Kamensky skating into twilight with Dallas

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2001

By Lucas Aykroyd

The National Hockey League has a cruel way of making its players feel prematurely old. In most walks of life, you’re still considered young when you turn 35. A hockey player that age is a veritable graybeard.

No doubt Valeri Kamensky of the Dallas Stars would love to shave a few years off his birth certificate. The veteran left wing’s recent play makes it look like he’ll be heading into retirement at the end of 2001-02.

Historically renowned as a fleet-footed sniper, Kamensky failed to score until 15 December this season, when he bagged a pair against Phoenix.

“It hasn’t been too good,” Kamensky admitted. “I need to work hard and take some time. It’s a new team, everything’s new.”

The 6-2, 205-pound forward signed a one-year deal with Dallas on 5 July. He was one of many off-season acquisitions by the Stars, few of which have panned out, as freewheeling types like Donald Audette and Jyrki Lumme have already been traded.

Confirming skepticism about how Kamensky would fit into the rigid Dallas system, Stars Head Coach Ken Hitchcock has frequently made the 11-year veteran a healthy scratch.

At this stage of Kamensky’s career, it’s tough to find him the right linemates. Some nights he’s enjoyed highly skilled partners like Jere Lehtinen and Mike Modano. But when you’re on the top line, you have to produce.

Kamensky learned that lesson the hard way at the 2000 World Championships, where he started off playing with Pavel Bure and Alexei Yashin and was relegated to the fourth line by the end of the tournament.

Was coming to Dallas the right move after two consecutive mediocre seasons with the New York Rangers (66 points in 123 games)? There was speculation that Kamensky might gravitate toward Vancouver as a free agent, since he flourished under Marc Crawford’s reign during Colorado’s 1996 charge to the Stanley Cup.

“I didn’t think about that because they never asked me to come here,” Kamensky said ruefully. “But I really had a great time with Marc Crawford. That was my best time in the NHL, playing with Colorado. He knows me very well and he’s a great coach.”

One thing that neither coaching nor ice time can remedy is injuries. Since 1998-99, Kamensky has had an awful time staying healthy, missing 55 regular season games in the three-year span before this campaign.

“I’ve had wrist surgery, kidney bruising, lots of injuries,” said Kamensky. “It’s tough to rebuild. And it’s up here too”—pointing to his head—”not just physically.”

Nonetheless, the Voskresensk native is pleased to see another player from his hometown continuing to excel in the NHL thanks to his mental acuity. Detroit’s Igor Larionov is an inspiration to Kamensky, who will watch his former CSKA teammate representing Russia at the Winter Olympics in February.

“He’s a great player,” said Kamensky. “Still playing very well at 41 years old. I’m very glad to see him. When I played for Red Army, he helped me lots. He taught me how to play the game.”

A tone of nostalgia, perhaps even melancholy, enters Kamensky’s voice when he reminisces about 1987. He put on virtuoso performances that season at Rendezvous ’87 in Quebec City (2-1-3 against an NHL all-star squad) and the Canada Cup (6-1-7 in 9 games against the world’s best). It marked his emergence as a dominant international player. Especially dramatic was the tying goal he scored late in Game Two of the Canada Cup final, wristing a shot high over Grant Fuhr’s shoulder as he fell to the ice.

“I remember this well. You know, I was 20 or 21 then. I had lots of power, lots of desire to play. I played with great teams. I think from 1986 to 1991, we had some excellent national teams. I have watched these games a couple of times now, and it was great hockey, open hockey. Now hockey’s changed a little bit because most teams try to play more defensively. Only a few teams like Detroit try to play offensively.”

Kamensky remains optimistic about his prospects for this season. The recent acquisition of Martin Rucinsky and Benoit Brunet have improved his team’s ability to contend for the Stanley Cup, he believes, after stumbling in the early going.

Now he just has to stay motivated and hope for one last shot at glory. Winning is something that never gets old.

“I’ve won everything in my hockey career: the Stanley Cup, lots of World Championships, the Olympics,” said Kamensky. “And every trophy is great. Like here: if you win the game, you feel happy and you feel great. If you win, you’re a hero.”