Accident Impacts Nhl Awards Show
The glitz of the televised NHL awards banquet is sure to be dulled when the time comes to honor the best defenseman.
Vladimir Konstantinov’s absence will cast a pall over Thursday night’s showcase event in Toronto.
The Detroit Red Wings defenseman, who is a finalist for the Norris Trophy, has been in a coma in a Royal Oak, Mich., hospital since last Friday when the limousine in which he was a passenger smashed into a tree following a team outing six days after the Red Wings’ Stanley Cup triumph.
The 14th annual NHL awards special is usually a light-hearted celebration, but Konstantinov’s plight will temper displays of frivolity.
“We’re dealing with that as we speak and haven’t formulated specific plans at this time,” Jack Budgell, the producer of the live show for Canadian Broadcasting Company, said Monday. “We’re monitoring the situation and I’d expect it would take us another day or two to determine our specific approach.”
Should Konstantinov win the award, he would become the first Russian defenseman ever so honored. Brian Leetch of the New York Rangers and Sandis Ozolinsh of the Colorado Avalanche are the other finalists.
Richard Gnida, driver of limousine in the accident that injured two Red Wings and the team masseur, appeared never to hit the brakes and may have been asleep when the limo careened into a tree, police said Monday.
“His statement was, ‘I think I might have blacked out,’ which indicates to me he might have dozed off,” said Richard Patterson, deputy police chief in the Detroit suburb of Birmingham.
Hurricanes unveil logo
The Carolina Hurricanes unveiled their new logo, giving the Hartford Whalers’ distinctive fishtail one final sendoff.
The NHL team, which moved to North Carolina from Hartford last month, features a logo with swirl around a couple of sea shapes. In the eye of the hurricane is a flying black puck.
The new team colors are red, black, white and silver.
Senators hopeful to sign Phillips
Ottawa general manager Pierre Gauthier said the Senators won’t give in to blackmail and he’s hopeful 1996 overall No. 1 draft pick Chris Phillips will sign.
Gauthier was responding to published reports that the 19-year-old defenseman would rather stay in junior hockey than accept the latest offer from the Senators.
The 6-foot-3, 204-pound Phillips played with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL last year.
The Senators have until one day before the NHL regular season begins to sign him or he has to return to juniors. If he does, the Senators would have until June 1, 1998, to sign him or he could re-enter the draft.
Reports say expansion cities chosen
The NHL has chosen Nashville, Atlanta, St. Paul, Minn., and Columbus, Ohio, as its next four expansion sites, according to broadcast reports.
However, NHL spokesman Arthur Pincus said the league would have no comment on the reports.
The Sports Network and CNN/SI said Nashville will start play in 1998, followed by Atlanta in 1999 and St. Paul and Columbus in 2000.