1992-1993 Hockey Scouting Report.

• Author: Barrett, Wayne M.

It's late in the third period, and the expansion Tampa Bay Lightning are hanging on for dear life against the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. There's a mad scramble in front of the Lightning net, and emerging with the puck is scoring champion Mario Lemieux, who quickly dishes off to the Pens' 20-year-old wunderkind, Jaromir Jagr. Before Jagr can pull the trigger on what appears to be a sure goal, a sprawling stick check is executed by Tampa defenseman Roman Hamrlik. Who? You know, Hamrlik--that 18-year-old rookie from Gottwaldov, Czechoslovakia, who stands 6'2" and weighs 189 pounds. He's a tough kid, too. He once nearly touched off a riot at a European Junior Tournament in Norway when he kicked the skates out from under an opposing player near the end of the game.

Now, unless you're a scout or some hockey zealot with a satellite dish, how could you possibly know all about Hamrlik, or goalie Stephane Fiset, or Moscow native Dmitri Mironov? This annual scouting report provides any serious fan with complete player profiles of more than 400 players. Sportswriters Frank Brown and Sherry Ross, besides tapping their own vast knowledge, spoke with NHL general managers, assistant GMs, coaches, directors of player personnel, scouts, and the players themselves--with the promise of anonymity--for their assessments of the talent around the league.

Besides the obvious data...