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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.
Calm Before The Storm
MONTREAL—If the 1988 entry draft was uneventful, its aftermath wasn’t. Within hours of selecting Mike Modano first overall June 11, the Minnesota North Stars fired most of their scouting staff. Hardly a ringing endorsement of Modano, you’d think. In the meantime, a source close to the New York Rangers says general manager Phil Esposito reached agreement on a trade with Quebec Nordique vice president Maurice Filion. The next morning, Quebec president Marcel Aubut vetoed the swap that had New York center Walt Poddubny and defenseman Jari Gronstrand ticketed for the Nordiques in return for defenseman Normand Rochefort and center Jason Lafreniere. In the week that followed, the Pittsburgh Pen-guins cut loose Pierre Creamer; Minnesota dropped coach Herb Brooks and brought in general manager Jack Ferreira amid much controversy; and St. Louis retired captain Brian Sutter…
Devils Hope Latest Addition Fosters Offense From Point
EAST RUTHERFORD, N. J.—Now that they have joined the NHL’s elite, the New Jersey Devils figured it was time to draft a “big shot." Selecting 12th, by far their lowest position in the entry draft since the team moved to New Jersey in 1982, and the second lowest in franchise history (the Colorado Rockies chose Paul Gagne 19th in 1980), the Devils made Peterborough Petes’ defenseman Corey Foster their No. 1 choice. The Devils missed out on Reijo Ruotsalainen’s services for next season and don’t expect to obtain a release for Soviet defenseman Viacheslav Fetisov. Instead, they turned their hopes for blue line offense to the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Foster. Whether he can make the team in training camp depends on Foster’s unpolished defensive skills, because he already owns an NHL slap shot. “We’ve got…
Cimetta Gets Positive Reviews From Bruins
BOSTON—Boston Bruin general manager Harry Sinden looked critically at his first-round draft choice, but couldn’t find any flaws in left winger Rob Cimetta. “There’s always the usual consensus from other people,” said Sinden. “Such things as: ‘If he improves his skating he’ll be a great one’; or ‘He’s not a great scorer now but he could be’; or ‘He’s not too big but he’ll put on 15 pounds.’ “We didn’t hear any of that about Cimetta. None of those things applied. All the worries you have about a pick don’t seem to apply to our guy.” Sinden said the Bruins were mildly surprised to find Cimetta, a 6-foot, 191-pounder from the Toronto Marlboros, still available in the No. 18 slot. They rated him 12th. The Central Scouting Bureau had him 21st. “He’s a very…
Trade Demand Sparks Fireworks In London
Jim Sprott wants no part of Knight life. And his demand to be traded has triggered a war of words between the 19-year-old defenseman and London Knight coach and general manager Wayne Maxner. It all began when Sprott’s agent, Don Reynolds of Toronto, wrote Maxner demanding his client be traded. ‘I don’t want to go back and play for Mr. Maxner. I wasn’t happy with the way 1 was treated… ’ —Sprott Maxner responded by saying Sprott will play in London next season, or not at all. “If a player wants to be traded, both parties should sit down and discuss the situation in a level-headed manner,” Maxner said. “But a demand is like holding a gun to someone’s head. I won’t have it.” Sprott told the London Free Press that he’s had a stormy relationship…
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