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Red Wings decline; Scotty Bowman departs?

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 17, 2000

LOS ANGELES -- Are Scotty Bowman's days in Hockeytown numbered? If you believe Bowman, they just might be.

The Red Wings coach hinted to radio talk show host Jim Rome that another poor playoff performance will end his stint in Detroit,

"I wouldn't stay around if we couldn't do a good job this year and get into the playoffs and make a better run than last year," Bowman said. "It would be tough for me to come back."

Additionally, he said, "It's my eighth season in Detroit. This has been the toughest thus far. With the start we've had, we've now fallen into the second rung of teams. We're not in the rung of Colorado, not in the rung of St. Louis and probably not San Jose. We're in the next rung of playoff teams."

General manager Ken Holland said Bowman can coach as long as he wants. But don't be surprised if there is a parting of the ways after the season. Word out of Detroit is that the team's mood and chemistry are getting stale.

"Scotty said a lot of things a lot of us have been thinking," Holland said. "We just haven't played to our abilities."

MORE LEMIEUX FALLOUT: The NHL Players Association isn't happy with Mario Lemieux's $1.4-million contract, which will pay $700,000 for a half-season's work with the Penguins.

The NHLPA is fighting the contract because Lemieux's value on the open market likely would be $10-million or more. The NHLPA is concerned other teams will use Lemieux's salary as a comparison when negotiating contracts.

BAD (GOAL) JUDGMENT: Avalanche coach Bob Hartley said Pepsi Center video replay judge Bill Boyce "kind of" apologized after disallowing what appeared to be Peter Forsberg's second period, shorthanded goal during Monday's game against the Lightning.

"Apologies don't put food on the table," Hartley said. "It's totally unacceptable that a video goal judge misses on this. It's clear-cut. There's no time frame and he can watch the replays as many times a possible. For me, he's the only guy in the entire Pepsi Center that didn't see it."

SENSITIVE GUY: After the Panthers' 4-1 loss to the Islanders on Dec. 6, coach Terry Murray had a few unkind things to say about the play of center Olli Jokinen, who had two goals and four points in his first 26 games.

"He told me in front of the whole team I had to pick up my game," Jokinen said. "I never saw that happen before. Maybe it's true what he was saying, but it kind of puts you pretty down when he says things like that in front of the whole team. It was embarrassing."

Said Murray: "I'm trying to get him going. I've gone the other way with him: "How's it going? How's the family, the new baby?' Trying to be up close and personal with him didn't work. ... Now it comes to throwing a new challenge out; challenge him in front of his teammates and see what his response is."

EXPLETIVES DELETED: This item is fun for no other reason than the language the Panthers used in talking about referee Scott Zelkin, who apparently called two penalties on Florida after obvious dives by Thrashers players.

One call gave Atlanta a 4-on-3 advantage in overtime and the Thrashers cashed in for the victory.

"We get a call from the (expletive) league that they're going to start calling dives," Murray said. "It's a (expletive) disgrace."

Said center Ray Whitney: "It was a (expletive) way to lose. If you're going to make a call like that, make it a good one, not a little chicken-(expletive) call like that."

ODDS AND ENDS: Expect Thrashers general manager Don Waddell to be named general manager of the United States team for the 2001 World Championships. ... The Sabres and Michael Peca actually are talking again. Buffalo reportedly offered four years, $10.6-million. Peca wants at least $12-million. ... Going into Saturday night's game against the Maple Leafs, Calgary's Valeri Bure had gone 45 consecutive games without a five-on-five goal. ... Colorado's Scott Parker missed his second consecutive game Friday night because of a bruised shoulder sustained in a fight Monday with Tampa Bay's Kyle Freadrich. ... When the Stars face the Wild in Minnesota today, it will be the first time the former North Stars visited the state since a neutral-site game in 1993. ... The Devils Stanley Cup rings are platinum with the Devils logo in rubies surrounded by diamonds that resemble an ice rink. ... The Blues' record of 20-4-3 gave them 43 points, a team record for 27 games. ... The goal that Sharks goaltending phenom Evgeni Nabokov allowed in the first period Dec. 8 against the Canucks was the first even-strength goal he allowed in 207 minutes, 46 seconds.

-- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.

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