41.   Rookie center Niko Kapanen could give the Stars an early opportunity to experiment with centers Mike Modano and Pierre Turgeon playing on the same line.

42.   Some of the aforementioned help could come from the shot-blocking potential of rookie center Michael Olowokandi.

43.   Someone might want to remind octagenarian Chick Hearn that the big rookie center down there on the Laker bench is not Travis Grant, but really named Travis Knight.

44.   Tampa Bay Lightning rookie center Daymond Langkow was named the National Hockey League Player of the Week after totaling two goals and four assists in four games.

45.   The absences have opened the door for potential first-year candidates, including San Antonio rookie center Tim Duncan.

46.   The Jets claimed CASEY WIEGMANN, a rookie center waived by the Indianapolis Colts.

47.   The Nuggets were short-handed when rookie center Raef LaFrentz tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee with the game less than five minutes old.

48.   The only Lakers negative was the sprained left ankle rookie center Travis Knight suffered on the last play of the first half.

49.   The Passmore demotion was similar to a move the Kings made last week when they shipped rookie center Eric Belanger to the minors.

50.   The Potvin deal also was contingent on Toronto getting defenseman Boris Mironov and rookie center Boyd Devereaux in return.