A Flying Skate Down Memory Lane

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The Winnipeg Jets were just two points above the playoff bar. That means any combination of one loss on their part, combined with one win by the wrong team, and they could be on the outside looking in. It was a razor thin margin to be sure, and that brought a sense of desperation to their game. From the opening drop of the puck, the Jets played like a team possessed, with utter determination to win the race for every loose puck while checking like a gang of frenzied carnivores.

Before it was all said and done, Winnipeg fired 43 shots on Arturs Irbe, who must have been wondering what happened to our usual puck possession game. Down 4-to-1 with 8:17 left in the game, Pavel Bure managed to get us within two, but that's as close as we'd come. Minutes later, the Jets added an empty netter to put the finishing touches on a 5-2 win.

Later in the dressing room...

GM/HC: "We need to take this game as a learning experience. This is what can happen when you play a desperate team. It's very difficult to match their level of emotional intensity. They've got everything to lose, and we've got nothing to lose, except our self-respect. Great teams rise above and find a way to outmatch their opponents, and everyone in this organization believes, this is a great team!"



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Week: 20

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Our monthly budget meetings were becoming a cause for concern. Not that the numbers weren't adding up, they were, but after a long day of drinking coffee and staring at white paper, most anyone would be ready to jump out the nearest window. At least that's how it seemed to us at the end of the day. The truth is, we did it to stay abreast of the entire operation, though (important as that is), no one really enjoyed it.

Since the start of the season, we'd maintained the same level of monthly expenditures in Scouting Support, Team Morale and Arena Operations. There'd been no new directives, and our policy wasn't about to change. What's that they say about: 'If it ain't broke?'... In any event, from our vantage point we had more than enough on our plates, so there was no need to further complicate matters by tinkering with something that was already working.



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Month: 5

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The trade deadline fell on March the 10th, so there was only a week-and-a-half left for player movement. To date, we hadn't received any jaw-dropping offers, though there was a fair bit of interest in Robert Kron. (If you recall, we'd already made our late season acquisition in the form of Anatoli Semenov, so we were quite happy to stand pat - unless the price was right).

Three or four teams had called on Kron, as they were all looking to add a piece who could boost their run to the playoffs - and hopefully beyond.

GM: "Kron's a really good depth player. He could be the difference between making the playoffs or not making the playoffs. What's that worth to you?"

Eddie Johnston: "We'll give you a third rounder for next year."

GM: "No can do. It'll have to be a second, and we're gonna stay firm on that."

Eddie Johnston: "Okay, we'll have to see what else is out there, but we may circle back to you on this."

If other GM's thought the ask was too high, that's fine, they could always shop elsewhere. We were dealing from a position of strength, and besides, we weren't in the business of giving away our assets.

Note: (Eddie Johnston or 'EJ,' is the General Manager of the Hartford Whalers).

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Since being appointed AGM, Brian Burke had been burning the midnight oil crossing the "t's" and dotting the "i's" on various contract extensions. Immediately after his promotion, we huddled together for a few days, to develop budget goals and a list of key players that we wanted to retain for next year and beyond. Getting the two to mesh would be a challenge, and since then Brian had been nose deep in negotiations with player agents.

One of the first, (and fastest) to align was third-pair defenseman Gerald Diduck. 'Dids' was a hard-nosed character player, and a great shutdown defenseman who gave you everything he had. He was the kind of player you could throw out on the PK, and trust him to take care of his own end, with no qualms. Gerald loved playing in Vancouver, and it was our pleasure to have him (and keep him) on the team.

Diduck's existing contract called for 140k per year. Starting from there, Brian negotiated an extension for another three years at 155k per. That represented a 10.7% increase, or in layman's terms, a number we were very happy with.

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Though it was hard to put a finger on exactly why, when it came to the Calgary Flames, we were completely dialed in. (Whatever the reason, one thing was certain, it went far beyond mere geography). Something about Calgary just got us in the right mood to play. So much so, to this point in the year, we totally owned the series with a perfect 4-and-O record. In addition, Pavel Bure was sitting on 99 points and looking to become the first player in the league to reach (and break) the century mark.

Once the zebras dropped the puck, the game itself was unusual in that our fourth line accounted for all the scoring. Anatoli Semenov (who was named first star), and Garry Valk, each had a goal and an assist, while Shawn Antoski and Gerald Diduck picked up the other apples. It was nice to see our lunch bucket guys get rewarded for all their hard work. Whether you're first line or fourth line, taking a turn in the spotlight does everyone good.



Player in the Spotlight: Anatoli Semenov | DGR 69 | G 1 | A 1 | +/- 2 | TOT 10:50 | FO% 55.6 | 1st Star

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Where did you get that trade tracker on page 2? I thought it was good tool.

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February was a big month for trades and personal achievements. Starting with the latter, Doug Wilson (of the San Jose Sharks), joined the thousand games played club, whilst former Oiler great Glenn Anderson, (now with the Leafs), notched his 500th career assist. Not to be outdone, our very own Pavel Bure was named NHL player of the month, (thereby joining the ranks of previous winners Vladimir Krutov and Igor Larionov).

As we presented Pavel with a giant check in the amount of ten thousand dollars, we told him that he and his countrymen had better stop winning, or they'd bankrupt the team. 'Pasha' just smiled and said, "Okay, sure."

GM: "No, no, no! It's just a joke Pavel, keep winning...

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February witnessed a number of minor trades plus two massive deals. The first, and of greatest concern to us, was the Los Angeles Kings reuniting Wayne Gretzky with another former Oiler superstar Paul Coffey. One of the most naturally-gifted skaters in the game, Coffey would now be patrolling the blueline for L.A., making them even more of a threat in our division. (In exchange for Coffey, the Kings sent Brian Benning, Jeff Chychrun and a 1992 1st round pick to Pittsburgh).

Without stopping to pause, on the exact same day, Pittsburgh flipped two of the assets they just acquired from L.A., in a seven player swap with state rival Philadelphia. The Flyers received Brian Benning, Mark Recchi and the Kings 1992 1st round pick, in exchange for Kjell Samuelsson, Rick Tocchet, Ken Wregget and a 1993 conditional 3rd rounder. (Rick Tocchet was the current Flyers captain, so this was a very big deal indeed).



Player in the Spotlight: Paul Coffey | AGE 30 | ABI/POT 4.5/4.5 | 2-time Norris winner (Best defenseman in NHL)

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Igor Larionov made a slick pass between the defender's legs to Pavel Bure. Pasha then took a couple quick strides toward the goal, and once the defense was suitably drawn-in, (just like bees to honey), he dropped it back to Jeff Brown at the point. It was a soft pass, flat and perfectly teed up. When Brown saw it was served on a platter, he lifted his head and took a quick look at the goalie and then one-timed a wicked blast that flexed his stick to the max!

Just like that, the game-winning goal ripped cleanly into the back of the net, tearing a whole through the mesh and escaping out the back end. (There was some doubt as to whether the puck actually went in, but video replay put that question to bed). The game was further delayed by the repair crew having to patch the webbing, but we didn't mind, as it gave us more time to celebrate!

The game-winner was Brownie's second on his way to a hat-trick, but the prettiest goal of the night belonged to Geoff Courtnall, who made a tremendous deke before going five-hole on Curtis Joseph! (See video below).

VIDEO: Courtnall Dekes and Scores!!



Player in the Spotlight: Jeff Brown | GR 73 | G 3 | A 1 | SOG 10 | HT 3 | TOT 23:08 | 1st Star

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In the midst of all the action in our last game, two of our top-players reached and, (in one case surpassed), important individual landmarks. First was Geoff Courtnall who scored his 200th career goal, (which also happened to be one of his prettiest). Then came Pavel Bure, not only reaching, but shattering the hundred point plateau on his way to an impressive three point night.

(To help make the accomplishments special, we voluntarily cut two bonus checks, one to Geoff for two-thousand, and the other to Pasha for five grand).

What made the day even better, was a a report showing our top (five-man) unit held all five top positions for plus/minus rankings in the entire league. No one was better, and holding spots one through five was a source of tremendous satisfaction. Last but not least, the same report showed Pavel Bure leading the league with 429 shots, with the next closest being our own Jeff Brown at 290. These were exactly the results we loved to see.

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With the team preparing to embark on a three-game eastern swing, Brian Burke was making more progress on our list of upcoming free agents. The next to sign was rugged left winger Sergio Momesso. To us he was simply 'Big Serge' due to his imposing size and raw strength. Sergio was a key member of our third-unit checking line, a spot he earned the old-fashioned way by playing a hard-nosed physical style. (Whenever he was on the ice, opponents had to keep their heads on a swivel, as Sergio was famous for finishing his checks).

When talks started, Sergio was asking for 130k per on a three year pact. At just 26, we were willing to extend an extra year of security in exchange for a slightly lower annual average value (AAV). So we discussed the options with his agent, and finally agreed to four years at an AAV of 125k (in increments of 120, 125, 125 and 130 per annum). That way, once the contract matured, Sergio would reside at the original 130k level he was looking for.

All things considered, it was a good negotiation, and we were happy to have 'Big Serge' back in the fold.

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The Boston Bruins were in the middle of a three-way tie for the final playoff position. To complicate matters further, the other two teams had both played fewer games, so of the three, Boston had the toughest path. What this meant for the Bruins, is that as of now, every game was like the Stanley Cup final. There was no more margin for error, just a desperate team, clinging to a playoff dream. All of which served as a warning, Boston would play hard, so we had to be ready.

Unlike the Winnipeg game last week, this time we were fully prepared for a team in desperation mode. We simplified our game, used the boards more for clear-outs and moved the puck quickly to minimize their aggressive forecheck (and reduce forced turnovers). Despite our best efforts, Boston still played one of their best games of the season, so this was no walk-in-the-park. When everything was said and done, we skated off with a 4-4 tie, and a good feeling about our effort.

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Jeff Brown was walking through the hotel lobby carrying a bottle of Chardonnay in one hand and a bouquet of flowers in the other. Over at the front desk, an attractive female concierge was busy helping other guests. Jeff was patient, taking a spot in line where he waited quietly for a moment of her time. After a minute or two, she looked up, and when her eyes met his, Jeff smiled and presented the bouquet with the best boyish charm he could muster.

"These are for you," Jeff said with a grin, "I hope they brighten your day as much as you brighten it for others." She looked a little surprised, and blushed ever so slightly. "Thank you," she replied softly, "They're so beautiful!" After a long gaze to admire the vibrant colors and delicate beauty, she continued, "Oh, and I have something for you!"

It was a note we'd left at the front desk for 'Brownie.' It read: "Just a little something to commemorate your 100th career goal. It doesn't matter that we didn't have to, just like it doesn't matter most of the goals were scored for another team. You're a big part of the Canuck family now, and we take care of our own. Enjoy your bonus check, and thank you for being such an important part of our core!"

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Yet another tough test in Hartford, with the Whalers just one point back with two games in hand. The only good thing about playing all these teams fighting for their playoff lives, is it definitely gets you ready for the postseason, where this kind of battle-level becomes the norm night-in and night-out. Now with every game meaning so much, the intensity level was ratcheted way up, and you were almost certain to face a team playing their 'A' game.

And that's exactly what we got... The score was 4-3 in the final minute with the Hartford goalie pulled for the extra-attacker. The Whalers were pouring the pressure on in our zone, creating a couple wild scrambles where they very nearly tied the game. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. After what seemed like ages being bottled up in our own zone, we finally managed to break out as Pavel Bure sent a nice chip pass up to Vladimir Krutov. Krutov skated through center ice before unselfishly passing to Doug Lidster, who hit the empty net dead center for a 5-3 win!