UKRAINIAN PRO HOCKEY UPDATE
by Ihor Stelmach
Enthusiastic Hrudey retires with no regrets
San Jose Sharks' goaltender Kelly Hrudey traded in his goalie mask and pads for a microphone. He called it an even swap. Hrudey, 37, closed the book on his 15-year NHL playing career when he announced his retirement on July 30, 1998. But he planned to stay real close to his beloved sport by working as a color commentator for Hockey Night in Canada.
"I have no formal training (in broadcasting), but I sure enjoy it," Hrudey said. "I'm going to tackle this as enthusiastically as I have my hockey career."
Hrudey, who also played for the New York Islanders and Los Angeles Kings, announced his retirement after the Sharks acquired goalie Steve Shields from the Buffalo Sabres.
"I have no regrets," Hrudey said at the time. "My retirement is a celebration, not a sad event."
The venerable netminder posted a career record of 271-265-88 (wins-losses-ties) and a goals-against-average of 3.43 with 17 career shutouts. He played in the Stanley Cup final in 1993 with the Kings and stopped 73 of 75 shots to lead the New York Islanders to a dramatic 3-2, four-overtime Game 7 victory over the Washington Capitals in the 1987 playoffs.
Despite such a long and storied tenure in the NHL, Hrudey said the most memorable moment of his entire career came at the very start. "The No. 1 highlight (was being) told I had made the New York Islanders (in 1983). What a thrill that was! They were four-time defending Stanley Cup champions. I remember going out in the parking lot and raising my arms in the air like in the movie 'Rocky', at the top of the stairs."
Two-year contract for Nikolishin caps protracted free agency
The Washington Capitals finally came to terms with their last Group II restricted free agent in late October and it couldn't have come at a more opportune time for all. The club and center Andrei Nikolishin announced they reached on agreement October 27, 1998, on a two-year deal that will pay the Ukrainian native $1.9 million.
Nikolishin had sought a one-year contract for $1.3 million, but the Capitals wanted a longer term. Nikolishin scored six goals and 16 points in only 36 games last season and then added a sole goal to go with a whopping, team-record 13 assists in 21 playoff matches.
Just a week before the Caps got Nikolishin to sign on the proverbial dotted line, they also came to terms with Russian defenseman Sergei Gonchar, inking their offensively inclined blueliner to a two-year, $3.3 million package. Gonchar notched five goals in 72 regular season games last season and added seven goals in 21 playoff games last spring.
The day Nikolishin approved the deal, the Caps had seven players out hurt - five of them forwards, including three centers. The plan at the time was to put him into the line-up as soon as he passed his physical. Nikolishin hadn't played a game since the end of the playoffs, but had been working out with Moscow Dynamo in Russia. Coach Ron Wilson hoped the 25-year-old could go for at least a few games on adrenaline before his game conditioning was up to par. It proved to be the case. "Niko" jumped right into the fray.
With Nikolishin back in the fold, Coach Wilson thought he could finally start - injuries permitting - piecing together the forward lines that made a successful run through the playoffs all the way to the Stanley Cup finals last spring. Nikolishin had been teamed up with, believe it or not, fellow Ukes Peter Bondra and Steve Konowalchuk, then Bondra and Richard Zednik to make up the team's speediest forward line.
Nikolishin has proven to be a good worker down low and in the slot and has excellent skills at holding the puck until a linemate works his way into the clear. This asset was most evident in the playoffs last season. His career high for goals and assists is 14 and 37, respectively, both set in 1995-1996 as a member of the Hartford Whalers (remember them?), who drafted him 47th overall in 1992.
A 1998-1999 Andrei Nikolishin update: out injured for nine of the Caps' first 30 games, 2 goals-6 assists-8 points-10 PIM in 20 games.
Belak adds crucial grit
Those looking for the most pleasant surprise in the Colorado Avalanche's training camp September 1998 needed to look no further than one Wade Belak. A first-round selection (12th overall) in the 1994 entry draft, Belak impressed in camp with his overall play. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound rookie defenseman was the talk of camp and earned a spot on the opening night roster.
Not only had Belak been a punishing checker and hitter on the ice, but his poise with the puck had improved greatly over last year.
"I feel a little more comfortable this year than I have the last two camps," Belak readily admitted during a chat with Adrian Dater last September. "We'll have to see what happens, but I'm going to do my best to stay here."
Belak quickly became a fan favorite in McNichols Sports Arena during the first three exhibition games. He registered several glass-rattling checks and more than held his own in several pugilistic confrontations. His presence gives the Avalanche some much-needed toughness, something they didn't have enough of last year.
"By far, the kid who has shown the most in camp is Belak," said new coach Bob Hartley. "He plays with a lot of grit. Anybody who plays with a bit of a burr is going to get a long look with us."
Belak was also used at right wing in an exhibition game against the San Jose Sharks, which is something coaches often do with young defensemen looking to get a little more ice time on a deep club.
Through Colorado's first 30-plus games in 1998-1999, Belak dressed for some 17, being thus far held scoreless, but amassing 49 minutes in penalties. He is a tough presence on the Avs' blueline - a true enforcer!
(Hrudey quotes thanks to Dan Wood, Nikolishin's courtesy of Dave Fay, both beat reporters covering their teams for The Hockey News.)
New chance for Berehowsky
If part of the expansion blueprint is to trade known veteran quantities for younger players with yet-undetermined potential, the expansion Nashville Predators are following this plan to a T. The Predators dealt proven goalie Mikhail Shtalenkov and center Jim Dowd to the Edmonton Oilers last October, and received in return two former Toronto Maple Leafs' first-round draft picks - goalie Eric Fichaud and defenseman Drake Berehowsky - as well as defenseman Greg DeVries.
The Ukrainian Berehowsky, chosen by Toronto 10th overall in 1990, has bounced up and down between the NHL and minors over some six seasons, but the 26-year-old made noticeable strides and progress playing a steadier game last season with Edmonton while wracking up 169 minutes in penalties.
DeVries, 25, averaged nearly 18 minutes a game last year, but was deemed expendable because of the Oilers' depth on defense.
"It was pretty apparent from our first few pre-season games that most of our defensemen were quick, but did not have a lot of size," said Predators' GM David Poile (a quote captured by Nashville beat writer Jeff Legwold). "These two guys (Berehowsky and DeVries) are bigger than anyone we had."
Berehowsky measures in at 6-foot-1 and 211 pounds, DeVries at 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds. Quite hefty!
| Wayne Gretzky | N.Y. Rangers | 6,000,000 |
| Keith Tkachuk | Phoenix | 4,100,000 |
| Peter Bondra | Washington | 3,514,123 |
| Dave Andreychuk | New Jersey | 2,500,000 |
| Alexei Zhitnik | Buffalo | 2,500,000 |
| Dimitri Khristich | Boston | 1,950,000 |
| Curtis Leschyshyn | Carolina | 1,700,000 |
| Oleg Tverdovsky | Phoenix | 1,700,000 |
| Ken Daneyko | New Jersey | 1,275,818 |
| Dave Babych | Philadelphia | 1,000,000 |
| Andrei Nikolishin | Washington | 950,000 |
| Richard Matvichuk | Dallas | 871,300 |
| Steve Konowalchuk | Washington | 850,000 |
| Brian Bellows | Washington | 800,000 |
| Eddie Olczyk | Chicago | 600,000 |
| Wade Belak | Colorado | 525,000 |
| Joey Kocur | Detroit | 475,000 |
| Brent Fedyk | N.Y. Rangers | 450,000 |
| Tony Hrkac | Dallas | 350,000 |
| Drake Berehowsky | Edmonton-Nashville | 325,000 |
| Mike Maneluk | Philadelphia-Chicago | 275,000 |
| Greg Pankiewicz | Calgary | 227,500 |
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 24, 1999, No. 4, Vol. LXVII
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