Showing off: Since the National Basketball Association has successfully promoted individual skills such as dunking and three-point shooting at its All-Star Game festivities, the National Hockey League has decided to follow suit. This year in Pittsburgh, where the All-Star Game will be held Jan. 21, the NHL will have events testing the skating and shooting skills of the All-Stars in individual events. ”Next year, players will be selected for the events who aren`t necessarily on the All-Star teams,” Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz said. ”When we talked about creating the thing, the first thing someone said is what about having someone like a Jeremy Roenick show off his blistering speed? People are well aware of Jeremy already. Denis Savard told me Jeremy`s the best draft pick we`ve made since he`s been here.” Defenseman Doug Wilson said about Roenick, who arrives with the rest of the Hawks to open camp Sept. 8: ”He has as much potential as anyone I`ve seen come into the NHL. I hate to put pressure on him, but he can be on a Denis Savard level.”
– Dollar dilemma: St. Louis already is giving the Hawks fits, and the season hasn`t even started. The fact the Blues signed collegiate free-agent goaltender Curtis Joseph to a $1 million contract for four years has been one of the sticking points in negotiations between Hawks General Manager Bob Pulford and free-agent goalie Alain Chevrier. ”The obstacle isn`t
insurmountable,” Chevrier said. ”It`s not the Rocky Mountains. More like the Poconos.” Still, he isn`t close enough for his liking to the sweet deal Joseph received. ”That was a unique situation where they outbid other teams for his services,” Pulford contended of the Joseph deal. ”It hasn`t helped our negotiations with Chevrier. But I still think we`ll settle with Chevrier before training camp starts.” If they don`t, Chevrier is prohibited by league rules from going on the ice.