HockeyThe 3 most trustworthy men in hockey

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Especially when you’re forced to consult with people outside your own organization. Three other GMs knew:

Joe Nieuwendyk. Phoenix needed permission to interview Dave Tippett.

Jim Rutherford. The Coyotes also needed approval to speak with Peter Laviolette, who was choice number two.

Darcy Regier. Why? “He’s probably my best friend in hockey,” Maloney said. As of this time, Regier hasn't commented on the issue.

The nature of their job means all three will hear so much sensitive information. Have to believe the possibility of replacing Gretzky is pretty close to number one.

“It was as delicate as anything I can remember,” Rutherford said last week. “(Maloney) wasn’t real sure what was going to happen, but wanted to be prepared for all possibilities.”

Did you tell anyone?

“You can’t,” he said. “I didn’t even feel the need to sit down at the dinner table and tell my wife. People would ask, ‘What do you think will happen in Phoenix?’ and I wouldn’t say anything.”

Nieuwendyk laughed when he heard that.

“I might have said it to my wife,” he said. Other than her, no one.

For the 564-goal scorer, there is another consideration. He is highly respected for his professionalism as a player, but has only been a GM for four months. If there was any doubt he could be trusted, it’s erased.

“I’m still getting to know these guys...I talked to Don quite a bit. It was a difficult situation for him. Who was I going to tell? What would I have to gain from that?”

How airtight was the secret? Neither man heard final confirmation until Gretzky announced it on his website. By the way, Rutherford hopes that, someday, number 99 will be president of the Los Angeles Kings.

“It’s my personal opinion. For everything he’s done for hockey in the United States – especially in California,” the Hurricanes GM said. “I really feel bad for that situation and feel bad for Wayne.”

Rooting for: Theo Fleury

I was surprised to see how well he handled being cut by Calgary, considering he’d exceeded expectations in the preseason.

Now, I understand. By admitting what many in the hockey world suspected for years – he was abused by Graham James – he is finally at peace with himself.

Undoubtedly, people will wonder why he didn’t come forward sooner, but how anyone can be critical?

Who’s to say what the right time should be? One person – the victim. (Although, I admit I do wonder if he wouldn’t have had the off-ice problems in New York and Chicago if this heavy burden was off his shoulders.)

When I was still at The Score, I did a lengthy interview with him upon his arrival in Chicago.

He claimed to be clean, claimed he was happy, but he wasn’t. He didn’t have the same look of satisfaction he had two weeks ago.

He’s content. Hopefully, it stays that way, as he faces difficult questions on his upcoming book tour.

And another thing...

Anyone who says Fleury is not a Hall-of-Famer is crazy. He had significant impact in a sport prejudiced against players his size.

Non-hockey thoughts of the week:

NBA.com put together a very interesting survey of the league GMs – divided into seven sections: season predictions, player predictions, rookies/internationals, defence, off season moves, coaches and miscellaneous.

Here are a few of the questions:
If you were starting a franchise today and could sign any player in the NBA, who would it be?
Who is the best power forward in the NBA?
Who is the best interior defender in the NBA?
Which player is the best offensive rebounder?
Who is the toughest player?
Who is the best leader?

Care to guess which player received exactly zero votes in any of these categories?

Chris Bosh.

This is the dilemma Bryan Colangelo faces. Bosh wants a max contract. Someone is probably going to give it to him, even though according to the league’s own anonymous survey, he’s not worth it.

In a perfect world, Bosh accepts a contract that still makes his great-grandchildren wealthy. He does what Dwight Howard did last season, force double teams so Hedo Turkoglu has room to score.

Maybe he changes people’s opinions of him and scores much better in next year’s survey. But, with unrestricted free agency looming, Colangelo can’t wait to see.

I’m not convinced Bosh wants to stay, and that’s another reason I wouldn’t offer him the max. If your date is looking elsewhere, she’s never going to be satisfied with you.

Random thought:

Will Sergei Kostitsyn stay in Hamilton if he isn’t traded by the weekend? Or, will he go back to Russia?

Uh-Oh Award:

From Ted Leonsis’ blog after the Capitals lost 3-2 to Detroit on Saturday – “That game looked like a game played between grownups and some spoiled teenagers.”

Beginning to wonder how Washington will handle the pressure of high expectations. How long will it take for Michal Neuvirth to get the call? George McPhee said he is ready to face the big boys.

*When Bryan Murray coached in Ottawa, he had a “two-goal rule” when it came to fighting. If the Senators were up two, no one was allowed to go. He didn’t want to lose momentum. After Max Talbot’s fight with Daniel Carcillo turned a 3-0 Philly lead into a series clinching loss last year, you figure everyone would learn the lesson. But noooooooooo. Last Tuesday, Anaheim led Minnesota 3-0 when John Scott challenged George Parros. Parros accepted, and was kayoed. Andrew Brunette won it in OT for the Wild.

Those who understand: John Erskine and Darcy Hordichuk. Both skated away from fights last week when their teams were in control.

Colin Campbell had no choice but to fine Pat Quinn. After Todd Bertuzzi/Brad May/Steve Moore, the league must be over-sensitive to retribution-style comments, even if Quinn didn’t mean it.

I love old trade stories, and Jim Matheson came up with a great one in The Edmonton Journal. Matheson reported that the Oilers had a deal with St. Louis to move up to 9th in the 1988 NHL Draft. They were going to take Teemu Selanne, who the Jets coveted one spot later. But Rod Brind’Amour slipped to that spot. The Blues really wanted him, so it fell apart.

Great story II:

On the Montreal Canadiens’ website, Frank Selke Jr. admits his father warned the Detroit Red Wings that they had a terrific player in their farm system who wasn’t on their negotiation list. And, if this player wasn’t signed in 24 hours, Montreal would steal him. The year was 1946. The player was Gordie Howe.

Nicklas Lidstrom:

After the Stanley Cup Final, Patrick Sharp called Nicklas Lidstrom to apologize for the testicle injury. Sharp didn’t remember the spear that caused it. “It really meant a lot to me that he would call,” Lidstrom said.

Lidstrom still has no idea how Marc-Andre Fleury made that last-second save in Game 7. “When I looked down to shoot, I had an open net,” he said. Relayed that quote last weekend, Fleury broke out into his big smile.

Pens "Captain Courteous"

*CBC cameraman Mark Punga dropped a case of his equipment near the Penguins bus after their morning skate last weekend. A player happened to be walking by and came over to help him. That player? Sidney Crosby.

Optional skate for Penguins and everyone is there, going hard. Although, Bill Guerin later admits he “was shamed into going on the ice.”

Excuse me for the cheesy Rocky III reference, but that team still has the Eye of the Tiger.

Quick hits:

*Chicago lost Martin Biron due to the front-office implosion, but he wasn’t the only one. Jay McKee was also ready to join the Blackhawks.

*Vesa Toskala is not big enough to cover the net, the style Francois Allaire likes.

*It’s one thing to win a few fights, like the Maple Leafs did Saturday night. But Jim Hughson, Craig Simpson and Glenn Healy did a great job of pointing out that toughness is more than just fighting.

It’s winning battles on the ice. And, Ron Wilson said after the game that his forwards weren’t willing to pay the price to go to the net. This team is nowhere near truculent enough.

*Looking to see if there’s a fit for Brendan Shanahan.

Prefers to stay east since he’s got a place in Manhattan and wife is from Boston. So far, confirmed “No’s” are Detroit, Carolina (with Erik Cole out) and Toronto.

*One of the reasons Luke Schenn is struggling is that it’s still difficult for him to get used to playing with two hands on the stick. That’s the way the Leafs want their defencemen to play, and he’d never done it before being drafted. Schenn wouldn’t discuss it – didn’t want to cause problems – but on at least two occasions this year, goals have been scored off the rush because he’s tentative.

Party Pooper Award:

Just want to tell fans in Winnipeg and Quebec City not to get overexcited. Teams in those cities are a long, long way away. (Even though I’d love to see it.)

The good news is that everything is being done with Gary Bettman’s knowledge.

*Mike Cammalleri met in person with Brian Burke on July 1. Wanted to come east, but decided not to join Leafs because he wants to keep Toronto as the city he relaxes in every summer, not where he spends his entire year.

Only Western team he seriously considered was Vancouver, because Mike Gillis used to be his agent.

*The Penguins submitted a cellphone pic of Kris Letang’s finger as proof that Scott Hartnell bit him. Since no referees/linesmen witnessed it, they couldn’t suspend Hartnell. I asked to show the photo on HNIC, but they politely declined.

Funniest scene in that Penguins/Philly brawl: Chris Pronger deciding whether or not to punch former teammate Chris Kunitz.

*John Tortorella took a page out of Bill Belichick’s book and didn’t have individual player intros at the Rangers’ home opener. The team was announced as a group. Belichick famously did that before a Super Bowl, to show that the team is more important than the individual.

*The Penguins’ Stanley Cup ring could stop bullets. Rumoured value: almost $30,000.

*The NHL had no choice but to fine Ron Wilson for tampering with the Sedin twins since he did it on the airwaves. But, for all of those Canucks fans wanting blood, be careful what you wish for. Everyone does it. You’re just not going to be punished unless you document it, somehow. Honestly, how does Tampa get a seven-year, $26.25 million deal done with Mattias Ohlund three minutes after free agency begins?

*Joe Nieuwendyk on Jamie Benn: “We kept on looking for a reason to send him down. But if I learned one thing last year with Luke Schenn, it’s when you’re ready, you’re ready.”

*First thing Sean Burke changed about Ilya Bryzgalov? Practice habits. “Whether you’re replaying well or struggling, whether you’re starting that night or the backup, you have to prepare the same way,” Burke said.

“He is more of a leader on this team than he realizes.” Burke also felt Bryzgalov was burned out, which is why the night after the goalie shut out Pittsburgh, Phoenix went with Jason LaBarbera in Buffalo.

*The next NHLPA conference call will be Oct. 18 – a Sunday with no games. On that call, we will find out if there really is a will to clean house among the executive and the advisory board.

*Do you think Peter Chiarelli is wearing one of those T-shirts that reads, “My favourite NHL team is the one playing the Toronto Maple Leafs?”

Hard to believe:

Peter Pocklington’s claim that he and Harold Ballard talked about the Maple Leafs and Oilers switching cities. (Ballard would get an extra $50 million in the exchange.) Pocklington isn’t exactly a reliable witness. But, remember that, in 1962, Ballard agreed to sell Frank Mahovlich to the Blackhawks for $1 million. He changed his mind, only to have James Norris label him “a welcher.”

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