BC-HKN--Team Previews,ADVISORY
Editors:
To help you with planning, the following is planned ahead of the NHL season. Please contact Dave Zelio (dzelio(at)ap.org) with questions. AP stories and accompanying photos also can be obtained from http://www.apexchange.com.
Individual team previews will be sent on the following dates:
Eastern Conference teams, Monday Oct. 5
Western Conference teams, Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Each story will be approximately 600 words and accompanied by a 200-word team capsule.
There is a change this season for preseason games. Rather than individual APNewsNows on each game, we will move HKN--NHL Rdp each day/night there are games, leading with the best or most interesting angle of the day. Every game will be in the roundup, which will be updated throughout the day/night.
We will also be moving enterprise stories ahead of the Oct. 7 season openers, including:
HKN--FOURTH LINE-EVOLUTION
There was a time when NHL teams put tough guys on the fourth line for a few minutes to rough up opponents. These days, fourth-line forwards can skate and score and play more than 10 minutes a game. By Hockey Writer Larry Lage. SENT: 500 words, photos on Sept. 21.
HKN--CAPITALS-OVECHKIN
ARLINGTON, Va. - A day after turning 30, Alex Ovechkin opened training camp with the Washington Capitals for his 11th NHL season. If the guy known as ''Ovi'' was blase about the milestone birthday - ''Next year, it's going to be 31,'' he noted with a shrug - his attitude about entering his second decade in the league took on a far more serious tone. Washington hasn't won more than one series in any postseason since Ovechkin joined the team. By Howard Fendrich. SENT: 640 words, photos on Sept. 18.
HKN--NHL CAMPS OPEN
NHL training camps open this week, and Commissioner Gary Bettman is proud of the parity across the league. There is also a host of things to watch this season, from 3-on-3 overtimes to the addition of concussion ''spotters' at every game. By Hockey Writer Larry Lage. SENT: 750 words, photos on Sept. 17.
HKN--OILERS-McDAVID MANIA
EDMONTON, Alberta - Minutes before Connor McDavid emerged from beneath the stands and hit the ice for practice, the Edmonton Oilers' brain trust were already in their seats at Rexall Place. It was early July and just the second day of the Oilers' highly-anticipated rookie orientation camp, where McDavid was once again drawing a crowd. All eyes are on the 18-year-old forward, a can't miss player and the No. 1 pick. He is also the No. 1 reason why the Oilers seem suddenly poised for a revival after missing the playoffs for nine consecutive seasons - the NHL's longest active drought. By Hockey Writer John Wawrow. SENT: 850 words, photos on Sept. 11.
HKN--NEXT GENERATION
Buffalo Sabres fans have taken a liking to ''Eich.'' As consolations prizes go, the Sabres landed a player with the potential to make an immediate impact in Jack Eichel, who was drafted second overall behind Connor McDavid. And there is a host of other young stars to watch when training camps begin next week. By Hockey Writer John Wawrow. SENT: 600 words, photos on Sept. 11.
AP Sports