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June 19, 1987
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.
Hall Opens Doors To Three Stars
A vignette from a game during the 1972-73 season says a lot about two gentlemen—Bobby Clarke of Philadelphia and Jacques Laperriere of Montreal—headed for the Hockey Hall of Fame. The game was at the Montreal Forum, and the Flyers, rapidly climbing to respectability, would upset Les Canadiens 7-6. The score was tied at six, with fewer than four minutes remaining when Clarke made his move. He stole the puck from defenseman Bob Murdoch and moved in on goalie Ken Dryden. Suddenly. Laperriere made a desperate lunge, forcing Clarke to turn away from the net. Seemingly smothered by Laperriere, Clarke somehow found the bouncing puck and sliced a shot past all-star goalie Ken Dryden. It not only signalled a three-goal night, but cemented the Flyers’ win. “Not many guys tried harder than Clarkie,” recalls Murdoch,…
Flames Adept At Drafting After First Round
CALGARY—First, the bad news. By finishing third overall in the National Hockey League’s cumulative standings this season, Calgary Flames will choose 19th in the annual entry draft, their lowest position ever. Now, the good news. By trading Kent Nilsson to Minnesota North Stars and Don Edwards to Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1985 season, the Flames hold two extra selections in the draft—Minnesota’s second-rounder and Toronto’s fourth-rounder. The North Stars’ choice, 25th overall, is high enough to get a good player, said general manager Cliff Fletcher. And although the fourth to 12th rounds of the draft will be thinned out by the new rules governing player eligibility, Fletcher thought the Toronto choice—seventh in the fourth round—is early enough to get one of the better players in the second phase of the draft. “Our first…
’87 Final So Good It Overshadowed Problems
RANDOM THOUGHTS on the last night of the longest National Hockey League season ever: • How good was the 1987 Stanley Cup final? So good that when it was all said and done, the Philadelphia Flyer-Montreal Canadien pregame fiasco of May 14 and Flyer goalie Ron Hextall’s brutal hacking of Edmonton Oiler Kent Nilsson in game four were overshadowed by quality competition. Ultimately, 1987 will be remembered as the year of the grand finale, which is as it should be. The Flyers and Oilers put on a masterful display, presenting a series touted by many as the most exciting finish to an NHL season—ever. • As good as it was, though, we should not overlook the black marks. The pre-game brawl was nothing less than an embarrassment, which might explain why NHL president John Ziegler ducked…
Smith Bolstered Blue Line
Dallas Smith’s National Hockey League career was almost over before it had a chance to blossom. The defenseman, who came up to the Boston Bruins at the tender age of 19 and played 82 games over parts of three seasons, was sent to the minors at 21—apparently, never to return. With the exception of a two-game stint in 1965-66, Smith saw no NHL action during the five years after 196162. Then, in 1966-67, the year Bobby Orr joined the Bruins, he was called up to stay. Ironically, he couldn’t crack the lineup during the team’s lean years, but became an integral part of the Bruins during their glory days. Smith had come out of the junior ranks as one of the top defensive defensemen of the times. In just one full season with…
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