Stan Fischler
Bluelines: Will Ted Nolan be coming behind a bench in your town?
Apr 06, 2004
 Add Craig MacTavish and Paul Maurice to the list of potential Rangers’ coaches along with Tom Renney and Ryan McGill. Although MacT is tied to Edmonton, Kevin Lowe owes Glen Sather one, so a deal for Craig is not out of the realm of possibility. (Remember Fred Shero from Philly to New York!)
Original Devils’ owner John McMullen, a distinguished Annapolis grad, is funding a new hockey arena for the U.S. Naval Academy. The school presently has club hockey, but with a new rink the Midshipmen will boast a varsity squad. Charles Wang and Islanders management scored a success with their free playoff ticket promotion. More than 1,500 new season tickets were sold for the 2004-05 season and 90 percent of current ticket-holders renewed for next year. Oddest Masterton nominee is Rob Skrlac. The long-time minor leaguer took advantage of a shot with the Devils in December and notched his first NHL goal.  | | Could Larry Robinson be headed back behind the bench? (AP) | Intriguing coach question: Which team – if any – will pitch for Larry Robinson? More to the point, will Slats be interested? Most annoying quotes coming out of any dressing room are those from Europeans boasting about how they’re not worried about a Lockout because they’ll be playing in Europe. John Torchetti’s trek from San Antonio to Florida’s assistantship – then replacement head coach – has a happy ending as Rick Dudley lifts the “interim” from John’s title. Duds likes John and assistants Steve Ludzik and Clint Malarchuk. “They mesh and the players feel that,” Dudley says. So J.P. Parise, what advice do you have for your son, Zach, now that he’s signed an NHL contract with the Devils? “Keep your eyes open,” he tells the 19-year-old, “and your mouth shut!” Not that it’s going to happen, but you have to wonder whether Ken Hitchcock could somehow be pried away from Philly. Congrats to Pat LaFontaine, Mike Ilitch and Bill Davidson for induction into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. A bit of Buffalo good news is that Tim Connolly is recovering from his season-long concussion. Just to show you how stupid the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation can be, the CBC appears willing to split with Don (Grapes) Cherry. If so, Grapes will find mucho work faster than you can read this! Has there been a better reclamation project than Ted Donato? Answer: No. Guaranteed, Ted Nolan’s name will surface as an NHL coaching possibility. According to one high NHL exec, Teddy won’t get it because, A) He’s been away from the NHL too long; and B) He turned down AHL and Major Junior opportunities while the likes of Kevin Constantine, Robbie Ftorek and Greg Gilbert are willing to return to the minors. The Forgotten Ranger, Dan Blackburn, could become the club’s prime goaltending challenger if his latest shoulder surgery changes the kid’s bad luck. Meanwhile, free agent Jamie McLennan tells us that he’d like another shot with the Blueshirts next Fall; Glen Sather willing. One of the best coaches outside the NHL, according to our buzz, is Brent Sutter. Knowing him as an Islander, we’re not surprised. The two most overdue Stanley Cup ring-seekers are Dave Andreychuk and Scott Mellanby. Coyotes are expected to cement their deal with the AHL’s Utah Grizzlies. After Gary Bettman, the NHL’s top power broker who’ll influence CBA negotiations is Boston’s Jeremy Jacobs. Not far behind will be Philly’s Ed Snider. Don Cherry makes an excellent point to the Toronto Sun’s George Gross when Grapes says, “Most of today’s (hockey) writers don’t like hockey. When something unpleasant happens, they report it with glee.”  | | Dan Blackburn hopes to challenge for the Rangers' No. 1 in net for the 2004-05 season. (AP) | If Igor Larionov accepts the GM job with the Russian World Cup team, it’ll be with several conditions. Primary is that the coach be a North American! No surprise, Mike Keenan is in the mix. What killed the Mighty Ducks’ season? Our man in Anaheim, Joel Bergman, sums it up in one word, “Overconfidence!” What ultimately ended the Kings playoff bid? Check their record from the moment Anson Carter arrived in L.A. Patrick Roy is the latest inductee to the QMJHL Hall of Fame. Others include ex-Nordiques goalie Jacques Cloutier, coach Gaston Drapeau and ex-Chicoutimi ace Patrick Emond.
So, when is signing a player for $6.5 million a year a “bargain?” When you’re the Senators locking up Daniel Alfredsson to a five-year contract. Comparing his salary to such players as Mats Sundin ($9 million annual) and Doug Weight ($8.5 million), the Sens look to be in good shape if Gary Bettman’s dream of a $31 million salary cap comes true. Can new digs be had for the Penguins with a price tag under $200 million? Michael Shapiro of Sports Finance and Management Group says a new arena can be built at a cost of $150 million and not require taxpayer help. Penguins’ president Ken Sawyer disagrees. The Blackhawks have the right to be upbeat. According to Bob Pulford: “I don’t think there’s any question of our team being the best-positioned team in the NHL,” Pulford says. “We have flexibility to do things regardless of what happens [with the Lockout].” Ron Wilson on the press overlooking his amazing Sharks: “It doesn’t matter what media people think; it’s what people that you play against think. I’m sure people out there recognize what we’ve done.” We sure have!
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