Damphousse flying high on wing

Switch from center proves

beneficial


Ross McKeon, Chronicle Staff Writer

Friday, November 29, 2002





Vincent Damphousse is no longer the center of

attention. He's just winging it these days.



No, San Jose's classy forward isn't any less popular,

and he's not making it up as he goes along. We're

talking a more literal meaning here.



To help facilitate Darryl Sutter's plan for a more

balanced lineup, Damphousse isn't letting ego get in

the way as he accommodates his coach's strategy.



For the past six games, Damphousse has lined up at

left wing, alongside speedy forwards Patrick Marleau

and Teemu Selanne. Damphousse has vacated the

center position and been split from Owen Nolan,

often a linemate for the better part of the past two

years.



How's it gone? With points in all but Wednesday

night's game in Nashville, Damphousse has zipped to

the team lead in points (20) and shown a little more

giddy-up in his game, two elements that were missing

until the recent change.



"It's worked," Damphousse said. "The team has

gotten more offense and the line has clicked a little.

We can spread out scoring, I think that's what Darryl

wanted to achieve."



The coach wanted to spark Damphousse in part, and

he wanted to help Marleau's line on the road, where

San Jose's most productive line was getting the

attention of each team's top forwards in matchups.



"It balances the speed on our team out," Sutter said.

"We still want to have that perception that we're a

fast team. When it shows up on all four lines it

makes it tougher for teams to match up. They can

match up forwards, but not defense."



When the Sharks play at home, Sutter may opt to

move Damphousse again to the middle on another

line. But if he chooses to keep the 34-year-old on the

left side, he won't hear any complaints.



Left wing was Damphousse's exclusive position the

first seven years of his 17-year career. Damphousse

had played center throughout his amateur career until

getting switched to left wing during his final year of

junior hockey with Laval in 1986-87.



The Toronto Maple Leafs, who drafted Damphousse

sixth overall in 1986, kept him on the wing. Later

dealt to Montreal, coach Mario Tremblay took over

for the fired Jacques Demers and told Damphousse

he would be moving to center. Damphousse enjoyed

his only 40-goal season (91 points) during his first

year as a pivot, 1993-94.



And he's been at the most high-profile forward

position ever since.



"You get more recognition at center because you're

more involved all the time," Damphousse said. "I

think most of the star players are at center."



Damphousse ranks 15th among active players in

scoring (1,123 points in 1, 237 career games). To

support his theory, Nos. 1-6 on that list -- Mark

Messier, Ron Francis, Steve Yzerman, former junior

teammate Mario Lemieux, Doug Gilmour and Adam

Oates -- are all centers.



Just because Damphousse is skating a different

position, don't think he hasn't taken some of his

center-ice tendencies over to the wing.



"Even when I've been on the wing I've had plenty of

opportunities to make plays," he said. "I've just told

these guys to feed me when they see me. I like to be

able to come in the zone and find them. It's a little

different from the other guys I play with. Patty and

Teemu have tons of speed and it really opens things

up for me."



"It's pretty easy for him to adjust in our system, and it

allows him to play with two fast guys," Sutter added.

"I don't think it's a big adjustment for him."



Apparently not. And his ego isn't bruised, either.



"No, not at all," Damphousse said. "I even told Darryl

I could play left wing if he needed me there at the

end of games or the end of periods. I think it was in

the back of his mind when he wanted to spark us up

a little."

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