NHL STANLEY CUP FINALS: RED WINGS v FLYERS

May 30, 1997

Scotty Bowman

Sergei Fedorov

Brendan Shanahan

Mike Vernon

Steve Yzerman

COACH BOWMAN: I just found out right now. I didn't know. You mean as the manager?

COACH BOWMAN: I am happy for him. He is a great player and very astute person, so, I wish him well.

COACH BOWMAN: I said we would play all our players because he plays nearly half the game. We just couldn't have one player and I also -- I was asked if we would play Konstantinov against him like Florida played Jovanovski and I said we have our most experienced defensemen. We have 5 of them that play quite a bit. They will all play against him.

COACH BOWMAN: No, because the team wanted to play like it was, you know, the 7th game. We had already squandered one opportunity to put that team out. And the fourth win isn't easy most of the time. What I was mostly surprised about was the fact that we had a one goal lead early in the second period and we, you know, it is nothing wrong with the game we were playing, real top game, but you are only up by one goal and we didn't go into a defensive shell and had to keep attacking. Even when they made it 2 to 1, we still had some scoring chances after that.

BRENDAN SHANAHAN: Well, actually, I guess I have always thought about what it would be like to be in this situation. But I think once you are playing and once you are involved, you just keep coming to the rink every day and you just get in a zone where you keep going to work and when you get done with one opponent, you take on the next and I don't think you really have time to reflect on it. You just -- there is too much work to be done.

STEVE YZERMAN: A little bit. I found myself more at ease as the Playoffs have gone on. I find myself more uptight at the start of the Playoffs in the first round. It seems with each round, I feel a little bit more comfortable and more at ease with things, but generally before every game, particularly here in the Playoffs, you get a little bit more uptight and a little bit more jittery, but it is nothing, no more so than any other game in the Playoffs this year.

MIKE VERNON: I think that experience helps you. There is no doubt. Especially dealing with the other activities that come along, like the media, the press conference, and it just keeps your focus. And, I think that those years that we have been here before, I think it is sometimes nerve wracking when you come for the first time, sometimes intimidating when you come for the first time with all the attention. And I think our hockey club now has some -- has a lot of players on it that have been in this position before, have been to the Finals and I think it is -- I think they will just focus more on hockey and they can also deal with the media factor.

BRENDAN SHANAHAN: Well, I guess at first I thought when I had asked for the trade, I had heard the Flyers were interested and the Rangers were interested. But really once Keith asked for a trade, it almost seemed like it was going to be Detroit. It was just a complicated deal that took some time to work out, so I really don't think about it too much because, you know, in the last couple of years with the trade from St. Louis and then requesting a trade from Hartford, a lot of teams pop up and you try and follow it and you try and stay on top of it. But, really, it is not in your control and so you really can't think about it too much to control it.

COACH BOWMAN: Well, every player, you know, every person that starts the season, you know, it is the ultimate goal of every person. Sometimes you get very fortunate to get on some teams and it is really difficult on players that don't win sometimes because it is not always in their own hands. I have been in hockey for years and I was fortunate when I first started, I didn't have anything to do with the team. But, I got into Montreal and they won 4 Cups in a row and I was only like a junior coach and scout. You feel when the season is over, you really feel that your season is complete even in an area where you are -- it is everybody in the organization and I think that there is an awful feeling when you don't win the Stanley Cup, if you get this far, there is even some feelings when you have big expectations and don't get to the Finals. That is what everybody plays for and, you know, when you win the first Stanley Cup, you can always remember it and I think as far as coaches are concerned, when you do win the Stanley Cup, it gives them a lot more longevity and, you know, there is not as much longevity in that job. But it is everybody, it is everybody's ambition and their desire no matter who you are in the organization to try to win.

BRENDAN SHANAHAN: I really haven't seen him that much. I am playing in the same division, but not really. I don't really spend time comparing myself to other players. I mean, we are both left wingers. Obviously we are both counting on scoring goals and have a physical presence. But, you know, I actually -- I started playing against John LeClair when we were on the under 18 team. He was playing for team U.S.A. and I was with Team Canada, so, you know, he had really - had a great career and -- but I don't spend time really thinking about comparing myself to him.

COACH BOWMAN: I didn't realize that he could - did play in the mid-70's. I knew he was with the Flyers. I didn't know he was on that team. But, you know, I got to know him actually when he was in Washington. I thought, you know, that team had some tough times because they had and were a good team and getting into the Playoffs against teams like Pittsburgh had so much going for them. And, you know, I know his brother, Brian, because when I got to Detroit, he was the general manager. I remember he played in Oakland and I remember him as a player and then when you get him into the NHL to have gone on to this team and now taken him where he is, when you coach, sometimes you are in the wrong place at the wrong time and it makes it tough to succeed. But, you know, coming here he felt comfortable with the Flyers and, you know, there is always a lot of controversy if you are coaching a team like Philadelphia and he has survived it all.

SERGEI FEDOROV: When I was growing up in Russia, I didn't think such a thing existed. When I first, in 1985, 1986, Super Series with the Russian teams came to North America and competed against North American teams kind of get the idea what NHL is, what kind of style teams play here and what they compete for. But until I came to North America, I probably wasn't exactly understanding what Stanley Cup was all about. Being in the Finals in three years the second time, it is definitely - get under my mind and now it is the most toughest trophy to win in your hockey career. And, it is not easy to compete throughout the three rounds and get in the fourth. It has been my desire and dream to win one of those.

MIKE VERNON: Well, I guess you never count those old guys out, those veterans, I guess. We are stubborn, I guess. And we just both want the opportunity to play. I am sure he feels the same way. I mean, I think we are both pretty ecstatic about being here now.

COACH BOWMAN: Well, I mean, everybody gets involved in it, you know, it is always focused on one person. But, you know, we have a good group of people in Detroit. When I got there the team was pretty solid and, you know, the team was very strong and there were a lot of younger players in the system that are now than more than just regular players. I think it is like all teams when they didn't succeed couple years ago. It is a difficult business to play and not win. You have to have some changes and the changes are always difficult. Even when you win, you have a few players that you are going to change. And, I think that is what has happened to our team. We have been able to add players that have meant a lot to the team but they have brought, you know -- the other players on the team had to mesh together and the chemistry on the team has to be solid because it is important to the players you bring into the team what they are going to do for the team. That has been the biggest addition this year is that every one of the players that was added has done something even a little different than each other.

SERGEI FEDOROV: No, not at all because I was living outside of Moscow. I believe, Moscow can catch those games. I can't watch them all. I was probably seven, eight years old and I lived a little bit outside big cities. I wasn't sure what I was going to do in my life, but I was at that time, spend so much time on ice.

MIKE VERNON: Well, I think both of us, we didn't say anything. We didn't come public and asked to be traded. We kept our mouths shut and we just worked away. I mean, sometimes if you take that route, sometimes good things will follow. I think that, well, I know that I didn't say too much because it was out of my control. It was mostly on Scotty and his decisions. But, I mean, I just wanted to play hockey. And Scotty knew that and, you know, I think that that is all any player that asks is just for that opportunity to play and to prove his stuff. I mean, it is a great opportunity for both of us right now.

STEVE YZERMAN: I guess including the three seasons, we played a lot of Playoff hockey a lot of overtime; won some good ones; lost a couple of tough ones. Obviously getting beaten and being swept off disappointments and losing to Colorado last year just playing all the hockey and being through all the pressure situations and having to respond in coming back from down 3-1 in the series, we pretty much been through everything, and I have just found our team, a few new faces, but the majority of the team have played in the previous couple of years. Being through it all has enabled us to, I think, be a little bit more relaxed. Obviously we know a little bit more what to expect and how to handle all the different situations. I think that has benefited us to this point in this year's Playoffs.

MIKE VERNON: I think I am pretty much well rested, there is no doubt. The 82 game schedule, I think does take a lot out of a goaltender if he plays a lot and I think the situation with Chris and I over the last three years, we split a lot and I think it has kept both of us fresher and stronger in the long run.

SERGEI FEDOROV: I believe that was a clean hit. It just happened to be received in the stomach area; lost my breath for a while. But, I just -- I guess getting through that tough time, and refresh my memory, trying to stay focused, that is actually what I did in the locker room and I didn't think about anything else. Just to go back to the game and try to be helpful as much as I can and certain times, absolutely, it is not easy. But, that was my desire to play in the Finals and have done everything I can to get back and like Steve says, play lots of Playoff hockey with the up and downs and make you much stronger persons as far as experience no matter how bad it is or how good it is. You just know what you have got to go through and you have got to do it and actually open mind on those things. And, you have the chance to realize what you are facing. And, when you have been through all kind of stuff and playing injured, I mean, just takes only very straight thought what you are capable of doing and how bad you want it.

STEVE YZERMAN: Well, I think through and through I don't consider our team to be a small team. Obviously the Flyers have a few giants and we don't have a forward that is the size of Eric. They have got a few big guys, but in general, our team through and through, we don't have the 6'6 guys or the 6'5, 240 guys but majority of our players are in the 6'1, 6'2, 200, 215 range which is pretty good size and strength. I would consider our team to play reasonably physical. We don't expect to go out and run them out of the rink, for that matter, playing against players like Lindros and LeClair, you can't really. I think other teams try to really beat them up and I don't think that is necessarily going to work. But our team does play physical, does play hard and just got to be prepared to get hit because you are going to get hit and we expect that. But also play physical as well.

STEVE YZERMAN: Well, I don't know that either team has the distinct advantage in speed. I think they have got a pretty highly skilled team as well. Their forwards are pretty quick through and through from the first down to the fourth line. But, speed does help. I think we have got a pretty good skating club and I think we are a pretty strong team as well. So, I don't -- through and through I don't see us being overly outsized.

COACH BOWMAN: I think we are fourth in our defense. Our defense are experienced, but they are -- there is not a small defensemen among them. I have seen teams where if your defense is closed and you are going against big forwards, it is a tough match up. But, we have been fortunate that our defensemen we have got on our team now are pretty strong and pretty good size for the most part. It wasn't just by design. It is just the way it happened. But, they have got good size and they have to match up against the forwards. I think if you have a small defense against team like Philadelphia you would have to be very skilled and very quick.

STEVE YZERMAN: Well, as you know, things came and went pretty quickly in the Finals. Yeah, I think I have generally found that the level of play picks up and teams are usually playing their best hockey when they get to the Finals. The previous time against the Devils they were certainly flying and everything was going right for them. We fell behind early in the series and couldn't catch up. You learn a lot from that. I think just being there, the thing I take out of it mostly is that I found it really exciting and it was a real thrill to get to the Finals. But this time around, it wasn't as big a thrill. The thrill is winning when you get there, not just necessarily getting there. That is the one thing that stuck out in my mind last week. It wasn't as thrilling, but obviously beating Colorado is a great triumph for our team. The real thrill is winning, that would be the one thing that jumps in my mind most.

BRENDAN SHANAHAN: Well, to be on his team you just respect the way he shows up to play every night and you know he is touch, an ultimate competitor, and it doesn't matter if you are playing a division rival or a team that you only see once or twice a year, he plays the same way. Playing against him, I always felt that, you know, he forces you to compete and if you weren't on top of your game, he was going to embarrass you. So I think that now that I am on his team, I think I appreciate it more and I just see the toughness that he brings to the game. He doesn't complain. He doesn't pretend that he is hurt. He takes as much as he gives. But, he doesn't expect not to get hit and never expects for a player not to take a hit from him.

COACH BOWMAN: Yeah, I think it is like that in other sports, though, too. When you get -- I mean, I made my home in Buffalo for the last 15 years. When you get to the Super Bowl, you never regard it as a second best team. You are just the team that couldn't win. And that is unfortunate. But, I think that is like in other sports. But, certainly in hockey, you know, I think when you sit back and look at your whole picture and your season and you probably don't think that way, but it is a reality, if you don't win the event, you are not a failure, but you are certainly sort of disappointed. Anybody here in the media that knows anybody in the League or anywhere that can get any tickets - I have been in the league now for 40 years and this is the most distressful time I have ever experienced. Our players are here. They get two tickets to buy. We used to get some more to buy. We couldn't trade tickets with Philadelphia. They just didn't have any. We don't have any to trade with them. I am making a plea because it is pretty tough when your friends and family can't come to the Stanley Cup Final and that is a fact. I am pissed off.

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