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August 19, 1983
The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.
ON THE CONTRARY
Gretzky And God WAYNE GRETZKY HAS this problem: he doesn’t know when to leave bad enough alone. Now he will get a lesson. The Kid’s latest kick is God and hockey, not a good mix. Never has been, never will be, but we’ll get to that later. In his obsession with a goaltender named Bill Smith, Gretzky has turned to religion—the wrong way. Consider the following Gretzkyisms delivered in a very short period since the season ended. “The good Lord works in funny ways and Smith has his coming to him.” Or, “Mr. Smith will get his one day. The good Lord works in mysterious ways.” Or, “We are all taken care of by the good Lord and one day the good Lord will take care of Mr. Smith.” I was with Gretzky in Manhattan…
BEDCLOTHES
First On The Agenda THE IMPORTANT MATTER before the NHL house this summer has been the selling of the moribund St. Louis Blues to Harry Omest and friends. If the NHL gets Omest as an owner, it says here, they get a king-trike. He is always identified as a “Beverly Hills businessman” by the Geoffs-come-lately on the hockey beat, but anyone who has been paying attention knows what Omest is about. He is a former hockey referee and baseball umpire out of Edmonton who, among other things, has owned the Vancouver Canadians of the Pacific Coast League, been a director of the British Columbia Lions football team and was the major party responsible for cleansing a gridiron mess in Montreal. I suspect that Omest will ran a good, tight operation in St. Louis and, most…
Maruk Didn’t Fit In Caps’ Defensive Plan
LANDOVER — When the Washington Capitals finally traded Dennis Maruk, the price was surprisingly cheap for a man who scored 60 goals a season ago. The Minnesota North Stars, who sent Maruk here five years ago for a first-round draft pick, got him back for a second-rounder in 1984, a low bid that merely emphasized general manager David Poile’s determination to dispose of the 27-year-old center. “I’m sure everybody’s reaction in this situation will be, “Why didn’t you get more for Dennis Maruk?’” Poile said. “Well, I wanted something more, but the players offered—and there weren’t all that many—were Dennis’ age or older, players who would not have helped our club.” Although somewhat bewildered by his return to Minnesota, Maruk accepted the shift with a positive outlook. His feeling was reinforced by a call…
Johnston Finding No Solace In Summer
PITTSBURGH—Eddie Johnston has learned quickly since he became the Penguins’ general manager that there is a lot of work involved in trying to improve a team that finished dead last in the NHL last season—even during the summer months. “When you’re a player, you finish the game, take off and have a few beers,” Johnston said. “When you’re a coach, you worry about who’s playing well and who’s not. You want to see trades made and you wonder why they’re not. I’m finding out now there’s a lot to this job—trades, contracts, the schedule. You really have to stay on top of it.” Johnston says he hasn’t decided whether he will coach the club again next season, even though he previously said he would make up his mind shortly after the June…
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