When Roger Neilson broke into the National Hockey League in 1977 as coach of Toronto, he was nicknamed “Captain Video” after the TV space adventure hero of the ’50s because of his pioneering work in using the study of video tapes as a strategic weapon.
Nearly a quarter of a century and nine other NHL teams later, “Captain Video” has become “Captain Courageous.”
A year after being diagnosed with bone marrow cancer, the assistant coach of the Ottawa Senators was diagnosed Friday with malignant melanoma, the worst form of skin cancer.
“Roger Neilson is an incredible human being,” Dr. Isadore Brodsky, chief of oncology at Hahnemann University Hospital where he is being treated. “He’s very stoic. What he wants to do is get back to coaching that team.
“His chances of survival, for five years, is somewhat at a range between 40-50 percent, and that’s without treatment.
“We plan to put him on treatment. We’re fighting two diseases at once. The myeloma [bone marrow cancer] is under excellent control. My thought is that by combining two drugs–and no one knows what the overall impact of that will be–that we’ll buy substantial more time. He may beat the odds.”
On Monday, doctors cleared Neilson, 66, to accompany the Senators on a three-game trip that begins Wednesday in Vancouver. “I feel real good,” Neilson said. “There’s no reason why I can’t go. It’s important to get going again.”
Belfour goes AWOL: Ed Belfour, the Dallas Stars goaltender who is as temperamental as he is talented, remained suspended without pay Monday night when his team met the Rangers in New York.
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Belfour also is expected to miss Wednesday night’s game in Dallas, according to his agent, Ron Salcer. When the Stars return to Dallas, General Manager Bob Gainey wants the goalie and coach Ken Hitchcock to meet and discuss the situation. “I’m aware of Eddie’s version of events and Ken’s version of events,” said Gainey. “The next step would be for the two to discuss matters in the same place. That wasn’t possible in New York.”
The ex-Hawk, who leads the NHL with seven shutouts, left the Stars and returned home after a spat with Hitchcock at the morning skate preceding Saturday night’s game in Boston.
Belfour wanted to play against Boston but Hitchcock decided to start rookie Marty Turco, who wound up making 33 saves and recording the first shutout of his NHL career.
Belfour refused to field additional shots following the morning skate, the normal responsibility of the goalie not starting that night, and refused to participate in an off-ice workout.
It’s not unusual for Belfour, whose contract this season is worth $5.5 million, to be upset concerning the backup goaltender’s role. When he was with the Hawks he became infuriated when his understudy, Jeff Hackett, got hot and started getting more starting assignments. Not only did Belfour complain, he vented his anger at Hackett.
Trade bait? Buffalo may be interesting in unloading goalie Dominik Hasek, who got the hook from coach Lindy Ruff twice in five games late last month. The two-time NHL most valuable player with a $7.5 million contract will turn 36 this month and he went into the second half of the season the league’s 16th-ranked goalie.
Trading Hasek probably would bring the Sabres a high-quality player in return and the salary savings conceivably could prompt General Manager Darcy Regier to meet holdout center Michael Peca’s contract demands.
Meanwhile, as Peca’s stalemate continues, he is becoming increasingly disenchanted with the Sabres’ management and wants out.
Lemieux’s next level: Pittsburgh owner/superstar center Mario Lemieux is the talk of the NHL because of his scoring feats consisting of four goals and eight assists in the first four games of his comeback from a 3 1/2-year layoff.
Lemieux thinks he can do “a lot better” after he regains his leg strength and skating speed. “I can take my game to another level,” he predicted.
Coinciding with the return of Lemieux, is the resurgence of linemate Jaromir Jagr, who has snapped out of the longest scoring slump of his career and turned back into one of the NHL’s biggest point-producers.
“It’s surprised me a lot,” Jagr said of the impact that Lemieux has had since returning from retirement. “I didn’t know he was going to play that well.
“With every practice and every game, he’s getting better and better.”