All-Star Notebook
Most agree: Hasek, Lindros best in the NHL
Posted: Sunday January 24, 1999 07:49 PM
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Great praise: Wayne Gretzky called Dominik Hasek (right) "the best player in the world" today AP |
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Who is the best player in the NHL today?
Most often the answer this weekend was Buffalo goaltender
Dominik Hasek or Philadelphia center Eric Lindros.
"I would say without question the last two years, that Dominik
Hasek has proven to be the best player in the world," New York
center Wayne Gretzky said. "Not only what he did for the Buffalo
Sabres and for the NHL, but for what he did for his country in the
Olympic Games."
Hasek backstopped the Czech Republic to the gold medal in the
1998 Winter Olympics.
Others, including former Boston great Bobby Orr lean toward
Lindros.
"I've never seen a big guy do the things he does," Orr said.
"He's a brute force."
Crisp still interested
Former Tampa Bay coach Terry Crisp, who has expressed a strong desire to return as an NHL coach or team official, would love the opportunity to rejoin the Lightning someday.
"Down the road somewhere, who knows when, if the structure was
revamped and they were looking for some hockey people, I'd love to
come back in some capacity," said Crisp, who took part in the
Heroes of Hockey activities.
Crisp had a 142-204-45 record over five-plus seasons before his
dismissal on Nov. 12, 1997. The first coach in Tampa Bay history is
now a television analyst for the Nashville Predators.
Greatness predicted for Lecavalier
When asked about Tampa Bay Lightning rookie
center Vincent Lecavalier, Wayne Gretzky predicted greatness for
the first pick overall in the 1998 draft.
"It's nice to see a young guy who has a love for the game," he
said. "When you have that kind of attitude, it's going to do you a
lot of good in the end. I think he is going to turn out to be a
great player."
Present for Great One
Wayne Gretzky, a late addition to the
North American starting lineup, received an early birthday greeting
from actor Alan Thicke.
The message, taped above Gretzky's locker, read: "By Tuesday,
(Gretzky's 38th birthday), you'll be old enough for the celebrity
team. Happy B-day. Alan T."
Wickenheiser memorialized
Both teams wore "Wick 14" stickers
on their helmets, honoring former NHL player Doug Wickenheiser who
recently died of cancer.
NHL approves Isles' plan
The NHL has decided that if Howard
Milstein is successful in his bid to purchase the NFL's Washington
Redskins, he has approval to transfer his shares in the New York
Islanders to his brother, Edward.
The decision was made during a Board of Governors on Saturday.
The Milstein brothers own 45 percent of the Islanders, with Steven
Gluckstern also owning 45 percent. The group paid $195 million for
the team last February.
"The league's action ensures that we can continue to focus on
the strategic need to rebuild the team and to rebuild the arena in
which they play," Edward Milstein said in a statement Sunday.
Howard Milstein has an $800 million deal to buy the Redskins
from the estate of Jack Kent Cooke, a deal that awaits NFL
approval. NFL rules prohibit cross-ownership, although there have
been exceptions. Edward Milstein would own a small share of the
Redskins if the football deal is approved.
"While we are delighted with the league's decision, this action
does not alter the need for a new arena or the fact that such a
plan must be put into place quickly," Gluckstern said. "It is
only through a new building that the economics of rebuilding the
Islanders can be assured long term."
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