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January 20, 1989
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.
PURGE SURVIVORS WONDERING ABOUT JOBS
Amid the Red Wings’ worst slump of the Jacques Demers’ era, Bob Probert skated and skated, often aimlessly, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Behind him, booting him out of town. The purge had already seen four players sent packing in various directions, and three more were recalled from the minors. All the while, general manager Jimmy Devellano held an auction in three divisions, prepared to deal Probert to the first team that came through with what the Wings considered fair value. Demers called it the biggest shake-up of his team since the six-player deal with Quebec two Januaries previous, when John Ogrodnick went to the Nordiques. The elements of the latest major shuffle: Right winger Miroslav Frycer was shipped to Edmonton for a 10th-round draft pick in June. Center-left winger Joe…
10 STORIES FROM ’88 YOU WON’T SOON FORGET
Here’s one last look at the 10 stones that made an unforgettable 1988—the NHLs Year of Living Crazily—one of my all-time favorites. 1. The Great Trade. Sure I heard the rumors. We all did. But until I saw Peter Pocklington posturing and Wayne Gretzky grieving live on ESPN (great coverage, by the way), I refused to believe No. 99 would retire in anything other than an Edmonton Oiler jersey. I didn’t care that Peter Pockets grabbed $15 million sunny southern California bucks and Glen Sather grabbed Jimmy Carson and four of L.A.’s No. 1 draft picks. All of a sudden the Kings were better, the Oilers were worse and nothing was sacred. I know, I know, sports is a business. On Aug. 9, it was a very ugly one, indeed. 2. The Donut Debacle.…
THE UPS AND DOWNS OF GOALTENDING
That goaltenders are a breed apart has long been acknowledged. Glenn Hall threw up before games. Gilles Gratton once streaked in Sweden. Gary (Suitcase) Smith wore 12 pairs of socks, and showered between periods. Gary Simmons kept a lead pipe handy one year to discourage teammates who might want to initiate him. And those are just the guys whose first names start with G. Yet, who can blame goalies for their different ways and means? Theirs is an occupation fraught with wild shifts between success and failure. Tom Barrasso lost six straight games with Buffalo this season, got traded to Pittsburgh, lost two more games, and then re-emerged as one of the top goalies in the league with a save percentage near .900 as he lost just once in 12 starts. Greg Millen went the whole…
JET STAR WARMING UP TO TASK
T>his year, for the first time in his career, the suggestion has been made publicly that the Winnipeg Jets might be better off without Dale Hawerchuk. The thought has even crossed the Winnipeg captain’s mind. But in the first week of 1989, it became obvious Hawerchuk’s value to the Jets could not likely be duplicated in any deal a National Hockey League general manager might be willing to make with Winnipeg general manager Mike Smith. Consider these facts: In a five-game stretch beginning Dec. 28, Hawerchuk had 10 points (5-5). The Jets scored two wins (6-2 over St. Louis Dec. 28 and 4-2 over Vancouver Jan. 4) and three ties (4-4 with Calgary Dec. 31 and 4-4 against Los Angeles Jan. 6 and 8) to break a five-game winless streak. In their last…
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