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 Wednesday, December 8
Kariya, Selanne should look to Yzerman
 
By Brian Engblom
Special to ESPN.com

 Not too much pressure this week. Unless, you work for the NHL, NHLPA or for Mark Gandler, Alexei Yashin's agent. Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne may be sacrificing points to help the team win more, while Eric Lindros and Flyers GM Bobby Clarke clear the stinky air in Philly -- and all smells like roses now.

Low Barometer
Low pressure: Anaheim's dynamic duo
Besides being tremendous individuals with great accomplishments, Kariya and Selanne lead the Mighty Ducks in several ways. But recently, Ducks coach Craig Hartsburg has split the dynamic duo up at times on different lines to get more balanced scoring.

This may result in one or both not ranking among the top three, or even in the top 10, in scoring this year. Why? Hartsburg is trying to sell Kariya and Selanne on the idea of changing their games like Steve Yzerman did in Detroit. Wings coach Scotty Bowman asked Yzerman, now a 600-goal man, to sacrifice part of his game in order to make the Red Wings a more successful team. Yzerman obviously listened to Bowman because he is a different player. Yet he is acknowledged as every bit as great a player now as he was before.

HIGH: YASHIN CASE
The NHL and the NHLPA are obviously going to battle over the contract situation of holdout Alexei Yashin. This not only will be a landmark case for the NHL, but also one (probably) for all of professional sports. It will take a long time for the case to be settled. A lot of questions and anxiety will follow in the coming months, so stay tuned.

-- Brian Engblom

Hartsburg said Yzerman was not always tough to play against early in his career. Sure, he scored goals and had great statistics. But now, Yzerman is tough to play every night because of a great all-around game, not just his scoring ability. Because he has won a pair of Stanley Cups, Yzerman definitely wouldn't want to go back to his former style of play.

Hartsburg is hoping for the same type of transition from Kariya and Selanne. He wants the Ducks to be grittier -- a tough team to play. It starts with attitude and doing the little things, like being more physical -- running into players and hitting them. That style drains a player's energy, which could affect his speed in the third period. But if Kariya and Selanne want the Ducks to be more like the Red Wings, Yzerman is a perfect example for them to follow.

Hartsburg's approach is a smart one and one that should be an easy sell to two intelligent players. I believe they will be up to the task. If people wonder what is wrong, why Kariya and Selanne may not be scoring as much, watch them as the team progresses. It will be an ongoing situation, and everything may not be what it appears to be.

Low Barometer
Low pressure: Lindros and Clarke
Lindros has spoken to his teammates, acknowledging the problems between him and Flyers GM Bobby Clarke. And, alas, the tension has been lifted in Philadelphia. The trade rumors have been put behind them, a big step forward for the team and for Lindros and Clarke -- both individually and together. The settling of differences between Lindros and Clarke has allowed the Flyers to settle down on the ice.

Lindros and Clarke came out in the open, as two men should. A cloud was hanging over the Flyers, but the two deserve credit for straightening out an ongoing battle and for calming the team's worries. The players need to know what is going on around them. Those problems need to be remedied, especially when there are trade talks. After the terrible start they had, the Flyers have come a long way, losing only three of their last 22 games. They are a much more dangerous team now.

Brian Engblom is a hockey analyst for ESPN, and he played 11 seasons in the NHL.

 



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