Posted: Fri May 1, 1998

Sports Illustrated hockey writer Kostya Kennedy will answer your NHL questions through the Stanley Cup Finals. Click here to send a question.

Today's playoff face: The Coyotes' rough-and-tumble winger Rick Tocchet was standing in front of his stall in the visitors locker room at Joe Louis Arena shortly after Phoenix had lost 3-1 to the Red Wings to fall behind 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Tocchet, who's been having a splendid series, had a fresh cut under his right eye and another new gash above his lip. He was sucking hard for air through a swollen nose while he explained why the Wings were so dominant towards the end of the game: "They can smell our blood."

Now on to your questions, including a look at all that needless bloodshed out West:

What is the deal in the Dallas-San Jose series? Owen Nolan took a run at Ed Belfour, and then in Game 3 Belfour kicked and used his blocker in a fight. Bryan Marchment received death threats, Mike Modano got hit in the back of the head and bulldogged to the ground. What's up? Where did all the respect for other players go? I only hope that no major brawls break out during the handshake at the end of the series.
—David Floyd, Midland, Texas

I'm as disgusted as you are. Sometimes it's hard to believe these are grown men. Of course, there's going to be rough play in the NHL, but this kind of dirty play should bother anyone outside of the Slap Shot cast. These shenanigans started because the Sharks realized that their best chance to win was to try and intimidate the Stars. Then the Stars had to show they couldn't be intimidated. And so, the plate-smashing tea party began.

One thing to consider: As hockey has expanded to warm-weather sites—both San Jose and Dallas got their franchises in the past seven years—the game has been increasingly marketed as a blood-first enterprise. In relatively new hockey cities fans have been lured and satiated by a steady diet of fisticuffs, and hockey players are presented as somewhat classier modern-day warriors. We may be seeing the effect of that here, combined with an eight-seed trying to do something to disrupt a far more talented team.

Do you think the Blackhawks made the right decision by firing coach Craig Hartsburg? —Natasha Vidiuk, St. John, Alberta

Yes. The team didn't respond to him at the start of the season (opening with seven consecutive losses and dropping 10 of its first 12), and when it had a chance to solidify a playoff berth it played distractedly down the stretch. Hartsburg even acknowledged after the season that he might have to go. Nothing against him personally, but the team just didn't take to him. The Hawks should move quickly in naming a replacement so that the new coach can have input into what players Chicago goes after in the offseason.

Why is Eric Lindros regarded so highly by most people? It seems most people overlook his dirty play (which announcers seem to ignore) and selfishness. He's a creature of intense media hype, without having consistently proven that he can carry his team, which is something a superstar is supposed to do.
—Joseph Caso, Buffalo

If you stand in a practice rink and watch Lindros wrist a shot from one end of the ice and hear it smash against the glass at the far end, you get an idea of what raw talent he has. His dirty play is part of what makes him the most intimidating player in the league—and therein lies much of the what fascinates the media and other observers. There's no way to watch Lindros play on an extended basis and not recognize his talent or how fearsome he can be.

That said, I agree that he's overrated. He's not a real superstar yet in my book. He's very controlling—Wayne Cashman said he was the hardest player he's ever had to coach—and at this stage he does little to unify his team, as good leaders do. I'd categorize Lindros as a very, very good player and a threat to take over any game, but not a superstar.

After a breathtaking series of plays during the Edmonton series, I think it's safe to create a new paradigm of excellence in sports. Wouldn't you agree that Michael Jordan is the Peter Forsberg of basketball?
—Jonathan Bender, Denver

I'd almost agree, save one thing: Jordan has five of them; Forsberg only one. You know what I'm talking about.

In a year with limited scoring, why choose a forward for the Hart Trophy? The winner was a goalie last year, maybe it's time for a defensive defenseman. Why not Chris Pronger of the Blues or Rob Blake of the Kings?
—Shane Walters, Kingston, Ontario

It's a good point. And to indulge this theory, I come back to Blake, simply because I think he's by far the best player on his team. He would be a very deserving finalist for the award. Pronger—a clear Norris candidate—is exceptional, though his gaudy, league-leading plus-minus number was helped by the Blues' keep-the-shots-down system.

But I still think the Penguins' Jaromir Jagr deserves the award, partly because it was such a defensive year and he still went over the 100-point mark (the only player to do so). Jagr continues to produce, and his presence—his phenomenal threat—is what enables the Penguins to play their defensive style and know they'll still get enough goals to win. He affects every game even before he comes on the ice.

I've heard a lot of talk about hockey reforms coming down the line—like eliminating the two-line-pass rule, more room behind the net, etc. Are any of these going to happen for the 1999 season?
—Kevin Rogers, Chicago

The NHL experimented with a bunch of these reforms (check out SI's Inside the NHL, Jan. 26, 1998) in the AHL this season though, curiously, not the elimination of the two-line pass. All of the experiments they did—not allowing the goalie to play the puck behind the net, bringing the net out, allowing a two-minute power play to continue even if a goal is scored, and a few others—were only used for a couple of games and the results were therefore inconclusive. Nevertheless, general managers will get reports from the officials, players and coaches who were involved in those AHL games and will weigh and discuss those reports during their next meeting (the week of the Stanley Cup Finals). There's a good chance they'll decide to rein in the goalkeepers next season, but they're not likely to move the net away from the boards, because the league can't afford to expand its rinks to keep the neutral zone (which is already too clogged) from shrinking.

I'd love to see the NHL experiment with the elimination of the two-line pass in next year's preseason, but that doesn't seem to have much support among the GMs. I think permitting two-line passes—as rules allow in collegiate play—could open the ice and counteract all the neutral-zone trapping; it's at least worth a shot.

Ultimately, in '99 there may be a change or two but nothing major.

Send a question to Kostya Kennedy, and check back Friday to read more of his responses.

Previous NHL Playoff Mailbags
April 16: Setting the stage for the scramble
April 21: Reasons to get upset
April 24: No Sabres insurance needed
April 27: Let's not go to the videotape