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 The keys to Philadelphia's failure
Posted: Thursday September 30, 1999 07:07 PM
Click here to send an NHL question to Kostya Kennedy. The new season is upon us and not a moment too soon. Has the champagne yet dried on the walls of the Stars' locker room? Now begins our weekly mailbag, so let's hear what's on your minds. As for this week ...
Why have the Flyers not been able to win the Cup? Is it the lack of heart? Coaching? Sloppy play? Personally, I don't know what else they could do to improve the team, they have the talent. If Eric Lindros had half the heart of Rod Brind'Amour, I think that they'd be unstoppable. What do you think? The Flyers have as much talent as any of the Cup contenders -- particularly those in the East. There are two reasons they haven't won the Cup, and probably won't this year: 1. General manager Bobby Clarke . He was once wildly hailed as a shrewd team builder, and he still has firm supporters, but he has seriously undermined this team in recent years. His disastrous signing of Chris Gratton before the 1997-98 season and his rash of coaching changes (remember three seasons ago when he yanked Wayne Cashman , but kept him behind the bench as an assistant?!!!) has created a highly unsettled air about the Flyers. Last year Clarke made the wrong pick of free agent goalies, signing John Vanbiesbrouck over Curtis Joseph . Beezer's good, but was clearly outplayed by Joseph when the Flyers fell to the Maple Leafs in the playoffs. 2. Lindros. He is probably the most dangerous all-around player in the game, but a leader he is not. That became evident when he squabbled with then-coach Terry Murray in the 1997 Cup finals. Thanks in part to Clarke's shenanigans, the Flyers' dressing room is in need of a strong, calming presence to guide them through the season and the high-pressure playoffs. Maybe Lindros becomes that player someday. Today he is not.
I am writing to you from my third-period class in school -- shows how interested in hockey I am, huh? I am a huge N.Y. Rangers fan and was wondering how you think they will fare this year? I know they're only a first-round playoff threat, and nothing more, and I know they need a second-line center. I've heard rumors of Alexei Yashin coming to the Rangers as a first-line center and Petr Nedved moving back to the second line. What are the chances of any kind of deal between the Senators and the Rangers? I know getting Mark Messier is out of the question, but New York needs one more piece of the puzzle because the team isn't good enough to be a Stanley Cup contender like Detroit. What do the Rangers need and will they get it? The Rangers are a playoff-bubble team. If things really gel with all their new players (they'll have about 10 new faces on this year's roster), they could be a solid team, particularly if goalie Mike Richter has a standout year. Of course they could use that second-line center but it's up to John Muckler to coach the team through that relatively small failing. Maybe he'll play Adam Graves there. That's what I'd do. I don't see Yashin in New York, and GM Neil Smith is not about to trade young players to get an older center. The Rangers shouldn't be thinking about getting to Detroit's level, but just to get into the middle of the ordinary pack in the East. Come February, if it looks as if they're heading to the playoffs, they'll make a move to bring someone else in. Before that they'll just try to get the group they have to coalesce.
What five players will be most important to their teams this year? Here's the way I see it:
1. Dominik Hasek , Sabres
I'm a Bruins fan and the team worries me very much. First, they struggled offensively last year and now without Dimitri Khristich, it's going to be very difficult for them to put the puck in the net. Second, what's the current situation with Byron Dafoe? It's obvious that he is Boston's most valuable player right now, but he's not in the lineup. What's your opinion? Do you think they will succeed this season? Or will they fail? I like the Bruins team a good deal and with their group of blossoming offensive players, they should score well enough to win. Khristich won't be seriously missed. The Dafoe contract situation is, of course, critical. While the Bruins are good, they're not overpowering and will be in a lot of close games. It is absolutely essential they get Dafoe in, and soon. The problem is that he wants more money than he yet deserves and the Bruins are very tightfisted. That's not a great combination. If they can't reach agreement with him and the impasse goes on long enough to damage the season it'll be a shame for Bruins fans. They have an excellent core of players coming into their own at a time when Ray Bourque is still a highly effective player and leader. This could be a special season for the Bruins -- if they can come to terms with Dafoe.
Last year the Blues' weakest position was their goaltending. How do you think they will fare now that they have added Roman Turek to the roster? The Blues have a chance to really threaten the cream of the West (Dallas, Detroit, Colorado). Scouts love Turek, and though he came to camp slightly overweight, the Blues are pleased with how he has played in the exhibition season. Turek has all the elements to be a solidifying force in the net -- he's big and quick and aggressive, and having come from Dallas, used to playing in a system which allows few shots against. Joel Quenneville will coach this team well again and I expect them to finish fourth or fifth in the conference.
Send a question to Kostya Kennedy, and, once the regular season is underway, check back weekly to read more of his answers.
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