Tuesday, March 18, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
If Bob Strumm ever finds himself out of hockey, he'll quickly find work in textiles.
The Las Vegas Thunder general manager works the telephones like a tailor makes alterations, constantly running needle and thr ead to mend his team's patchwork roster.
"The phone doesn't stop ringing," he said Monday from behind his desk in the Thunder offices.
And that suits him fine. Known for his penchant to swap players, Strumm is sizing all potential deals as trade deadlines close. The National Hockey League deadline is 1 p.m. today. The International Hockey League deadline is 2 p.m. Thursday.
Strumm is searching for help at goaltender and center, but will make a trade "only if it's right," he said.
"Bob has talked to a lot of teams," head coach Chris McSorley said, "but there's not a lot of willingness to move players."
The Thunder may receive help from its NHL affiliation with the Phoenix Coyotes. The Coyotes also are in need of goaltending help after the injury to top American Hockey League prospect Scott Langkow. If the Coyotes procure a solid netminder, they could return Parris Duffus to the Thunder.
When Las Vegas played the Phoenix Roadrunners Sunday night, Coyotes assistant general manager Taylor Burke was on hand.
"We're definitely working on it," Strumm said of the goaltending situation. "They're (the Coyotes) shaky, too, right now. They'll try to get themselves somebody and put Duffus back here."
Duffus has played one game in relief for the Coyotes since being called up Feb. 19 as a replacement for injured backup Darcy Wakaluk. If no deal is made, Duffus isn't expected to return for another two weeks.
But the Thunder needs him now. Current starter Andre Racicot is battling nagging knee and groin injuries and backup Clint Malarchuk, 35, is suiting up on a regular basis for the first time in two years.
To stop the wear and tear for one game, Strumm summoned Sergei Naumov from San Diego of the West Coast Hockey League to face the Roadrunners Sunday. Naumov became the Thunder's ninth goalie of the season and was returned Monday.
In obtaining either goalie No. 10 or a center, Las Vegas is likely to give up a defenseman. The Thunder is playing well on the blue line right now, but if giving up some defense is what it takes, sew be it.
"You always have to pull a peg out of one part of the structure to strengthen another part," Strumm said.
Thunderbolts
* CRYSTAL BALL: If the season ended today, Las Vegas would finish fourth in the Western Conference and face the Milwaukee Admirals in the opening round of the Turner Cup playoffs. The best-of-five first round will be played between April 16-28. ... The Thunder has 13 regular-season games remaining with five at the Thomas & Mack Center. Three of those final home games are next week against Manitoba (March 25), Utah (March 28) and Milwaukee (March 29).
* SLAP SHOTS: Right winger Patrice Lefebvre is on a six-game assist streak, but it's nowhere near his personal best. Lefebvre established the franchise record last season by recording an assist in 12 straight games. He also had a seven-game streak last season. ... Defenseman Steve Bancroft was runner-up to Phoenix Roadrunners right winger Brad Smyth for IHL player of the week honors. Bancroft scored eight points in the Thunder's five games last week, but Smyth -- on assignment from the Los Angeles Kings -- had five goals and two assists in only three games. ... Las Vegas ranks 10th among the 18 IHL teams in average attendance at 7,613. Detroit tops the league at 12,110 and Quebec is second at 11,665.
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