A Great Dilemma

Watching the Blues rally for a tie against Detroit last February in St. Louis, Calgary Flames Coach Pierre Page swiveled on his chair in the press box and said the unthinkable. “You know something? The Blues are better without Wayne Gretzky.”

Whoa! Stop the presses. What a scoop -- and Page didn’t even back off when he saw a confused look on my face.

“I don’t mean it disrespectfully,” he said. “Wayne is the greatest player to ever play the game, but he can’t carry a team on his back anymore. That’s a fact. He proved it in Los Angeles and in St. Louis.

“He’s not the goal scorer he once was and that takes away a dimension of his game. He’s had a terrific season in New York, but that’s only because Mark Messier is there, so is Brian Leetch. Mark is the one who faces the best checkers, not Wayne, and that makes a difference.”

The Rangers are about to find out Page is correct because that comfort zone -- having two of the greatest centers in league history lead them to the Eastern Conference finals -- disappeared when Messier signed with Vancouver this summer. Now, the Rangers are back to being a one-line team -- and Gretzky is expected to carry this team, unless ...

“It looks as if they’re looking for one guy, but who that guy is, I’m not sure,” Gretzky says, facing the spot in the locker room that belonged to Messier the past six seasons. “Something’s going to happen.”

Two weeks ago we told you to look for the Rangers to make a pitch for Sabres center Pat LaFontaine. Now, they’ve acted on that advice, even though LaFontaine is recovering from a fifth career concussion -- one that ended his season last November.

“I’m sure some people question his health,” goalie Mike Richter says. “I cringe for him (because of the head injury). But there’s no denying his skill is unbelievable.”

The Rangers couldn’t take a chance that Page’s observation is correct. An effective LaFontaine can remove a lot of the team-carrying pressure from Gretzky.

Gretzky’s 97-point season and 20-point playoffs convinced the Rangers he still can be productive, even at 36. In fact, the team is working on a new multiyear contract so the Rangers would not have to sweat out another free-agency fiasco like the one they went through with Messier.

Yes, Gretzky, despite rumors that this will be his last season, is confident he can play beyond 1997-98.

“I said to Neil, I’m not going to embarrass myself and I’m not going to embarrass the Rangers,” Gretzky says. “If I’m going to play the way I did last year and in the playoffs, I’ll continue. I can’t tell you if that’s one more year or two years. I think I’m in good shape, and I think we have a good team, and when you have a good team you’re always better as individuals.

“Seriously, I hope it’s three years, but right now I’m kind of worried and focused about this year.”

Keep a close eye on No. 99. Look to see if he’s getting room to operate. If he is, he will be fine. But, I’m betting opposing teams are going to try to rough him up now that Messier is not around. Even with LaFontaine around to help.

And that’s not good news for the Rangers.

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The Boston Bruins will get another chance to avenge the slash that broke No. 1 pick Joe Thornton’s wrist last week.

“It’s hockey; sometimes this happens,” Bruins assistant G.M. Mike O’Connell says of a two-handed slash by Pittsburgh center Stu Barnes. “But the player ultimately has to be responsible for it if he chooses to slash the guy rather than go for the puck.”

Thornton, the top pick in the draft last summer, is expected to be sidelined six to eight weeks.

A four-game suspension to Barnes or not, fireworks can be expected when the Bruins meet the Penguins November 18.

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The Canadiens have been delighted with goalie Andy Moog, signed in the offseason to back up Jocelyn Thibault. “He’s seen everything the game has to offer,” defenseman Dave Manson says. “There isn’t one subject on or off the ice he doesn’t have an observation on. As a defenseman, I know he’s played behind some of the best in the world and that can really help me.” ... Phoenix Coyotes goalie Darcy Wakaluk will be sidelined 4-6 months after right knee surgery. ... Injured defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov no longer needs a feeding tube, Red Wings trainer John Wharton says. Konstantinov, who last month began eating some soft foods, had lost more than 30 pounds since the June 13 accident that left him in a coma until August 21. ... Page, now the Anaheim Mighty Ducks coach, is pleased with the addition of right winger Scott Young, obtained from Colorado for a third-round draft choice. “Usually checkers can get you four or six goals,” Page says. “Some can get you 10-15, but Young is in the 20-30 range.” ... Doug Weight wants to return to his feisty, 104-point form of two seasons ago. “I think I played along the wall more, took more of a beating and dished out more,” he says. “I’ll just take the body more. I’m big enough and have enough speed that I can lay guys out.”