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Shadow Of The Kings Nov 22, 2000 Eric Gazin
Being a hockey fan in the A.G. era (After Gretzky) in Los Angeles is not an easy thing. Heck, I was a fan in the B.G. era, with memories of the great L.A. Triple Crown line of Dionne-Simmer-Taylor in the late 70s/early 80s. What is most difficult is talking hockey around town. At work, the guys are self-proclaimed "sports nuts", yet like to get the conversation back to who will sign A-Rod. There hasn't been a collective uneasiness with the possibility of losing the heart and soul of the team, Rob Blake, like there was when Piazza was about to get the boot off the Dodgers. Ziggy "Who?" I bet not one in 20 people in L.A. even know who Ziggy Palfy is, a year after coming to the Kings and with Ziggy leading the NHL in scoring.
Top Teams Are Tough - Fighting Equaling Winning Nov 20, 2000 David M Singer
The argument has been going for years. Does fighting belong in hockey? As NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has been trying to phase it out of hockey over the course of his tenure many wonder if that is the right thing to do. There have been fewer fights. There have also been more publicized stick infractions. While it is hard to correlate the two, it is not hard to see other statistics in the league. Out of the top ten teams in the fighting majors category, seven have winning records. Four of those seven happen to be the best four teams in the league.
Quick Hatrick Oct 25, 2000 Alexis Nicgorski
So, the Flyers finally won after a seven game winless streak. The Coytotes have shown that they don't need Greatness to win, but I don't think they'd turn down any help either. Does anybody else find it curious that the Western Pacific conference has the best overall records in hockey? Yet they play - in the desert.
Will More Toughness Help the Sabres? Oct 24, 2000 Barrett Schenk
Ahh, the European hockey players. Who can overlook them? If it's not their goal scoring finesse, it's the carelessness they show with their sticks and elbows. And what's worse, some of the bigger, stronger, "born-for-hockey" North American players are starting to take part in this. Everyone has heard the arguments. Why is fighting decreasing when viciously dangerous acts such as blatant high-sticks, two-handers and checking from behind are on the rise? I find it refreshing when I see a team fielding a scrapper or two at the sacrifice of 3rd or 4th round European draft pick. It keeps the roots of hockey embedded in the ice.
Hockey Fights 3 Play Oct 17, 2000 Alexis Nicgorski
Hello Boys and girls. Well, the season is now in full swing and things are starting to get settled down in the League. Patterns are starting to emerge and with each passing game we are starting to see who may continue to shine, who the sleeper teams are, and answer the many questions that we had from the summer.
A New Season - New Possibilities Oct 2, 2000 Hans Petter Johnsen
The 2000-2001 season is kicking off in two days now and what can we expect to see? Last year was a season to remember but also a season to forget. Marty McSorley, Kevin Stevens and Ed Belfour brought shame to the NHL with their new perspective of "Attempt to Injure". While McSorley almost ended two careers in one swing, Stevens and Belfour showed very bad sportsmanship off the ice. Stevens was given a chance by the Flyers to make amends this summer after the Rangers gave up on him, while the Stars without any remarkable form of punishment took Belfour back. Once again, the NHL shows their support of that behavior by giving these players another chance.
Boston's Legacy Of Brutality Sep 28, 2000 Stephen Cook
The eyes of the hockey community and the entire sporting world are focused on the proceedings that are unfolding in a provincial courtroom located in Vancouver, British Columbia. This is the venue where the precedent setting assault trial for former Boston Bruins defenseman Marty McSorley is being held. McSorley is standing trial and has pleaded not guilty to assaulting Vancouver Canucks forward Donald Brashear. The charges were brought stemming from an incident that took place in a game last February where McSorley struck Brashear across the head with his stick. The blow rendered the Canucks enforcer unconscious, causing him to drop prone to the ice where he struck his head a second time. This act of viciousness sickened hockey fans from coast to coast, and sparked lively debate across the country as to the role if any the court system should play in adjudicating such matters.
4 On 4, Eh? Let's Think About This Sep 27, 2000 Barclay Poole
As we all know, the past NHL season brought us a new 4 on 4 overtime format, which for the most part received positive reviews for creating a more exciting overall game. Some have been so impressed with the overtime format they have suggested that the 4 on 4 be expanded to cover the entire game. The thinking - take 2 bodies off the ice, create more room and let the Jagrs and Kariyas of the league impress.
Time To Toughen Up Sep 25, 2000 John Piry
Most General Managers would tell you today that the game is rapidly shifting more and more towards speed. I will not argue this point, however for as long as I can remember, it has been critical that every team carry a legitimate heavyweight on their respective clubs and I am confident that this will be a requirement for quite some time.
Do the Blues Have What It Takes? Sep 21, 2000 James Bagos
The burning off-season question for the St. Louis Blues organization and their fans is "Does this team have what it takes to win the Stanley Cup?” Unfortunately that question won't be answered until team captain Chris Pronger actually hoists the Cup above his head. The Blues can go and win another Presidents trophy but until they get their hands on the trophy that has all the names and teams on it then I don't think anybody in St. Louis will be satisfied.
Is Brash Worth the Cash? Sep 17, 2000 Stephen Cook
For fight fans, one of the more interesting contractual disputes to take place in the off-season has been between the Vancouver Canucks and their resident tough guy Donald Brashear. Brashear has indicated to Canucks GM Brian Burke that he will sign for no less than $1.5 million per year. This bold demand on Donald's behalf has been met coldly by most hockey fans. The general consensus surrounding Brashear is a player who scores 11 goals and fights 10 times per season is not worthy of such a lucrative deal.
Is the NHL Doing the Right Thing? Sep 3, 2000 James Bagos
A wise man once said "The seed cannot sprout upwards without simultaneously sending roots into the ground." Picture the NHL as the seed. Then picture Canada as the ground. I believe that it is necessary for the NHL to support the country that revolutionized the game. By supporting them I mean actually giving them money so that they can be on equal ground with US franchises. How can the NHL do this when they're struggling to be successful and profitable already? That's the question you're probably asking yourself am I right? Well it doesn't matter anyway if I'm right or not because I'm going to explain to you how to make this plan that I have work.
Sather's First Mistake As New GM Aug 21, 2000 John Piry
The New York Rangers made a big mistake when they traded away their long time resident enforcer Darren Langdon to the Carolina Hurricanes. The former Ranger and native of Newfoundland had spent his entire career up to date in New York offering to the Blue Shirts a wealth of toughness, leadership, and team play. Langer had always been greatly admired by his teammates who appreciated his protection and work ethic that he shared with them every game.
Ya Wanna Go? Aug 18, 2000 Barclay Poole
Hockey fans have seen their fair share of "tough guys", or fighters if you will, come through the league. From legends such as Tiger Williams and Dave Schultz, to more recent examples of Tony Twist and Bob Probert, hockey fans have consistently had the pleasure of watching many skirmishes throughout the years. With current enforcers such as Tie Domi, Sandy McCarthy and Georges Laraque prowling the rinks, it seems the tradition will continue. But for how long?
Can the NHL Change With the Times? Aug 13, 2000 James Bagos
One must have the wisdom to abandon the trends of a time that has passed and pick out the ones of the future. The "old-time" fans of this great game that we play on ice seem unwilling to accept this. I believe that a couple of changes will endear themselves to millions of new fans across the world and the US. As it is right now the hockey games are in a word... boring. Trap, clutch, grab and then dump the puck in the offensive zone. It's a cycle that has grown painstakingly common in the NHL. The NHL front office is too often blind to the fact that this is growing more and more popular among NHL coaches who just simply put want to win. At all costs. Who cares if you have 75 percent of the crowd sleeping during games? Well, I do.

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