September 18, 2011
Fischler Report: Lokomotiv Disaster Reverberates
by Stan Fischler/Columnist
THE LOKOMOTIV DISASTER will be further compounded if investigators determine that negligence by an airline with a questionable safety record played a part in this horror of horrors. The hockey world is smaller than many think and -- like so many others -- we count a number of ice pals among the victims. Among them, Brad McCrimmon, was a solid a defenseman as he was a stand-up guy. Few loved, played or -- in later coaching life -- diagnosed The Game as well as Brad. He will be admirably remembered for his affability as much for his starry efforts, most especially when The Beast and Mark Howe combined for one of the best two-way defensive pairs in history.
GOSSIP
As the new Brooklyn arena construction moves toward completion, several questions remain to be answered. Primarily, will an NHL-grade ice-making machine be installed? If so, will the rink size -- building will be under NHL seating capacity for all 30 teams now -- be 200 by 85 or smaller? Will an NHL club play an exhibition game there next Fall. If the answer to the first question is affirmative, expect an exhibition to be held on Flatbush Avenue.
Having missed the playoffs for the first time since the 1995-96 season, the Devils endured their longest off-season in 15 years, including the 2004-05 lockout. That has made all players motivated and ready to get training camp started, but no one is more eager than Zach Parise. Parise only played in one game since undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus on his right knee on November 2. Training camp begins on September 17 and Parise has been back in New Jersey for almost two weeks and skating informal scrimmages at the Prudential Center. “I’m really anxious,” said Parise. “It’s fun. It’s good now. We’ve got a lot of guys there (Prudential Center) skating. We’re getting some good scrimmages. I feel good. I feel in really good shape.” Heading into the season, Parise is confident that his knee is completely healthy and that he’ll be able to return to form that helped him lead the Devils in goals for four consecutive seasons from 2006-2010. During that stretch, Parise became the first player in team history to score 30 or more goals in four consecutive seasons, including a career high 45 in 2008-2009. “I’ve been doing a normal workout and I never had any problems with it. It was a little different at first, not having done those movements. But, by the end of the summer I was working out as I normally would and there were no problems.
Devils' top center Travis Zajac spoke for the first time since tearing his Achilles tendon during off-season training. Speaking with Tom Gulitti's Fire & Ice blog, Zajac revealed that the timetable for his return to the ice has still not been determined. When the surgery was conducted back in August, Devils g.m. Lou Lamoriello said Zajac's recovery would take three months. … Henrik Lundqvist had nothing but a smile on his face when he was welcomed at the NHL Store in Manhattan by the “Henrik, Henrik, Henrik” chant. However, the Rangers star wasn’t alone. Alongside The King was his newest teammate, Brad Richards, who had some good comments to say about his new home. “This just felt like a good fit. Great young team, great guys. Obviously getting the chance to live in and experience New York City, it just seemed to all fall together.”
That Ryan Callahan was a sure-thing to be named Rangers captain -- which he now is -- was not an open-netter. Brad Richards, Marc Staal and Brandon Dubinskyall were reasonable choices. Nonetheless, Cally epitomizes what John Tortorella hockey is all about. In the end, Cally's selection is a natural. … New York fashion critic and noted threads-blogger, Jessica Cassino, attended the Big Apple's Fashion's Night Out. Jess tells us, "Michael Del Zotto was oozing Ron Duguay-esque charisma." The trick now is for Mike to fulfill our prediction and become a cog in the Rangers power play in 2011-2012.
HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER RECOGNIZED FOR PEDIATRIC EFFORTS:
Hockey Fights Cancer joined forces with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society during the 2010-2011 season to take a shot at pediatric cancer.
Recognizing the impact of the partnership, Zach Parise, John Tavares, Michael Grabner, Henrik Lundqvist and Brad Richards joined Dr. Adolfo Ferrando of Columbia University – whose work is focused on T-Cell leukemia – and representatives of LLS at NHL headquarters to present a plaque to Hockey Fights Cancer thanking its support in the fight to eradicate pediatric cancer.
Money raised through the campaign – which included public service announcements and a mobile phone texting campaign during NHL games throughout the U.S. and Canada -- is funding an LLS portfolio of 10 pediatric cancer research grants, including one supporting the work of Dr. Ferrando.
"LLS is extremely grateful to the NHL, the Players and the entire hockey community and its fans for coming together to support this effort," LLS president and CEO John Walter said. "These funds will be a tremendous help to researchers such as Dr. Ferrando who are working hard to beat childhood cancer.”
