Tuesday, June 17, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
TORONTO -- The glitz of the televised NHL awards banquet is sure to be dulled when the time comes to honor the best defenseman.
Vladimir Konstantinov's absence will cast a pall over Thursday night's showcase event.
The Detroit Red Wings defenseman, who is a finalist for the Norris Trophy, has been in a coma in a Royal Oak, Mich., hospital since last Friday when the limousine in which he was a passenger smashed into a tree following a team outing six days after its Stanley Cup triumph.
The 14th annual NHL awards special is usually a light-hearted celebration, but Konstantinov's plight will temper displays of frivolity.
"We're dealing with that as we speak and haven't formulated specific plans at this time," Jack Budgell, the producer of the live show for Canadian Broadcasting Company, said Monday. "We're monitoring the situation and I'd expect it would take us another day or two to determine our specific approach."
Konstantinov, should he win the award, would become the first Russian defenseman ever so honored. Brian Leetch of the New York Rangers and Sandis Ozolinsh of the Colorado Avalanche are the other finalists.
Konstantinov is the only member of the Red Wings who is a finalist for any of the major individual awards.
Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins will be presented with the Art Ross Trophy as scoring champion and is a finalist for the Hart Trophy as most valuable player. Because of his retirement at season's end, he will be the center of attention.
Yet, many will be thinking of Konstantinov.
"Certainly, all our thoughts are with the situation in Detroit, but in fairness to the viewers we have to present an entertaining show," Budgell said. "There still is lots of interest and excitement where the Hart presentation is concerned, and in the other categories as well, where we will have enthusiastic nominees attending.
"We have no specific plans as a result of the situation in Detroit, which is unfolding on an hourly basis. We'll reassess our content and adjust accordingly."
Participating in presentations will be current and former NHL players Pat LaFontaine, Cam Neely, Bryan Trottier, Kirk Muller and Paul Henderson. Celebrity presenters will include actors Tim Robbins, Cam Bancroft, D.B. Sweeney, David Elliott, Rachel Blanchard and Kathleen Robertson.
In Royal Oak, Dr. James Robbins, a trauma surgeon at William Beaumont Hospital, said the 30-year-old Konstantinov has had slight facial responses, but he cautioned that they don't guarantee further improvement.
"It's becoming clear that this is going to be a long process of healing," he said.
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