THE NHL / HELENE ELLIOTT : Tocchet Has to Suspend His Satisfaction

Between a concussion and a suspension for getting too many game misconduct penalties, Rick Tocchet has played only six games since the Boston Bruins got him from the Kings for Kevin Stevens on Jan. 25. A two-game ban kept him off the ice Monday, when the teams met for the first time since the trade. But instead of bemoaning what he has missed, Tocchet appreciates what he has.

“I had just started to feel I was getting back into a groove, to the point where I could play my best, and I got the suspension,� said Tocchet, who will return Wednesday at Anaheim against the Mighty Ducks. “But I’m excited to be with this team because I know what role they want me to play. We’re getting healthy as a team, and I think things are going to just get better.

“When [King right wing] Tony Granato went into the hospital [for brain surgery last week], that put things into perspective. He’s one of the best. Here I was, not complaining about ice time, but I just said I wanted more ice time, but all that’s trivial compared to what he’s gone through.�

Tocchet and Stevens are both having bumpy rides with their new teams. Tocchet has two goals and four points with the Bruins, and Stevens has one goal and three assists in eight games with the Kings.

“When he’s played, he’s played very well,� Bruin Coach Steve Kasper said of Tocchet. “He gives us a feistiness and determination that at times has been lacking. He brings a lot to the table.�

King Coach Larry Robinson reserved judgment on Stevens. “I’d like to get him back 100% healthy and then start making my assessment,� Robinson said. “I know he wants to prove he belongs and can be a franchise player.�

Stevens said his back feels sore when he skates--he has a bulging disk--and he has a nagging pulled hip muscle. “They’re not bad enough to not play, but they’re bad enough to bother me,� he said. “There’s not a lot of good things I can say about this year. When April 15 or whenever the season ends rolls around, I’m going to rip this year off the calendar.�

WHAT’S BREWING WITH THE BRUINS?

The Bruins’ run of 28 consecutive playoff appearances--the longest streak in professional sports--might be in jeopardy. At 24-24-8, they’re ninth for the eight spots in the East, and some Bruin fans are crying for Kasper’s head before he finishes his rookie coaching season.

“Rumors are rumors. You can’t control that,� Kasper said. “As far as the playoffs, there’s an awful lot of hockey left, almost a third of the season. Five or six teams are in a battle. As far as the past, I’ve realized what happened the last 25 years has nothing to do with this team. We’re in a battle of our own and we have to respond to the challenge.�

HANDICAPPING THE FIELD

The New York Rangers’ apparent exit from the Wayne Gretzky chase leaves few teams that can spend $15 million to sign him and give up enough to satisfy the Kings in a trade without stripping their roster. Here are the contenders:

--The Detroit Red Wings: They have money, but they’re deep at center and overloaded with finesse players. They want toughness and defense, which Gretzky wouldn’t provide--but Marty McSorley could. The Kings consider him expendable since trading for rugged right wing Shane Churla, who’s younger and cheaper. McSorley is more likely than Gretzky to wear the winged wheel.

--The Toronto Maple Leafs: Financially sound, but they don’t want Gretzky’s salary to consume their profits. Already burdened with older players. No way.

--The Chicago Blackhawks: Another big money maker, but they wisely won’t give up rookie Eric Daze. They’re also solid at center. Nope.

--The Vancouver Canucks: Under new majority owner John McCaw, they have money galore and a new building to fill. However, money alone won’t do the deal. The Kings want prime prospects, and GM Pat Quinn won’t part with any. Unlikely.

--The Mighty Ducks: Lots of cash, great location. Too good to be true? It is. Gretzky doesn’t fit Disney’s pinch-a-penny-until-

it-screams budget, and the Ducks don’t fit his desire to play for a contender. Never happen.

--The St. Louis Blues: GM/Coach Mike Keenan can pay Gretzky $18 million for two seasons, spread over five years. Key drawback: Gretzky’s arrival wouldn’t make them a Stanley Cup favorite. The best chance in a slim field.

Remember, the Kings haven’t given anyone permission to speak with Gretzky’s agent, Mike Barnett, and no general manager will make a deal without knowing he can sign Gretzky. This is likely to drag on until the trading deadline, March 20.

WAR OF WORDS

Keenan told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he thinks the Rangers are still after Gretzky, despite Ranger General Manager Neil Smith’s declaration last week that no deal is in the works.

“That may or may not be true. I can’t be preoccupied with what other GMs are saying because it could be the complete opposite,� Keenan said of Smith, his boss when he coached the Rangers to the Cup in 1994. “You can’t negotiate with anybody when they don’t want to negotiate unless you want to negotiate with yourself, which is what Neil Smith may be doing.�

The Rangers have the resources to acquire Gretzky but every reason not to. They’re good enough to win the Cup without adding him to their $32-million payroll, and they need a tough, young winger more than they need him.

To sign him, they’d have to at least match his current $6.5-million salary, and that would make him their highest-paid player. Out of respect for team captain Mark Messier, Smith would have to give Messier a raise. Smith had to talk his corporate bosses into paying Messier $6 million this season and next, and they won’t like paying two players more than that.

The Rangers might go to $10 million, but Gretzky won’t like a pay cut. Could be a stalemate.

FROM THE HOME OFFICE . . .

With tongue firmly in frozen cheek, the Winnipeg Sun listed the top five reasons why Teemu Selanne didn’t want the Winnipeg Jets to trade him to the Ducks:

5) He speaks English and Finnish but not Californian.

4) He just bought 50 gallons of Prestone anti-freeze.

3) In Finnish slang, a duck means a ballet dancer.

2) He’s one of the few people who loves taking three connecting flights.

1) He was planning on spending July taking ice-fishing lessons.

SLAP SHOTS

Dan Focht, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound defenseman for Tri City of the Western Hockey League, boosted his stock in the draft when he won an agility contest during last week’s gathering of junior players in Toronto. Focht, whose 90-mph shot was the second-hardest, was a late replacement for a player who withdrew. . . . Calgary goalie Rick Tabaracci requested a meeting with Coach Pierre Page after Trevor Kidd began getting more playing time. He was told Kidd (2.85 goals-against average) will get the bulk of the work. . . . The Colorado Avalanche added Jacques Cloutier as an assistant coach. Cloutier, who spent 13 seasons in the NHL with Buffalo, Chicago and Quebec, was a roommate of Avalanche goalie Stephane Fiset in Quebec. . . . Tampa Bay goalie Jeff Reese’s victory Thursday was his first in nearly two months. Starter Daren Puppa was idled by back spasms.

It’s worrisome that Pittsburgh Penguin center Mario Lemieux has tightness in his back even though he’s getting less ice time and more games off. . . . The New York Islanders are taking offers for veteran winger Wendel Clark. . . . The New Jersey Devils are interested in San Jose winger Owen Nolan, maybe for defenseman Scott Niedermayer. . . . With goals Wednesday and Friday, Buffalo Sabre enforcer Rob Ray had his first two-game goal-scoring streak since March 1991. . . . Seats from the Boston Garden will be sold for $250 when the building is demolished. Former Bruin Terry O’Reilly has claimed the penalty box, his home away from home. The Montreal Forum, which hosts its final game March 11, will also sell seats and will give the proceeds to charity. . . . The Penguins are 1-4-1 in their last six road games, having scored only five goals. “That’s not like our hockey club,� Coach Ed Johnston said. “Our road record fell off the planet.�