All-Star venting
Posted: Wednesday January 13, 1999 03:34 PM
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Kostya Kennedy's NHL Mailbag.
What a group of expert quibblers you all are. So many of you had plenty
of passionate dissecting to do of the All-Star rosters and many were
outraged at the blatant ballot-stuffing in Detroit. I, too, was given a
jolt to see Detroiters like Uwe Krupp and Chris Osgood pulling down so many
votes. Ah well, back-to-back Cups has its rewards. For all of you Dallas
fans who feel slighted (I think Ed Belfour should have gotten much more
respect) set your sights on spring and the heat of the playoffs. That's
where things will be settled on a more consequential level. Now, on to this
week's questions:
Sergei Fedorov voted as starting center for the World All-Stars???
Come on Detroit, this is obvious ballot-box stuffing. This kind of
stupidity is what costs deserving players a slot on the All-Star team. I
understand the fans' rights to have a voice in All-Star selection, but that
is ridiculous. When the final roster is made and some deserving forward is
left out, he can point directly at the Red Wings' fans as the reason why.
Is there any way to correct this problem?
-- Joel Fontenot,
Dallas
Dallas, we have no problem. Fedorov was arguably the best non-goalie in the
Stanley Cup playoffs last year and if that gets him an All-Star berth so be
it. He's had a sorry year but he's still a gorgeous talent and that's what
the All-Star Game is about. If the fans hadn't voted him in, Fedorov
wouldn't be going to the game and we'd be deprived of seeing one of the
most thrilling offensive players in the world perform in a purely offensive
showcase. As far as I'm concerned, the fans could vote in year-long holdout
Pavel Bure and I'd be happy to see him there playing.
Will the Rangers go for broke at the trading deadline and trade away
youth, or will they unload their aging and immobile veterans at the
deadline in an attempt to sign free agents in the offseason?
-- Steve Kournianos, Brooklyn, N.Y.
There's not a ton of youth to trade. Goalie Dan Cloutier is highly coveted
and his fate will be the biggest decision the Rangers have to make. If they
can land Bure for Cloutier (and something more) they'll probably do it.
Otherwise, I don't think the Rangers will give up Manny Malhotra, and Marc
Savard doesn't have a whole lot of value. I don't really expect much
activity from them -- unless they can pull off a Bure deal -- because
they'll probably be within striking distance of a playoff spot which will
make them highly reluctant to trade marketable and capable veterans like
Adam Graves and John Maclean.
Is the possible development of San Jose's Jeff Friesen into a star
being hindered by Coach Darryl Sutter's defensive-oriented system? Might
the Sharks make an effort to acquire a center who could set up Friesen
instead of relying on relatively unknown Alexander Korolyuk? Thanks.
-- Jeff Janssens, Auburn, Calif.
The system's not ideal, and neither is the fact that the Sharks are so
lousy. But so many systems are defensive-minded these days and Friesen is
learning plenty about the mental toughness it takes to play at high-level
in the NHL. Ultimately, the Sharks hope that either Marco Sturm or Patrick
Marleau can move onto a line with Friesen so in the meantime I don't think
they'll pull of a deal. I wouldn't say that Friesen's development has been
hurt too badly yet -- in a year or two he'll be at a measurably higher
level than he is today.
In regards to your answer about Paul Coffey and the 'Canes, I think you
missed something in your analysis. I watch all the 'Canes games, and some
of the practices, and though Coffey may not be the player he once was, he
is much better than adequate. With the injuries to Carolina's defense, he's
just what the doctor ordered: a healthy defenseman, who is also an
offensive threat and provides stability on the power play (a major need).
-- Vern Doupe, Pittsboro, N.C.
I guess we just see Coffey differently. I loved watching him in his prime,
and I deeply respect what he's done in the league but over the past two
years I haven't seen him take over even part of a game. In fact, he's often
a liability. And Coffey on a bad team can be a destructive thing. No
offense to Carolina -- they've got a good team and give good effort -- but
it's not exactly a hockey mecca. That playing environment has to weigh on a
fading player with Coffey's pride. Don't expect him to go the rest of the
year without getting injured or scratched. I half hope Coffey makes a fool
of me yet, but I'm not holding my breath.
Is Wayne Gretzky retiring at the end of this season? I have heard
and seen a lot of inferences to that assumption, but nothing that I have
heard officially.
-- Dan Lehtola, Houston
Gretzky isn't tipping his hand. Typical of his quiet class he doesn't want
a circus atmosphere surrounding his final year. In all probability he
hasn't made up his mind yet on his future. From all he says and does,
Gretzky is still have a fine time playing the game and is probably more
focused on trying to get the Rangers into the playoffs than anything else.
Though he's an exploitable player at this stage, he can still be very
dangerous and on a better team, his weaknesses could be more easily
disguised. There's not a team in hockey that wouldn't love to have him. My
bet is that he'll be back for one more year after this one.
In your opinion, is the Ottawa Senators' great
success as of late a fluke, or it is indicative that this team is finally
ready to step up to the next level?
-- Jon Richardson,
London, Ont.
Perhaps they're playing slightly above their heads, but the Sens are a
good, scrappy team. The confident and efficient way that Alexei Yashin has
stepped into the captain's role has had a huge, beneficial impact on the
team. And Shawn McEachern is one of the most underrated players in the
league. I don't view this team as a Cup contender mainly because they
aren't that deep. They need to upgrade their defense (Wade Redden
notwithstanding) and goaltending will be an issue come playoff time.
However, I won't be surprised to see them finish strong in the Eastern
Conference and win a playoff round.
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