By MARK J. CZERWINSKI Staff Writer
EAST RUTHERFORD -Brian Rafalski doesn't look like a star. He doesn't have the imposing physique of a Scott Stevens or cover-boy looks that immediately grab attention. In fact, with his average height, crooked smile, and thinning hair, Rafalski looks more like someone you'd meet at the neighborhood hardware store than a defenseman on the verge of becoming a household name in the NHL.
But when it comes to Rafalski's career, that's all part of the script. Since the day he arrived at Devils camp with the name that Stevens couldn't pronounce, Rafalski has made a habit of opening people's eyes.
"Now everybody understands just how good he is," said veteran defenseman Ken Daneyko. "When he got here, I didn't know what we had, and I don't think the league knew, either. But after the last two years, he's no longer a well-kept secret.
"He is what he is - an upper echelon NHL defenseman. He worked hard to get to that level, and he's going to work hard to stay at that level and maybe get even better." Even better. The mere thought is enough to send a shiver through the rest of the Eastern Conference after the way Rafalski played the last two seasons. Rafalski was, after all, the great unknown. Undrafted and unsigned, Rafalski had to spend four years in Europe to make a name for himself before catching the eye of Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello in 1999.
Now, he's Stevens' partner and one of the quarterbacks of the Devils' power play. He's already been named to the United States Olympic team for the Salt Lake City Games, and it's not far-fetched to say that he's one of a handful of defensemen considered a serious Norris Trophy hopeful.
"I can improve on last year," said Rafalski, whose 52 points led all Devils defensemen. "I've played two years now, and if you include the playoffs, that's over 200 NHL games. Now, I know what to expect. I still have to hone a few things with my game, but the learning is over."
That was evident in the playoffs last spring. He had seven goals and 18 points in 25 games, rising to fill the void when Scott Niedermayer was forced out of action by that vicious Tie Domi elbow. Rafalski, 28, was so good during the conference finals against Pittsburgh that people started mentioning him as a potential Conn Smythe winner. That's the kind of attention he figures to get all season, and how he handles life under that microscope will tell a lot about what he's really made of.
"I think that Brian's biggest downfall last spring was that he got caught up in everybody talking about him and how well he was playing," said coach Larry Robinson. "That's normal. I think his play regressed when he started trying to do a little too much. He didn't play badly in the Finals, but he didn't play the way he did before.
"I think it kind of got to him, which is bound to happen. Guys do read and listen to what's said about them." Niedermayer knows a thing or two about dealing with the burden of great expectations, and he believes that Rafalski will handle any extra attention just fine.
"I don't think it becomes harder," Niedermayer said. "But if he has a 40-point season -and 40 points is still good - people are going to be saying, 'What's the matter with Brian.' It doesn't make it any harder. It's just all a matter of perception.
"Brian had a great year last year. Those were good numbers, and if he does that or better, we'd be happy with it. If he can be even better than he was, than that's going to be pretty darn good. Can he? I think it's definitely possible."
This isn't uncharted territory for Rafalski. He was a star-caliber player in Finland, finishing fourth in the league in scoring in 1999 when he was called the best defenseman in the world not playing in the NHL by the Hockey News.
"His first year here was kind of a feeling-out process, but he really showed what he could do last season," Stevens said. "There's really not a lot of negatives about him. He knows when to jump into a play, he moves the puck well, and he does a real good job playing the man one-on-one."
"When he got here, he was a diamond in the rough," Daneyko said. "He's a gifted skater, and he gives us that element of speed. He's solid in his own end, more than people might have imagined, but he can also be an offensive force."
No where will those particular skills be more evident than Salt Lake City in February. No other American defenseman has Rafalski's experience on the wider Olympic/European ice surface, and that means he has a very good opportunity to shine while the whole world is watching.
The name of the game in the Olympics is speed, and Rafalski's ability to create offensive opportunities while moving or carrying the puck should be a key to the American attack. "That's a different level of hockey, and it's going to be a new situation for me," said Rafalski, who missed a part of training camp with a sore knee that isn't considered serious. "It's going to be interesting, and I know it's going to be fun. It will be a good opportunity for me."
That's typical Rafalski. He doesn't seem particularly comfortable talking himself up, but there's no disguising the confidence he has in his ability. The Olympics will be a challenge, but so was Europe and the NHL. Rafalski has never had any problem proving that he belongs, and now he seems poised to take the next step.
An Olympic medal to go along with his Stanley Cup ring? Perhaps. A Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman? Don't bet against it. Now that Rafalski has the stage, it's up to him to show that you can't judge a star by appearance. "Yeah, I can play better," Rafalski said. "I know that I have to work hard because if I don't, I know I won't be around much longer. "And I know that I wouldn't be happy being a fifth or sixth defenseman or anything like that. As long as there's someone out there better than me, there's room for improvement. And I know I can do better."