Palffy likely to stay on Island
Posted: Monday December 21, 1998 01:15 PM
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question to Kostya Kennedy.
Forget new skates -- all a hockey player wants for Christmas is his two
front teeth. Here's hoping your holidays bring full smiles and prove as
smooth as new ice. I guess Islanders fans did something nice because they
got Ziggy back, and Phoenix fans must have been angels all year long.
Thanks, as always, for the letters, and have a fine holiday. We'll be back
on January 5 when, if you care to join us, we expect to party as if it were
1999.
Do you think the signing of Zigmund Palffy will increase or decrease
the chance of the Islanders trading him? Do you think the signing will
effect the long awaited Pavel Bure trade? Also, how long are Todd Bertuzzi
and Alexander Mogilny out for? The Canucks really need these guys back.
—Daniel McCaughan, Chilliwack, B.C.
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The Islanders hope to continue building with Palffy as their anchor. AP/John Dunn |
Given what Mike Milbury went through with Palffy's agent, Paul
Kraus , Ziggy is certainly not an untouchable. The Islanders would only
trade him for a real long-term star, though. Palffy is already a known and
liked figure on Long Island, and that's what the team needs to anchor its
attempts to rebuild. To bring in Bure would only be possible if they got a
long-term commitment from him, and even then it would be unlikely.
Ultimately, the Islanders got Palffy for an affordable price -- ownership
will not want to commit the considerably more dollars it will take to tie
up Bure.
Mogilny's return from an MCL sprain depends partly on his continued
diligence in rehabilitation. If I had to guess, I'd say he'll be back for
the Canucks' January 8-16 homestand. A bone break like Bertuzzi's --
particularly to the leg, which has to bear so much weight -- is too hard
for me to gauge.
The Flyers defense is not as good as it was a couple of years ago --
case in point, the slow-footed Dave Babych. Do you see them making a trade
to upgrade their defense any time soon? Also, if the Flyers do not at least
make it to the Stanley Cup finals this year, will there be big changes made
to the team?
—J. Na, Seoul, South Korea
Yes, it's a slow defense, and not deep enough. Philly does have size on
defense, though, and against most of today's teams the defense is not a
liability. The Flyers brass is not done tinkering with the team, and it'll
certainly try to bring in some defensive help by the spring. Immediately,
though, I don't expect a major trade. Whatever happens, Philadelphia won't
have as strong a defense as any of the Western powers -- Dallas and
Phoenix, both of which are quite deep, or Detroit, which relies largely on
Nicklas Lidstrom and Larry Murphy .
The biggest offseason change that could occur would be the trading of
Eric Lindros, and if the Flyers fail in the playoffs and he fails as
well, such a shakeup will again be discussed. While Lindros is playing
fabulously now (and may be on his way to winning MVP), his leadership down
the stretch and in the postseason will determine whether the Flyers will
consider moving him. The second-biggest possibility would be the removal of
general manager Bobby Clarke. He still seems entrenched and he's
respected by his bosses in Philadelphia, but he's made some lousy moves and
helped create a lot of divisiveness on the team. The Flyers should already
have more to show for the Lindros/ John LeClair/Rod Brind'Amour
era. If they flop in the playoffs, Clarke's seat will be as hot as
anyone's.
Alexei Kovalev must be sick of the word "potential." And I
know I'm sick of hearing exactly how much potential he has. Despite his
episodes of brilliance, Kovalev's career in New York was a disappointment.
While he's only been in Pittsburgh a short while, he seems to playing
harder -- hustling more, playing better defensive hockey, etc. Do you think
the change in scenery will be the spark Kovalev needs to ignite his obvious
physical skills?
—Rick Pizzo, Marietta, Ga.
Kovalev's problem in New York wasn't lack of hustle. Though there were some
stretches when he moped around, he often worked hard and was a solid team
player. He made plenty of defensive mistakes, but they usually came from
his trying to make an extra move or thread too fine a pass, not from
laziness. Offensively, Kovalev made plays and created his share of chances
but simply couldn't develop into a finisher. Maybe that will happen in
Pittsburgh -- being a scorer is clearly Kovalev's best role. I'd expect him
to be playing well now, juiced from the move, and come playoff time a
Kovalev emergence would hardly be a surprise. He skates so well and can
carry the puck brilliantly in the offensive zone.
Let's see whether coach Kevin Constantine uses him as a whipping
boy when the Penguins go through a tough stretch -- Kovalev's Rangers
coaches whipped him good. If Constantine lays low and gives Kovalev some
room to breathe he could well blossom into a solid second-tier scorer. If
Kovalev finds himself under the gun and surrounded by not only the word
"potential" but also the word "disappointment," expect
his shell to thicken and the goals to remain too rare.
What are the chances of Chris Chelios being pried from Chicago? He is
in his mid-30s now and the Blackhawks would have to get the right package
deal at this point. Do you think a Dainius Zubrus-Luke Richardson-Brian
Boucher(-plus?) package from the Flyers could get them interested? You
would have two youngsters with All-Star potential and a tough veteran
defenseman who can give another strong five or six years.
—Rob, Philadelphia
Chelios will be 37 in a month and, yes, if the price is really right and
the Blackhawks continue to show no signs of getting into the playoff race,
I think he could be had. The Blackhawks will be extremely careful about
this, though, as they've taken some bad PR hits in the last year, and were
stung when Brett Hull didn't want to come to Chicago. Also, Chelly is in
great shape and as competitive as ever so he could be a part of a Hawks
resurgence for a few years yet. If the team improves some and has a chance
for the playoffs, he'll stay put. Otherwise, moving Chelios is not an
impossibility, assuming the Hawks are ready to do the previously
unthinkable and conduct a full-scale rebuilding.
I don't know about that package though, Rob. Richardson is no longer at his
peak and the value of Zubrus and Boucher will depend largely on what
Chicago's scouts have in their notebooks. Zubrus, 20, has been a big
disappointment this season (though that may only be a stumble), and while
Boucher -- who turns 22 January 2 -- looks promising, a goalie with no NHL
experience is a crapshoot. I definitely wouldn't settle for those three for
Chelios, but I might call back whomever made me the offer.
Does the NHL have any plans to bring games to Australia? We are
starved of coverage of the world's premier hockey league over here. I
suppose any team serious about winning wouldn't wish to play a
regular-season game in such a different time zone, but perhaps a postseason
exhibition match is a possibility.
—Al Clark, Melbourne,
Australia
With the NHL's global view, no place is too far away. There are no
immediate plans to bring the game to Australia, though, partly because
players play so much hockey throughout the year. To go to Australia in your
winter would mean pulling players together in their summer. Not many
veterans would want to do that. You won't get a postseason exhibition
match. The best hope is that a couple of teams take a 10-day training camp
there some September -- as the Sabres and Lightning went to Austria this
year.
Of course, a lot of this depends on how the game can be marketed and sold
there. I don't know what the researcher ledgers reveal, particularly with
the Sydney Olympics approaching, but money-making is the league's bottom
line. If the higher-ups believed there was a market to be exploited and
money to be made, they'd push for an exhibition series on Jupiter.
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Kennedy, and check back January 5 to read more of his answers.
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