Slap Shots Damian Cristodero

Gretzky's okay

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published February 18, 2007

Gretzky's okay

Count legendary Wayne Gretzky as a fan of the way the Lightning developed its on-ice product and worked its way into the consciousness of the Tampa Bay community.

In his first visit to the area as coach of the Coyotes, the game's foremost ambassador praised founder Phil Esposito and the stewardship of general manager Jay Feaster and coach John Tortorella.

"First of all, Phil Esposito deserves so much credit for this franchise, for believing in Florida and believing in Tampa Bay," Gretzky said before Tuesday's game at the St. Pete Times Forum. "Obviously, they went through some tough times and lean years of an expansion franchise. But the one thing Phil always wanted to put a tamp on was that they work hard.

"You need people working hard each and every day and people like Phil Esposito and now their coach and general manager. And when you have players like Vinny Lecavalier, (Marty) St. Louis and (Brad) Richards, that goes a long way to selling the sport. They're entertaining to watch, and they work hard every night."

Gretzky said it should not be surprising it took Lecavalier eight seasons to turn into the player so many predicted.

"No matter who you are, the consistency of a player sometimes is a little misleading," he said. "Teams key on certain players a lot more. Vinny has earned the respect of the players around the league, so he's going to be checked awful closely. So sometimes, it takes a little time. You can get down on yourself."

Gretzky credited Tortorella with helping that development: "This coach is one of those guys who loves the game and pushes his players, even his elite players, to another level."

Odds and ends

The Columbus Dispatch reported Fredrik Modin is close to re-signing, meaning he's not on the trading block. ... Are the Sabres in trouble? Second-leading scorer Maxim Afinogenov is out six weeks with a broken wrist, and three others - defenseman Jaroslav Spacek and forwards Jiri Novotny and Paul Gaustad - are out. ... Joe Sakic is the 17th to score 600 goals. He did it Thursday in Calgary, where the Avs had league permission to empty the bench in celebration. ... After Monday's 6-1 loss to the Flyers, talk was the Red Wings need a tough guy to protect top scorers Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk.

Pittsburgh's Ronald Petrovicky was so unnerved by his fight Feb. 10 with Kris Newbury, he called to find out how the injured Maple Leaf was doing.

Newbury has staples in the back of his head and stitches above the left corner of his mouth after a knockout punch caused his head to hit the ice.

Newbury, blood gushing, was carted off the ice.

"I appreciate that," Newbury said. "It was a freak accident. I told him it wasn't his fault."

Newbury said he expects to be in the lineup this week and is ready to throw down again.

"It's part of what I do and what I get paid for," he said. "Fighting belongs in the game. Sometimes, accidents happen."

Welcome back

Dave Keon, believed by many to be the Maple Leafs' greatest player, was welcomed back into the Toronto family Saturday during a tribute to the 1967 Cup team.

The Toronto Sun reported the center, who played for the Leafs from 1960-75 and scored 498 goals in 22 seasons in the NHL and WHL, has been upset his No. 14 was not retired. Keon also was irked by an impersonal form letter players received about the closing of old Maple Leaf Gardens and the belief players had to fly to Toronto at their own expense for a ceremony.

"I had no desire to be involved before," Keon, who lives in the Palm Beach area, told the Sun. "But this time, I think they're trying to do it right. If not, it will be my last time."

He said it

"I don't love fighting. It's not something I tell my players to do. It's not something I would do. But as stupid as it sounds, it probably prevents a lot of stick infractions. The unique thing about our sport is that we play with sticks that can be used as weapons. The game is very emotional, and guys are only human. Fighting gives them an outlet instead of slashing, cross-checking and high-sticking." - Wayne Gretzky

[Last modified February 17, 2007, 23:35:31]