C.Rector Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 From the March 23rd, 2004 Daily Herald: Islanders quickly learning the truth about Karpovtsev By Tim Sassone Daily Herald Sports Writer Posted Tuesday, March 23, 2004 Any Blackhawks fan could have told New York Islanders general manager Mike Milbury this would happen: Alexander Karpovtsev has missed the last three games with a leg "contusion." You'd think Karpovtsev would want to play through the pain for his new team, which is in a battle for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. No doubt, his new teammates are rolling their eyes at his unwillingness to play, just like his Hawks teammates did for years. This is the perfect spot to high-five veteran Hawks broadcaster Pat Foley, whose on-air editorial following Karpovtsev's departure was priceless. Foley ripped into the ex-Hawk during the March 11 broadcast from New Jersey that still has fans buzzing. "Alexander Karpovtsev looks for any excuse not to play, and in his time in Chicago, he is the worst excuse for a teammate that I have seen in my two decades of doing this job," Foley said. "Doctor Karpovtsev always has an excuse, always milked the system." Foley went on to call the trade made by former GM Mike Smith, which sent Bryan McCabe to Toronto in exchange for Karpovtsev, "One of the worst deals in the history of the Chicago Blackhawks. "He was a disgrace to the uniform when he was in Chicago," said Foley. Hasek speaks: Red Wings goalie Dominik Hasek ended his long silence about his failed comeback attempt. Hasek received a lot of criticism in Detroit for not trying harder to rehab the groin injury that ended his year even though he has refused to accept the final $3 million of his $9 million salary. "I tried to come back four or five times and every time it got worse and worse," Hasek said. "That's why I made this decision. It was because I couldn't play on the level I was expecting to play. I want to be back, but first I want to be healthy. If you're not healthy, you cannot play." Hasek intends to play somewhere next season, but it won't be in Detroit. War of words: Nothing gets the insults flying like a good brawl. Nashville coach Barry Trotz blamed Calgary coach Darryl Sutter for igniting the melee that occurred late in Saturday's game, won by the Predators 3-1. And the NHL agreed, suspending Sutter and enforcer Krzysztof Oliwa two games each on Sunday. The league disciplined Sutter for sending out Oliwa, Robyn Regehr, Rhett Warrener and Mike Commodore to fight with three seconds left. "They had four puppets out there to do something," Trotz said. "Obviously, that's pre-meditated. We're trying to clean up the game and (Sutter) keeps putting it back in the 1930s." Regehr took exception to being called a puppet by Trotz. "If we look like puppets, he looks like the Pillsbury Dough Boy, I guess," said Regehr. Hard sell: The Capitals are still trying to make their fans understand why Jaromir Jagr, Peter Bondra, Sergei Gonchar, Robert Lang, Anton Carter and Michael Nylander were traded away. After starting the season with a payroll of $51.1 million, ninth largest in the NHL, the Caps began unloading their high-priced stars when it became clear they weren't going to make the playoffs. "Nobody expected the season to go this way," GM George McPhee told the Washington Times. "But I would hope most fans, if given the choice, would have done the same thing we did. Our options were to stay with an expensive team that was underachieving or to get out from under those contracts and prepare for the new hockey universe, whatever it maybe." On notice: With the Lightning having lost four of its last five games, coach John Tortorella has laid down the challenge to goalies Nikolai Khabibulin and John Grahame to be better with the playoffs right around the corner. "We have the best tandem in the league when they are on, but they have to do it more consistently," Tortorella said. "Do I have a concern? Yes. The fact of life is in close games, playoff hockey, it starts and ends with goaltending." Terrific gesture: Bill Wirtz, take note. The Pittsburgh Penguins announced they are slashing the price of season tickets from six to 45 percent for next season. The Pens are averaging just 11,791 fans per game, worst in the NHL. "Believe me, we want to reward our loyal fans who have been with us through this rebuild," said team president Ken Sawyer. "They're our lifeblood. And secondly, we want to encourage people to come back. We felt we couldn't sit still and do nothing." Out of his hands: New Jersey Devils coach Pat Burns still doesn't know if he'll have defenseman Scott Stevens for the start of the playoffs. Stevens has been out since Jan. 7 because of post-concussion syndrome. "I don't think about it," said Burns. "I can't worry about it. I can't place it in my mind." Tip-ins: Florida goalie Roberto Luongo is on pace to break the record for shots faced in a season of 2,438, set by Toronto's Felix Potvin in 1996-97. ... Luongo is 6-5-2-2 in games where he has faced 40 shots or more. ... Philadelphia's Jeremy Roenick, recovering from a concussion and broken jaw, said he hopes to play in at least the final two regular season games. ... Linesman Ray Scapinello has announced he will retire after 33 NHL seasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 The IMPORTANT part Terrific gesture: Bill Wirtz, take note. The Pittsburgh Penguins announced they are slashing the price of season tickets from six to 45 percent for next season. The Pens are averaging just 11,791 fans per game, worst in the NHL. "Believe me, we want to reward our loyal fans who have been with us through this rebuild," said team president Ken Sawyer. "They're our lifeblood. And secondly, we want to encourage people to come back. We felt we couldn't sit still and do nothing." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilJester99 Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 All I have to say is THANK YOU NY Islanders....I didnt think anyone was more stupid than the Hawks for taking this piece of s***. It was a great day when he was traded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NUKE_CLEVELAND Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 The IMPORTANT part Terrific gesture: Bill Wirtz, take note. The Pittsburgh Penguins announced they are slashing the price of season tickets from six to 45 percent for next season. The Pens are averaging just 11,791 fans per game, worst in the NHL. "Believe me, we want to reward our loyal fans who have been with us through this rebuild," said team president Ken Sawyer. "They're our lifeblood. And secondly, we want to encourage people to come back. We felt we couldn't sit still and do nothing." Somehow I don't think it'll sink into his fat head what he needs to do to fix this team. He just doesn't care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 The Pittsburgh Penguins announced they are slashing the price of season tickets from six to 45 percent for next season. The Pens are averaging just 11,791 fans per game, worst in the NHL. "Believe me, we want to reward our loyal fans who have been with us through this rebuild," said team president Ken Sawyer. "They're our lifeblood. And secondly, we want to encourage people to come back. We felt we couldn't sit still and do nothing." Reading the above brought to mind a scene from "Braveheart". Longshanks had sent the princess to try and buy off William Wallace. Wallace turned it down and the princess donated the money to charity, in some form or another. When the king found out about it, he gagged. I can picture Wirtz having the exact same react when he hears about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 At least Krapov will hav sumthin in common with Alexei Yashin. They'll be best buddies bf ya know it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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