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The most noticeable omission from last week's announcement of award finalists was Red Wings D Nicklas Lidstrom from the Norris Trophy list. Lidstrom, a three-time winner as top defenseman, did not have a stellar season, so it was no surprise he was shut out. Lidstrom didn't exactly disagree, but he was surprised teammate Mathieu Schneider wasn't a finalist. Among the candidates is the Senators' Zdeno Chara, who had a career season, coming into his own offensively and defensively. The main reason for his success, however, was his confidence in using his 6-9 frame. Chara started believing he could intimidate opponents with his mere presence. Oh, and he could fight too; just ask Maple Leafs D Bryan McCabe, whom Chara tossed around like a rag doll in a fight during the season. Other Norris finalists: the Blues' Chris Pronger and the Devils' Scott Niedermayer, who is the odds-on favorite. The winner is selected in a poll of Professional Hockey Writers' Association members at the end of the regular season, so playoff performances are not taken into account. . . .
The tally so far on Canucks RW Todd Bertuzzi's suspension: 20 games. Is that enough for what he did to Avalanche C Steve Moore? No. The official word on Bertuzzi's suspension will come from commissioner Gary Bettman before training camp, whenever that is. . . .
How much fun would
a Sharks-Lightning Stanley Cup finals be? Just the tonic the NHL would need
to get fans through a labor shutdown. The way the two teams play -- all offense,
all speed, all the time, with a dash of crunching body checks for good measure
-- would leave a good taste in the mouths of fans if there is a really long
offseason. Or, heck, it might just spur the stubborn sides in the labor dispute
to get a deal done before people forget (or stop caring) how good hockey can
be. . . .
Speaking of next fall, the WHA announced that in its inaugural 2004-05 season,
its Canadian franchises will be in Toronto, Hamilton, Quebec City, Halifax and
possibly Vancouver. They'll join Detroit and Miami and maybe Dallas. Former
NHL star Bobby Hull, who gave the original WHA credibility by signing with the
league in its infancy, is the commissioner of the latest incarnation. Current
NHL players Brett Hull and Jeremy Roenick have said they will consider playing
in the WHA if there is a protracted labor dispute. The WHA2, designed to be
a feeder system for the WHA, dissolved last week after its first season. Six
of its teams joined the reincarnated EHL. . . .
Canada's Sportsnet
reported last week that Penguins C Mario Lemieux was skating to judge his level
of recovery from hip surgery. Speculation was that Lemieux was preparing for
an NHL season. Forget that: Lemieux is seeing whether he will be able to play
in the World Cup. Team Canada's training camp begins August 25 in Ottawa; Lemieux
wants to make sure he's in game shape by then after missing almost an entire
season. The eight-nation World Cup of Hockey takes place August 30-September
14 in North America and Europe. The semifinals and final will be in North America.
The final, on September 14 in Toronto, is on the eve of the expiration of the
NHL's collective-bargaining agreement.