Posted: Fri May 15, 1998

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

How valiant are those Dallas Stars? Seems like every time they go into a scrum they come away with the puck. There's something very warrior-like about this team—aged, injured, yet persevering. And a nod to Joe Nieuwendyk, whose surgically repaired knees are getting better for next season but who is chomping his own nails wishing he could be in the trenches with his mates.

Save for a couple of dissenters—one below, the rest I'll try to address in our next mailbag—there were no real objections to my list of the top five skill players. I suppose we're all in agreement then. O.K., on to today's sendings:

How can you justify calling Sergei Fedorov one of the best players in the league? I'm a Detroit fan but, geez, he had two good years and then nothing. The Wings would be worse off if they lost a Nicklas Lidstrom or Steve Yzerman.
—Jeff H., Windsor, Ontario

Fedorov definitely belongs among hockey's elite.    (Peter Read Miller)

I completely disagree. Fedorov has had two great years—and several good ones. Even last year when he had just 63 points, he was excellent on defense. Fedorov does take games off during the regular season but come playoff time you invariably see why he's one of the best; last year he led the Wings and averaged a point per game during their Cup run.

I was amazed when I went to Fedorov's first game back after the contract settlement. He played more minutes than any other forward and controlled much of the game defensively, but people still said he didn't play well because he didn't score. Come on. Just watch him.

You're right that losing Lidstrom would be very difficult—mainly because Detroit's defense isn't as deep as its forwards. And losing the captain, Yzerman, might have a huge ripple effect. But Fedorov is the most skilled player on this team. He's also the most creative offensive force left in the playoffs.

After watching the first three St. Louis/Detroit games, I was surprised that Scotty Bowman is not taking full advantage of a potential Russian Five (the Second Incarnation). They are rarely together on the ice. Most of the time it's Sergei Fedorov-Slava Kozlov-Tomas Holmstrom with Slava Fetisov and Dmitri Mironov. Why doesn't he put Igor Larionov out instead of Holmstrom? Just imagine how much more explosive and unpredictably dangerous the Wings could be with Larionov quarterbacking the new Russian Five.
—Eugene Berkovich, Boca Raton, Fla.

How can you say that after watching the three games in St. Louis? We must be watching different games. Fedorov-Kozlov-Holmstrom is by far the best line in this series, and the best line in the playoffs overall. Holmstrom, with good size and strength and also very capable hands, is a stick-his-nose-in-front-of-the-net hard worker who complements Fedorov and Kozlov perfectly. Scotty Bowman has found a great mix. And having Larionov on another line is part of what makes the Wings' depth so difficult to match.

How much does the improved play of Matthew Barnaby in the playoffs help the Sabres? If Buffalo makes it to the Finals, are we looking at our Conn Smythe winner?
—Danielle Potts, Jamestown, N.Y.

Of course, Barnaby's play is immensely important, and if he keeps popping in hat tricks ...

Well, it's invaluable to have such a physical player also scoring. But there's planty more hockey to play before we can even consider who mght win the Conn Smythe (O.K., so I'm considering Fedorov already, and Capitals goalie Olaf Kolzig). But it would be something to have a Sabre other than Dominik Hasek win it. You'd have to consider forward Michael Peca, too, at this point; the Sabres were 7-0 in the playoffs with him in the lineup after the sweep of the Canadiens. But all of this talk is premature. Let's discuss it further come the Finals.

I heard that the Ottawa Senators needed the revenues generated by an extended playoff run to support their roster next season. Specifically, they need more money if they hope to keep center Alexei Yashin on the squad. Can they afford him?
—James Milling, Sakaide, Japan

Yashin's in Year 3 of a five-year, $13 million deal and there's no indication that he's going anywhere. No one knows exactly what the books say, but Ottawa ownership is still crying financial disability over all the money it sunk into building the Corel Centre a few years ago. It was surprising that the Sens signed Igor Kravchuk to a multiyear deal on May 10; that may well have been a result of Ottawa's new playoff revenue. Indeed, the five playoff home games (thus far) have been a tremendous boon and partly why I think this roster will stay largely intact over the next few years. Ottawa just doesn't have the money to add any big names, though. The Sanators would love one of the free agent goalies (Curtis Joseph, Mike Richter, John Vanbiesbrouck) but can't afford any of them.

Inquiring minds in Winnipeg want to know: What do you do with Keith Tkachuk? Should the Coyotes trade the whiner or should they let him sit out next season when he demands more money (again) for nothing? And, hindsight being 20/20, would you have kept Teemu Selanne or Tkachuk?
—Wayne Buss, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Yeah, this guy is a headache, eh? But he's also a marvelous player. If he does hold out, you have to try to negotiate or else make sure you get exceptional value in return.

Of course trading Selanne was a big mistake. Consider that if Phoenix tried to get Selanne back for Tkachuk and another player, the Mighty Ducks wouldn't even consider it. Selanne, besides being a phenomenal talent, is one of the game's best citizens.

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
May 1: Them's fightin' words
May 5: Calling Mr. Crawford
May 8: Lemaire couldn't stand the heat
May 12: The best of the best