Dryden sizes up NHL's top stars
Published Wednesday June 24th, 2009
Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin?
Which one of the three would you choose if you were starting a new team in the National Hockey League?
Former Montreal Canadiens goaltending legend and current Toronto York Centre Liberal MP Ken Dryden was asked that question last week during a local Liberal Party fundraising event at Little Louis Restaurant.
After eliminating Malkin (although he said he was impressed with the big Russian's play during the Pittsburgh Penguins' seven-game Stanley Cup triumph over the Detroit Red Wings in Motown), Dryden hesitated a moment or two before picking Ovechkin over Crosby, the Pens' 21-year-old captain. Later the same evening, Ovechkin won his second Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP and the Lester B. Pearson Award as the players' choice for the most outstanding player. The Washington Capitals sniper also took home a second Rocket Richard Trophy. The Russian superstar scored 56 goals and 110 points during the regular season. He had 21 points (11-10) in the playoffs.
In three seasons with the Caps, Ovechkin is 219-201--420 in 324 regular season games and 15-15--30 in 21 post-season contests. Meanwhile, Crosby, in four seasons, is 132-265--397 in 290 games. His playoff record in 73 games is 39-55--94.
The 62-year-old Dryden, who was the guest speaker at the Harrison Trimble High School graduation the night before, fielded a number of other interesting questions in his diplomatic and detailed way. Gair Maxwell, using a Coaches' Corner style, was the moderator. The event was hosted by Moncton-Rivierview-Dieppe MP Brian Murphy.
n Hockey Hall of Famer Peter Maher, the radio play-by-play announcer for the Calgary Flames, and this columnist were 7-for-7 with their individual NHL awards predictions. We had Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals for the Hart (MVP); Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins for the Norris (top defenceman); Tim Thomas of the Bruins for the Vezina (goalie); Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the Calder (top rookie); Claude Julien of the Bruins for the Adams (top coach); Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings for the Lady Byng (sportsmanship) and Datsyuk, the Selke (top defensive forward).
Meanwhile, Maher hears that David Marcoux, Calgary's goalie coach the last five years, may be the new goaltender coach with the Montreal Canadiens, replacing Rollie (The Goalie) Melanson, who was let go by the Habs last month.
Maher says Al Coates could be hired as assistant to new Dallas Stars' GM Joe Nieuwendyk. Coates, the Moncton Golden Flames governor when the club played in the AHL in the mid-1980s, had a year left on a contract with Toronto when he was let go by new Maple Leafs president/GM Brian Burke.
Meanwhile, Maher wants to remind Brent Taylor, president of the Moncton Press Club and former CBC sports announcer, that he predicted the Detroit Red Wings wouldn't repeat as Stanley Cup winners.
n Maher will be the honoured guest speaker at an open house event hosted by the Moncton Club on Thursday, July 23. The legendary broadcaster was inducted into the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame as a media honouree and was the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award winner in 2006. He also was inducted individually and as manager of the 1972 and 1977 Hardy Cup-winning Campbellton Tigers in the New Brunswick and Campbellton sport shrines. The 1972 team was inducted in the provincial hall in 1998 and the 1977 squad in 2002. Maher's individual induction was in 1996. The cost of the "Flames to Fame" event with Maher is $25.
n Eddie Johnston, senior advisor with Pittsburgh, says goaltender Marc-André Fleury should be one of Team Canada's goaltenders at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo and Cam Ward seem to have the inside track at the moment.
n The annual François McDonald Memorial Kidney Foundation Charity Classic is set for tomorrow at Kiwanis Park at 6:30 p.m.
Premier Shawn Graham's Liberal "Big Red Machine" will take on Opposition Leader David Alward's PC "Big Blue Wave."
The "Red Team" roster will also feature firefighters and Tim Hortons All-Stars, while the "Blue Team" will be bolstered by the Wildcats and law enforcement members.
The "Red Team" has won the last four games.
Meanwhile, the Tim Hortons Home Run Challenge for the Eddie Booth Memorial Plaque will be held prior to the game. The tickets are $10 each or four for $25. The rain date is Friday. The funds from the game go to help improve the health and quality of life of people living with kidney disease, through patient services, education and research.
n Paul Belliveau's team of son Billy, 15-year-old grandson Ricky and Shediac shoemaker Joe LeBlanc went birdie, eagle, eagle, birdie for -6 on the final four holes to win the annual Club Boishébert Golf Tournament Saturday at Pine Needles with a -14 (57) over the par-71 course.
After posting a bird on the par-three 15th with Ricky's 10-foot putt, Billy chipped his drive in from 10 yards for an eagle on the par-four 16th. LeBlanc then sank his approach shot from 15 feet for an eagle on the par-five 17th and Paul two-putted the team's drive on the par-four 18th for a birdie to clinch victory. The foursome had 10 birds and two eagles. They were 30 (six birds) on the par-36 front and 27 (four birds, two eagles) on the par-35 back. Meanwhile, the team of Bob Gallant, Randy Russell, Gary O'Brien and Henri Gibbs finished two shots back at -12.
n Eddie St. Pierre is a retired Times & Transcript sports editor. His column appears Wednesdays.
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