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June 14, 1985
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.
Net Result Of ’85 Draft May Be Netminders
Nineteen-eighty-two was the year of the Brian Bellows Derby. Nineteen-eighty-three was the Year of the American Invasion (Brian Lawton, Pat LaFontaine and Tom Barrasso) and 1984 belonged to Mario Lemieux. When the 1985 entry draft is all said and done, what will be the net result? Exactly that. That is to say that this year’s draft is expected to produce a rash of goaltenders. In fact, there is an excellent chance that three goalies will be taken in the first round. “If not in the first 21, then certainly in the first 25,” said an NHL scout. Which is not to say there will be three more Tom Barrasso-clones in the NHL next season. The entire draft is a lottery and when you’re dealing with goalies, the ability to identify future stars is even more…
Pressure’s On Leafs To Make Right Move
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS TORONTO—Not since 1980 has the full weight of media and fan pressure been on a team to make the right choice at the National Hockey League entry draft. That’s the position of the Toronto Maple Leafs who, as the worst team in the NHL this past season, have earned the right to choose first June 15 when all 21 teams gather at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre for the annual hockey lottery. The Leafs can only hope they have better results than the Montreal Canadiens, who defied hometown pressure and chose Doug Wickenheiser over fan favorite Denis Savard with the first pick five years ago. Wickenheiser floundered in Montreal and was eventually traded to the St. Louis Blues while Savard blossomed into a star with the Chicago Black Hawks. The Montreal media…
Deciphering L.A. Coaching Craze
LOS ANGELES KINGS LOS ANGELES—Southern California, of all places, has become a cradle of National Hockey League coaches. Call it the Bob Pulford Connection. When the Boston Bruins introduced 35-year-old Butch Goring as their new head coach on May 6, he became the fourth member of Pulford’s Los Angeles teams of the 1970s to advance that far in management. Make that five if you count former Kings’ assistant Ralph Backstrom, who now serves as head coach at Denver University. And five other Pulford pupils have progressed to the ranks of assistant coach, one of whom (Rogie Vachon) moved on to become the Kings’ general manager. The other head coaches are Bob Berry (Kings, Montreal, Pittsburgh,) Barry Long (Winnipeg) and Dan Maloney (Toronto) and the other assistants, Backstrom, Bob Murdoch (Calgary), Mike Corrigan (Pittsburgh), Terry Harper…
5. DAN GRATTON
Before the 1984-85 Ontario Hockey League season, Oshawa General center Dan Gratton was tabbed by many as the top junior prospect eligible for this year’s NHL entry draft. But by the end of an uneven term, Gratton stood at No. 5 on the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau ratings. The Brantford, Ont., native is one player who has seen his fortunes rise and fall in the hockey world. Taken as a 15-year-old minormidget from the Tier II Guelph Platers, Gratton was the Generals’ first pick (and 12th overall) in the OHL’s 1982 midget draft. In his rookie season with the Memorial Cup-bound Generals, Gratton earned a regular job, scoring 15 goals and 28 assists. He improved to 40 goals and 34 assists during an impressive sophomore season. His numbers and steadily-improving play helped set the stage…