NHL ALL-STAR WEEKEND

February 5, 2000

Frank Mahovlich

FRANK MAHOVLICH: It felt great. I have been playing a bit of old-time hockey. We were in Russia about a month ago and I got some skating in, so I felt pretty good.

FRANK MAHOVLICH: I think you can. It is the same as when you are 30 and a young rookie comes up and he is 20, and then you are 40 and somebody comes up that is 30. You notice it. There is a difference.

FRANK MAHOVLICH: I don't know. I think once they quit, they can't play anymore: They look like they can, but over 90-game, 85-game schedule, it is difficult.

FRANK MAHOVLICH: I think the appearance in Moscow. I found that there were more gas stations there and was more advertising. There were more billboards. Elections. They had billboards for people that were running for elections which they never had before. Big Macs, MacDonalds all over the place, and more shopping. The people don't have the money yet, but they still have the shops there. That is what I found the difference. There were more cars, more cars on the road than there ever were.

FRANK MAHOVLICH: I think they got as good a chance as anybody. I think their team is quite good from what I have seen. I haven't seen too many games. I don't know their real weaknesses. But from what I can see, the games that I have been to, they play against everybody fairly well and they hold their own. They could win any game from what I can see.

FRANK MAHOVLICH: Well, I think it was about a year ago or something I was interviewed and I didn't think it was a good idea because of the way it would end up. It is very difficult with so many teams in the United States. I think our teams have a problem because the way the dollar is and then I hear last week, I think I read somewhere where they are taxing the players that aren't Americans to pay for their rinks. Well, I think we have to do something, you know, I am not quite sure what it is. But we are going to have to look at it.