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Saturday, February 3, 2001
Olympics an early All-Star focus
By Brian A. Shactman
ESPN.com
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All-Star nuggets
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NHL legend and the league's first ever Norris Trophy winner Red Kelly, now 74, played with and against Gordie Howe and has watched NHL players for more than half a century. As the honorary coach of one of the "Heroes of Hockey" old-timer teams, he discussed his thoughts on a number of subjects.
On Mario Lemieux: "To come back is one thing. But to come back the way he did and maintain it, that's what's amazing."
Kelly on what makes players great: "I look at many things. Winning the Cup is No. 1. That's what the whole goal is, at least it was for us. Some guys score lots of goals but never win anything."
On the game today: "Today, guys take 25 second shifts. I played 55 minutes in a game in Detroit. I played every second shift, power play and penalty killing; that's what's different."
If there's one thing Mario Lemieux's comeback taught the media, it's that the current stars don't capture the attention of the former greats. Why else would we cover his every move? No one need look farther than Friday's news conferences for confirmation. Wayne Gretzky -- the one guy who could still outshine Lemieux in the media -- remains the No. 1 NHL attraction, including Lemieux. Canadians are intensely interested in his performance as general manager of the Canadian Olympic Team. And he knows it -- and says he likes it that way.
Blues GM Larry Pleau doesn't tip his hat to trades for his St. Louis club. But he wishes he could. "Believe me, I'd like to tell you guys," he said when asked about what he might do in advance of the playoffs. The most Pleau would say is that he still has faith in his goalies, yet they need to show him something. Is that saying anything?
Gretzky brought his two sons to Denver, Trevor and Ty to Denver and both were wearing Team Canada shirts. Forget L.A. and New York; Gretzky wants his kids to be Canadians.
Say what you want about the NHL and how it handles everything from discipline to scheduling to public relations. One thing isn't debatable: The NHL FANtasy exhibition at the All-Star game is something to see -- and take part in. There's a mini-hockey rink where some lucky people got to play shinny with some NHL old-timers on Friday. You can buy just about any kind of NHL merchandise under the sun in the pavilion. On top of all that, people can play deck hockey and video games, as well as view all the major league trophies, including a photo opportunity with the Stanley Cup. ESPN has a studio set up there, as well, so fans can see Barry Melrose and Steve Levy do their SportsCenter updates. Since tickets to the game itself are so hard to come by because of corporate sponsorships and season tickets, it's a way for the casual fan to see it all up close, and people come out in droves. |
DENVER -- Sunday's All-Star Game is all about showcasing hockey stars of the world. In the same vein, All-Star weekend signifies the beginning of American and Canadian preparation for next year's Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.
On Friday, that's all anyone talked about. Olympics. Olympics. Olympics.
Who cares, right? But we're talking about ice hockey in the Olympics. And the last time around, the Canadians lost and didn't use Wayne Gretzky in the shootout, while the Americans were better known for their interior decorating than their on-ice prowess.
This time, Gretzky helps pick the players for Canada and by March 25, eight must be selected for all the teams. The process of choosing those eight began in earnest on All-Star weekend for the Canadians. Players will continue to be scouted and evaluated between now and the deadline -- although Team Canada's management would like to make the decision as early as possible.
The coaching and management teams for both countries met on Friday, and afterward, they met the media. The big names in attendance for the Americans were Penguins GM Craig Patrick and Blues GM Larry Pleau. The Canadians trumped them a bit with Wayne Gretzky, who was there along with Oilers GM Kevin Lowe, Toronto coach Pat Quinn Ottawa coach Jacques Martin.
The Canadian contingent talked in more detail about their meeting, which seemed to focus on specifics, whereas if the Americans discussed specific players, they didn't want to acknowledge it.
Gretzky said his group began the day making a list of about 40 names of potential players. They ended it with 13 or 14. One person beyond Joe Sakic, Chris Pronger and Rob Blake -- how could they not be no-brainers? -- that Gretzky couldn't deny making the list was Mario Lemieux.
"It's pretty safe to say he made the list," Gretzky joked.
The most tangible piece of information the Americans divulged wasn't so newsworthy as Lemieux's potential Olympic inclusion, but it might be just as important. Summed up simply, the Americans need a goalie. The Canadians have Martin Brodeur, Patrick Roy and Ed Belfour to choose from. But unless Dominik Hasek applies for American citizenship -- that's a funny one -- the U.S. doesn't have a set of clear-cut No. 1 goalies to choose from. Mike Richeter? Rick DiPietro? Mike Dunham? That will be an interesting choice.
But the most interesting topic came up after both organizations admitted they want to find a way to get practice time before the Olympic Games begin. However, a summer session for the players might meet resistance with the NHLPA. The consensus was that Herb Brooks' suggestion of suspending next year's All-Star Game for practice time wasn't feasible. But getting leisure time from NHLPA head Bob Goodenow might be just as tough.
In the Corners says the NHL should suck it up, trim the preseason a week and the season by two games and let the players do it right. Scheduling would be tough, but that kind of adjustment wouldn't compromise the NHL season, and the players won't get run down. Imagine how Mike Modano and Brett Hull are going to feel if the Stars make it to the finals again and then they have the Olympics the following February? Exhausted.
OK, so the counter argument is that the lesser teams lose gate receipts, but can anyone debate the potential windfall of a great Winter Games? Let's do whatever possible to make the competition as good as it can be.
And be honest: That might not be enough to beat the Czechs, anyway.
Brian A. Shactman covers the NHL for ESPN.com. He can be reached at brian.shactman@espn.com.
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