Still untouchable?

Montreal may start listening to offers for Savage

John LeClair might not own Montreal, but he does have a long-term lease. The Flyers left wing scored twice against the Canadiens Monday, giving him 24 goals in 27 games against his former team since Montreal traded him in 1995.

The deal still influences the way the Canadiens do business. LeClair broke out in such fabulous fashion after going to Philadelphia, scoring 235 goals in his first five full seasons, that Montreal has been wary of moving potential 35-goal winger Brian Savage for fear he turns into Leclair, The Sequel.

That could soon change.

Savage has never scored more than 26 goals in a season and is a potential unrestricted free agent looking for a $5 million annual salary. That likely makes him available as a rent-a-player if Montreal falls out of contention.

Taking Stock in the crowd

In Boston, it's a Bruins player and not the fans doing the wave. P.J. Stock, a new crowd favorite, salutes the stands with a wave as he skates to the penalty box after each fight. If Rock'em, Sock'em P.J. Stock-em waves any more, he'll be Queen Elizabeth.

A fringe player in his fourth NHL stop, the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Stock has tapped into Boston's nostalgia for old-time hockey, a little guy, like Stan Jonathan in the 1970s, who eagerly took on heavyweights. Stock, now a fourth-line fixture, had a classic tussle 10 days ago with Washington's 6-3, 210-pound Stephen Peat, whipped 6-2, 210 Kelly Buchberger of Los Angeles last Thursday and scored a decision over 6-2, 200 Ray Schultz of the New York Islanders last Saturday.

Isles cool off

Injuries to defensemen Radek Martinek and Roman Hamrlik and a scoring slump by Alexei Yashin have slowed the Islanders after their white-hot start, providing rookie head coach Peter Laviolette with his first stern test.

Laviolette has held up well. Indeed, almost too well. The 36-year-old coach has remained upbeat, switching linemates in an effort to revitalize Yashin and reinforcing the concept of family.

General manager Mike Milbury, however, has told Laviolette that it's OK, and maybe even helpful, to blow off a little steam. As one NHL executive told me, it's great to treat players like family but occasionally you have to tell your teenagers something they don't want to hear.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Michael Farber covers the NHL beat for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com.

 

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