Back in action

Archived from 1998-99 season.

NHL teams

It is September and the new hockey season is almost here! With the new season comes a few new rules. The most important change is that the goals have been moved out an additional two feet from the end boards and the crease has been shaved so that it is flat on each side. These changes are designed to boost scoring.

Most of the NHL teams have already started their training camps, but not all the players. There are over 100 NHL players without a contract. Most will sign in time for the season, but some will become hold outs.

One of the most notable players not on camp is left wing Keith Tkachuk of the Phoenix Coyotes. He was suspended by the team after failing to report to camp. Tkachuk says the team promised to re-negotiate his contract, but has failed to do so.

"I'm disappointed, obviously," said Coyotes coach Jim Schoenfeld. "As I've said before, Keith is a player under contract and we expect all our contracted players to be here. He's decided not to come, so now it's a situation where our planning for the start of the regular season has to be done without him."

The Montreal Canadiens are missing many key players. Shayne Corson is not at the camp after his talks with the team went nowhere. The team also told its five other unsigned free agents — forwards Saku Koivu, Brian Savage and Martin Rucinsky, and defensemen Vladimir Malakhov and Patrice Brisebois — not to show up at camp.

The Norris Trophy winner, defenseman Rob Blake is not at the Los Angeles Kings' camp. Blake turned down a five-year contract worth $25 million.

The New York Islanders don't know where the home is. The team has sued the Nassau Coliseum, their home arena, citing safety concerns. The team wants out of their current lease and has refused to practice or play exhibition games at the Coliseum.

Roger Marino, the co-owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins denied rumors that the team was going to trade Jaromir Jagr saying that Jagr was the Penguins' franchise player.


Contact The HockeyNut - Front Page - Archive

Copyright©1998 The HockeyNut