I’ve been working on an article about fighting in the NHL for a few weeks now and I figured I’d share something really special I got a few days ago. Enjoy!

For 17 seasons, Bob Probert was one of the toughest men in the NHL. However, he was much more than an enforcer, as the 6’3, 225 pound forward scored 163 goals over the course of his career, including two 20-goal seasons in 1988 and 1992. Chatting with TheDriveForFive.com, Probert talks about his career and the league that has changed so much since he left six seasons ago.

The Drive for Five: Over the past few years, the NHL has taken serious steps to eliminate fighting from the game. What do you think of that?

Bob Probert: I think that fighting will always be a part of the game regardless of what the leagues tries to do to cut down on it. It’s a part of the game that should always be there. It belongs in the game and keeps people honest; it also limits the amounts of cheap shots. Guys think twice about sticking someone if they know someone on the other team is going to come after them if they get too physical.

TDFF: Some people that watched you over the years have said that watching you fight was like poetry or art in motion. How does that make you feel?

Probert: It makes me feel great. I did it for many years and it’s something that I took as my job. I was also able to play hockey during that time, it just that I got very good at fighting. I guess I enjoyed it too to a certain extent.

TDFF: Aside from the fighting, what was your favorite part of playing hockey in the NHL?

Probert: I had an opportunity to play with Steve Yzerman one year and I had 29 goals. I was told by the coaches, “Hey Probie, don’t be fighting, stay out on the ice.” I also got 398 penalty minutes that year, so I didn’t really listen to the coaches that much. That’s just the way I played the game and that year, everything really came together for me. I got a chance to play my rough style, but also got a chance on the powerplay and to play with some great players. That was my favorite part of playing in the NHL.

TDFF: That year you had 29 goals [87-88], you also had a huge playoff series as well. What do you attribute to that?

Probert: I believe that was the year Stevie [Yzerman] got hurt, so I got a chance to play on the top line with guys like Petr Klima, John Chabot and Joe Murphy. Because Stevie was hurt, I got to play that much more and show everyone what I could do. I had a great playoffs that year and it was really fun. It’s fun when you can put some points on the board and be one of the key players on a team.

TDFF: I’ve heard stories over the years about what a good passer John Chabot was. Can you tell us a little about his game?

Probert: He was a great passer and playmaker. He was very similar to Adam Oates, but he was a bigger player and as far as hands go, they were great too. That’s why it’s easy to compare him to a guy like Oates. He was an absolute pleasure to play with.

TDFF: Your highlights on YouTube are quite extensive. Are there any ones that you are particularly proud of?

Probert: I think the couple I had with Tie Domi and the rematch with Troy Crowder still stick out in my mind, because they were widely publicized. I really wowed them there.

TDFF: Can you tell the people who don’t watch hockey why players fight?

Probert: There are plenty of reasons. There were times when players were going after Steve Yzerman and I had to go after them. There were also times when guys would come after me and give me a cheap shot and I would have to stick up for myself. Sometimes though, there are just times when you look at someone the wrong way and you go at it. Sometimes you knew before the game that this was someone you were going to have to fight and you figured why not get it over with. There are a lot of different reasons. There’s also the motivation factor, a big hit or a fight can definetly motivate your team and change the game. That’s what my job was.

TDFF: There aren’t many big time enforcers in the league anymore. Back when you played, there was at least one person on every team who was a lock for 200 penalty minutes. That just doesn’t happen anymore. With that being said, if you could fight one person in the NHL today, who would it be and why?

Probert: Probably Sean Avery. That’s a guy I would probably go after [laughing]. He gets under my skin just watching him play, so I’m sure if I was still playing he’s definitely someone I’d like to go with.

TDFF: For the fans that prefer a high-octane offensive game, how would you convince them that fighting still has a place in the game?

Probert: A lot of people growing up now didn’t have a chance to see the game in the ‘80s and didn’t get to see the sport the way I and so many people played it. Nowadays, the game is so much quicker and sometimes there aren’t even many hits. However, the team that won the Stanley Cup last season [Anaheim Ducks] was the most physical and if you ask me, that’s the reason why they won. In the end, it’s not really about fighting. It’s about being physical and team justice. Like I said before, you get a big hit and it can change the game. If you get an entire team playing physically, you can go places in the league.

The voice of the New York Islanders during the team’s glory years, hall of fame broadcaster Jiggs McDonald is synonymous with the team’s success and is respected as much as any of the former players that held the Stanley Cup above their heads for the team.

However, over the past two seasons, McDonald has had the chance to come back and do more than a handful of the team’s games, thus getting a front row seat to all of the action and has come to his own conclusions on the direction the team is going in. Chatting over the phone from his home in Florida, McDonald tells The Drive for Five what he thought of the Islanders’ season and what hockey fans should expect from them in the future.

The Drive for Five: What do you think the Islanders did right this season?

Jiggs McDonald: The number one thing was sign Bill Guerin. Bill brought a maturity to the dressing room that I didn’t think they had for a while and naming him the captain was absolutely the right thing to do. He’s a gentleman through and through and he’s a great teammate. He’s a classy individual that brought that experience and something into that room that just wasn’t there before.

TDFF: What do you think the Islanders were missing this season?

McDonald: Had Mike Comrie been healthy the entire season and had there been another goal-scoring forward, or maybe consistency from guys like Miroslav Satan, Ruslan Fedotenko or a Josef Vasicek, just a little more from any one of those, it would have been a far different year. Then you get into the injuries and there’s no controlling that, every team has to deal with that, but it’s hard to believe the severity of the injuries and the people who got injured on the team.

TDFF: Considering the plethora of injuries this season, which injury do you think played one of the bigger roles in them not making the playoffs?

McDonald: Jon Sim’s. I think he’s a guy that can be an irritant and can really get under your skin. I think you would have seen a better offensive team if he was in the lineup night after night.

TDFF: After all the injuries, the Isles were forced to call up a lot of young players. How do you think they performed? Was there anyone that stood out?

McDonald: The coaching staff was forced into a youth movement because of all of the injuries and a lot of guys called up have shown an ability to score at the minor league level, but have never really proved it at the NHL level. I don’t want to think that Jeff Tambellini is one of those players. I just think that for some reason, he didn’t get the quality ice time he needed and they didn’t play him enough and put him in key situations. They never really put him in a situation to show what he could or couldn’t do. I think it’s a reluctance on Ted’s [Isles coach Ted Nolan] part to play Jeff when a lot of us though he should be on the ice.

TDFF: Charles Wang was quoted in Newsday a few weeks ago saying that the youngsters proved Ted Nolan wrong. Do you think that these kids are ready to play big time minutes?

McDonald: Yeah I do. I really liked what I saw of Jack Hillen. Boy, he looked to me like he was very poised and calm out there. He’s fresh out of college and just seemed to handle himself very well out there. As far as the rest of the kids go, yeah, turn them loose, let them play and develop. Look at Pittsburgh. I think there are enough veterans on this team to guide them and maybe you don’t even sign the free agents, maybe you just go with the youth movement and develop this team and bite the bullet. Drafting fifth overall from everything I’ve heard, the Isles are probably going to get a guy that could step right in and help them without any seasoning. All reports are that the top seven picks are players that can help their teams right away. I think there’s a strong possibility that this could be someone who could be a rookie of the year candidate as well. There’s no guarantee of that, but he could be a significant addition to that lineup at the very least.

TDFF: With that being said, do you think Ted Nolan is doing to have to change his coaching style?

McDonald: Yeah, he’s going to have to accept the fact [that these kids deserve a chance]. Don’t get me wrong by any means, I think he’s a great teacher and a great people person for this team. I’ve felt this way since the road trip I was on with the team in Phoenix in the 2006 season and the guys told me how much respect they had for him and how he was a man of his word. Mike Sillinger told me he liked him and that he was honest and that he was good with everyone and was a players coach. He told them if they work hard for 45 minutes every night then that was it and he’s right, that’s it. Now, he’ll be asked to work with a little younger team than he’s accustomed to and will have to put more responsibility on their shoulders, but I think he’ll be able to adjust just fine.

TDFF: On another note, what do you think of the workload Rick DiPietro had this season?

McDonald: His workload has to be cut down and it should be cut down next season. Coming off of the surgery he had a year ago, I thought they were going to cut his workload down a little bit.

TDFF: Considering that, were you shocked at any point in the season how little Wade Dubielewicz had played this season, before DiPietro’s injury?

McDonald: He should have gotten more playing time. I guess what I would like to see and it’s something I think Ted and the coaching staff will definitely do next season is to just look at the schedule and look at who they’re playing, where they’re playing, how many number of games in how many nights they’re playing in an effort to really make sure that they don’t overwork DiPietro. I think he needs a little more rest.

TDFF: With Joey MacDonald under contract and Dubielewicz a free agent, what do you think the Islanders will do and if Dubielewicz is not resigned, do you think he’d have value on the market?

McDonald: The first question isn’t for me to answer, but I do think that Dubielewicz has proven himself with the coaches or certainly should have. I think he’s proven that he can be a solid backup and play more. If he is allowed to leave it wouldn’t shock me if a team like the Devils looked at him. If you look at the number of games Marty Brodeur plays every year, you could tell that Kevin Weekes isn’t a very happy guy. But as Marty gets older, you’d obviously want to rest him more and I think Dubie is someone that could play well in a spot like that. I think Toronto would be interested too because they’re not happy with [Andy] Raycroft and they’d definitely consider a new backup goaltender. So yes, I think there will be plenty of interest in Dubie this offseason.

TDFF: Lastly, what youngster do you think will have the best season for the Islanders next season?

McDonald: I think Kyle Okposo will take the nine games he had this season and grow with it this summer. I think they’ll have him in a few upper body building routines and he’s going to be asked to get bigger and stronger. He’ll come back a bona fide number one pick and a guy that will have an outstanding season next year. He’s a smart player and even though I didn’t see every game he played, I noticed that he’s not the type of player that the puck follows around, but he knows where he has to go and knows how to get open and shoot the puck. He’s got a great release. I look for big things from him this year.

Sorry guys, I don’t have time for a full-fledged post today, so I figured I’d share this interview I did, at the beginning of last season, with you guys. I think you’ll find it quite interesting.

Hockey fans in the New York area would never believe that John Kenneth “Jiggs” McDonald, the former play-by-play voice of the Isles from 1980-1995 and one of the most respected broadcasters in the history of the sport, would ever have a reason to doubt his own ability.

However, after a few years removed from full-time broadcasting duty, McDonald, who has called over 3,000 games for the Islanders, Kings, Maple Leafs and Panthers during a career that has spanned over 40 years, was asked to cover the first seven games of the Islanders 2006-07 season; a request that conjured up a myriad of emotions. Despite covering a few games last season for the Panthers, McDonald was initially unsure as to whether or not he could perform the way he used to.

“I had mixed emotions,” said McDonald, regarding his return to the Island after an 11-year absence. “[I was] nervous and frightened. I didn’t want to embarrass anybody, especially myself. I haven’t done that many games over the past three years; I hadn’t done any games since last January. It’s almost like the mentality of a player; not knowing if you can get back up to speed or if you’re in game shape.

“I didn’t know if I could get up to speed with the Islanders and what was going on with them or be able to reach the standard that I set for myself over the years. I didn’t know if I’d be able to achieve that immediately. There’s something in our makeup or in the back of the mind that drives us to be our best. Some people think it’s a sign of professionalism, [trying to maintain that level], but I just didn’t know if I could or not.”

During the seven games, however, McDonald did a remarkable job filling in for Islanders play-by-play man Howie Rose and introduced himself to millions of younger hockey fans who may have never had the opportunity to hear the Hall of Famer call a game. He also reconnected with millions more that missed the sound of his voice and the keenness and candor he brought to every telecast.

“Getting back into the coliseum was really special,” he said. “I really appreciate the way people went out of their way to show their feelings towards me. It was a great trip down memory lane.”

Despite his love for the game as a child, McDonald never thought of becoming a play by play announcer, rather he pictured himself doing something in the radio industry until a once in a lifetime opportunity came his way and started him on his eventual hall of fame career.

“I had a fasination with radio from the time I was seven or eight years old, never thinking of doing play by play until I started working at a radio station,” said McDonald, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a broadcaster in 1990, a full 14 years before he retired from full-time broadcasting duty.

“I guess I pictured myself more as a disc jockey or a radio personality. However, the first station I was with, I had the opportunity to get into sports and a play by play opportunity came along. I just felt that you could be yourself and be more creative [doing play by play than being being a disc jockey], this was during a time when radio formats were so structured, you only had so many seconds before each record, you really couldn’t have a personality.

“That first job opened so many doors for me and I found out that I really liked doing it and I came to excel at it. I was fortunate enough to get that first job with the NHL and just went from there. The feeling there was that if I couldn’t do it at the NHL level, atleast I would have tried it and would have had to accept the fact that I wasn’t good enough, but if I had stayed back and never applied for an NHL job, I would have always been wondering in the back of my mind if I could have done it. I had to take a chance at it. Thankfully, it worked out really well.”

For many Islander fans, McDonald’s voice holds a warm place in their hearts for many reasons. The last Isles play-by-play announcer to call a winning playoff series, McDonald’s voice reminds fans of players like Billy Smith, Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy and the 1993 team that beat the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in a thrilling 7-game series without their leading scorer, Pierre Turgeon.

To this day, McDonald remembers a lot about that ‘93 team and was especially candid when describing some of the things that happened during that very special year on Long Island.

“The memory of Dale Hunter coming across the ice and nailing Pierre [Turgeon] after he scored that goal and going to Pittsburgh without him comes to mind,” he said. “I remember asking Al Arbour, ‘If the league said you could replace Pierre with one player from the team you just eliminated, who would it be?’ He just looked me right in the eye and said, ‘Dale Hunter.’ Hunter had the heart of a lion, he wanted to win at all costs, and Al recognized that.

“It just seemed that the Islanders had Washington’s number in that series, no matter what circumstance they found themselves in, they were always able to bounce back. The Capitals had a very good team that year as well, but Pierre was a tremendously talented player and [Glenn] Healy kept the Islanders alive and charged. I can’t say that there was one particular guy that stuck out on that team, instead, there were several very special personalities.”

Despite the great memories he had while in Long Island and all over the world, covering hockey for over four decades, McDonald believes that his relationship with his wife, Marilyn, to whom he has been married to for over 40 years, was the biggest factor in why he was able to have any success in broadcasting.

“You have to have a very special relationship with home to be successful in this business,” said McDonald. “In any guy’s case, the wife becomes the person responsible for raising the family. It doesn’t weigh in as much when you’re in the New York market, but teams like Dallas travel more than anybody. In New York, we were home when we played the Rangers, the Devils, Philadelphia and even Hartford when they were in the league; we were home after the game. But when you’re living in Atlanta or Los Angeles, as we were when I started doing this after just moving from Ontario with two small children, you need to have a very special partnership and I did.”

In addition to having a loving relationship at home, McDonald was also flanked with very talented color commentators during his career, like Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion during his tenure with the Atlanta Flames and Eddie Westfall, whom he was paired with for his entire 15-year stay on Long Island, that he had special relationships with.

“Bernie Geoffrion as a coach was a motivator, not so much an x’s and o’s kind of guy and on the air, it was similar. He was the opitamy of color because some of the things he said would leave you in shock in some cases, but laughing too. On occasion, he even fractured the english language, but he had a personality that was just great for TV. The fans related to him,” said McDonald. “He wouldn’t over anaylze the action on the ice, he had a way of enhancing what you’ve seen.”

“Eddie and I used to kid that we had been together longer than some marriages,” said McDonald. He was different [from Geoffrion] because he understood the mistakes on the ice that led to goals or penalties and was great at telling the viewers at home why a team was being dominated or why certain players had problems during the course of the game. He did a great job describing things for the fans at home.”

Now, at the age of 68, McDonald has taken a step back from broadcasting and is ready to settle down, living in Florida with his wife, where he enjoys fishing, bocce and spending time with his grand children and friends. This may not be as exciting as the life of an NHL broadcaster, but you won’t hear him complaining any time soon.

“It’s different, it’s been an adjustment for both of us, but it’s been relaxing,” said McDonald, who boasted when mentioning a 3-week trip to Europe he recently took with his wife; something that would have been harder to do if he was still broadcasting full-time. “I know eventually though, I’ll need to find a hobby or get a job at Wal-Mart or something like that.”

This Tank is Ready
by: Patrick Hickey, Jr. | Senior Writer - NY Sports Day | Saturday, October 6, 2007

Islanders left winger Ruslan Fedotenko has heard all the critics say he’s not worth the $2.8 million the team will give him this year.

He also hasn’t forgotten all the musings most hockey writers have had at his expense over the past few years, calling him everything from an overrated flop to a player who will never develop into the player many though he’d be.

However, Fedotenko isn’t focused on the past and what people think about his game anymore.

Instead, he’s ready to prove to the rest of the NHL just how dominant a player he could be when given a real opportunity.

“I just want an opportunity to show what I can do,” said Fedotenko, who scored only 12 goals last season. “This team is rebuilding and they’re looking for different players to fill some gaps. So far, I’ve been really happy with everything that I’ve seen here and I’m looking forward to getting started.”

Coming off a disappointing season last year, after scoring 26 goals in 2006, Fedotenko knows it’s time to silence all the naysayers. In fact, he’s looking forward to getting more ice-time with the Islanders, after failing to find a niche with Tampa Bay last season. Knowing exactly what Ted Nolan wants from him this season; Fedotenko already sees a big change in his confidence after dealing with the often confrontational John Tortorella in Tampa Bay over the past four seasons.

“I think I’m a perfect fit in this system,” said Fedotenko. “I had some issues last year on that team [the Lightning], but it’s all in the past. I think I’ll be able to score some goals here. I like to play physical, aggressive hockey and I know Ted Nolan and the organization are going to give me a chance to make plays. I’ve scored some big goals during my career and I’d love to get a chance to get some more.”

Considering how bad things went for the 28-year old last season, Fedotenko is elated the Isles decided to give him an opportunity to get first line ice-time this season. Removed from the powerplay after failing to gel with Brad Richards last year, Fedotenko thinks that his new linemates, Bill Guerin and Mike Comrie, have something to prove just like him.

That he said will be the driving force in his and the team’s success this season.

“This team is really focused on winning,” said Fedotenko. “We have some good people in the locker room and we have a great goalie, but we know things aren’t going to be easy. We know we have something to prove, but we’re ready to do whatever we to in order to win. Overall, I’m really happy with what I’m seeing here.”

Known for scoring clutch goals, Fedotenko, who scored 12 goals in the Lightning’s 2004 run to the Stanley Cup, knows what his role will be with the Isles this season and is intent on doing his job to the best of his ability.

If that means getting some bumps and bruises along the way, he’s fine with that.

Nicknamed “Tank” for his penchant with opposing defensemen saddling his back in front of the net, Fedotenko knows that most of his goals may not wind up on highlight reels, but is ready to light the lamp as much as he can this season.

“I can do a lot of different things, but I’ll do whatever they need me to,” he said. “My job is to score goals, regardless of how they come and I’m looking forward to getting a chance to prove myself.”

Since I got a few e-mails and Miriam asked a question the other day about Bruno, I thought it would be fitting to interview him when I was covering the game on Friday. This should be up on NYSportsDay soon as well.

BTW, Expect a Ruslan Fedotenko interview in the next few days too.

With four players vying for the last defense spot on the team, the Islanders have a tough decision to make before the regular season begins this week, but Bruno Gervais is looking to make that decision an easy one.

The youngest of a group that consists of Bryan Berard, Freddy Meyer and Aaron Johnson, all of whom are fighting the same job, Gervais knows his chances of making the team improve with each offensive opportunity he’s able to foil. Known for his solid defensive ability and superior skating skills, Gervais earned significant playing time down the stretch for the Isles last season, but now finds himself in quite a predicament.

Looking for more offensive scoring out of their defense, the Isles invited the former Calder trophy winner Berard to camp and forced Gervais to play for his job. At only 22, Gervais could benefit from more seasoning with the Isles minor league affiliate in Bridgeport, but his heart is set on staying with the big club.

“I know I can play here,” he said. “I had a great playoff last year and I want to take it from there. I want to be in a position to play as much as possible and I think I’ve shown that so far this training camp.”

Gervais’ name didn’t show up often on the score sheet last season, as he totaled just six points in 51 games, with most of his contributions going unnoticed by the untrained eye. However, after scoring a goal and adding an assist in five games against the Buffalo Sabres during the playoffs, fans began to take notice of the smooth-skating defenseman.

The Isles however, have been aware of his talents for quite some time.

Beating out a slew of talented, young defenseman to make the team last season out of camp, Gervais knows how much work goes into getting one’s name on a roster card.

After almost making the team in 2003 as a sixth round draft pick, Gervais knows how crucial it is to his development to make the team this year and is going for broke this preseason.

“I’ve always been known as a good skater, but I worked even harder this off-season to get even better,” he said. “Right now, I’m at the point where I’ll do whatever I have to do in order to make this team and be a part of their success.”

Despite his penchant for making the smart play on defense, Gervais was known more for his offensive abilities in the minors and knows he could fill the team’s need for a point man on the powerplay if given an opportunity.

“Growing up, I was always on the powerplay,” said Gervais, who scored 22 goals in the QMJHL in 2003. “I scored a couple goals a few years ago on the powerplay with the team and I think I would do well there if I got a shot.”

Despite those sentiments, Gervais understands that his job may depend on how well he plays defense.

“Offense is a bonus,” said Gervais. “Getting a chance to join the rush is great, but my game starts in the defensive end. I think once the coaching staff is comfortable with me and trusts me on defense, those opportunities will come. That’s why I’ve always been so defensive-minded.

“I know I’ll get my chance though.”