| | The Matchup: Lindy Ruff vs. Ken Hitchcock
The Question: Who has dealt better with adversity during this season?
Lindy Ruff
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Ken Hitchcock
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Repeat appearance in Cup finals could be tough
With injuries, holdouts and newcomers, Ken Hitchcock and Lindy Ruff have faced their share of difficulties coming off a season in which their teams -- the Dallas Stars and Buffalo Sabres -- met in the Stanley Cup finals. The new obstacles have caused both teams to begin the season playing at a standard lower than they demonstrated last season.
Hitchcock's Stars were a veteran, confident group when they won the title last season. But this season has brought a personnel evolution. Gone are veterans like Pat Verbeek and Craig Ludwig. Even before injuries began saddling the team, Hitchcock planned to rotate at least five new players into the lineup. The coach said it would take time for the young players to learn his system, creating a new feel for the team. The younger talent has made the Stars a faster team than a year ago, when speed was their biggest drawback, but the development period has had an effect on the veterans in terms of coming together as a team.
Then, on top of the new faces, there have been injuries. Several key players have missed many of the Stars' first 12 games: Mike Modano (three games), Jere Lehtinen (four), Joe Nieuwendyk (three), Darryl Sydor (six), Richard Matvichuk (five), Shawn Chambers (eight) and Brian Skrudland (10). That's a long list of guys missing games this early. At times, it has led to an identity crisis. Last year, the Stars knew who they were and what they were doing. It becomes a tumultuous atmosphere for the new players trying to fit in. In addition, the Stars face the pressure of being the Cup champion. Teams are gunning for them every night. All of this adds up to a big challenge for Hitchcock.
Unlike the Stars, the Sabres established themselves last year as the new kids: A brash, confident group that relied on an intense in-your-face style. But this season Ruff's problems have been Dominik Hasek and holdouts. First, they had five players holding out at the beginning of the season. The holdouts finally ended, but the players' absence hurt the feel of the team. For the Sabres' type of chemistry, it begins in the locker room, and the locker room wasn't complete.
Then there's Hasek, the main cog in the Sabres' wheel. He announced that it would be his last season, throwing another wild card into the deck. Then he started slow, was benched, and tore his groin muscle, which should keep him out for at least two months.
Based on those factors, Hitchcock has a much better chance of handling the adversity in Dallas and getting the Stars back to the Cup finals. Without Hasek, the best goalie in hockey, Ruff can't expect a return trip; it's too much to overcome. Keep in mind that a big reason the Stars could return is Ed Belfour. Despite their early struggles, he has been spectacular. When the Stars get healthy, they need to win some games for Belfour because they owe him.
It's dangerous to defend the Cup being the same team as the year before. The Stars are coming after it from a different angle than before. Instead of defending the Cup, they have placed it back on the NHL shelf to go after it again. The standings are deceptive; the Stars may not look like they are playing well, but you have to remember that they play in the Pacific Division, the best in hockey, which includes some upstarts such as San Jose, Los Angeles and Phoenix.
Brian Engblom is a color commentator and analyst for ESPN's NHL coverage. He played 11 seasons in the NHL. | |
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