11.   Out for sure are two top forwards, Igor Larionov and Slava Kozlov of the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings.

12.   The competitive fire of top forwards Ziggy Palffy, Jozef Stumpel and Luc Robitaille appears to have been snuffed out.

13.   The Kings were playing Tuesday without top forwards Ziggy Palffy and Jozef Stumpel because of injuries.

14.   Thomas is aware he passed on some top forwards to take Stoudamire.

15.   Top forwards Sergei Fedorov and Brendan Shanahan have kept the team going, but the role players who helped the Wings to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles are missing.

16.   McBride, the top U.S. forward, recovered from the eye injury that knocked him out early in the Mexico game but injured a knee in practice last weekend.