Bruins Let Oates Have His Way
Around the NHL
The Boston Bruins got rid of Adam Oates in a big way Saturday night, trading the disgruntled center along with goaltender Bill Ranford and forward Rick Tocchet to the Washington Capitals in a blockbuster, six-player deal.
Oates, one of the NHL’s top playmakers, had given the Bruins an ultimatum to bring in more supporting talent or trade him. The Bruins, in danger of finishing out of the playoffs for the first time in 30 years, responded by swinging one of the biggest deals in recent NHL history.
The Bruins sent three of their top four players to the Capitals in a deal of veterans for youth. In exchange, the Bruins received goaltender Jim Carey, centers Jason Allison and Anson Carter, a 1997 third-round draft choice and a 1998 second-round draft choice if the Capitals re-sign Tocchet, who is an unrestricted free agent when his contract expires in May.
The deal is the biggest in the NHL since the Philadelphia Flyers acquired Eric Lindros in 1992 for six players, two draft picks and $15 million.
Oates, who contributed two assists in the Bruins’ 5-5 tie Saturday with Philadelphia, had been stripped of his alternate captaincy by assistant general manager Mike O’Connell during the recent firestorm involving his trade demands.
Going rough for goalie
In his first two years with the Washington Capitals, Jim Carey went 53-30-12, won a Vezina Trophy and set a league shutout record.
But Carey has run into the NHL version of the junior jinx, perhaps because teams have figured out his weaknesses. He is 17-17-3 with a save percentage of .891. That last figure is fourth-worst among goaltenders with at least 20 games, and it has made Carey the target of boos at USAir Arena.
“I’m obviously not where I want to be,” Carey said. “It’s tough to explain, but I guess the big thing for me is the inconsistency. That’s what’s always been my trademark. I’m not a flashy goaltender who has these incredible games and then loses and then wins again. I’ve always been consistent, but that’s not happening anymore.”
Carey, however will play many fewer games at USAir Arena, now that he has been traded to Boston.
Detroit’s Shanahan honored
Detroit Red Wings left wing Brendan Shanahan has been named NHL player of the month for February.
Shanahan led all NHL scorers in points with 21 on 14 goals and seven assists in 13 games, helping the Red Wings to a record of 8-2-3 in February.
Goaltenders Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils (1.54 goal-against average) and Dominik Hasek of the Buffalo Sabres (1.84 GAA) were also in the running.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay Lightning center Daymond Langkow was named NHL rookie of the month.
Langkow, a former all-star with the WHL’s Tri-City Americans, led all rookies in points with four goals and eight assists in 13 games.
Future shock
Pittsburgh is averaging 16,476 fans, or 95.9 percent of capacity, in what likely is Mario Lemieux’s final season. The year before he joined the team, the Penguins averaged 6,839 fans.
The draw parallels with the Chicago Bulls’ NBA attendance before and during the Michael Jordan era.
On the ice
Chris Osgood stopped 21 shots for his sixth shutout of the season as the Detroit Red Wings beat visiting New York 3-0 and extended the Rangers’ winless streak to eight.
It was the 14th career shutout and fifth straight victory for Osgood, who is 6-1 since missing five games last month with a hamstring injury. Osgood is 2-1 with two shutouts and an 0.61 career goals-against average against the Rangers.
Adam Deadmarsh scored on a penalty shot and Craig Billington made 29 saves as the Colorado Avalanche ended a season-high two-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in Denver.
Rick Tabaracci stopped 24 shots for his fourth shutout of the season as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Florida Panthers 2-0 and extended their home unbeaten streak to seven games.