Neilson Remains Positive During Cancer Treatment

Philadelphia Flyer Coach Roger Neilson, undergoing treatment for the same type of cancer that killed his sister two years ago, is not terrified by the thought he might not survive.

Doctors say he has another 5-15 years to live if his treatment goes well, but he also understands the projection might be optimistic. But if fear is a word in Neilson’s vocabulary, he has not yet spoken it.

“Am I afraid? No,” Neilson said after rejoining the Flyers in Calgary following a short Christmas layoff. “And I’m not trying to be brave or anything. I just believe God has a plan for me, as he does for everyone.

“I’ve always had a strong faith. This is in God’s hands.”

Neilson takes 23 pills a day, including several to combat an infection that developed when a tiny pump was installed in his chest to deliver medication. But he doesn’t plan to be away from his team until he undergoes chemotherapy in February.

“Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to die,” he said. “But the possibility doesn’t terrify me.”

Neilson spent the holiday at his home in Peterborough, Canada, where he played ball hockey and greeted a nonstop stream of visitors. He was overwhelmed with the encouragement that was showered upon him by friends, neighbors and strangers alike.

Upon learning he does not have a family, a New Jersey girls high school basketball team dedicated a tournament championship to him. Their trophy sits in his First Union Center office.

“So now I have 25 daughters,” he said.

And millions of fans who hope an inventive, entertaining and down-to-earth coach gets better, and very soon.

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YEAR4K: Mario Lemieux went from the bench to the owner’s box. Don’t look for Mark Messier to do the same, at least not in Vancouver.

Messier’s $19 million Canucks contract includes a provision that should he play next season, he acquires 3 percent of the franchise. For each successive year he plays in Vancouver, he would gain another 1 percent.

(Apparently, Messier will own the entire franchise if he plays through 2098.)

More likely, the Canucks will ask Messier to waive his no-trade clause and negotiate a split of the $2 million buyout due him if he doesn’t play in Vancouver next season.

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CENTURY FLASHBACK: What do the Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Pirates have in common?

Besides being fresh off today’s sports pages, they are also part of the NHL’s long-lost past.

Most hockey fans can rattle off the names of the “Original Six,” the franchises in place when the NHL doubled in size in 1967: the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks.

But the present-day Senators are the third incarnation of a team with that name; the others played in the NHL from 1917-31 and 1932-34. The Pittsburgh Pirates were in the NHL from 1925-30.

(The Pirates also were the original name of the NFL Steelers, meaning teams named the Pittsburgh Pirates have played in major league baseball, the NHL and NFL.)

Other non-Original Six teams that played in the NHL at one time or another include the Montreal Wanderers, the Montreal Maroons, the New York Americans, the Philadelphia Quakers and the Brooklyn Americans.

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NEPOTISM ON ICE?: The signing probably went unnoticed except by those devoted to the daily transactions column: “CALGARY FLAMES: Signed C Shaun Sutter.”

It was very much noticed -- and very much maligned -- throughout the NHL.

Sutter, a 19-year-old forward had just one goal for the Medicine Hat Juniors at the time he received a $225,000 signing bonus, plus a three-year minor league contract worth about $60,000 a year.

Is it just a coincidence that he is the son of Flame Coach Brian Sutter?

The signing caused an especially big stir in Calgary, where financial pressures have kept the Flames from signing other prospects. Around the NHL, the move was cited as a case of nepotism at its worst.

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NEWS AND NOTES: Boston Bruins general manager Harry Sinden flew to New Jersey specifically to deny rumors that three-time NHL coach of the year Pat Burns’ job is in jeopardy. ... Ottawa holdout Alexei Yashin spent the New Year’s holiday in New York, but will return to Switzerland next week to resume training. But for what? The Senators show no signs of caving in to Yashin’s demands they renegotiate his $3.6 million contract. ... Speaking of holdouts, Phoenix goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin received more than 100,000 All-Star votes without playing a game all season. ... Olympic speed skating gold medalist Eric Heiden is Team USA’s physician at the World Junior Championships. ... Detroit Coach Scotty Bowman wouldn’t choose between the two-time Stanley Cup champion Red Wings of 1997-98 or the two-time Cup champion Penguins of 1991-92 as the team of the decade. Bowman coached both Red Wings teams and the 1992 Penguins.

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RANKING ‘EM: New year, new rankings:

1. Detroit Red Wings: Are they the team of the decade ... 2000-09, that is?

2. Toronto Maple Leafs: They’re making stars out of everybody’s rejects.

3. Philadelphia Flyers: Chance to make their move now that lineup is intact.

4. St. Louis Blues: Tell Pierre Turgeon to save a few goals for the playoffs.

5. Florida Panthers: Uh, oh -- if they keep winning, will their fans bring back the rats?

6. Phoenix Coyotes: If only they can keep Keith Tkachuk from getting hurt during warmups.

7. Colorado Avalanche: Nine home games in 10-game stretch a great chance to open up big division lead.

8. New Jersey Devils: Sorry, but YankeesNetsDevils doesn’t have a ring to it.

9. Dallas Stars: Bad news is Derian Hatcher may be out a lot longer than 6-8 weeks.

10. Ottawa Senators: Memo to Alexei Yashin: have you noticed they’re winning without you?

11. San Jose Sharks: Will newly-acquired Todd Harvey get more ice than departed goalie Mike Vernon did?

12. Pittsburgh Penguins: The Igloo is renamed for a bank -- one that Jaromir Jagr might own very soon.

13. Carolina Hurricanes: Has anybody told them yet they can’t tie their way to the Cup?

14. Anaheim Mighty Ducks: Stat of the year: Paul Kariya still needs directions to the defensive zone, yet is among the plus-minus leaders.

15. Los Angeles Kings: No wonder they’re taking on water: James Cameron was spotted at one of their games.

16. Calgary Flames: He’s only 5-7, but Fred Brathwaite is coming up big in goal.

17. Edmonton Oilers: Latest rumor has Glen Sather jumping ship next season.

18. Buffalo Sabres: With Michael Peca in hiding, they may be looking for a top-line center.

19. Edmonton Oilers: If anybody spots Alex Selivanov, please call the Oilers’ front office immediately.

20. New York Rangers: Finally getting some bang for their bucks, but maybe too late.

21. Boston Bruins: New year, same old problems: no continuity, cohesion or chemistry.

22. Washington Capitals: Plenty young enough, just not good enough -- yet.

23. Nashville Predators: Three months into the season, and they had more points than the ...

24. Montreal Canadiens: Only power play they’ve got going right now is in their front office.

25. Tampa Bay Lightning: Coach Steve Ludzik promising tough workouts; like opponents don’t give them one every other night?

26. Chicago Blackhawks: Beat Bulls to 10 wins. Of course, they had a one-month head start.

27. New York Islanders: No crowds, no scorers, no hope. Is Mike Milbury the next to go?

28. Atlanta Thrashers: At least John Rocker got them off the front pages.