About Stan

Bluelines: How serious are the problems on the Island?

Mario Lemieux ’s depressingly slow-healing hip is spurring retirement talk. When Ed Olczyk says his boss is “out indefinitely,” we can’t but feel ominous vibes emanating from The Igloo.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

Doug Gilmour to Toronto Sun hockey writer Mike Zeisberger: “If you’re at the Saddledome, could you please pick up my knee!”

A respected agent we know tells us he’s still optimistic a CBA deal could be done by next September’s deadline.

“The NHLPA’s offer has laid the groundwork,” he says. “And that offer is based on the NHL’s own numbers, credible or not.”

This from inside the Senators’ dressing room: Jacques Martin and John Muckler are missing the problem, which – one player claims – involves a clique inside the room. On top of that, neither Vaclav Varada nor Bryan Smolinski have played to management’s expectations.

Isles captain Peca is one player Milbury could move to shake things up. (AP)

How serious is the Islanders’ plunge? The answer will be forthcoming after home games against Washington and the Rangers. Two losses should move Mike Milbury to serious changes. The GM could move one significant forward (Michael Peca) and a top defenseman (Roman Hamrlik ) to reverse the trend. Management’s feeling is that there’s plenty of time for a revival. The Senators could use Peca. Whatever criticism he may get, you can take this to the bank: Milbury is safe and secure as Isles’ boss.

While Kerry Fraser was being feted at a Madison Square Garden restaurant in a postgame banquet for completing his 1,500th NHL game as a referee, he was being roasted by the Rangers for an enigmatic penalty he’d called in the game. The roughing call on Matt Barnaby led to Toronto’s winning goal. Earlier in the evening, Mark Messier presented Fraser with a gift on behalf of the Blueshirts.

The NHL would like to repeat its successful Heritage Classic format at an American city. St. Paul would be the top choice, but Wild officials tell us no suitable outdoor venue is available. Boston – Fenway Park perhaps – or Detroit are the other possibilities.

Flames high command is checking out an outdoor game at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium.

When is good really bad? When Bob Goodenow feeds his members this “No Cap” mantra:

“We’ve seen what a cap did to the NFL and NBA,” says BG.

Who’s he kidding? Those “capped” leagues symbolize franchise stability and healthy business growth. We can’t remember hearing NFLers nor NBAers beefing about their systems.

Manchester Monarchs, one of the best-run pro franchises, gets the 2005 AHL All-Star classic, Feb. 13-14 of that year.

Ted Leonsis should finger neither George McPhee nor Bruce Cassidy for his Caps’ woes. The problem began – and ends – with Leonsis’ push to land Jaromir Jagr . Period!

Just curious: but when was the last time a European captain led an NHL team to the Stanley Cup?

Among the truly dumb rumors of the month had Larry Robinson succeeding Jacques Martin in Ottawa. Why, just because Robbie is from the area?

Looking for a good Christmas book? We suggest Honoured Members – Hockey Hall of Fame. It’s the next best thing to visiting the Hall. Our pal, Bobby Orr , has some neat words in the Foreword.

Choices – in alphabetic order – for Team USA World Cup coach: Tony Granato, Olczyk, John Tortorella, and Ron Wilson .

If there’s justice, Andy Murray will have a significant Team Canada role.

Those close to Lemaire insist that The Dapper One is enjoying being behind the bench more than ever. We like the way he’s teaching Marian Gaborik that hockey’s a six-man – not a one-man – game.

Now that those Toronto clown columnists couldn’t get Pat Quinn fired, who do they try to axe next?

High numbers on NHL jerseys always strikes us as stupid. But how dumb is it when the only Montreal Canadien with a single digit on his sweater is Stephane Quintal (5)?

Gionta has been compared to other diminutive scorers. (AP)

The “Next Theo Fleury” is Marty St.Louis. And the “Next Martin St.Louis” is Brian Gionta.

One of the NHL’s best p.r. moves in the labor dispute is pushing the equation that a Cost Certainty CBA will guarantee fans lower ticket prices.

“It’s one reason I’m so anxious to have a system that relieves that pressure on ticket prices,” says Gary Bettman. “I don’t think ticket prices can continue unabated on an inflationary upward trend.”

That is an understatement!

Paulina Gretzky, The Great One’s gifted 14-year-old daughter, has a career in show biz ahead should she be so inclined. PG certainly captured the crowd at the Edmonton classic.

Another proud pop among ex-NHLers is former Ranger Syl Apps, Jr. His daughter, Gillian Apps, stars for Dartmouth’s women’s hockey team. The original Syl Apps captained the Maple Leafs to Stanley Cups in 1942, 1947 and 1948.

One nice kid we’d like to see turn his career around is Manny Malhotra. If anyone can help MM, it’s Doug MacLean .

Coyotes’ new rink in Glendale doesn’t officially open until Dec. 27 but the club will practice there as early as Dec. 14. Team officials say the identical crowd number at the new arena will bring in twice the revenue it does at America West.

Forbes Magazine rates the Rangers the NHL’s most valuable team, worth $272 million, followed by Dallas at $270 million. Forbes claims that the average NHL team is worth $159 million. It should be noted that, for years, those within the hockey industry have questioned the magazine’s accuracy when dealing with NHL issues.

The Panthers may finally have a successor to Peter Worrell in Grant McNeill, ex-Prince Albert captain and voted Toughest Player in the WHL. Lyle Odelein has taken the kid under his wing.

Mike Comrie supposedly wants to continue his career in Southern California, which is nice. But now that the Kings have Martin Straka , what kind of skater can the Ducks deliver to Kevin Lowe to make it all worthwhile? Only a spate of Oilers losses will expedite a deal.

Congrats to ECHL’s Communications Director Jack Carnefix for delivering a major league guide and record book. With nine new markets, the ECHL has 31 teams in 17 states – and 21 affiliations with NHL clubs.

When we tell Messier his play is an inspiration to senior citizens, The Captain shoots back:

“I don’t know what else I’d do but play!”

Kudos to the Montreal Gazette ’s Pat Hickey for going against the grain and having the guts to write, “I have a word of advice for the folks who are hoping to stage the NHL’s next outdoor game. Don’t!”

Kudos, too, to the Toronto Sun’ s Mike Ulmer for being the lone Leafs scribe to have the smarts to laud Pat Quinn’s coaching.

Would it be a stretch to say that Rick Nash will be an All-Star for the next 15 years? Answer: Not really!

Howard Baldwin’s inactive AHL franchise could wind up being a Lightning affiliate, but HB still has his eyes on Hartford although the Wolf Pack remains a Rangers’ farm club.

Jussi Markkanen is making a serious bid to take the top goaltending job from Mike Dunham. This match bears watching.

Markkanen has been a pleasant surprise for the Blueshirts. (AP)

If Kerry Fraser refs another three years – as he plans – it could result in a father-son combo of NHL zebras. His son, Ryan Fraser , currently is reffing in the AHL.

We hear that some of Phil Esposito’s former Boston teammates are not the least bit happy with Espo and what he said in his new kiss-and-tell book. The officiating fraternity isn’t tickled either. Phil has been putting down refs – naming names – on talk shows in which he’s promoting his autobio.

It’ll be interesting to see how Gary Bettman reacts to the latest fishy fan trend in Nashville. Predators’ rooters have taken to tossing catfish on the ice following home team goals. The Commish may take his cue from an ice crew member who has to pick up what she describes as the “gross, huge, heavy, stinky, slimy” denizens of the deep.

The NHL high command is waiting for Goodenow to complete his 30-team briefings before re-starting CBA talks. But Bettman and Goodenow – both Americans – did exchange U.S. Thanksgiving greetings by phone last week.

Jagr to the Rangers still is a viable equation – provided the Caps could be satisfied with a reasonable return and the very complicated financial exchanges could be unraveled. One Ranger insider tells us that Jagr would be a changed man on Seventh Avenue.

Those who complain that the game needs more up-and-down speed will be surprised that it could result from a new CBA. That is, if you believe the Commissioner. According to Bettman, a fairer economic structure leads to a better distribution of talent.

“Teams would be able to rely on talent acquisition, rather than boring defensive schemes in order to compete,” Bettman claims. “Some teams have to play defense to make up for (talent) disparities.”