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Saturday, July 25, 1998
Stars getting ready to rumble?
By MIKE HEIKA Fort Worth Star-Telegram
IRVING, Texas - Bob Gainey dashes between meetings, trying
to help the NHL fix a few of its problems while attempting to
do the same for the Stars.
Summer often is a slow time for NHL executives, but the Stars'
general manager knows his work isn't quite finished. He has reeled
in one of the big free-agent catches of the summer in Brett Hull
and spent hours trying to help the league finalize new requirements
on the size of goalie equipment.
But Gainey hasn't answered one of the questions that could
pave the way to a Stanley Cup championship: Do the Stars need
a fighter?
"It's something we've talked a lot about," Gainey
said. "If you look at our team heading into training camp,
we have good depth at several of the positions. But that is one
area where we are lacking."
The Stars have been asking themselves the question for two
years and have constantly answered - No. There wasn't room in
an already talent-filled lineup. Players such as Shane Churla
and Bill Huard couldn't find a fit, so how could a newcomer?
Sure, there was a need to protect the offensive Stars - as
both Joe Nieuwendyk and Mike Modano missed important segments
of last season - but Stars coach Ken Hitchcock always stressed
team toughness.
Still, the Stars knew they needed an enforcer and were grooming
tough guys Patrick Cote and Kevin Sawyer, but neither was good
enough to step in, and both are no longer with the team. Cote
was chosen by the Nashville Predators in the expansion draft and
Sawyer wasn't re-signed. In addition, left wing Bob Bassen, one
of the players who liked to fight, was traded to the Calgary Flames
this month.
So, aside from Grant Marshall and the possibility of Derian
Hatcher, the Stars don't have a true enforcer. And with the team
moving into the rough-and-tumble Pacific Division next season,
a tough guy might be imperative.
"It's a tough division and we'll definitely have to be
ready for that change," said Les Jackson, the Stars assistant
general manager.
Both the Los Angeles Kings and Phoenix Coyotes love to hit.
The San Jose Sharks also like to fight and they have defenseman
Bryan Marchment, the player who stands as Public Enemy No. 1 at
Reunion Arena after knocking Joe Nieuwendyk out of the playoffs
with a hit Nieuwendyk referred to as "dirty."
The Stars are scheduled to play the Sharks six times next season,
and at least once, a Stars' player will be asked to pummel Marchment
simply as a matter of general principle.
"The argument can be made that had we had a player who
would fight then maybe we wouldn't have had as many injuries,"
Gainey said. "I'm not sure that's true, but the argument
can be made - and it's something we will address."
Gainey wouldn't hint at who the Stars might be interested in
or how quickly they might make an acquisition. Because enforcers
often go unprotected in the waiver draft at the end of the preseason,
the Stars could wait until then to get the player they want. However,
Gainey said the team needs to go to camp with at least one enforcer,
preferably a player who can play the left wing.
"And we'd like it to be an established one," he added.
Rob Ray, formerly of the Buffalo Sabres and an unrestricted
free agent, would be the obvious choice. Ray, 30, is compact at
6-foot-0, 203 pounds, and finished last season with 234 penalty
minutes in 63 games. He is coming off a salary of $525,000, so
he probably could be picked up within the Stars' budget.
While Ray might cost the Stars only more money, Gainey said
he will talk with other teams about trading for an enforcer.
"There are probably three ways to get a player and that's
one that we will definitely explore," Gainey said of a trade.
Two clear fits are Stu Grimson of the Carolina Hurricanes and
Denny Lambert of the Nashville Predators. Grimson is a hulking
player at 6-5, 227; Lambert is much smaller at 5-11, 200. But
Lambert proved himself an everyday player last season with nine
goals and 10 assists to go with his 250 penalty minutes.
As for Stars castoff Churla or similar projects such as Bob
Probert of the Chicago Blackhawks or Marty McSorley, an unrestricted
free agent, the Stars likely wouldn't be interested. Both Probert
and McSorley are battling various injuries that could hurt their
effectiveness as fighters.
"It's a very particular situation in that the player we
are targeting has to fit in," Gainey said. "That said,
there are several players who could fit that description."
---
Distributed by The Associated Press
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