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Chat Reel: SI's Michael Farber

Don't expect a frenzy at the trade deadline

SI's Michael Farber expects John Vanbiesbrouck's stint as an Islander to be a short one. Jamie Squire/Allsport

Sports Illustrated senior writer Michael Farber joined users on Feb. 2 for a special NHL All-Star chat. A transcript follows.

CNNSI.com Host: Welcome to our special NHL All-Star chat with Sports Illustrated senior writer Michael Farber. Thanks for joining us, Michael.
Michael Farber: I am delighted to be in Denver -- one of America's great cities.

From Dawn: How come the format for the NHL All-Star game doesn't have a representative from each team? It would be more exciting to see that type of format than having multiple stars from the same team.
Michael Farber: I disagree. I think with 30 teams it makes for an unwieldy situation, especially for coaches. Last year, Pat Quinn said he lost sight of Scott Gomez on his own bench and didn't play him for half a period. Also, there are certain teams that don't deserve All-Star representation. I defy you to name someone worthy on the New York Islanders or Montreal Canadiens.

From S.R.: With the horrible crowds in Carolina, Long Island and some other U.S. cities, shouldn't some team at least consider moving back to Hartford or, for that matter, Winnipeg?
Michael Farber: Hartford hasn't drawn especially well with its minor league affiliate. Nor is the Civic Center, which is located in a mall, suited to where the NHL wants to go. The NHL is looking to, in Gary Bettman's words, extend its footprint. Carolina has not been successful to this point, and who knows if it will ever build a hockey culture. Winnipeg needed a new arena desperately and couldn't sustain the losses. You will not see teams move back to Canada because it doesn't make economic sense. Most teams there pay salaries in U.S. dollars, but their revenues come in as Canadian dollars.

From Russ: Michael, in your opinion, what team has benefited most from the NHL's crackdown this year on holding and obstruction? My first choice: the Colorado Avalanche.
Michael Farber: Your first choice is probably the right one because Colorado's first two lines are the best skating lines in the league. There is a feeling that some of the crackdown is weakening but supervisor of officials, Andy Van Hellemond, plans on calling the refs together before the start of the playoffs to renew their fervor in calling the rules.

From Johnny: What big-time trades do you see happening before the trade deadline?
Michael Farber: You're gonna see the baseball syndrome strike hockey, with contenders loading up and lesser clubs building for the future. Vanbiesbrouck will be the first to go, if he chooses to. But beyond that I expect Montreal to move goalie Jeff Hackett, defenseman Eric Weinrich, who is an unrestricted free agent after the season, and Linden. Also look at the list of unrestricted free agents and you might see player's who will change addresses, including Sean O'Donnell in Minnesota.

From David: Do you see the Canadiens turning things around? I think the nucleus is there, with a couple of first rounders in their lineup.
Michael Farber: I don't see Montreal turning it around in the foreseeable future. Maybe it can limp into eighth place in the next couple of years, but a return to the glory days is wishful thinking thanks to years of poor scouting and drafting. It will be interesting to see if new owner George Gillett Jr. makes important changes to team infrastructure

From Evan: Can you explain the surprising season the Nashville Predators are having? They're only a couple of points out of a playoff spot now. What will they have to do to stay in the playoff picture?
Michael Farber: I'm not surprised at all by their play. This team, even though it's only in its third year, has been well put together. David Poile, the GM, understood the basics of franchise building, starting with a first-rate goalie in Mike Dunhim. I think the Predators will fall short this year, with Edmonton and L.A. vying for the final spot, but clearly the Predators are a team that is moving in the right direction.

From Charlie: With all the moves the Penguins have been making, and the need for a solid No. 1 goaltender, do you see it the least bit possible Mario will try to bring back Tom Barrasso?
Michael Farber: Interesting question. Lemieux and Barrasso are old golfing buddies, but Barrasso hasn't played anywhere in a long time, so it seems like a stretch. I do think the Penguins will be looking for a goalie though. Garth Snow has shown a weakness for giving up goals to his short side. The pair of Snow and Jean-Sebastien Aubin doesn't have "Stanley Cup Final" written on it right now. There will be several goalies available, one of whom is John Vanbiesbrouck, who Mario lit up like no other.

From O-town: Ottawa has had a Stanley Cup-calibre team for three years now, but we can't win a playoff round. What needs to be done to get us to at least to the semis this year? I think we're fine in the net for once.
Michael Farber: Patrick Lalime blows hot and cold. I would not feel terribly comfortable with him in net, but the deal for Barrasso last year backfired, so I doubt that Marshall Johnston will get involved in any goalie sweepstakes before the March 13 trade deadline. The Ottawa Senators are among the most disciplined and best-coached teams, and given their sub-$30 million payroll, no team, with the possible exception of Vancouver, gives more bang for its buck.

From AvsFreak: What, if anything, should Colorado do before the trade deadline? There's been some talk about acquiring Peca to shore up defensive play.
Michael Farber: Colorado needs a big center, assuming it will have to face the New Jersey Devils in the Finals. This was one of Dallas' weaknesses last year, and Colorado surely would have learned from that. There might be some available, notably Trevor Linden in Montreal, who, since returning to the lineup in the past week, has played splendidly. In any event, the Avalanche ideally will land a Keith Primeau-type.

From Gerrard: This question may seem to be from left field, but why doesn't Seattle have a NHL franchise? The city supports its Junior team amazingly well, and it would make sense from a travel point of view, being close to Vancouver, the California teams and the Alberta squads. Plus, there's some guy in Seattle who owns Microsoft and could probably afford a team (or the whole league).
Michael Farber: There is another guy in Portland, named Paul Allen, who was in line in ahead of Gates in Seattle. Seattle seems happy with its Thunderbirds so there hasn't been a major push to land an NHL team there. Remember, the NFL from time to time, and the Mariners until '96, were hard sells there. Also note that Vancouver has had attendance problems, so maybe this isn't the most fertile ground for a new franchise.

From Eric: Any further information on the rumor that Rob Blake may become a Detroit Red Wing? If so, what would Detroit have to give up?
Michael Farber: Detroit always goes after veteran defenseman late in the season. This is the way the Red Wings have done business for decades. Many teams are interested in Blake, notably the Devils. Blake, who becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season, told me he's interested in only two cities. The first is staying in L.A. The other is Toronto, which is 90 minutes from his hometown of Simcoe, Ontario. Any other team would have to overpay to lease Blake. For the Red Wings it might cost them Jiri Fischer, but GM Ken Holland knows that at some point the Red Wings need to get younger on defense and won't be giving up such a fine prospect in addition to draft choices.

From Charles: What the heck is up with my Rangers? There is way too much talent on that team for them to be struggling like this. It seems to me that the one guy on the team having a noticeably down year is Mike Richter. I realize that he just set the team record for most career wins, but is his time on Broadway winding down?
Michael Farber: That's an interesting question because Richter is playing a little bit better of late. Richter has been victimized by a team that just doesn't work hard defensively. Remember that he's also coming back from the injury he suffered last year at the skills competition during All-Star weekend. One note: St. Louis has been scouting the Rangers recently and GM Larry Pleau used to work in the Rangers front office and is a big Richter fan.

From Ryan: Who do you think will be the best rookie in the second half?
Michael Farber: I think San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov will continue to be the best rookie because he is so fundamentally sound in goal. He is poised, relaxed and most important, gives up very few rebounds. Given his style, I don't expect a slump.

From Ryan: Which do you think will be the better team in five years -- Tampa Bay or Vancouver? Which team's budding stars will be better?
Michael Farber: I like some of the players in Vancouver, especially the Seidin twins. I like Vincent Lecavalier for the Lightning and Brad Richards also looks like a legitimate player for them. But right now, Vancouver seems to be doing a better job filling in around the edges and with an appearance in the Finals in '94, at least it has a touchstone of success to refer to. If Vancouver ever straightens out it's goaltending situation it can be a Stanley Cup contender.

From Brent: Who is the coach of the year so far?
Michael Farber: The coach of the year is Joel Quenneville in St. Louis, who gets his team to play at a consistently high level, more often than anyone else. Marc Crawford in Vancouver deserves credit for the late development of Ed Jovanowski and Todd Bertuzzi. But if we're talking about the best coach in any year, it's Scotty Bowman in Detroit. He is the best coach or manager of the four North American sports, probably ever.

CNNSI.com Host: That's all the time we have for today. Thanks again, Michael.
Michael Farber: Thank you, and don't forget to watch the All-Star festivities.

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