Colorado Springs – Some looked a bit grayer around the temples. Some looked like they had put on a few pounds. Everybody on the USA hockey team, however, looked happy to be back doing what they love Tuesday, after a year of inactivity and missed NHL paychecks.
“It was nice to have to be somewhere at a certain time, to have some structure,” former Avalanche forward Chris Drury said. “It was a good day for everyone. I think everyone is looking forward to the future again.”
Team USA held its first day of orientation camp for 39 NHL players invited to the World Arena in preparation for February’s Winter Olympic Games in Turin. While there was plenty of talk about winning a gold medal for the first time since 1980, many players had next week’s start of NHL training camps on their minds.
The players are curious about what the NHL game will be like with a host of new rules set to take effect. The new NHL, Drury hopes, will look nothing like the old one.
“I’m hoping (enforcement) of obstruction (violations) will be the biggest thing. That would just be huge for everybody, the fans included,” said Drury, now with the Buffalo Sabres. “I think the fans obviously had enough of it, as did the players and the owners.
“It’ll be interesting to see how it goes. I know the referees will have their work cut out for them. But I think the future will be better. I was just back in Buffalo for a couple weeks, and it seemed good from a fan perspective, so that’s good to see.”
Keith Tkachuk of the St. Louis Blues, at 33 one of the senior players at the camp, hasn’t cracked the 40-goal barrier since 1997-98. If the NHL is serious about freeing skilled players from the clutching and grabbing that characterized much of the past 10 years, Tkachuk said he and other star offensive players will make the game fun to watch again.
“Hopefully they’ll call the clutching and grabbing in the neutral zone, which will set up everything,” Tkachuk said. “Taking out the red line will be a big difference, obviously, but as long as they just call the clutching and grabbing, I think that’s the No. 1 thing. We want to make this game fun again for the fans. We want to see skill guys doing what they do best. That’s what it’s all about; that’s what fans pay to come see and that’s what we’ve got to get back to.”
Team USA coach Peter Laviolette has studied the new rules carefully and surmises one thing will be paramount in the new NHL: control of the puck.
“For me, it’s all about the puck now,” said Laviolette, coach of the Carolina Hurricanes. “If you’ve got it, it’s going to be tough to stop it. So you better figure out a way to get it and hang onto it.
“I (also) think there will be some reteaching of defense, and how to defend, as opposed to the way we did before.”
About the USA’s hopes for gold in Turin, Drury said his country has as good a chance as any.
“We came pretty close last time, losing to Canada in the gold-medal game. I think we’ve got some good, young, new talent mixed in with some of the guys that have been here a while,” Drury said.
The 39 players at camp Tuesday were invited by USA hockey, but not all of them will be with the team in Turin. Further evaluation of players will continue throughout the NHL season. Changes to the roster are anticipated before the Olympics.
Staff writer Adrian Dater can be reached at 303-820-5454 or adater@denverpost.com.
