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July 1, 1988
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.
Only Option Left Was To Go Right
BUFFALO—The Buffalo Sabre road map at the 1988 entry draft veered to the left several times, before taking a sharp right. Holding the 13th pick overall, the Sabres took right winger Joel Savage, but not before examining a few trade options. Seeking a left winger, Sabre general manager Gerry Meehan said he talked with each of the first five drafting teams, Minnesota, Vancouver, Quebec, Pittsburgh and Toronto. Meehan also acknowledged he had a deal on the table with the Chicago Blackhawks—for their eighth pick overall—which he cancelled. The trade, reportedly involving an exchange of rostered players and drafting positions, might have come off were any one of three highly-regarded left wingers—Darrin Shannon of Windsor, Scott Pearson of Kingston and Martin Gelinas of Hull—still available. All were gone by the seventh pick of the…
Hard Times For Coaches
TORONTO—Mike Milbury has ambivalent feelings about one day coaching in the National Hockey League. “Everybody has that goal, but getting an NHL job scares you,” the coach-general manager of the American League’s Maine Mariners said during THE HOCKEY NEWS Awards Banquet June 16, when he was honored as minor pro coach of the year, “A lot of quality coaches have gotten fired.” Mike Keenan, Jean Perron, Jacques Martin, Pierre Creamer, Bob Murdoch and Herb Brooks were all handed pink slips at the end of the 1987-88 season. In addition, Andre Savard, Mike Murphy, Doug Carpenter and Jack Evans were replaced during the year. “The way things are going for head coaches these days, my next call may not be to tell me I’ve won an award,” cracked Milbury. The remark drew laughs from the crowd…
Flyers End OHL String With Tocchet Clone
PHILADELPHIA—In this city, they were the sweetest words heard on June 11, the day of the National Hockey League entry draft. Upon selecting Drummondville left winger Claude Boivin from the Quebec League with the 14th pick of the draft, Philadelphia Flyer general manager Bob Clarke declared him “in the Tocchet mold.” Flyer fans would be delighted to have another player similar to rough ’n ready right winger Rick Tocchet, a find in the 1983 draft who has compiled 185 points in 278 games and backs down from no one. Boivin, 6-foot-l and 190 pounds, was the highest Flyer selection since Ron Sutter was drafted sixth in 1982. Boivin had 23 goals, 26 assists and 49 points in 63 games. He also collected 233 penalty minutes. “I’m a player like Tocchet who likes to go…
Caps Hope Savage Boosts Offensive Attack
LANDOVER, Md.—Washington Capital general manager David Poile spent two days before the NHL draft June 11 in Montreal trying to trade for a proven goal-scorer. Unable to do so, he settled for picking a potential goal-scorer in the entry draft. Poile’s first-round selection was center Reggie Savage, who averaged a goal a game for the Victoriaville Tigers of the Quebec League. In 68 games last season, he had 68 goals and 54 assists for 122 points. “My philosophy this year was to take the best offensive player available,” Poile said. “Savage is a little smaller than our usual top draft choice, but in my time we haven’t taken an offensive player with the potential of Reggie Savage. “One of our shortcomings is offensive players. He is an explosive-type player who has succeeded offensively…
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