Players Wouldn’t Mind Passing On Awards In Abbreviated Season

If Paul Coffey has his way, Detroit Red Wings teammate Sergei Fedorov won’t repeat as winner of the Hart and Selke trophies this season. Not that Coffey has anything against Fedorov. Coffey, a two-time Norris Trophy winner, wouldn’t give himself the Norris, either. Wings senior vice president Jim Devellano agrees.

With the lockout and resulting 48-game schedule, teams will play only within their conference this season. That means Bruins defenseman Ray Bourque, who won the Norris as best defenseman last season, won’t have to face the top players in the Western Conference, such as Fedorov and Steve Yzerman, Wayne Gretzky, Pavel Bure, Teemu Selanne, Brett Hull, etc.

And Fedorov, the league MVP and top defensive forward, won’t go up against Bourque, New Jersey defenseman Scott Stevens, Montreal goalie Patrick Roy, Buffalo goalie Dominik Hasek, etc.

It also means NHL newspaper reporters and broadcasters - the people who vote on these awards - won’t see every team play.

That’s why Coffey and Devellano said the awards should be shelved for this season.

“Maybe they should gas the whole thing,” Coffey said. “A 48-game season - for me to have a great year or Bourque to have a great year or Brian Leetch to have a great year - who’s going to pick a winner? Maybe they should have one on each side. … I don’t think you could have one on each side on every single award. You couldn’t have the top scorers from each conference, you couldn’t have the top checker. I would rather have none than one on each side.”

Added Devellano: “It’s really an oddball type of situation, no question about it. I’d almost be for canceling awards this year.”

Coffey and Devellano won’t have their way, of course.

“The awards will not be canceled this year,” said Arthur Pincus, NHL vice president of public relations.

But NHL officials realize there’s a problem. The league hasn’t decided what it will do about it, although officials will consult with Jim Kelley, president of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, and Chuck Kaiton, president of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association, before making a decision.

“My suggestion to the league was we all play everybody once home, once away,” Devellano said. “It seemed to make so much sense, seemed to be so fair. But obviously, I didn’t get anywhere with it.

“How can anybody vote fairly when they don’t see everybody?”

Kaiton disagrees with Devellano.

“I wouldn’t anticipate we’re going to have a change unless they want a change,” Kaiton said. “The same thing happens normally. Even if we see teams twice a year like it was last year, it was almost the same thing. If you’re only going to see a team twice, it’s almost like not seeing them at all.

“For broadcasters to be responsible, I hope they would watch more games on satellite. It’s going to be tougher, but it’s not that much different.”

Notebook

After the 48-game schedule was announced with the Detroit Red Wings facing Chicago in the opener Friday at Joe Louis Arena, a Detroit official contacted the NHL to see if Blackhawks defenseman Chris Chelios would be suspended that game.

During the lockout, Chelios had threatened the safety of commissioner Gary Bettman and his family. A league official said no decision on a suspension had been made. The Blackhawks doubt any action will be taken.

“Chris Chelios has apologized for what he said when negotiations were very heated,” Blackhawks senior vice president and GM Bob Pulford said. “He said the wrong thing, but a lot of other people did and said the wrong things during those times.”

Added Chelios: “As far as I’m concerned, everything is over. The apology has been made, and now I’m just ready to play hockey.”

By the way, Bob Probert will not make his Blackhawks debut Friday. Probert is still in Van Nuys, Calif., receiving treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz said last week he doesn’t expect Probert to return for a few weeks. And when he does, he faces potential league discipline as well as problems with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.

“I don’t care if he plays this year at all,” Wirtz said. “We didn’t sign Bob Probert so he could help sell tickets. That’s not our interest in Bob Probert at all. We’re interested in trying to help him save his life. He has a wonderful wife and new baby and wonderful years ahead of him, but they can’t be with alcohol or drugs.”

There’s speculation in Dallas that former Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach will become a partner with Norm Green in owning the Stars. Staubach, who helped move the team from Minnesota to Dallas, has denied the rumor.