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The right pieces Teams in search of right players on and off ice
Posted: Wednesday May 17, 2000 12:08 AM
When Colorado defenseman Adam Foote suffered a broken bone near his eye in Game 2 of the Western Conference final, Avalanche coach Bob Hartley was able to adjust because he had another built-in defenseman already in his lineup in Eric Messier. Versatile players like Messier, a defenseman who moonlights as a winger, have become all the rage in the NHL. Ottawa has used defenseman Chris Phillips, a former No. 1 overall draft pick, principally as a banging winger, and Montreal often plays defenseman Craig Rivet as a checking winger against elite forwards. The Rangers used the same strategy this season with star Brian Leetch in an effort to shut down Florida's Pavel Bure. Detroit coach Scotty Bowman, who plays forward Mathieu Dandenault on defense most of the time, began the trend with the Canadiens' Jimmy Roberts in the 1970s.
Who will fit the Jackets?Columbus general manager Doug MacLean's short list of coaches for his expansion franchise includes, among others, Ron Low the coach of the IHL's Houston Aeros and L.A. Kings' assistant Dave Tippett. Low, the former Edmonton coach, would be an ideal fit for any fledgling club in a non-traditional hockey city. Not only is Low an engaging personality who can sell the game, he loathes the trap and preaches Edmonton's old firewagon style -- an absolute must for a team trying to win fans.
Fanning the FlamesThe Million Man March, otherwise known as the Calgary Flames search for a general manager, is beginning to be whittled down. Flames president Ron Bremner has cut the list of potential candidates from 18 to 7 and is expected to trim it to three within two weeks. Among the high profile hockey men still under consideration are NHL executive Mike Murphy, New Jersey scouting director David Conte, former coach and general manager Pierre Page, Dallas scouting director Craig Button and former coach Pierre McGuire. Murphy, who has known Bremner for more than a decade, is presumed to be the front runner. Sports Illustrated senior writer Michael Farber covers the NHL for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com.
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