Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site dciem.UUCP Path: utzoo!dciem!jeff From: jeff@dciem.UUCP (Jeff Richardson) Newsgroups: net.sport.hockey Subject: What's wrong with the North Stars? Message-ID: <1383@dciem.UUCP> Date: Tue, 12-Feb-85 13:10:34 EST Article-I.D.: dciem.1383 Posted: Tue Feb 12 13:10:34 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 12-Feb-85 18:56:09 EST Distribution: net Organization: D.C.I.E.M., Toronto, Canada Lines: 29 So far this NHL season, there are several teams whose records are much worse than expected. Most of them can be explained: I expected the Maple Leafs to be as bad as they are, the Rangers have had a lot of injuries, as have the Bruins, who have also been breaking in several new players. But the most difficult team to figure out is the Minnesota North Stars. If you look at their lineup, you see enough talent to make them one of the league's best teams. They should have three solid two-way forward lines with Maruk-McKegney-Plett (their best line in a game I saw last week), Acton-Bellows-Payne, and Broten-Ciccarelli-McCarthy (I may have Payne and McCarthy reversed, or they may have juggled the lines since I saw them last.) Until recently they also had Mark Napier and Brian Lawton to provide the necessary depth. Goaltending should also be strong with Roland Melanson, Gilles Meloche and Don Beaupre. Defence is not a strong position but with guys like Craig Hartsburg (when he's healthy), Gord Roberts and Curt Giles, it's no worse than the league average. I don't think coaching can be blamed either, since Glen Sonmor has had success with mostly the same players before, but can't seem to get them going now. I can think of only one reason why they are so bad: they lack leadership and drive. The one player on the team who provided it when they were successful was Bobby Smith, and he was traded to Montreal last season. Despite the fact that they came out way ahead talent-wise (Acton and Napier), they have gone downhill ever since. The moral of the story is, you can't just look at the talent and the players' ages in a trade; you have to look at the intangibles and what the player really means to the team. -- Jeff Richardson, DCIEM, Toronto (416) 635-2073 {linus,ihnp4,uw-beaver,floyd}!utcsrgv!dciem!jeff {allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!dciem!jeff