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Chat Reel: SI's Michael Farber
Blues are a threat to Cup, but playoff questions linger
Posted: Friday April 07, 2000 04:38 PM
CNNSI.com Host: Welcome to our NHL chat with Sports Illustrated's Michael Farber. Thanks for joining us, Mike.
Michael Farber: My pleasure, I'm psyched with the playoffs coming up.
CNNSI.com Host: Let's get started with the questions.
From Guest: What is the main reason for the Devils' collapse? Why has this become a tradition?
Michael Farber: The Devils have dropped dead in recent weeks because of an inability to generate offense at the proper times. Perhaps most worrisome is the fact that Claude Lemieux, a redoubtable playoff performer, has just two goals in his last 25 games or so. The Devils have tried a lot of radical surgery this season, such as repatriating Lemieux, making a play for potential free agent defenseman Vladimir Malakhov, landing a potential home-run hitter in Alexander Mogilny, and even firing coach Robbie Ftorek. But none of it will matter unless the Devils can score in the playoffs and goalie Martin Brodeur re-establishes his reputation as a big-name goalie.
From Guest: Do you think the Leafs will be able to re-establish their level of performance from mid-year, and proceed in the playoffs? Or, have their injuries, especially to the defense, taken too great a toll?
Michael Farber: The Bryan Berard injury is key. The Leafs have really been shaken up by his possible career-ending injury. Berard also adds something from the backline that makes them a more dangerous threat. Goalie Curtis Joseph has shown he can win a playoff series on his own, but Mats Sundin will need more help scoring because he hasn't been that sharp in past playoffs. And the defense will have to stiffen if the Leafs are to make it back to the conference finals.
From Guest: Can guys like Ladislav Nagy, Barrett Jackman, Lubos Bartecko, or Marty Reasoner be stars in this league, and also, how do you see the Blues' future. Thanks.
Michael Farber: Bartecko has a real chance to be a great player. St. Louis coach Joel Quenneville made a decision to group thre Slovacs together and that line has come together. Reasoner doesn't score pretty goals, but he does score goals. His ability to get in front of the net and bang in rebounds is going to be important for St. Louis in the playoffs.
St. Louis has a chance to replicate its success night after night because of hard-working lines.
But there are two questions with this squad. One, are the Blues ready now to take the next step? Two, given the way the Blues play, will there be a need for another year of playoff experience?
From Guest: What is the major weakness of the St. Louis Blues?
Michael Farber: I don't see the Blues having a weakness now that Pierre Turgeon is back in the lineup and playing well. Perhaps they could use another home-run type scoring hitter, but I don't see this as a big need with the tight-checking playoffs. Roman Turek hasn't proved it in the playoffs but he's been a top-flight goalie in the regular season.
They are the best coached team right now, and there is no weakness on this club -- unless you count their lack of lasting deep in the playoffs the past few years.
From Guest: Do you see the Panthers being able to go far in the playoffs? Who plays: Mike Vernon or Trevor Kidd?
Michael Farber: Vernon. Clearly Vernon. He has won two Stanley Cups -- one with Calgary, one with Detroit. Maybe he isn't a long-term solution with Florida, but he's the guy I'd start in the playoffs. If they are to go far, it will be because of Vernon.
Pavel Bure is probably the most explosive player in the league, but in a seven-game series he may get ground down. Bure will get his goals, but the key player is definitely Vernon.
From Guest: In light of Bryan Berard saying that he won't wear a visor even if he's able to come back, what's the word around the league regarding visors? Should they be mandated by the NHL?
Michael Farber: I think that visors should be mandated. I think the NHL Players Association should be working harder to convince players that maybe visors are the way to go. I was shocked by Berard's comments, but it comes down to an issue where players don't want the league mandating equipment. But it could come down to something where I think a player with limited vision would sue to play under the Disability Act of the U.S. or the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom.
From Guest: Are the refs going to be told to continue to crack down in the playoffs or will it be like every other year when anything goes in the third period?
Michael Farber: I suspect the referees will be told to crack down. I hope for the sake of the game Bryan Lewis, who is the director of officiating, pairs refs and keeps them together as much as possible, because that will lead to consistency in calls. That is more important than the free-for-alls later in the game that show a sheer inconsistency with how an official calls a game.
From Guest: Do you think the two-ref system is good or a hindrance?
Michael Farber: I think the two-referee system on balance is good. I don't think it's hindered anything. I think the problem has been, in many cases, the less experienced referee tends to defer to the older referee. That's why I think it's incumbent on the league to find pairings. Like Major League Baseball, the NHL should adopt the same approach with its officials and create a crew that works together. That will create consistency in how a game is called.
From Guest: Is there a dilution in the referee pool due to the use of a second referee? If it's so good, then why are we seeing much more serious injuries these days?
Michael Farber: I think there has been some dilution because the NHL has instituted two refs. Since March every game has had two referees. If the NHL wants to improve its referees, one area the league can go is to the minor leagues or find minor league players whose careers are going nowhere. The league could ask them to try officiating since they already know the game.
To answer your second question, freakish luck has happened this year, like incidents with the Canadiens' Trent McCleary and Brian Savage. Whether it's Marty McSorley high-sticking Donald Brashear or Marian Hossa's freak play on Bryan Berard, injuries happen regardless of referees.
From Guest: Do you think Stevie Y would be sitting out the last week if the Wings had a shot at catching St. Louis? Or is Scotty Bowman just resting him now for the playoffs?
Michael Farber: Scotty Bowman remembers well the 1995-96 season when the Red Wings won 62 games and then lost to Colorado in the conference finals. There's only one thing that matters to Detroit -- a Stanley Cup. Anything less than that is unacceptable. Yzerman carries the club a long way. It's important for teams like Detroit, which is an older club, to get through the first round of the playoffs quickly. They know the next rounds are going to be wars. The Wings need to get a breather early, and get through the first round as fast as possible, if they are to win the Cup.
From Guest: How come nobody mentions Stevie Y for the Hart Trophy?
Michael Farber: I think no one mentions him, this year anyway, because there are better candidates than Yzerman this season. This year you can start with Chris Pronger, who has had a monster year. Then there's Pavel Bure, Jaromir Jagr and even Washington Capitals goalie Olaf Kolzig. Yzerman falls into the same category as Dallas's Mike Modano and the Flyers's Mark Recchi as players who are huge to their teams, but not viable Hart Trophy candidates this year.
From Guest: Is Eric Lindros going to retire?
Michael Farber: Lindros will not retire. I talked to Dr. James Kelly, the one who diagnosed his latest concussion, and he said it's not career threatening.
From Annette: If the Flyers win the Cup, will they keep Lindros?
Michael Farber: If they win the Cup he won't be back. I expect Bobby Clarke to trade him to a Western team looking for a player with star power. He won't trade him to an Eastern team, but I do not believe Lindros will be back with the Flyers.
From Guest: Do you think Lindros will end up apologizing as Clarke has requested?
Michael Farber: I don't expect him to apologize. Don't see what he should apologize for, other than for not being forthcoming at the beginning of the latest concussion. He did what he thought he should do not knowing he had a concussion and tried playing through it. But he shouldn't apologize to anyone.
From Guest: Can Ottawa get by the Leafs in the first round?
Michael Farber: Otttawa can get by Toronto in the first round, but Tom Barrasso will have to make the trade pay off. The deadline deal for Barrasso was by far the most intriguing trade because of the risk involved. Ron Tugnutt and Janne Laukkanen were popular in the dressing room, and they were replaced by a goalie who carries some baggage. Of course part of that baggage is two Stanley Cups and an upset of the Devils in the playoffs. Neither Toronto or Ottawa are playing real well right now, so it's tough to say where that series is heading.
From Guest: Does anyone in the East have a prayer?
Michael Farber: The most dangerous team in the East is probably the Sabres ... assuming they get in. They have been on a roll in their last eight games. Hasek looks 100 percent, Doug Gilmour has given the team a boost since he came to the team and they are deep at center. If the Western teams beat each other up the last two rounds, someone from the East might have a shot. But right now the four titans are in the West: Dallas, St. Louis, Detroit and Colorado, in no particular order.
From Guest: Is St. Louis too inexperienced to take down the Red Wings?
Michael Farber: St. Louis is not too inexperienced to take down the Red Wings. St. Louis lost to the eventual champions the last two years, so they have gained experience in that regard. Will they have learned from it? That's a big question. I think from firsthand experience they have learned what it takes. But no one has Detroit's depth or experience. The Blues, however, might have fresher legs, the goaltending might be better and their consistency is going to make it tough for anyone to beat St. Louis.
From Guest: What are your thoughts regarding the retirement of Grant Fuhr? Is he the best "money goalie ever" as Wayne Gretzky once called him?
Michael Farber: Grant Fuhr has had a fabulous career and a Hall of Fame career, but he's not the best money goalie -- even of his generation. Patrick Roy faced more difficult circumstances throughout his career and it paid off for Montreal twice and for Colorado. Fuhr's greatness is undeniable, and his presence will be missed. But I would put him a notch below Roy.
From Guest: How do you see the Yashin situation resolving after the season?
Michael Farber: Whoever is going to handle the Elian Gonzalez situation should turn his attention to the Yashin case. I don't see any easy way out of the situation. Ottawa has put on a hard stance but it may have to trade him. Yashin, a runner-up to the Hart Trophy, has to have some value to someone. The longer he doesn't play, the more it hurts Ottawa's assets and Yashin's own stock. I expect him to play somewhere next year.
From CNNSI,com Host: That's all we have time for today. Thanks for chatting with us, Mike. See you again in the playoffs.
Michael Farber: I hope so. Thanks.
Take a look back here on CNNSI.com Monday to check out his playoff picks for each round of the playoffs, including the Stanley Cup winner.
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