Search for your favorite player or team
© The Hockey News. All rights reserved. Any and all material on this website cannot be used, reproduced, or distributed without prior written permission from Roustan Media Ltd. For more information, please see our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
February 24, 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.
NORDS HERALD RETURN TO FORM BY GILLIS
Paul Gillis is his combative self once again. After a lacklustre 1987-88, he’s bounced back to his fiery, stir-’em-up style of play. “I’m playing as well as during Michel Bergeron’s last season in Quebec (1986-87),” said Gillis. “I’m in top shape and feel very comfortable on the ice. I’m showing all those people that I’m a lot better than they thought I was.” In voting by reporters, the 25-year-old center was named the Quebec Nordiques’ top offensive player for the season’s third quarter. Gillis, who scored four goals and 12 assists in 18 games, outpointed Iiro Jarvi 51-25 in voting. He finished second to defenseman Randy Moller (43-41) in voting for the top defensive player. Gillis, with 121 points, leads in player-of-the-year voting. Moller is second with 103. Gillis’ turnaround has been welcomed by the Nordiques,…
WRITERS OUT TO LUNCH ON RANGERS
Shame on your writers. In your season preview issue (THN, Oct. 21), only Barry Meisel, of 22 writers, predicted the New York Rangers to make the playoffs. In your cover story of Jan. 27, you list five reasons why the Rangers are a Stanley Cup contender this season. 1. Trader Phil Esposito went to work. 2. Former GM Craig Patrick’s patience and productivity at the draft table. 3. Getting Michel Bergeron as coach. 4. The Rangers were not as bad as their non-playoff record indicated. 5. The ability to overcome adversity. Except for No. 5, all of these facts were evident before the season, yet none of the writers saw them. Come on fellas, get with it. I didn’t need 40 games to see that many of Espo’s trades were helpful. Patrick’s draft picks were playing well…
IMMEDIATE IMPACT OF TRADES NEGLIGIBLE
After the last major trade made by the Philadelphia Flyers—the Nov. 29 swap of centers which brought Mike Bullard from St. Louis for Peter Zezel—they won 13 of their next 16 games. Maybe Flyer general manager Bob Clarke thought he’d get double the return when he made two separate deals Feb. 7. He acquired left winger Al Secord from Toronto for a fourth-or fifth-round draft choice this year. He also traded right winger Dave Brown to Edmonton for center Keith Acton. Instead of having twice the impact, the trades didn’t appear to have even half the desired effect as the Flyers lost their next three games, including back-to-back setbacks to Toronto (4-3) Feb. 11 and Vancouver (3-2) Feb. 12. The loss to Vancouver was the Flyers’ fifth in six home games. In the…
WILDCATS CLOSE IN ON ELUSIVE PLAYOFF BERTH
There is light at the end of the tunnel for New Hampshire. The Wildcats, last place finishers in Hockey East the last three seasons, all but assured themselves of at least a sixth-place finish—and a playoff berth—in the seven-team league. A split with second-place Maine—the Wildcats won 4-3 Feb. 3 and lost 6-4 Feb. 4—gave them a 7-13-0 record, seven points ahead of Lowell. New Hampshire needed one more point in its last six games to make the playoffs for the first time since 1985-86. The Wildcats’ seven wins represent their best victory total in four seasons. New Hampshire was 5-27-2 in 1985-86, 5-24-3 in 1986-87 and 6-18-2 in 1987-88. Coach Bob Kullen said a 4-3 overtime loss to powerhouse Harvard on Dec. 10 was one of the turning points to the season. “That was…
Made possible with the support of
