Posted: Tue June 2, 1998

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

O.K., O.K., so it's been a long season. The weather's fine and you're probably a lot more concerned with how clean your Weber grill is than how good the ice is in Dallas. Well, try to hang in there, hockey fans. There's one more series and it's for the big chalice. How do you all feel—do you like this long, Olympics-interrupted season with all those 2-1 regular-season games and then two months of playoffs? Or should we petition the NHL for a shorter, sweeter product?

On to your questions.

I know that the Sabres' surprise run will probably come up short this year, but what is your feeling about the future of this team? With realignment coming next season (the Penguins leave the Northeast and Toronto moves in), can Buffalo contend for the Cup, or has this been just one marvelous trip?
—Joey Pistone, Seattle

Defensive whiz Michael Peca leads a young forward corps that should keep the Sabres contending for the next several years.    (AP/Bill Sikes)

I'm slightly taken aback that we've gotten so many letters from Sabres fans who have given up the quest because the team is behind 3-1. Yes, it's going to be really tough, and the Caps look strong, but if you're a Sabres fan, now is not the time to jump ship. As for the coming years, I think Buffalo can certainly contend. The Sabres have Dominik Hasek, of course, which automatically makes them a threat. They've also got a first-rate captain in Michael Peca and other good young players like Vaclav Varada and Brian Holzinger.

This team would be really tough if it could land a sniper. Buffalo doesn't have a consistent scoring threat (my apologies to the solid but less-than-dynamic Donald Audette). When the Sabres are winning, everybody contributes—which is the sign of a good team. But if they could land a 35- to 40-goal scorer (free agent Doug Gilmour?) to give them the kind of threat they had when Pat LaFontaine was there, I think they could move into the league's top level of teams. I also think Lindy Ruff is a fine coach and his team is never going to under-achieve.

What are Ken Dryden and those capitalist teachers doing to the Leafs? I grew up cursing Harold Ballard every morning, but it seems things only keep getting worse for true-blue fans. Now that the team is moving out of Maple Leaf Gardens, even that cultural sanctity is being raped. Is there any salvation for the Maple Leafs?
—Mosharraf Zaidi, Islamabad, Pakistan

I've been asked a lot of things in this column, but until now I haven't had to speculate on anyone's chances for salvation. I think I'll leave that to a Higher Authority. (I do think the Leafs will find inner peace if they win the Cup, though.) This was a fine letter, Mosharraf. Thanks.

I would like nothing better than to see the Caps fall flat on their face, if only because of Ron Wilson. Do you think he is as overrated as I do? He should be the person most held responsible for the U.S. OIympic team's pitiful performance (both on and off the ice) in Nagano. Some other newer coaches seem able to guide a team with a sense of maturity and leadership—Lindy Ruff, Larry Robinson and Joel Quenneville, for example.
—Joseph Caso, Nesconset, N.Y.

I'm not surprised that Wilson rubs some people the wrong way—just as he has garnered passionate supporters. He's very forthright and confident and certainly enjoys the spotlight. But there's no arguing with his success. He was a driving force in Anaheim last year, and led the U.S. to a highly unexpected World Cup victory. And look where he has the Caps. The coaches you mention are all first rate and generally have an even-keel, low-profile style (though Robinson will pop off from time to time). Wilson thrives on keeping his team loose and confident, by playing practical jokes and by absorbing much of the media heat. Thus, he gets a lot of credit when his team succeeds, and a lot of blame when it fails. And the players have less pressure on them.

I don't agree at all with your assertion that Wilson was primarily responsible for the U.S. failure in Nagano. He wound up with a bunch of players who were either disinterested or disrespectful of the Olympic challenge. Over the long haul it's a coach's responsibility to motivate his troops, but a coach can't be expected to rally a group of rich NHL all-stars in two weeks if the players aren't there to play. Wilson did what he could—hey, he even even got a buzz cut in an attempt to loosen up the team. It's not his fault the players were so lackluster.

Everything I read about the playoffs has little to do with the Washington Capitals and their improbable playoff run. Why do they receive so little media coverage? Do people think that their series wins over the Bruins and Senators were nothing special?
—Darius Singpurwalla, Washington, D.C.

The lack of interest in the Caps is amazing to me—the Presidential visit last week notwithstanding. There's been absolutely no buzz around the sterile MCI Center, where Washington has struggled to attract fans all year. They announced a sellout at Game 2 against the Bruins, for instance, and it was the emptiest sellout I'd ever seen. Many fans seemed to be turning to the press level every so often for NBA playoff scores. The Caps need their local fan base to get behind them in a big and noisy way.

What's with the disorienting low-ice camera angles that Fox uses? Sure, the crunching hits are shown, but who can follow the plays?
—Amelia Chang, Ann Arbor, Mich.

It's just part of Fox's ongoing, almost desperate, attempt to make telecasts more appealing to the general public. As long as ratings are so low Fox will continue to try various angles and techniques to enliven the broadcasts. Take heart—I don't like it, either.

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

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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
May 15: Winging it with Fedorov
May 19: Skills equal thrills
May 22: Eastern champs will be good—but not that good
May 26: Substance over style
May 29: The coaching carousel continues