Detroit's 'problem finder' is now problem dealt

Sporting News, The, Sept 9, 1996 by Larry Wigge

Now, here's a revelation. Dino Ciccarelli declares in no uncertain terms that there is a communication problem on the team that had a record 62 wins last season.

Funny, but I thought we established that fact in our April 22 cover story, when we exposed the Red Wings' bad locker-room rapport, even though everyone else was predicting they would breeze to their first Stanley Cup title since 1955.

After the Wings traded him to the Lightning for a draft choice last week, Ciccarelli ripped his former coach, Scotty Bowman, for being, well, Scotty Bowman.

"There are certain things in the locker room that have to be addressed," Ciccarelli said. "Scotty has to have some communication with his players. I know that's not his style, but that's a problem that has to be addressed. It might have been the missing ingredient from us beating Colorado in the playoffs."

Sorry, Dino, but Scotty's rapport with his players has never changed. Still, he has won five Stanley Cup titles in Montreal and another in Pittsburgh. Ciccarelli's 16-year NHL career is dotted with selfish individual goals.

The communication gap the Red Wings face is not only in the locker room, but also on the ice. Some blamed the talented Russian Five for their lack of production in the playoffs. The year before, fingers were pointed at goalie Mike Vernon. In reality, the Red Wings lack a self-starter to show them what it takes to win in the playoffs.

A veteran such as Ciccarelli could have been that leader, but he would rather sit back and second-guess his coach, even after he took all of those stupid penalties against the Avalanche.

The Red Wings will miss Ciccarelli's expertise on the power play, where he had 13 of his 22 goals last season. But it's time that youngsters Darren McCarty and Martin Lapointe were given a chance to play in crucial situations. That fresh blood, combined with an attitude adjustment that is being worked on behind the scenes and a couple of more trades, should make Detroit a better playoff team.

The Red Wings are working on a package that includes Keith Primeau and a couple of prospects for Whalers' left wing Brendan Shanahan, who is a definite self-starter.

In essence, the trade of Ciccarelli was the first step in narrowing the Red Wings' communication gap.

Icy bits

To a man, players at the World Cup of Hockey Tournament panned Montreal's side of the trade in which steady defenseman Lyle Odelein went to New Jersey for winger Stephane Richer. Odelein is a team-oriented player whose grit will help in the tough Atlantic Division. Richer is a free spirit who likely will have some real problems dealing with Canadiens coach Mario Tremblay. ... Rangers defenseman Brian Leetch says the shoulder that bothered him so much in the playoffs is back to 85 percent. ... Another defenseman whose health is essential to his team's success is Rob Blake of the Kings, who missed all but six games last season with a knee injury. His aggressive play has been the hit in the World Tournament. ... If coach Colin Campbell has a say, there is no question the Rangers will re-sign defenseman Kevin Lowe because of all the little things he does so well within the team concept. ... Let me get this straight. The Blackhawks weren't planning on re-signing Denis Savard before they traded Jeremy Roenick's rights to Phoenix for center Alexei Zhamnov. The first thing they do after the trade is sign Savard. What does that tell you about the fortunes of the Hawks this season?