Slap Shots

Around the NHL.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published March 11, 2007

Dysfunctional family

The league's players association has scheduled a conference call today that could determine the fate of executive director Ted Saskin. Lightning captain Tim Taylor, one of 30 player representatives who will be on the call, said there is a chance Saskin will be fired. "There is a lot of speculation," Taylor said, "(today) could be his last day."

Saskin has been accused of reading player e-mails to monitor player discontent. Saskin said Thursday that it was former executive director Bob Goodenow who looked at e-mails to ensure members were holding firm during the 2004-05 lockout.

"It's getting pretty bad just listening to Ted accuse Bob of doing that whole e-mail thing," Taylor said Friday in Calgary. "I'll know more when the conference call takes place, but every day it seems something comes up I really don't want to hear about."

Taylor has been outspoken that the association, behind Saskin, was working well with the league to help take the NHL in "the right direction."

He has said he did not like the efforts of a dissident group of players, led by the Red Wings' Chris Chelios, who questioned Saskin's five-year, $10-million contract and how he got the top job in July 2005 when Goodenow resigned after the new collective bargaining agreement was approved.

The association hired Toronto litigator Sheila Block to investigate.

But Taylor said of the e-mail scandal, "I don't like finding out stuff that was done behind our backs. That's cause for concern. I'll have to listen and make my own decisions. ... This obviously is taking a step backwards."

A whole new world

All Roberto Luongo ever wanted was to be in the playoffs. In his first season with the Canucks after the trade from the Panthers during the summer, the goalie will get his wish.

"This is what it's all about," he said before Tuesday's game with the Lightning. "I'm excited to come to the rink every day and feel that it has kept my energy level up much more than it was in the past. I'm excited to play every day."

Luongo has been a workhorse. His 63 games and 39 victories, a Canucks record, are second in the league. He is fourth with a .921 save percentage.

"He's been our best player and the No. 1 reason we are having the type of year we are having," Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said. "He has elevated his game and took on the challenge with the right perspective."

Luongo said there is no comparison playing in hockey-crazy Canada instead of South Florida.

"You are recognized everywhere," he said. "It's great."

He said it

"I think for young guys it is the best thing to be drafted by a Canadian team. In every Canadian city, the guys are known wherever you go. People talk about hockey. They know hockey. I had a lot of fun there." - Blackhawks right wing Martin Havlat in the Ottawa Citizen on his time with the Senators

Miscommunication

The Toronto Sun reported the NHL's operations office timed Cam Janssen's run at the Maple Leafs' Tomas Kaberle at 1.25 seconds, more than enough time to have aborted a brutal shoulder-to-head hit that caused a concussion.

And the Sun reported the Devils' Janssen said he would call Kaberle to see how he was doing, but the call never came.

"I don't really care if he calls me," Kaberle told the Sun. "He doesn't respect me, and I don't respect him."

Informed of those comments by the Bergen Record, Janssen said, "I was just waiting for everything to calm down. I respect him a lot."

Rooms with a view

When the Coyotes got stuck an extra night in Edmonton last week, they scrambled to find lodging and ended up at the Fantasyland Hotel, which, the Arizona Republic reported, is a kid-friendly theme facility.

Still, the paper said, some rooms had "adult" themes with hot tubs and mirrors on the ceilings.

"The room service guy looked at us a little bit goofy," said defenseman Travis Roche, who the paper said shared a Hollywood-themed room with his father who was on the trip. "We were both in our underwear on the bed. It was funny."

Odds and ends

The Avalanche's Paul Stastny has a chance today against the Wild to extend his points streak to 18 games. That would surpass the record he shares with Teemu Selanne. ... The Ottawa Citizen reported Jason Spezza missed Tuesday's game with a sore back sustained when he got out of his car after parking to go shopping. ... The Maple Leafs' Paul Maurice is the 30th NHL coach with 300 victories.

[Last modified March 10, 2007, 22:15:24]