and Brendan Shanahan left as free agent. Torch must remain lit while held by very potent 1-2 forward punch of Datsyuk and Zetterberg. Newcomer Jiri Hudler was third in AHL scoring last season. Wings will rely on experience to keep opponents from scoring. Goalie Hasek and old-timers Chris Chelios, Nicklas Lidstrom and Mathieu Schneider must produce. Ukrainian flavor: None

5. Nashville Predators

Key ingredients: GT Tomas Vokoun, LW Paul Kariya, C Jason Arnott. Recipe for success: Any success in Nashville is predicated on the health of goalie Tomas Vokoun. New arrival Jason Arnott gives team a bonafide No. 1 center. If club overcomes some uncertainty on blue line, Vokoun plus plentiful goal scorers could usher in a new era in Nashville. Ukrainian flavor: Double trouble: left wings DARCY HORDICHUK can skate and intimidate, while right wing JORDIN TOOTOO will score more and fight less.

6. Dallas Stars

Key ingredients: GT Marty Turco, C Mike Modano, D Sergei Zubov. Recipe for success: Marty Turco must learn to win more in the playoffs (8-14 record). His 137-62-26 record in regular season games got him a four-year, $22.8 million deal, but patience with him is wearing thin. Team brought in Eric Lindros, Patrick Stefan and Matthew Barnaby, all wily veterans. Come to think of it, this is an aging squad which must win soon. Ukrainian flavor: DARRYL SYDOR a most welcome returnee to a strong defense corps. Speaking of which, wait until No. 1 pick IVAN VISHNEVSKY graduates from the Quebec Junior League.

7. Edmonton Oilers

Key ingredients: GT Dwayne Roloson, RW Joffrey Lupul, C Shawn Horcroft. Recipe for success: Must plug the holes on the blue line after trade of Pronger and loss of point men Jaroslav Spacek and Dick Tarnstrom. Joffrey Lupul, over from Anaheim in Pronger deal, must at least duplicate 28 goals from last year. Of course, goaler Dwayne Roloson must prove his masterly post-season performance was not an anomaly. Ukrainian flavor: Potentially awesome! ALEXEI MIKHNOV over from Russia to finally try the NHL; KYLE BRODZIAK was part-time Oiler last year; DEVAN DUBNYK is Oiler goalie of future.

8. Minnesota Wild

Key ingredients: GT Manny Fernandez, RW Marian Gaborik, C Pavolo Demitra. Recipe for success: Implementation of a new team strategy stressing more offense, allowing newcomer Demitra, Mark Parrish and Kim Johnsson some freedom to wheel and deal. Unheralded superstar Marian Gaborik could be even more dangerous playing with Demitra if he can stay healthy. Fernandez finally has the nets to himself. Ukrainian flavor: Two Ukes toiling in Houston (AHL) this season: JOEY TETARENKO and PETER RATCHUK, back from a stint in Europe

9. Los Angeles Kings

Key ingredients: GT Dan Cloutier, D Rob Blake, C Craig Conroy. Recipe for success: Change the pattern of starting the season strong before falling out of playoff contention required wholesale changes. Enter new GM Dean Lombardi, new coach Marc Crawford, new goalie Dan Cloutier and returning star defenseman Rob Blake. Without any superstars on offense, the onus will be on limiting the opposition's chances. Ukrainian flavor: Just before the start of the season, the Kings traded for defender OLEG TVERDOVSKY, victim of a numbers game in Carolina.

10. Phoenix Coyotes

Key ingredients: D Ed Jovanoski, LW Ladislav Nagy, GT Curtis Joseph. Recipe for success: No distractions for second-year coach WAYNE GRETZKY, unlike his rookie coaching season. Last year was sudden retirement of Brett Hull, gambling scandal involving former assistant Rick Tocchet and Gretzky's wife and the death of his mother and grandmother. Signing of All-Star Ed Jovanoski and trade for Boston's Nick Boynton help blue line. Ukrainian flavor: Prospect DANIEL WINNIK, C, was a scorer in college. He starts down on the farm.

11. Vancouver Canucks

Key ingredients: GT Roberto Luongo, LW Markus Naslund, C Brendan Morrison, D Mattias Ohlun. Recipe for success: Finally they've got their franchise netminder in the big off-season deal with Florida. Roberto Luongo had 35 career best wins for lowly Florida last year - he's a huge difference-maker. Name tags were necessary in camp as club invited 14 new players, hired a new coaching staff and changed the team's defensive philosophy incorporating forwards into the scheme. The theme in Vancouver: a fresh start. Ukrainian flavor: Defenseman SHAWN HESHKA participated in Canucks' training camp.

12. Columbus Blue Jackets

Key ingredients: GT Pascal Leclaire, LW Rick Nash, C Sergei Fedorov. Recipe for success: Should continue to score plenty of goals if healthy, but keeping the puck out of the net could be a problem. Sergei Fedorov out weeks after hurting his shoulder. Ukrainian NIKOLAI ZHERDEV signed to a new contract a week before start of season. ZHERDEV, along with David Vyborny and Rick Nash are the big scorers. Gilbert Brule a promising rookie. Ukrainian flavor: Blue Jackets had to re-sign ZHERDEV or risk having him return to Russian ranks. JOE MOTZKO begins play in Syracuse (AHL).

13. Colorado Avalanche

Key ingredients: GT Jose Theodore, C Joe Sakic, RW Milan Hejduk. Recipe for success: League's fourth-best offense (283 goals) will decease in production with loss of Alex Tanguay and Rob Blake (combined 43 goals). Avalanche did uncover potential superstar in RW Marek Svatos (32 goals in 61 games as rookie). This year's version could be Wojtek Wolski. New acquisitions Tyler Arnason (C) and Jordan Leopold (D) must step up and contribute. Ukrainian flavor: Organization totally crushed when STEVE KONOWALCHUK retired a week before the puck dropped. Medical experts cautioned continued play might risk permanent heart damage. D JOHNNY BOYCHUK should see some time as a call-up this season, while youngster VICTOR ORESKOVICH is a couple years away from the show.

14. Chicago Blackhawks

Key ingredients: GT Nikolai Khabibulin, C Michael Handzus, LW Martin Havlat, D Adrian Aucoin. Recipe for success: Not enough ingredients for success in the Windy City. Club adept at developing young defensemen last year (Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith) and, hopefully, this year (Cam Barker). Scoring will have to come from new additions Handzus, Havlat and Bryan Smolinski. Pricey goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin bombed in his first season (3.35 GAA and lowly .886 PCT). Ukrainian flavor: None

15. St. Louis Blues

Key ingredients: LW KEITH TKACHUK, C Doug Weight, GT Manny Legace. Recipe for success: Nowhere to go but up for the team which finished last in the entire NHL in 2005-2006, ending a run of 25 consecutive playoff appearances. Doug weight and Bill Guerin hope to rejuvenate personal and team fortunes. Long-time broadcaster John Davidson hired to be team president by new ownership. Will be another long year in St. Louis. Ukrainian flavor: KEITH TKACHUK bounced back with strong second half last year (15-21-36 in 41 games), while rookie LEE STEMPNIAK (14-1327 in 57 games) had a nice NHL debut. Defenseman JEFF WOYWITKA somewhat of an enigma, once again starting out in AHL in Peoria.

UKRAINIAN UTTERINGS: Just a sample of the inside stuff coming this hockey season ... Wayne Gretzky agreed to a five-year deal in exchange for an increase in his minority ownership stake stock option, eh??? The Blues picked up the option of left-winger Keith Tkachuk. He will make $3.8 million next season, but will count $5.7 million against the cap. Tkachuk would like to sign an extension, but the two sides can't discuss a long-term deal until after January 1 ... Former Pens coach and ex-Hawk Eddie Olczyk was hired to be Chicago's new TV analyst...

PART I

CONCLUSION

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