MT: If you could change anything about the game today what would it be?
HN: I’d take out the red line. But I think I’d monkey around with the contour of the rink as well. I’d move the blue line back to were the dots are, and change the game from a four-zone rink to a three-zone rink…The challenge is to make the rinks bigger without moving the boards. They won’t move the boards because that just costs them money. Even so, when I see a good hockey game today, you don’t need to do anything with the rules. Unfortunately there aren’t as many of those as people would like and there aren’t as many goals being scored.
MT: Despite the lack of scoring, what do you think of the talent in the NHL today.
HN: There’s no question that the level of talent in the NHL today is as high as it’s ever been. That’s not to say the superstars of today are better then the stars of other eras. The difference is that today we just have more of them.
MT: Are you really biased towards the Leafs?
HN: I don’t think I am, but the people in Ottawa, as narrow-minded as they are, seem to think so
MT: Would you bet a significant amount of money that the Leafs will go further then the Sens in this year’s playoffs?
HN: No I wouldn’t, I think Ottawa has the best line up. Whether they are the best team or not I don’t know. They weren’t the best at the beginning of the year, but it looks like they are living up to their expectations now. The playoffs are such a funny animal…how you play during the season doesn’t necessarily work in the playoffs. But if someone put a gun at my head and said I had to bet on one of the teams in the East, I would say that Ottawa has the best chance of getting into the final. But who knows, look how far Anaheim and Minnesota got last year.
MT: What do the Leafs need to improve their chances?
HN: I think the Leafs need a top-notch defensemen. A one through four guy who can log a lot of minutes. MT: I’m going to throw out some names, let me know whatever come to mind…Don Cherry?
HN: If you believe Cherry it’s your fault. I like Don, he’s a friend of mine, I like hav’n a beer with him. His schtick has proven to be pretty successful. Whether you tune him in because you agree with him or disagree with himeither way he gets the audience and he should be commended for that.
MT:…Gary Bettman (Commissioner of the NHL)?
HN: I think that Bettman takes a lot of abuse for anything that goes wrong in the NHL. He has a very difficult job working for 30 owners. Some of whom I wonder about their intelligence with reference to hockey. He’s the target if things don’t go right.
MT: …Bob Clark (General Manager, Philadelphia Flyers)?
HN: When I was coaching I always wished he was on my team. We always hated him for the way he played. But I always admired his courage as a hockey player. He hasn’t got a Cup yet as general manager, but he’s taken three different teams to the Stanley Cup final. Not many GM’s can say that.
