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Colorado lacked killer instinct

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Posted: Wednesday June 23, 1999 06:19 PM

Any assessment Colorado general manager Pierre Lacroix makes of his team following it's stunning seventh game loss to the Dallas Stars will have to center on a lack of a killer instinct.

The Avs had a 3-2 lead and Game Six on their home ice and lost the next two to a Dallas team that appeared on the ropes physically, but somehow found a way to win.

That's going to be tough to deal with in Colorado. The Avs have been Cup contenders every year since they won the thing in a walkover against a game but undertalented Florida Panthers team in 1996. Since then every time the Avs have gone up against a more-proven squad, they've faltered.

The missing ingredients appear to be some depth up front, a defense with some muscle and grit to its game and a willingness to not only engage in but win the battles along the walls and in the corners.

Not having a go-to guy who quarterbacks the club from the defensive position also hurt.

Defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh hurt the Avs more than he helped them in Game Seven, often getting caught out of positions because he took chances where none were necessary.

The Avs are also going to have to look hard at goaltender Patrick Roy who did not have a particularly strong outing in Game Seven.

It's still a very good hockey team and one with good young players still in the system. But if the Avs are going to win again, they're going to have to play a stronger game up front, a more determined game down low and a more protective game in front of Roy, who can no longer carry a team by himself.

Sabres deny hindering ex-coach Nolan's prospects

For the second time in a month, the Buffalo Sabres have moved to shoot down a speculative story in the New York Post regarding their operations.

This one involves former coach Ted Nolan.

According to the Post, a member of Sabres ownership sent a "scathing" letter to the Los Angeles Kings, arguing that Nolan should not be hired for the head coaching job there.

Not so, says Sabres Chief Executive Officer Tim Rigas.

"I can only speak for the Rigas family, but that's absolutely not true. In fact, just the opposite would be true. We would welcome a call from Los Angeles or any other team interested in soliciting our opinion regarding Ted's coaching abilities. We would be happy to assist him in any way in his returning to the National Hockey League."

Rigas said that his father, John, actually has developed a close bond with Nolan and has been supportive of him and his charitable endeavors both while Nolan was a Sabres employee and afterward. He said he hadn't spoken with every member of the Sabres ownership group (still a rather large collection), but that he doubted anyone would take such a step.

Though Nolan was at odds with several members of the Sabres hockey department, general manger Darcy Regier said he would not stand in the way of anyone getting a job in the NHL. Regier's differences with Nolan were strictly over the terms of a contract extension. He has said repeatedly that he admired Nolan's accomplishments while he was the coach and credits him with building a foundation for the team.

Sources in Los Angeles also shot down the speculative piece, claiming that no input from the Sabres has yet been requested or received.

Muckler not likely to take GM's job in Ottawa

Former Sabres general manager John Muckler, Nolan's boss when the two were in Buffalo and currently the head coach of the New York Rangers, is now being downplayed as a possible successor to Rick Dudley as general manager in Ottawa. According to several reports, Muckler, who once turned down an offer from the Senators before coming to Buffalo would not be interested in the Ottawa job now unless the Senators were able to better his current salary.

Sources in New York maintain Muckler makes close to $1 million US in New York. The Senators reportedly have a C$500,000 cap on their general manager position.

There is still no guarantee that Dudley will even leave the Senators. There have been numerous reports that Dudley is attempting to get out of his Ottawa contract in order to join his old friend Bill Davidson, the new owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dudley worked for Davidson when he was coach and general manger of the Detroit Vipers in the International League. He was handling just the general manager duties when he left to join the Senators.

Reached by phone this week, Dudley refused to be drawn into any comments about his tenure with Ottawa or his relationship with Davidson saying only that he has not spoken to anyone regarding the matter and that if something is being talked about (between the two teams) it's going on without his knowledge or input.

Latest rumors out of Ottawa is that the Senators want a player and a first-round draft pick to let Dudley out of his contract and that talks have stalled.

It doesn't seem to make sense to keep a general manager who doesn't want to be there, but the Senators are between a rock and a public relations hard place on this issue.

It was just a year ago that they lost general manager Pierre Gauthier to the Mighty Ducks and got nothing in return. There was speculation then that there was a side deal to allow Gauthier out of his contract if the Ducks came calling and that it had the team's and the league's blessing.

Lindros backs Flyers into corner with corner

Those reports out of Philadelphia that Eric Lindros has agreed to honor his verbal commitment to play another season with the Flyers are interesting more for what the agreement doesn't say than what it does.

Lindros several times this offseason has denied reports that he told the Flyers he would stay only if general manager Bobby Clarke goes. The Lindros camp, which includes his father/agent Carl, reportedly made that known to team chairman Ed Snider in a private contract meeting to which Clarke was not invited. Both Lindros and his father have denied they want Clarke out of the picture, but in refusing to agree to more than just a one-year deal, the message seems clear.

Last season, Clarke blamed Lindros for a good portion of the team's failure in the playoffs. Lindros was not pleased with the remarks at the time.

Lindros last summer promised to sign a one-year deal this summer worth $8.5 million plus incentives providing the team did not trade him during the 1998-99 season.

According to a report in the Philadelphia Daily News, Snider was "exasperated" by Lindros' decision. He said he didn't know why Lindros would refuse to even talk about the possibility of a long-term deal.

Lindros' father acknowledged it would be to his son's advantage to sign a long-term deal, but that ""We just don't think it's appropriate at this time."

Not having a long-term deal does work in Lindros favor in at least one way. It's not likely the Flyers can trade him if clubs think they can't sign him. Lindros will be a restricted free agent at the end of next season, but even with restrictions, it's not outside the realm of possibility that another club -- say the New York Rangers -- would bid on his services.

That gives Lindros tremendous bargaining power in that the Flyers would have to match any offer or risk losing Lindros for a package of draft choices.

Palffy could be next Islander to flee town

Is Ziggy Palffy the next Islander to head North, South, East or West?

Fresh on the heels of the trade that sent Trevor Linden to Montreal, are rumors that the Islanders are considering trading their scoring star.

Palffy had 22 goals and 28 assists in just 50 games with the Islanders last season (he reported late after a contract dispute). The Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers and even the Thrashers are said to have nibbled on hints from Islanders general manger Mike Milbury that Palffy might be available for the right package of lower-priced players and draft picks.

Palffy is considered a bargain in the NHL having recently signed a five-year deal that averages about $5 million per season. With salaries seemingly forever on the rise, a long-term contract at a "fair" price makes Palffy as attractive as a business proposition as he is as a hockey attraction.

A former 50-goal scorer, Palffy is rumored to be on the block because the Islanders are again looking to lower salary. The team is said to be losing "tens of millions" according to ownership there. It is caught in a catch 22 of having low revenues because it's a bad team and then not being able to keep star players because of the low revenue. There's also business problems there is ownership is seeking a new building and huge concessions from Nassau County in order to keep the team there.

Power struggle in Toronto for GM's job

It's well known in hockey circles that Toronto assistant general manager Mike Smith wants the top job and all of the duties that go with it.

It's another question as to whether or not he'll get it.

Smith has told members of the Leafs Board of Directors that he won't be back once his contract expires at the end of this season unless he had the general manager's title and all of its powers.

Currently, team president Ken Dryden has the GM's title and part of the duties. There are rumors of a rift between Dryden and Smith and that Dryden wouldn't be displeased if Smith made good on his threats to leave.

However, board members like the work Smith has done and may be leaning his way. It's an insiders battle all the way, stay tuned.

Around the boards

Barry Smith, currently on the staff of Scott Bowman in Detroit, is rumored to be a candidate for the head coaching job in Phoenix. Smith was a serious candidate two seasons ago, but lost out to former Sabre defenseman and coach Jim Schoenfeld. Schoenfeld had been dismissed by the Coyotes at the end of their limited playoff run this season.

Jim Kelley covers the NHL -- and the Sabres -- for the Buffalo News. His notebook and rumor mill appear weekly on CNNSI.com. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer.

 

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