Sportsnet’s NHL experts answer your questions.

April 19, 2001

Read our chat with Nick Kypreos, Scott Morrison, John Garrett, and Darren Dreger. Get your hockey questions answered!

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Submitted by Xochitl Oseguera 4/12/01

Meta Tags: chat, chat transcript, Sportsnet, Nick Kypreos, Scott Morrison, John Garrett, Darren Dreger

Meta Description: Read our chat with Nick Kypreos, Scott Morrison, John Garrett, and Darren Dreger. Get your hockey questions answered!

Sportsnet: Sportsnet.ca wants to welcome everyone to this playoff hockey chat today. We are going to begin with Sportsnet hockey analyst Nick Kypreos. Nick played for Washington, Hartford, the Rangers and Toronto during his 8-year career. A teammate once commented that Nick could "talk a pit bull off a meat wagon". Not sure what that means but when it comes to hockey Nick loves to talk! Welcome, Nick and here is your first question: . This question is from Barry in Perth, Ontario."Hey Nick and all the other bandwagon Ottawa Senators' fans; going into the Leafs/Sens series it seems everyone overlooked the fact that Jacques Martin has a brutal record in the playoffs, something like a .356 winning percentage. What does Ottawa have to do to become a more effective playoff team? Go Leafs Go.

Nick Kypreos: As far as Jacques Martin's playoff record is concerned, there are 20 other players that need to take responsibility for Ottawa's woes in the playoffs. Last time I checked, a coach never scored one goal or made one save, so collectively, from top to bottom in that organization, everybody should be accountable, not just Jacques Martin.

Sam: Nick, what's going on with the Rangers? Will Glen Sather be able to turn that franchise around?

Nick Kypreos: It was very difficult for Glen Sather to move bodies because of the guaranteed contracts that were still out there. The thing that Ranger fans have to be patient with is the development of new players. When Glen took over the team, there weren't even that many good prospects. So Ranger fans need to give Glen Sather time to scout talent.

Jesse: Nick this is a question from Jesse in Scarborough. Jesse wants to know about Pittsburgh. In the regular season they're an offensive powerhouse yet now in the playoffs they're playing more of a defensive style. How do they do that and why?

Nick Kypreos: Well, they're doing that because as much as Mario loves scoring goals, he knows that defense wins Stanley Cups. When he won Stanley Cups in the early 90s, it was guys like Ulf Samuelson that set the tone defensively, so he knows that teams need to adjust in the playoffs. But before Mario's done for the playoffs this year, I'm sure they'll get their share of offence in.

Brock Kirkman: Nick, here's one from Brock in Cornwall, Ontario. Do you think someone is going to get fed up with Scott Steven and go after him?

Nick Kypreos: No, I don't think so, because personal agendas can’t really focus the task at hand. You don't want to lose focus this time of year and made the issue to get Scott Stevens. The focus is on beating the New Jersey Devils. And I think hockey players have long memories, so there's no pressing need to do something in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

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