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Sunday, January 12, 2003

By Dejan Kovacevic, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Although the Capitals finally have developed a winning roll, Jaromir Jagr has dipped into one of those gloomy moods which often overwhelmed him in his final two seasons in Pittsburgh.

Even upon learning he would be voted into the All-Star Game as a starter for the Eastern Conference, leading all wingers in final balloting released yesterday, he found no joy.

"If the fans wouldn't vote for me, I wouldn't be there this year," Jagr told the Washington Post. "I don't deserve to be there, but what can I say? The fans voted me in, and I have to go. I'm going to feel a little bit silly there around those guys, but that's OK."

Jagr has been voted into every All-Star Game as a starter since his second season in the NHL, and that carryover sentiment doubtless had more to do with his selection than his production. At the time voting closed Dec. 27, he was averaging less than a point a game.

Word from Long Island is that the Bruins might finally part with Kyle McLaren in exchange for the Islanders' Brad Isbister. New York has shopped Isbister for two years, believing his power-forward potential never will be realized. The Bruins recently rejected the Lightning's offer of Fredrik Modin for McLaren. Only this much seems certain: The cool hand Mike O'Connell was able to play when the Bruins were winning nearly every game is gone.

Five NHL coaches have been fired this season, with the Blue Jackets' Dave King becoming the latest this week. The Canadiens' Michel Therrien could be next. Montreal's hockey public, famous for its lack of patience, had been atypically tolerant of the team's longstanding scoring woes. But now that the team also is lacking on defense -- it has allowed the most shots in the league -- fingers are pointing behind the bench.

Rod Bryden, the Senators' embattled president, took advantage of media attention for the team's bankruptcy announcement Thursday to make a plea for Ottawa fans to buy tickets. The next home game is Tuesday against the Lightning, and 1,700 tickets still remain.

Anytime a team is mentioned as possibly relocating, Portland is the first city cited as the target destination. It was the case when the Penguins went bankrupt, then when the Oilers and Flames foundered two years ago, and now it's the potential new home for the Sabres or Senators. Fact is, Paul Allen, the Microsoft billionaire believed to have been interested in buying the Penguins, no longer wants to get into hockey. But that hasn't deterred the Portland Oregon Sports Authority from starting an "NHL2Portland" campaign and drawing 2,000 season-ticket deposits.

Atlanta General Manager Don Waddell apparently has set his sights higher to fill his coaching vacancy than he did at the outset. First, he contacted the Red Wings to ask about Scott Bowman, only to be rejected by Bowman. Then, he contacted Bob Hartley, recently fired by the Avalanche. Waddell's first interview was with Terry Murray.

Mike Keenan, the Panthers' coach, is trying to play the dual role of general manager, even though Rick Dudley owns the title. After meek efforts in home losses to the Stars and Rangers, Keenan popped off to reporters when asked what he could do: "There are two things you can do. You can convince the people you have to do it, or you get people who will do it. And that's an organizational decision." Asked if that meant personnel changes, he replied: "I would suggest it's a good idea." Try to feign surprise.