5 Buffalo Sabres

Dominik Hasek has turned the Sabres ' season into one long farewell tour with his lollapalooza of an announcement on July 30 in Prague that he is retiring after 1999-2000. In a misguided attempt to deflect attention from himself—the goaltender cited media pressure as one reason he will leave the game—Hasek has been guaranteed a year in the spotlight with his valedictory. The Sabres had better have plenty of roadies with them this season to help carry the load: Besides the haunting baggage of Brett Hull 's controversial Stanley Cup -winning goal in Game 6, they must lug around the daunting knowledge that the Dominator's last dance might be their own last chance.

Sabres captain Michael Peca says he will put one of the most memorable goals in history out of his short-term memory while also never forgetting it; like his remarkable game, Peca is playing it both ways. The ability of coach Lindy Ruff , who signed a three-year extension last month, to make this slick-skating, gritty club look neither back to the 1999 finals nor forward to Hasek 's departure will determine whether Buffalo mounts a Cup challenge or falls from grace like the last three Eastern finalists ( Florida , Philadelphia , Washington ), who either failed to win a playoff series or even reach the postseason the next spring. "I think we can get some good use out of [ Hasek 's impending retirement]," Ruff says. "Five years ago he had to dominate for us to win. Clearly that's not the case anymore. But it would be nice to give something back to him."

Hasek , who had surgery in mid-August for a slight hernia near his groin that plagued him last season, found a get-well present when he reported to camp: right wing Maxim Afinogenov . The best player in the last world junior tournament, Afinogenov looks like a cross between a young Pavel Bure (speed, explosiveness, size) and Wayne Gretzky (only one side of his sweater is tucked in). "You're afraid of blowing things out of proportion, but he's a carbon copy of a young Pavel," says Peca , once a teammate of Bure 's in Vancouver . "The explosive power, the confidence. There are some teams afraid of rushing kids, but he's very mature about how he handles things on and off the ice." Afinogenov can help remedy two Buffalo deficiencies: a power play overly dependent on point men Alexei Zhitnik and Jason Woolley and a lack of scoring off the wing.

But if the Sabres are determined to take the next step, general manager Darcy Regier should look for a big No. 1 center to take pressure off the overworked Peca , and the time to start looking is now. After all, Hasek gave more than the customary two weeks notice.

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