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Sunday, December 15, 2002

By Dejan Kovacevic, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Perhaps never has a two-year NHL coach been held in higher esteem by the hockey public than has been the case for Ted Nolan. Since being fired by the Sabres after two moderately successful seasons in 1997, fans across the continent have pleaded for his hiring with nearly every vacancy.

Finally, the public might be heard.

Nolan was an instant favorite among the Calgary faithful to fill the Flames' opening once Greg Gilbert was fired two weeks ago and replaced by interim man Al MacNeil. And when Nolan spent three hours in an interview with General Manager Craig Button Friday, that sentiment overflowed.

Nolan had been accused by Buffalo management upon his dismissal of not getting along with the general manager, who was John Muckler at the time. That sort of tag, fair or not, carries a long shelf life in the NHL.

If Nolan is hired by Calgary, he will be a second choice. Earlier in the week, the Flames spoke with Larry Robinson, but Robinson said that, while he wants to coach in the NHL again, he doesn't want to do it for the Flames.

Turns out the real reason Jarome Iginla is well off his NHL-best scoring pace of a year ago is injuries. A nagging groin and hip have bothered him the past month, and he had ankle and wrist injuries lingering from the preseason. Still, it wasn't until this week that he was taken out of the lineup. He should be back in plenty of time for the Flames' lone visit to Mellon Arena Saturday. Iginla had six goals and 12 assists in 27 games.

In explaining why he traded Mike Dunham and left Tomas Vokoun as the Predators' No. 1 goaltender, General Manager David Poile said it was finally time for Vokoun to get a chance to be the man in his fifth NHL season. Although Vokoun is 4-9-3, he has a 2.46 goals-against average and .911 save percentage despite a rash of injuries in front of him.

For all the attention Marian Gaborik is getting for leading the league with 19 goals -- every bit of it deserved -- it seems to have gone unnoticed that the Wild no longer counts on him exclusively for offense. It has five players with 20 or more points -- Gaborik, Cliff Ronning, Pascal Dupuis, Sergei Zholtok and Andrew Brunette -- one of only two teams with that distinction. Would you believe the Lightning is the other?

Ed Jovanovski is in talks with the Canucks to extend his contract, which expires in June, and wants to join the upper echelon of salaries for NHL defensemen. Six make $6 million or more, and it is believed his initial offer was for that amount. The NHLPA is keeping a close eye on the talks, as there currently are two distinct classes in the defense ranks among players too young for unrestricted free agency: There are the six aforementioned stars, then a big drop to the $4 million-and-less group which includes Scott Niedermayer, Sergei Gonchar and Roman Hamrlik.

Toss aside the conventional explanations for why the Oilers have lost only once in their past 10 games. The real reason might be a visit from Shania Twain. Country music's hottest commodity stopped by the Edmonton room before a Nov. 23 game and scrawled a note on the chalkboard which read, "Way to go, eh!" The players were more impressed with something other than her penmanship. Ryan Smyth: "She's an attractive lady, hoo boy." Janne Niinimaa: " It could work two ways. It could loosen you up, or it could mess you right up. ... Man, is she hot."