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.

August 1, 1989

The Hockey News August 1, 1989

<div class="byline">BOB McKENZIE</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-03766/5809695-1-eng-US/f0003-032.jpg" title="f0003-03" width="528" height="610"></div><p class="dropcap"><span>D</span>on&rsquo;t be surprised if banned Detroit Red Wing Bob Probert walks away from his importation of cocaine conviction without a jail sentence. &ldquo;The judge said in open court, &lsquo;I reserve the right not to impose a jail term,&rsquo;&rdquo; said Probert&rsquo;s agent-attomey, Patrick Ducharme of Windsor. &ldquo;We were encouraged by that.&rdquo; To be on the safe side, Ducharme commissioned an independent study of sentencing on similar felonies in the U.S. and presented the report to the judge. &ldquo;The statistics show that 85 per cent of similar cases do not result in a jail sentence. In 11 cases in Michigan, not one jail term was issued. The only difference is that the quantities of drugs involved were less (six to eight grams) than in our situation (14.3 grams). The point is, no jail is not without precedence. We&rsquo;re also hopeful that seven months in a treatment center (for alcohol and drug abuse) will count for something.&rdquo; <i>(For more on Probert, see page 5.).</i></p><p>A joint player-owner committee has been established to look at the pros and cons of instituting a drug and alcohol policy in the NHL. Currently, the league&rsquo;s only policy is president John Ziegler&rsquo;s stem warning that &ldquo;if you use illegal drugs, you forfeit your right to play in the NHL.&rdquo; The National Basketball Association, National Football League and Major League Baseball all have drug and alcohol policies that stress rehabilitation over punishment. Ducharme lobbied the NHL player reps in Florida in June and the NHLPA went to the owners to see what could be done. &ldquo;The owners told us they thought the NHL&rsquo;s drug policy was clear, simple and effective,&rdquo; said NHLPA executive director Alan Eagleson. &ldquo;But they said they were prepared to look at the situation and see if anything could be done to improve it. That&rsquo;s the job of the committee.&rdquo; Ducharme has been asked to supply reference material on the other sports&rsquo; policies. One of the owners on the committee is Detroit&rsquo;s Mike Ilitch, whose team has been the most dramatically affected by drug and alcohol abuse.</p><p>Speculation continues the next asset Edmonton Oiler owner Peter Pocklington will unload is his NHL club. &ldquo;All the signs point to it,&rdquo; said one observer, who is part of a group which is exploring the purchase of an NHL franchise&hellip;Oiler GM Glen Sather is reportedly asking for a top-line forward and defenseman for disgruntled center Jimmy Carson. The price, so far, is too high. Carson is playing out his option this season and has indicated he doesn&rsquo;t want to re-sign with the Oilers. &ldquo;Jimmy is playing his last season in Edmonton,&rdquo; confirmed Carson&rsquo;s agent, Bill Watters. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re waiting for Glen to do something, with the understanding that Glen doesn&rsquo;t have to do anything. But Jimmy won&rsquo;t be back with the Oilers after this season.&rdquo; If a deal isn&rsquo;t cut, Carson will become a free agent with compensation (comparable players and/or draft picks as determined by the two teams or, failing that, by an independent arbitrator). New Hartford GM Eddie Johnston, a pal of Sather&rsquo;s, is apparently interested in the high-scoring center.</p><p>Philadelphia Flyer assistant GM <b>John Paddock</b> is a leading candidate to coach the New York Rangers. Paddock reportedly has an escape clause in his contract which would permit him to take an NHL head-coaching job. Paddock coached the Flyers&rsquo; No. 1 affiliate inershey the past three seasons and became <b>Bob Clarke&rsquo;s</b> assistant last spring. He was named Minor Pro Coach of the Year in 1986-87 by <i>The Hockey</i> News&hellip;Watch for the New Jersey Devils to make another deal. They were busy on draft day (June 17), acquiring <b>Sylvain Turgeon, Walt Poddubny</b> and an exfra first-round pick (<b>Jason Miller</b>). Now, they&rsquo;re looking to move a defenseman to get a right winger&hellip;The Sports Network and the Canadian Hockey League will sign an agreement soon to televise a major junior game of the week. Terms of the deal call for 10 Sunday night games, beginning in January. Tentative plans include four games from each of the Western and Ontario Leagues and two from the Quebec League. Four Memorial Cup games, but not the finale, are also part of the package.</p><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-04423/5809688-1-eng-US/f0003-042.jpg" title="f0003-04" width="1746" height="877"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0003-03

COLUMNISTS

JAIL NOT LIKELY IN PROBERT CONVICTION

<p><b>1.</b> He netted the Cup-winning goal for the Leafs in 1967 (3,6).</p><p><b>8.</b> This Savard had a brief stint as coach of the Nordiques.</p><p><b>9.</b> Timer.</p><p><b>10.</b> Foes.</p><p><b>11.</b> &lsquo;The Golden Jet&rsquo;s&rsquo; full first name.</p><p><b>12.</b> Foster Hewitt was originally heard on this medium.</p><p><b>14.</b> The only one of the 12 players drafted first overall by NHL teams since 1977 who has played on a Stanley Cup winner.</p><p><b>17.</b> Defenseman acquired by the-Flyers from the Canucks in 1977 in exchange for Larry Goodenough and Jack Mcllhargey.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

DEPARTMENTS

CROSSWORD

<div class="byline">BY RICH CHERE</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0006-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-011536/5809795-1-eng-US/f0006-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Lada Fetisov, second from left, got lost in Saks but was found in time for the Devils&rsquo; press conference with, from left, husband Viacheslav, and Irene and Sergei Starikov.</b></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>L</span>ada Fetisov, the blonde wife of New Jersey Devils&rsquo; defenseman Viacheslav Fetisov, got her first taste of western society during a shopping trip on Fifth Avenue in New York City.</p><p>&ldquo;We were shopping in New York City and we got separated for a few minutes,&rdquo; Viacheslav Fetisov recalled. &ldquo;When I found her, she was crying in the middle of Saks. It&rsquo;s her first time here and it&rsquo;s a big adjustment for her.&rdquo;</p><p>Fetisov, a seasoned Soviet veteran who has made 10 trips to North America since his first in 1974, has mastered the art of browsing in a Manhattan department store. He will face a much tougher challenge this season when he tries to master the NHL in the newest chapter of his celebrated hockey career.</p><p>The Soviet era has arrived in the NHL. For the 31-year-old Fetisov, the transition should be easier since he will be joined by former Central Red Army defense partner Sergei Starikov.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m much more comfortable with Sergei here,&rdquo; said Fetisov, as the two players were introduced to the New Jersey media during a July 7 press conference at the Meadowlands Arena. &ldquo;It will be someone else here that I&rsquo;m familiar with and Sergei is also an excellent defenseman. He&rsquo;s been playing for 10 years.&rdquo;</p><p>Starikov, 30, was drafted in June by the Devils at Fetisov&rsquo;s suggestion. He and Fetisov both signed three-year contracts June 26, during New Jersey general manager Lou Lamoriello&rsquo;s nine-day trip to Moscow. Fetisov agreed to a deal worth approximately $600,000 per year, while Starikov&rsquo;s price is believed to be less.</p><p>&ldquo;There were definitely moments I thought it would all fall through,&rdquo; said Fetisov. &ldquo;Emotions and feelings ran the gamut from the highs of almost having it all in our grasp to the lows of dealing with bureaucracy. It was quite an experience but I always believed this would happen.&rdquo;</p><p>The contracts, along with Lamoriello&rsquo;s negotiating procedure, created the first flap surrounding the Soviets. Igor Larionov (Vancouver) and Sergei Makarov (Calgary) conducted their deals through Sovintersport, the official Soviet agency. But Fetisov and Starikov chose to bypass Sovintersport, negotiate directly with the Devils and donate a portion of their salaries to a Soviet children&rsquo;s fund which assists underprivileged youth.</p><p>During recent negotiations, the two players were accompanied by a lawyer and accountant, as well as being advised by Soviet chess champion Garry Kasparov, a close friend.</p><p>The Soviet Ice Hockey Federation, which generally receives a large percentage of the wages Soviet players earn abroad, was cut out of the deals and quickly sent a letter to NHL president John Ziegler requesting the two players be blocked from NHL competition.</p><p>Ziegler, who has already allowed a Soviet defector, Alexandr Mogilny, sign with the Buffalo Sabres despite the protests of Soviet authorities, said he will not prevent a player with a valid contract from playing in the NHL.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve done everything above the board here,&rdquo; said Lamoriello. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s nothing to hide. No cloak-and-dagger negotiations. In fact, I spoke to the federation while I was over there.&rdquo;</p><p>Fetisov and Starikov had the support of the Soviet ambassador to the United States, Yuri Dubinin, who was present at the press conference.</p><p>&ldquo;Following the example of our leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, and your president, George Bush, we are trying to develop now our relations with the United States and we&rsquo;ve opened new avenues in spirit and co-operation,&rdquo; said Dubinin. &ldquo;We are witnessing now one element of this.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;If it wasn&rsquo;t for <i>glasnost</i> and Gorbachev, this wouldn&rsquo;t be happening right now,&rdquo; added Fetisov.</p><p>Although Sergei Priakin became the first Soviet released to play in the NHL when he joined the Calgary Flames this past season, Fetisov is regarded as the test case. He forced the issue by leaving the Soviet national team, resigning from the army and forfeiting all commissions and future pensions.</p><p>&ldquo;Slava (Fetisov) didn&rsquo;t want to defect,&rdquo; said Lamoriello. &ldquo;He didn&rsquo;t want to do anything wrong that would close the door for other Soviet players in the future.&rdquo;</p><p>Six Soviets&mdash;Fetisov, Starikov, Larionov, Makarov, Priakin and Mogilny&mdash;are expected to start the season in the NHL. A seventh, Helmut Balderis, has a tryout with the Minnesota North Stars.</p><p>&ldquo;A fair guess is three players a year will be allowed to come for the next four years,&rdquo; said Fetisov.</p><p>The world may be opening up politically, but is the NHL ready to welcome Soviets to its rosters? There has been opposition from several clubs, most notably the Philadelphia Flyers.</p><p>&ldquo;My own personal feelings are that I&rsquo;ve never been in favor of the Soviets playing in the National Hockey League,&rdquo; said Flyer GM Bob Clarke. &ldquo;I have a lot of reasons in my own mind, one of which is probably prejudice.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not like a European country where we can exchange players or our players can go over there and play. This is a one-way ticket and we&rsquo;re paying a lot of money to these players and a lot of money to the Soviet Ice Hockey Federation. A lot more than we would pay for our own Canadian and American kids. I don&rsquo;t think that&rsquo;s right.</p><p>&ldquo;Hockey has become a very expensive sport and I think if we&rsquo;ve got enough money to send to Russia for players, we should use that money to develop our own kids. The money we pay for these players is going to be used to develop players in the Soviet Union and I think we&rsquo;re going to end up paying the price for it in the Canada Cup series.&rdquo;</p><p>A few small protest groups in New Jersey, including a group called POSES (People Opposed to Soviets Entering Sports), have voiced their displeasure with the signings. The Devils reported that season-ticket sales have been steady, but far from overwhelming, such as the L.A. Kings experienced after getting Wayne Gretzky.</p><p>The reaction from New Jersey players was lukewarm at first. Before the signing occurred, player rep Randy Velischek spoke out against Soviets taking jobs from members of the NHL Players&rsquo; Association, and team captain Kirk Muller said he understood Velischek&rsquo;s sentiments.</p><p>While none of the Devils were overly critical of their two new teammates, neither were they overjoyed.</p><p>&ldquo;I think the reaction will be mixed,&rdquo; said Mark Johnson, the veteran left winger who played for the U.S. Olympic team which captured the 1980 gold medal at Lake Placid, N.Y., by defeating Fetisov&rsquo;s Soviet squad. &ldquo;Any defenseman on our team will certainly have a mixed view. The players on our team have become close to each other. The last couple of trades have been tough and now you&rsquo;ve got so many European players coming in. Ultimately, if it helps the team and improves the franchise, you just have to swallow a hard pill and accept it.&rdquo;</p><p>The Devils drafted Fetisov in 1983 (150th overall) at the insistence of owner John McMullen, although they didn&rsquo;t begin pursuing the 6-foot-1,200-pound native of Moscow until just prior to the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. Starikov was signed only nine days after he was drafted 152nd overall June 17.</p><p>Asked if they would be kept together with the Devils, coach Jim Schoenfeld said: &ldquo;That&rsquo;s what we have training camp for. We have a lot of experimentation with our new players such as (Sylvain) Turgeon and (Walt) Poddubny. We have a lot of good pieces to put together.&rdquo;</p><p>Training camps opens Sept. 8 and the Devils do not anticipate language to be a problem.</p><p>&ldquo;J really don&rsquo;t perceive communication to be a problem,&rdquo; said Schoenfeld. &ldquo;Dimitri (Devils&rsquo; strength coach Dimitri Lopuchin, who speaks fluent Russian) is working closely with the players and hockey is pretty much a universal language. It isn&rsquo;t like I have to teach them great literature. They know &lsquo;pass, shoot.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p><p>Fetisov can speak limited English and understands the language quite well. Starikov&rsquo;s wife, Irene, is fluent in English, but Sergei is not. Both players chose to speak through Lopuchin, who acted as an interpreter.</p><p>&ldquo;Sergei&rsquo;s son is going to learn to speak English faster than his father,&rdquo; said Fetisov, referring to seven-year-old Iliya, who will move to New Jersey with sister Xenia, 3.</p><p>During their nine days in the U. S., the players and their wives found homes for the upcoming season. They will return to New Jersey in late July or early August.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0006-021071/5809788-1-eng-US/f0006-022.jpg" title="f0006-02" width="700" height="840"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Sergei Makarov negotiated his contract through the official Soviet agency.</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0006-01

THEY’RE HERE

<div class="byline">BY DAMIEN COX</div><p>It&rsquo;s been a different kind of summer for Allan Bester.</p><p>In previous years, the diminutive Toronto Maple Leaf netminder has spent his vacation months preparing to lock horns with any number of goaltending candidates for the No. I job. This year, he could be forgiven for being a touch complacent.</p><p>Bester is now indisputably the Leafs&rsquo; top goalie, a job that carries a heavy load of responsibility, not to mention an even heavier load of shots on goal.</p><p>The 5-foot-7, 150-pound native of Hamilton, Ont., admitted having a firm grip on the starter&rsquo;s job has given him a different frame of mind this year.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been trying to enjoy myself more this summer,&rdquo; Bester said during a break between a charity golf tournament and charity softball game.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m trying not to worry so much and just tryto stay in shape playing baseball, tennis and a little bit of golf. That said, I also know there&rsquo;s going to a lot more pressure on me this year.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-03154/5811868-1-eng-US/f0042-032.jpg" title="f0042-03" width="686" height="666"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Allan Bester became the Leafs&rsquo; starter late last season.</b></figcaption></div><p>Bester&rsquo;s ascension to the job as No. I Leafgoalie was only partly his doing.</p><p>A large obstacle was removed late last season, when the Leafs swapped Ken Wrmgget to Philadelphia for a pair of 1989 first-round draft picks, choices Toronto used to select Belleville Bulls Rob Pearson and Steve Bancroft.</p><p>With Wregget gone, that left only Bester and the inexperienced Jeff Reese.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;d be lying if I said I was sad to see Kenny go,&rdquo; said Bester, 25. &ldquo;It was best for his career and my career that one of us moved on.&rdquo;</p><p>Bester responded with some solid play behind a generally porous Leaf defense, playing 43 games&mdash;his most ever in a single NHL campaign&mdash;and posting a 3.80 goals-against average (.890 save percentage).</p><p>Along the way, he earned the Leaf management&rsquo;s respect.</p><p>&ldquo;I took it as a vote of confidence that they traded Ken and not me, so now I just have to show them they were right,&rdquo; he said.</p><p>In the past, training camps have been exercises in frustration for Bester. No matter how well he played, Wregget would get the nod as the team&rsquo;s premier man between the posts. Yet, Bester has a better GAA than Wregget over the past six seasons (3.93 in 157 games to 4.36 in 203).</p><p>Wregget always seemed to star in the playoffs, as he did with the Flyers this past year, leaving Bester to ride the pines during the postseason and enter the following season as the No. 2 man.</p><p>&ldquo;I always figured it was just a matter of time before I got the chance,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I know they felt he was the No. 1 goalie, but in my mind I always felt we were equal.</p><h2><b>TORONTO</b></h2><h3><b>TRANSACTION</b></h3><p><b>June 30</b>: Lou Franceschetti, RW. acquired from Washington for sixth-round pick in 1990 entry draft.</p><p><b>July 5</b>: Craig Laughlin, RW, had contract bought out</p><p><b>July 12</b>: Rick Lanz. D. released in order to join Ambri (Swiss Elite League).<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0042-03

THE NHL

BESTER PREPARED FOR CHALLENGE AS NO. 1

<div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-011292/5809595-1-eng-US/f0002-012.jpg" title="f0002-01" width="564" height="660"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Esa Tikkanen</b></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>t seems like only yesterday the Calgary Flames were skating around the Montreal Forum with their first-ever Stanley Cup. Since then, a lot has happened in the hockey world.</p><p>It&rsquo;s been a busy off-season with trades, the hiring of several coaches and, of course, the Soviet invasion. Next month we&rsquo;ll continue to keep you up to date on the hockey scene.</p><p>Perhaps by then free agents Esa Tikkanen and Grant Fuhr will have settled their differences with the Oilers, the Flyers will have done something about their abundance of goaltenders (a trade involving Ken Wregget, maybe?) and, who knows, the Rangers may even have a coach. Whatever happens in hockey during the next month, whether it be in the NHL, the minor pro leagues, the college scene or the major junior leagues, you&rsquo;ll be able to read all about it in the Sept. 8 issue of <i>The Hockey News.</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0002-021054/5809588-1-eng-US/f0002-022.jpg" title="f0002-02" width="540" height="660"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Ken Wregget</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0002-01

IN THIS ISSUE

NEXT ISSUE

<p class="dropcap"><span>A</span>t long last, Al Maclnnis of the Calgary Flames is finally getting the attention he deserves. For years, he&rsquo;s been the backbone of the Flames&rsquo; defense and he&rsquo;s one of the finest defensemen in hockey today.</p><p>Few people remember that in the 1986 playoffs, MacInnis finished with 19 points&mdash;tied for third with Wayne Gretzky, Mats Naslund and Joe Mullen. He plays defense as it should be played and he deserved the Conn Smythe Trophy and the Stanley Cup. For the past few years, no player has shown as much overall improvement as Al MacInnis.</p><p><b>Alice M. Lake,</b>&nbsp;<i>Toronto, Ont.</i></p><h2><b>DINEEN BEST</b></h2><p>Forgive me for questioning your selection of Robbie Laird and Tommy McVie as finalists for <i>The Hockey News</i> coach of the year.</p><p>I&rsquo;m sure Laird did an excellent job in guiding Fort Wayne to a third-place finish in the International League, as McVie did to gain a fourth and final playoff spot with Utica in the American League. But to overlook Bill Dineen, who led the Adirondack Red Wings to a first-place finish and an AHL championship is, to say the least, questionable.</p><p>With all due respect to McVie and Laird, to overlook Dineen for this award conveys either a lack of know-, ledge or poor study habits on the part of the selection committee.</p><p><b>Jake Dineen,</b>&nbsp;<i>Gloucester, Ont.</i></p><p><i>(Ed. note: Dineen was named general manager of the Red Wings and replaced as coach by Barry Melrose July 20. Jake Dineen is Bill Dineen&rsquo;s brother.)</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-011450/5809657-1-eng-US/f0003-012.jpg" title="f0003-01" width="558" height="760"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Bill Dineen is underappreciated, his brother says.</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>WORST EVER</b></h2><p>It&rsquo;s been almost a year since the Wayne Gretzky trade and it&rsquo;s become clear who the winners and losers are. New York Islanders&rsquo; general manager Bill Torrey said it best when he said he would never trade a player like Gretzky if it meant sacrificing a chance to win the Stanley Cup.</p><p>Now that the Kings have been revived, thanks to the Great One. The three first-round draft picks the Oilers received may not replace him. Could anyone disagree the deal appears to be one of the worst ever?</p><p><b>Todd Bank,</b>&nbsp;<i>East Meadow, N. Y.</i></p><h2><b>BOO, BLUES</b></h2><p>John Orf&rsquo;s letter <i>(THN,</i> May 26) which described Ron Caron&rsquo;s six-year tenure as general manager of the St. Louis Blues was right on the mark.</p><p>In 1986, the Blues were a promising young team that made it to the Stanley Cup semifinals. Since that time, due to lost draft picks and bad trades, the Blues are a middle-of-the-road team.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0003-021175/5809650-1-eng-US/f0003-022.jpg" title="f0003-02" width="555" height="769"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>The call is out for the Blues to fire GM Ron Caron.</b></figcaption></div><p>Chairman Michael Shanahan should make a move now before any further damage is done.</p><p><b>Steven G. Dixon,</b>&nbsp;<i>Calgary, Alta.</i></p><h2><b>SATOR FAN</b></h2><p>Being a loyal and dedicated Buffalo Sabres&rsquo; fan since their inception, I am furious over the firing of Ted Sator. If general manager Gerry Meehan needs someone to blame, he only needs to look in the mirror.</p><p>While Buffalo&rsquo;s playoff success has not been astounding, at least the Sabres have been there under Sator. This is a young and talented team that needs Sator&rsquo;s experience. Making him the fall-guy will only tighten the noose around Meehan&rsquo;s neck.</p><p><b>Dave Stewart,</b>&nbsp;<i>Thunder Bay, Ont.</i></p><h2><b>MUST BE DRUGS</b></h2><p>After seeing the Professional Hockey Writers&rsquo; Association choose Wayne Gretzky for the Hart Trophy, I&rsquo;d like to know if the hockey writers are required to take a urine test for drug use.</p><p><b>Joe Fredland,</b>&nbsp;<i>Pittsburgh, Pa.</i></p><p><i>Make your feelings known. Send your comments to</i>: <b>Letters, The Hockey News,&rsquo;85 Scarsdale Rd., Suite 100, Don Mills, Ont., M3B 2R2</b>. <i>Include home and business phone numbers. THN reserves the right to edit submissions.</i><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0003-01

FLAME FINALLY GETTING HIS DUE

<div class="byline">BY STAN FISCHLER</div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he prospect of expansion has enraptured the NHL brass, except for a few key power brokers who will shoot down any attempt to bloat the big league with additional clubs until current problem teams are cured. Minnesota and Winnipeg are headaches that won&rsquo;t go away&mdash;unless the North Stars and Jets <i>do</i> go away to other cities. Insiders report Jets&rsquo; boss Barry Shenkarow could get $42 million from a Seattle group if the Washington city ever builds its long-awaited arena. No one in the NHL wants to see the North Stars leave Minnesota because it&rsquo;s fertile hockey country. The problem is developing a competitive product to lure back the fans. Owners George and Gordon Gund could, in the extreme, be forced to move to either Cleveland or San Francisco-San Jose if the North Star situation doesn&rsquo;t improve soon. Considering these facts, the pro-expansionists led by <b>Bruce McNall</b> will have their hands full between now and December, when the governors vote on expansion.</p><h2><b>SOVIET SCRAPPER</b></h2><p>One of the(most interesting scouting reports on the Devils&rsquo; Viacheslav Fetisov concerns his willingness to fight. Mike Daski, a Winnipeg native who has watched Fetisov closely while coaching in Europe the past decade, says the Soviet ace is a mean player. &ldquo;If someone invites him to drop the gloves,&rdquo; says Daski, &ldquo;he&rsquo;ll be happy to oblige. And don&rsquo;t think this guy doesn&rsquo;t know how to fight.&rdquo;&hellip; In a bid to regain fans, Whalers&rsquo; owner Richard Gordon is writing personal letters to fans who didn&rsquo;t renew their season tickets. One fan received a note which opens, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know why you actually decided not to renew your tickets&hellip;but I would like to personally ask you to reconsider &lsquo;coming home&rsquo; and becoming a season-ticket holder once again.&rdquo; Each letter is personally signed, &ldquo;Richard H. Gordon, Owner.&rdquo; The Whalers&rsquo; marketing theme for 1989-90 is &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a New Spirit.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0004-011448/5809726-1-eng-US/f0004-012.jpg" title="f0004-01" width="700" height="1420"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Pierre Page wants to be emotional, but not critical of his players.</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>BOXER ON BLADES</b></h2><p>An ex-Flyer confides his amusement over <b>Ron Hextall&rsquo;s</b> attack on <b>Chris Chelios</b> in retaliation for Chelios&rsquo; hit on <b>Brian Propp.</b> &ldquo;I remember when Hextail wanted to kill Propp a year ago,&rdquo; says the former Flyer. &ldquo;Brian had embarrassed Ronnie in a practice and (Hextail) wanted to get him. Just shows you how things change.&rdquo;&hellip;Ex-Canadian light heavyweight boxing champ <b>Donny Lalonde</b> was a surprise starter at the weekly media game at New York&rsquo;s Sky Rink. &ldquo;I played some hockey as a kid,&rdquo; says Lalonde, &ldquo;but I was always a better fighter.&rdquo;&hellip;Ex-U.S. Olympic coach Lou Vairo heads back to his coaching job in Italy later this summer after running a restaurant in Colorado. Vairo says the second toughest place to coach after the NHL is Switzerland. &ldquo;They fire just as quickly as they do in the NHL,&rdquo; says Vairo, &ldquo;but the pay is tremendous. A guy in Lugano is getting three hundred grand a year aftertaxes.&rdquo;.</p><h2><b>WANTS TO IMPROVE</b></h2><p>North Star coach <b>Pierre Page</b> never runs out of off-season twists to keep himself and his club sharp. His players were outfitted with roller lades for summer conditioning and Page sent questionnaires to all players asking them to rate his work. &ldquo;The older guys have been more honest,&rdquo; says Page. &ldquo;What I have to figure out is how to be as intense and emotional without being as publicly critical of the players. I have to be emotional but controlled&hellip;The Western League has worked hard to develop team scholarship programs to lure potential aces away from college and into the <b>WHL</b>. It worked in the case of <b>Dave Chyzowski</b>, the Islanders&rsquo; top draft pick this year. Chyzowski opted for Kamloops rather than university where brothers Ron (Northern Michigan) and Barry (Minnesota-Duluth) headed. &ldquo;Dave signing with us was the most significant in the history of the franchise,&rdquo; says Kamloops&rsquo; <b>GM Bob Brown</b>. &ldquo;Because he was such a high-profile college recruit it told us and the rest of the WHL that major junior had come a long way in improving its image with regards to education.&rdquo;&hellip;The Flames&rsquo; Stanley Cup win has upped hockey interest in Atlanta where the Flyers and Bruins will play a September exhibition game. More than 5,000 tickets were sold in the first three days they went on sale and some were bought by ex-Flames <b>Eric Vail</b> and <b>Tim Ecclestone,</b> who co-own The Sports Rock Cafe in Atlanta. Vail remembers moving to Calgary with the franchise after playing in Georgia. &ldquo;It was some change getting used to the new climate after being in the south. When we arrived in Alberta not many guys knew about the chinook (the wind that brings extreme changes in temperature). One day it was minus-10 Fahrenheit and (trainer) Bearcat Murray assured us it would climb to 65 the next day. We thought he was nuts but the next day it was 68!&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0004-01

EXPANSION FEVER HITS NHL OFFICIALS

<div class="byline">BY THN STAFF</div><p class="dropcap"><span>F</span>ormer Detroit Red Wing left winger Bob Probert faces the possibility of one year in jail and deportation from the United States after pleading guilty to importing cocaine.</p><p>Probert, originally charged with smuggling narcotics into the United States, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge after a deal with federal authorities.</p><p>Probert stood before U.S. District Judge Court Patrick Duggan July 18 and confessed, &ldquo;I came across the border with cocaine in my possession.&rdquo;</p><p>The incident occurred March 2, when U.S. Customs officials found 14 grams of cocaine in Probert&rsquo;s underpants on the Detroit side of the Windsor tunnel. Probert was expelled from the NHL by president John Ziegler shortly after the incident.</p><p>Duggan set sentencing for Sept 26. Until then, Probert must remain in the substance-abuse treatment center he entered shortly after his arrest.</p><p>Meanwhile, attorney Stephen Markham said U.S. law provides for deportation of aliens convicted of state or federal drug felonies and that his office would notify immigration authorities of the guilty plea by Probert, a Windsor native and Canadian citizen.</p><p>&ldquo;I would never want to say never,&rdquo; said Markham, &ldquo;but the law seems to be fairly clear that where there&rsquo;s a commission of a felony or a misdemeanor involving drugs, that individual is required to be deported.&rdquo;</p><p>Probert, 24, would have the right to petition for a return to the United States.</p><p>&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t know what&rsquo;s going to happen with immigration at this point, and we&rsquo;re not even concerned about his career right now,&rdquo; said Harold Fried, Probert&rsquo;s attorney.</p><p>&ldquo;I pleaded guilty today because of what I did,&rdquo; said Probert after the hearing. &ldquo;I realize I was wrong in what I did and it was foolish. Right now, my main concern is to try to get my life in order and that&rsquo;s what I&rsquo;m working on.&rdquo;</p><p>Asked about his return to hockey, Probert said, &ldquo;At this point, it&rsquo;s not on my mind&hellip;I&rsquo;m not worried about that. I&rsquo;m trying to straighten out my life and take care of some issues about myself right now.&rdquo;</p><p>The threat of a long jail term&mdash;he faced up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine before the plea bargain&mdash;scared him straight, Probert said.</p><p>&ldquo;Sometimes that&rsquo;s what it takes, to face something like this,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I think this is my bottom and it took a lot of pain and misery to get here. Hopefully, I can learn from this and get on with my life.&rdquo;</p><p>According to the agreement, Probert will be sentenced to jail for up to 12 months and fined no more than $2,000. The judge could also sentence Probert to fewer than six months, giving him probation instead.</p><p>Red Wings&rsquo; coach Jacques Demers saw Probert in June at Demers&rsquo; restaurant in suburban Detroit. The occasion was a birthday dinner for Probert, and Demers was pleased with what he saw.</p><p>&ldquo;Bob seems determined to make his program work,&rdquo; Demers said. &ldquo;He looked as good as I&rsquo;ve seen him and seemed to have a good attitude. The most important thing to me is Bob Probert the person, not the player. I want to see him turn his life around.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>PLAYER ACQUITTEE</b></h2><p>A former Ontario League player who threw his stick into a crowd and injured a spectator was acquitted of unlawfully causing bodily harm in Cornwall (Ont.) provincial court July 18.</p><p><b>John Andersen,</b> 21, was charged after a Dec. 12, 1987 game between his Oshawa Generals and the Cornwall Royals at the Cornwall Civic Complex. Anderson, anllth-round pick of the New Jersey Devils in 1986, was 19 at the time.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0005-011355/5809757-1-eng-US/f0005-012.jpg" title="f0005-01" width="558" height="877"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Sean Burke is one of 125 St. Mike&rsquo;s grads to play pro.</b></figcaption></div><p>During the second period of the game, Andersen threw his stick into the crowd and struck Royals&rsquo; fan <b>Robert Blanchard</b>, who lost five teeth and suffered a broken jaw.</p><p>&ldquo;There was no evidence that he (Andersen) had the intention to injure anyone,&rdquo; said provincial court judge <b>Michael Fitzpatrick</b>.</p><p>Evidence produced during the five-day trial in March indicated Cornwall fans seated behind the Generals&rsquo; bench became increasingly rowdy during the game.</p><p>Andersen testified when tension heated up between the fans and Generals&rsquo; coach Paul Theriault, he feared for the safety of his coach. He told the court Theriault has a metal plate in his skull and the Oshawa players felt any blow to his head could have been fatal. Andersen said his intention was to hit the boards with his stick to dissuade the crowd from hurling objects at his coach.</p><p>According to his testimony, he swung his stick in baseball-bat fashion, lost his balance and the stick ended up in the crowd where it struck Blanchard.</p><p>Blanchard was at the game with his 11-year-old daughter. He was not part of the ruckus, said the judge.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m obviously very happy with the decision,&rdquo; said Andersen. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s been a long time waiting. It is unfortunate what happened to Mr. Blanchard. It was an accident and I hope he sees it that way, too.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;This would never have happened, in my opinion, had there been proper security,&rdquo; said Andersen&rsquo;s lawyer, <b>Pat Rudden</b> of Cornwall.</p><p>Fifteen rink attendants, including ushers and two security guards, were on duty at the game. Police were called in to make an arrest after the game.</p><p>Andersen received a 10-game suspension for the action&mdash;the minimum for that type of incident. Shortly after the incident, Andersen was traded to the Hamilton Steelhawks and finished his OHL career last season as an overage player with the Sudbury Wolves.</p><h2><b>BUZZING OFF</b></h2><p>The St. Michael&rsquo;s College Buzzers may have ended an 80-year tradition when they announced they will suspend operations for the 1989-90 season July 20.</p><p>The Buzzers, who won their sixth Ontario Hockey Association championship in 1989-90, will drop out of the Metro Toronto Junior B Hockey League while Basilian Fathers at the school re-examine the sport&rsquo;s future there.</p><p>But coach <b>Scott McLellan,</b> who also played at St. Mike&rsquo;s, isn&rsquo;t optimistic about the future.</p><p>&ldquo;It just isn&rsquo;t part of the School&rsquo;s fabric any more,&rdquo; said McLellan. &ldquo;It used to be when you came to St. Mike&rsquo;s you played bantam in Grade 9, midget in Grades 10 and 11, and Junior B in Grade 12, but that doesn&rsquo;t happen any more. I think it&rsquo;s the best thing to do. Why not end it on a winning note?&rdquo;</p><p>The school dropped its bantam and midget program four years ago and this year, only 12 of the team&rsquo;s 24 players attended St. Mike&rsquo;s.</p><p>St. Mike&rsquo;s has sent 125 players to the pros, including Hall-of-Famers <b>Red Kelly, Frank Mahovlich and Joe Primeau. Sean Burke</b> of the New Jersey Devils played for St. Mike&rsquo;s, as did Eric Lindros, the first overall pick in the Ontario League draft this year.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s very sad to see it go,&rdquo; said Kelly, who played at St. Mike&rsquo;s from 1943 to 1947, winning Ontario midget and Junior B championships as well as a Memorial Cup. &ldquo;I remember when I played there, we wouldn&rsquo;t always have the best players but they played with heart. Because they were playing for their school, they&rsquo;d rise to great heights and sometimes win when maybe they weren&rsquo;t supposed to.&rdquo;</p><p>McLellan was quick to dismiss rumors that finances were behind the decision.</p><p>&ldquo;Money would never be a problem at St. Mike&rsquo;s,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;They have an old boys&rsquo; network worth millions and if there were ever a problem, they&rsquo;d be able to pull something together.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>NEW DIRECTOR</b></h2><p><b>Bryan Lewis</b>, who refereed 1,031 NHL games in 16 seasons before retiring in 1986, was named NHL director of officiating July 19. Lewis, 46, replaces <b>John McCauley,</b> who died from complications following surgery in June. Lewis was formerly coordinator of development and supervisor of officials.</p><p><b>Wally Harris</b> was named to the newly-created post of assistant director of officiating. Harris, 53, worked 958 games during his 20-year career.</p><p><b>Will Norris</b> replaces Lewis as coordinator of development. Norris, 51, was an NHL linesman for 18 seasons, working 1,472 games.</p><p>&mdash;<b>With a file from Keith Gave</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0005-01

PROBERT COULD GET A YEAR IN JAIL

<div class="byline">BY STEVE DRYDEN</div><p>Imagine Wayne Gretzky, Joe Mullen and Kevin Lowe leaving the NHL to play for Traktor Chelyabinsk of the Soviet Elite League.</p><p>Then, consider the possibility of Pierre Turgeon seeking political asylum in Moscow.</p><p>Finally, think about Guy Lafleur making a comeback with Dynamo Riga rather than the New York Rangers and Quebec Nordiques.</p><p>Got all that?</p><p>Now, you have an idea how Soviet hockey fans must be feeling these days.</p><p>The unlikely departure of center Gretzky, 28, right winger Mullen, 32, and defenseman Lowe, 31, from North America would approximate the exodus of center Igor Larionov, 29, right winger Sergei Makarov, 31, and defenseman Viacheslav Fetisov, 31, from the Soviet Union.</p><p>And a sudden decision by Turgeon that Moscow holds more promise than Buffalo would have a similar impact here to right winger Alexandr Mogilny&rsquo;s history-making defection in the Soviet Union.</p><p>Turgeon and Mogilny are now 20-year-old teammates with the Buffalo Sabres.</p><p>Lafleur, in the meantime, continues his remarkable NHL comeback, while Helmut Balderis investigates the possibility of doing the same with the Minnesota North Stars.</p><p>Balderis and Lafleur, both 37-year-old right wingers, were the world&rsquo;s two flashiest forwards during the 1970s. They may be among the two oldest this year.</p><p>If it can be arranged, Balderis will try out for Minnesota. He last played during the 1984-85 season. Before his return, Lafleur last played during the 1984-85 season.</p><p>Balderis, who scored more than 300 goals in the Soviet League, coached in Japan this past season.</p><p>He initiated comeback talks through Minnesota team doctor George Nagabods, who, like Balderis, is from Riga, Latvia. North Stars&rsquo; general manager Jack Ferreira said there is still much to be settled, but if Balderis is willing to try out without any guarantees, the club would like to consider him.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-011380/5809833-1-eng-US/f0007-012.jpg" title="f0007-01" width="708" height="880"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Alexandr Mogilny said he&rsquo;s nervously anticipating his first NHL game.</b></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;It all hinges on whether he can come on a conditional-type basis to training camp,&rdquo; said Ferreira. The North Stars selected Balderis 238th overall in the 1989 entry draft.</p><p>The Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and Sabres have firmer arrangements with their Soviet forwards.</p><p>Vancouver has worked the hardest to get a Soviet in its lineup. The Canucks were finally rewarded with the signing of Larionov on July 1.</p><p>&ldquo;I have been dreaming all my life of playing in the NHL,&rdquo; he said at a July 7 press conference in Vancouver. &ldquo;Now I can barely believe that it is coming true. It will be a different style to leam and with different teammates. It will be a struggle for a while.&rdquo;</p><p><i>(For reaction to Larionov&rsquo;s signing, see page 23.)</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-02945/5809826-1-eng-US/f0007-022.jpg" title="f0007-02" width="724" height="908"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Igor Larionov expressed his delight at being allowed to play in North America.</b></figcaption></div><p>Larionov is hopeful his linemate from Central Red Army, Vladimir Krutov, will also join the team.</p><p>&ldquo;I am hoping to convince my best friend (Vladimir) Krutov to come with me,&rdquo; said Larionov. &ldquo;He is not yet out of the army. But in July or August, many changes in army. He will be able to come with me. I hope so.&rdquo;</p><p>Krutov expressed an interest in coming to the NHL during a meeting with Vancouver GM Pat Quinn in Moscow.</p><p>Makarov and the Flames came to a three-year agreement July 1, despite the fact he told a Vancouver newspaper in June he would rather be traded to the Canucks to play with Larionov and, possibly, Krutov.</p><p>They combined to form the feared KLM Line on the Soviet national team and Central Red Army.</p><p>With the Flames, Makarov is expected to fill the void created by the return of HakanLoob to his native Sweden. He will not be alone. Sergei Priakin, the first Soviet released to play in the NHL, is already with the Flames.</p><p>&ldquo;I was really impressed with him (Makarov),&rdquo; said Calgary GM Cliff Fletcher, recently returned from Moscow. &ldquo;He was very knowledgeable about our team, the playoff years we&rsquo;d been eliminated early, our players. That surprised me, but it showed he was interested in us.</p><p>&ldquo;The guy wants to do well in our league. I like his attitude.&rdquo;</p><p>Makarov is scheduled to arrive in Calgary in August to find a home for his wife, Vera, and 10-year-old son, Artem, before returning overseas to join the Flames for their training camp in the Soviet Union.</p><p>The most dramatic change of all has been made by Mogilny, the first Soviet hockey player ever to defect.</p><p>He played with Fetisov, Larionov, Makarov, Krutov and Sergei Starikov, the Devils&rsquo; other Soviet defenseman, on Central Red Army this past season.</p><p>Among them, only Starikov did not play on the Soviets&rsquo; world-championship team in Stockholm. Mogilny defected after the May tournament.</p><p>He has sought political asylum, but his petition is still pending. Mogilny&rsquo;s original 60-day visa expired and a 30-day extension (through Aug. 9) was granted.</p><p>The fleet forward is taking English courses five days a week, and anxiously awaiting season&rsquo;s start.</p><p>He admitted to some nervousness about his impending NHL debut.</p><p>&ldquo;I know that always the first year somebody comes from Europe to play in the NHL, it takes maybe one season to get really used to the play, the audience and the style of play,&rdquo; he said.</p><p>&ldquo;Now I know that maybe a lot of the players are going to try to hit me because I am a Russian and because I am in my first year. Yes, you could say I&rsquo;m a little bit (worried).&rdquo;</p><p><i>(For more on Mogilny, see page 13.)</i></p><p><b>&mdash;With files from Allan Maki and Tony Gallagher</b><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0007-01

NHL HIT BY RED WAVE

<div class="byline">BY KEN CAMPBELL</div><p>Victor Nechaev was no Alexandr Mogilny.</p><p>But no matter what Mogilny and his Soviet comrades accomplish in the years to come, they&rsquo;ll never take Nechaev&rsquo;s place in NHL history.</p><p>When the native of Kuibshevka Vostochnaya, Siberia, played for the Los Angeles Kings against the New York Islanders on Oct. 16, 1982, he became the first Soviet-trained player ever in the league.</p><p>Nechaev preceded the Calgary Flames&rsquo; Sergei Priakin by nearly seven years.</p><p>One night after his debut, Nechaev recorded another first, when he scored the only goal of his brief career. Nechaev vaguely remembers taking a pass from Daryl Evans and beating New York Ranger goalie Steve Weeks with a wrist shot from the blue line.</p><p>&ldquo;I was tired like devil,&rdquo; Nechaev recalls. &ldquo;It was my third game in three nights. I played in New Haven (of the American League) and then they picked me up for two games in New York and I felt dead.&rdquo;</p><p>He played only once more in the NHL, but has confidence his countrymen will have more significant impacts.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0007-03629/5809864-1-eng-US/f0007-032.jpg" title="f0007-03" width="712" height="1064"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Victor Nechaev is now part-owner of Russian-American Television in L.A.</b></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;I think they can dominate as soon as they adapt,&rdquo; says Nechaev, now 34 and a part-owner of Russian-American Television in Los Angeles.</p><p>&ldquo;They need to learn English because monkey communication is very difficult. Here, they&rsquo;ll have to learn to take care of themselves. It should be difficult, especially for the guys who have been with the national team 10 to 12 years.&rdquo;</p><p>Nechaev said longtime national team star Viacheslav Fetisov should make the adjustment best of all. Fetisov is a member of the New Jersey Devils. But Nechaev is most excited about the prospect of watching Igor Larionov, a close friend, with the Vancouver Canucks.</p><p>Soon after his history-making goal, Nechaev was assigned to New Haven. He refused to report. The Kings dropped him from their active roster and placed him on their reserve list as an unsigned draft choice. He played one more season&mdash;in Dusseldorf, West Germany&mdash;and then retired.</p><p>Nechaev was not released by the Soviet Ice Hockey Federation to play in the NHL, as was Priakin in March. Nor did he defect, as did Mogilny in May.</p><p>A marginal second-division center, Nechaev only played two years in the Elite League with Leningrad Army. He was allowed to leave the country in 1982 to join his American wife, Cheryl Haigler, whom he married in Moscow in 1980. The couple divorced in 1985.</p><p>&ldquo;I was a pioneer but I was like a blind puppy,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I tell them in Los Angeles, &lsquo;I don&rsquo;t want to play here,&rsquo; and they put me on bench and they make a reputation about me. The next year, some teams were interested, but again (they expected him to) try out. I just gave up. I&rsquo;m too old for this. I&rsquo;m too old to try out.&rdquo;</p><p>The only other Russian-born player to play in the NHL was Johnny Gottselig. He was known as &lsquo;The Mad Russian&rsquo; during his 16 years as a player and four years as coach of the Chicago Blackhawks.</p><p>Gottselig was born in 1904 on the banks of the Black Sea near Odessa, in the Ukraine, and emigrated to Regina with his family a year later.</p><p>The left winger scored 177 goals and 195 assists in 589 career games, from 1928-29 to 1944-45. He won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 1933-34 and 1937-38. He was also publicity director with the Blackhawks from 1948 to 1963.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0007-03

NHL’S FIRST SOVIET LASTED THREE GAMES

<div class="byline">JAY GREENBERG</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-011416/5809895-1-eng-US/f0009-012.jpg" title="f0009-01" width="454" height="630"></div><p>I was laying on a beach in Southern California when I learned we were at war with Sweden.</p><p>&ldquo;Ziegler vows retaliation for broken contracts,&rdquo; said the newspaper headline. The story said NHL president John Ziegler had instructed his clubs to sign any Swede of its choosing, to stop payments to the Swedish hockey federation for currently-signed players, and to immediately execute all deserters.</p><p>&ldquo;Holy Lars Zetterstrom,&rdquo; I said. &ldquo;I never thought it would come to this.&rdquo;</p><p>The Swedes came to us in the early &rsquo;70s as lovers, not fighters. When we broke sticks over their heads, they seemed to like it. The only time they ever really complained was when Al Eagleson fed them chicken for 30 straight nights at the 1987 Canada Cup. Even then they beat the Russians once, which made them okay by us.</p><p>There were complaints by isolationists the Swedes were taking jobs away from skilled North American players like Kim Clackson. But generally, the Swedes have been an inoffensive lot. The only good reason to really hate them is that their girlfriends are better looking than ours.</p><p>Okay, so maybe we always suspected Leif Svensson wasn&rsquo;t here for the love of the game, but, if some of the Swedes were considered mercenary, at least none of them had mver proved hostile.</p><p>I mean, we all have our likes and dislikes, but I never really thought of Lars Molin as a threat to our way of life.</p><p>These Swedes after all, were pioneers. They made the NHL a better league and the world a better place. When they came, long before the Finns, Czechoslovaks, Soviets and Cavallinis, there was something noble about the NHL representing the community of man. Players could make their place in this league, regardless of race, color, nationality, creed, or personal feelings for Tiger Williams.</p><p>With the possible exception of Peter Wallin, the Swedes added skill to our game and made all of us more cognizant of mankind as one. A melting Potvin, so to speak.</p><p>Now it turns out that Miss Liberty has had her arm up because she&rsquo;s calling a delayed penalty. Those Swedes have been shamelessly enticing good Canadian boys like Fredrik Olausson back to distant shores by offering them the opportunity to play where their families live. And now we have to fight to protect what is ours.</p><p>Apparently Ziegler appealed to the International Ice Hockey Federation about the matter. But they weren&rsquo;t any more effective than Sergio Momesso. So as a last resort, not unlike the Penguins using Richard Zemlak, Ziegler has vowed to fight.</p><p>It jolted me from a lazy summer.</p><p>&ldquo;Better get the kids out of the water,&rdquo; I said to my wife. &ldquo;Those Swedes could be coming any minute now.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;Wrong ocean, dear,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Why would they invade over the Pacific?&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t ever turn your back on these guys,&rdquo; I said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve seen the way Ulf Samuelsson plays. Kids, give me your shovels.&rdquo;</p><p>I dug a trench, stuck out my bayonet like Chris Chelios, and scanned the horizon. Within an hour my orders arrived from General Don Cherry: &ldquo;Shoot to kill.&rdquo;</p><p>But by late afternoon, I was burned as badly as the Red Wings on Joe Murphy. I had seen not one lousy stinking Swede. At one point I thought I spotted Kjell Samuelsson off the edge of the pier, but it turned out to be just a big lobster.</p><p>The waves rolled in like they were entering the Nordique zone, washing ashore all kinds of things that Lou Nanne had once traded for, but Roland Eriksson was not among them. And though I continued to smell something as rotten as the eggs in Inge Hammarstrom&rsquo;s pockets, there was little I could do.</p><p>Here I was: a Rambo just itching to fight. I reluctantly came to the conclusion that this is a war we can&rsquo;t win by conventional means. After all, we had learned to trust Mats Naslund as one of our own and yet, during the playoffs, he mysteriously disappeared. This proved he was probably a member of the resistance underground all along.</p><p>These treacherous Swedes have been infiltrating us for almost two decades. They have learned our ways. So, if we&rsquo;re going to win this war, it&rsquo;s not going to be by nuking them with Kevin Maguire. We can&rsquo;t afford to get into a hissing contest with the Swedes because it&rsquo;s obvious they have a lot more s&rsquo;s than we do. We&rsquo;re going to have to play it like the Canadiens do. Wait for the Swedes to make the first move. And then counter-attack.</p><p>The sanctity of a contract is at stake here. This concept, more precious than a Tim Hunter goal, must be preserved.</p><p>So we&rsquo;re going to have to make sacrifices. Such as conserving critical war materials like rubber, just the way the Islanders did when they had scoring opportunities last winter. We also may have to cheerfully endure energy rationing. Michel Goulet, a master at this, will show us how.</p><p>Blackouts, we already know we can handle. We have three of those every year in the playoffs. But we must remain vigilant. Anders Carlsson, after all, is still among us.</p><p>So here&rsquo;s the plan. If Olausson breaks his contract, we arrange for an exchange of prisoners. They give us Olausson. We give them Peter Klima.</p><p>We will then engage a policy of passive resistance. If the Swedes throw big bucks at Kelly Buchberger, we&rsquo;ll just have to let him go. If HakanLoob goes back to Sweden, we&rsquo;ll wait him out. If he doesn&rsquo;t come back, we know sooner or later Bengt Gustafsson will.</p><p>We will win because God is on our side. And if he isn&rsquo;t, Bruce McNall will just buy Sweden.</p><p>See, we have ways of making Tommy Albelin talk.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0009-01

BOYCOTT MEATBALLS—WE’RE AT WAR WITH SWEDEN

<h2><b>WHALERS</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>L</span>eft winger Don Maloney, who had one year remaining on his contract, was bought out by the Whalers for two-thirds of his estimated $300,000 salary. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a free man,&rdquo; said Maloney, who&rsquo;s trying to hook up with the Rangers. Maloney played 10&frac12; seasons in New York, before being traded to Hartford last season as part of the package for <b>Carey Wilson</b>&hellip;<b>Brent Peterson</b>, who finished his 10-year NHL career in Hartford, was named a Whalers&rsquo; assistant coach. GM Eddie Johnston narrowed down his selection for Binghamton coach to <b>Doug McKay</b> and Barry Smith&hellip;<b>Doug McKenney</b>, who resigned in Pittsburgh, has joined the Whalers as strength coach. Although it had yet to be announced, chief scout <b>Bruce Haralson</b> has joined the club. He also resigned in Pittsburgh. <b>Johnston</b> was still waiting to hear if Penguin player development director <b>Ken Schinkel</b> would join him&hellip;<b>Larry Pleau</b>, recently fired as Whaler coach, was approached about becoming coach of New Haven in the American League, and is on the Rangers&rsquo; list for a front-office job in player development, he contract of <b>DaveMcNab</b>, the Whalers&rsquo; director of player evaluation, was not renewed. &ldquo;He had a conflict with (Whalers&rsquo; director of player personnel) <b>Steve Brklacich</b>,&rdquo; Johnston said.</p><h2><b>CANADIENS</b></h2><p>Veteran defenseman <b>Larry Robinson</b> wanted to have his future decided by the end of July. The Canadiens have made Robinson a final offer which is being studied, but Robinson&rsquo;s business partner, <b>Don Cape</b>, will have a say in where Robinson plays next season. &ldquo;As far as the negotiating goes, I have nothing to do with it and that&rsquo;s the way I wanted it,&rdquo; Robinson said&hellip;Former Canadien right winger <b>Chris Nilan</b> expressed a desire to rejoin Montreal before his annual golf tournament in the area. The New York Ranger raised $25,000 for the Montreal Children&rsquo;s Hospital&hellip;Many of the Canadiens participated in a July 19 charity softball tournament in Eagle River, Wise., the hometown of Montreal defenseman <b>Craig Ludwig</b>. There was massive support for the game in the area. The Canadiens went on to Calgary for a charity game against the Flames&hellip;Savard mentioned University of Minnesota left winger <b>Tom Chorske</b> could be a candidate to replace Gainey on the roster. Chorske, who has a year of university eligibility remaining, has been offered a contract by the Canadiens, but wants a better offer. Chorske was a first-round choice by Montreal in the 1985 NHL entry draft-&hellip;There has been a great deal of speculation the Canadiens will be building a new Forum, but plans are far from finished.</p><h2><b>BRUINS</b></h2><p>The Bruins re-signed free-agent center <b>Bobby Carpenter</b> to a one-year contract July 10. Something of a disappointment last season&mdash;he scored only 16 goals in 57 games for the Los Angeles Kings and Bruins&mdash;Carpenter is shooting for 25 to 30 goals next season&hellip;Left winger <b>Nevin Markwart</b>, who missed all of last season with a confounding abdominal injury, will be operated on by Vancouver specialist Dr. <b>Andrew Seal</b>&hellip;The B&rsquo;s now expect defenseman <b>Michael Thelven</b> (right knee surgery in May) to be ready in mid-October&hellip; Boston signed free-agent center <b>Alfie Turcotte,</b> Montreal&rsquo;s first-round pick in 1983 and a Winnipeg Jets&rsquo; spare part the last two seasons.</p><h2><b>SABRES</b></h2><p>Sabre <b>GM Gerry Meehan</b> said former coach <b>Ted Sator</b> had a clause in his contract that prohibited the Sabres from limiting his employment opportunities in the event he was fired. It was that clause which enabled Sator to join the Boston Bruins one day after he settled the remainder of his contract with the Sabres&hellip;<b>John Tortorella</b>. <b>Rick Dudley&rsquo;s</b> assistant with New Haven of the American League, has signed to replace <b>Barry Smith</b> as an assistant coach&hellip;<b>Don Lever</b> has accepted an offer to remain with the Sabres as an assistant coach. Lever had a similar offer to go to Hartford&hellip;TheSabres signed veteran goaltender Clint Malarchuk to a new contract, terms of which were not disclosed.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0009-021007/5809926-1-eng-US/f0009-022.jpg" title="f0009-02" width="542" height="722"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Veteran goalie Clint Malarchuk re-signed with Buffalo.</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>NORDIQUES</b></h2><p>General manager <b>MarcelAubut</b> is gunning for some Soviet reinforcements. National team goalie <b>Sergei Mylnikov</b>, 31, is on top of his list. Aubut hinted things could be finalized before training camp. He recently spent some time with Vladislav Tretiak, who is still influential in the Soviet Union, and is banking on his support..<b>Viacheslav Bykov,</b> 29, and <b>Andrei Khomutov</b>, 28, both national team forwards, could also end up in Quebec&hellip;<b>Alan Haworth</b>, who was rumored returning to the Nordiques after a year of exile in Switzerland, will likely remain in Europe for at least another season.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0009-02

MALONEY FREE TO REJOIN RANGERS

<div class="byline">BY GLENN COLE</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0010-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0010-011495/5809957-1-eng-US/f0010-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Celebrated for his defensive abilities, Bob Gainey won the Selke Trophy the first four years it was presented.</b></figcaption></div><p>After 16 years in the NHL, Montreal Canadiens&rsquo; captain Bob Gainey thought it was time for a career change.</p><p>The 35-year-old left winger, a four-time winner of the Frank Selke Trophy as the NHL&rsquo;s best defensive forward, retired from the Canadiens July 17 to become a player coach with the EpinalEcureuils, a second division team in France. Gainey, the Canadiens&rsquo; captain since 1981-82, said the timing was right for the move.</p><p>&ldquo;Last year I was close to making a move but for different reasons I didn&rsquo;t,&rdquo; said Gainey, who was in the running for the general manager&rsquo;s post with the Minnesota North Stars. After Gainey turned it down, Jack Ferreira got the job.</p><p>&ldquo;There were many reasons that I chose to retire now. After 16 years of one routine, I have a chance to change that routine.&rdquo;</p><p>Gainey, who will leave with his wife and four children for France in mid-August, won&rsquo;t be getting NHL-style money with Epinal. But he will get a house and a car and experience&mdash;which may lead him right back to the NHL as it did Gainey&rsquo;s former teammite, Jacques Lemaire, earlier this decade.</p><p>Gainey spoke to Lemaire about his coaching experience in Sierre, Switz. Lemaire retired after the 1978-79 season and was in Sierre for two seasons. He returned to the Canadiens&rsquo; organization as an assistant to Bob Berry in 1983 and became head coach in January, 1984. Lemaire stepped down after the 1984-85 season. He is now assistant to Canadiens&rsquo; managing director Serge Savard.</p><p>&ldquo;Right now all I have is a two-year deal to coach Epinal,&rdquo; said Gainey. &ldquo;Beyond that, who knows? Who can predict the future?&rdquo;</p><p>Gainey is a smart hockey man. He was an invaluable asset to coach Pat Burns during Bums&rsquo; rookie season behind the Montreal bench this past season, and was a leader in the Montreal dressing room.</p><p>&ldquo;We had a good coach-captain relationship,&rdquo; Bumssaid. &ldquo;Bob never did anything without talking to me about it. Bob is a good guy, who is honest and straightforward. I&rsquo;m going to miss him, there is no doubt about that.&rdquo;</p><p>Gainey played on five Stanley Cup winners and took the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs&rsquo; most valuable player in 1979. His career spanned 1,160 regular-season and 182 playoff games.</p><p>Gainey, a native of Peterborough, Ont., was selected by the Canadiens from the Peterborough Petes eighth overall in the 1973 amateur draft. He collected between 28 and 47 points each of his first 12 seasons. But he was most celebrated for his defensive abilities, taking the Selke in each of the first four years it was presented (1978-81).</p><p>Gainey had particularly kind words for exMontreal coaches Claude Ruel and Toe Blake, in addition to Savard.</p><p>&ldquo;Claude Ruel was my teacher, a motivator, a real friend,&rdquo; said Gainey. Blake, meanwhile, &ldquo;game me much of his time, knowledge and tradition.&rdquo;</p><p>Savard, who sat at Gainey&rsquo;s right during an emotional news conference, called Gainey one of the greatest players to wear a Montreal uniform.</p><p>&ldquo;Every time I sit here to announce a player&rsquo;s retirement, I recall it is not the easiest thing for an athlete to do. The most difficult thing is to retire at the right time.</p><p>&ldquo;If there is one word that I would use to describe Bob Gainey, it would be determination. He devoted 16 years to our club.&rdquo;</p><p>Gainey, who finished his career with 239 goals and 262 assists, lauded the current edition of the Canadiens as one of the best he played with in Montreal.</p><p>&ldquo;We had a close group in &rsquo;70s, but I was in a different position to see it from,&rdquo; Gainey said. &ldquo;They have a good team here now. They have character people who love to play and are willing to sacrifice. It is going to be hard for me to break away from it.&rdquo;</p><p>It was widely speculated Guy Carbonneau will succeed Gainey as captain but Savard said a replacement would be determined by a secret ballot among the players.</p><h2><b>MONTREAL</b></h2><h3><b>TRANSACTIONS</b></h3><p><b>July 14</b>: Ed Christofoli, LW, signed two-year contract.</p><p><b>July 17</b>: Bob Gainey, LW, retired.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0010-01

GAINEY RETIRES TO ACCEPT JOB IN FRANCE

<div class="byline">BY KEVIN JOHNSTON</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0011-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0011-011355/5809988-1-eng-US/f0011-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Guy Lafleur fichts back the tears at his July 14 press conference, as he announces he will again be playing hockey in Quebec.</b></figcaption></div><p>The man they call &lsquo;The Flower&rsquo; hopes to bloom again in Quebec City.</p><p>On July 14, the Quebec Nordiques ended weeks of speculation by signing right winger Guy Lafleur to a one-year contract with an unlimited number of option years. The signing was announced in a packed conference room in the Quebec suburb of SteFoy.</p><p>For Lafleur, elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame less than a year before his 1988-89 comeback with the New York Rangers, the move represents a return to the city where he first showed signs of becoming a hockey superstar.</p><p>As a 16-year-old in 1966-67, he emerged as a hockey sensation playing for the Quebec Aces. In his fourth full season of junior, 1970-71 with the Quebec Remparts, he scored 130 goals and led the team to the Memorial Cup.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m so happy to be back in Quebec,&rdquo; said a teary-eyed Lafleur. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m so happy to have been given the opportunity to end my active career here.&rdquo;</p><p>The deciding factor in Lafleur&rsquo;s decision to come to Quebec was the Nordiques&rsquo; offer to guarantee him at least-two years in their front office once he retires as a player.</p><p>In return, the Nordiques compensated the Rangers with cash plus a draft choice. The draft choice will be a fifth-rounder in 1990 if Lafleur plays fewer than 40 games this coming season, or a fourth-rounder in 1990 or 1991 if he plays more than 40.</p><p>&ldquo;Even if we were negotiating with other teams,&rdquo; said Lafleur, &ldquo;the Nordiques were the ones that really were in my heart.&rdquo;</p><p>The Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks and Rangers were all believed interested in signing Lafleur, who turns 38 on Sept. 20.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s really hard to express in words how I feel today. I&rsquo;m back home,&rdquo; said Lafleur.</p><p>But why would the native of Thurso, Que., leave the Rangers, the team that gave him the chance to make his remarkable comeback?</p><p>&ldquo;Simply because the two men that made my comeback possible are no longer with the team anymore,&rdquo; said Lafleur, referring to new Nordiques&rsquo; coach Michel Bergeron and exgeneral manager Phil Esposito.</p><p>Lafleur said he feels capable of playing two more seasons.</p><p>Nobody was happier about the signing than Nordique co-owner and president Marcel Aubut. Getting Lafleur&rsquo;s signature on a contract was one of his goals for the summer.</p><p>&ldquo;Our young players were getting spoiled in mediocrity,&rdquo; said Aubut. &ldquo;But with Guy Lafleur in the dressing room, you can be sure that things will change.&rdquo;</p><p>Aubut said it was Bergeron who convinced him and general manager Martin Madden they should take a chance on Lafleur.</p><p>&ldquo;You know,&rdquo; Aubut said, &ldquo;there is only one Guy Lafleur. And we are the ones who have him.&rdquo;</p><p>Some members of the Quebec media said Aubut arranged the Lafleur signing, leaving Madden on the outside of negotiations. Aubut denied the charge.</p><p>&ldquo;I spoke to the Rangers&rsquo; owners about certain contractual details, but everything else was Madden&rsquo;s doing,&rdquo; Aubut said.</p><p>Madden was rumored to be at odds with his president over the Lafleur affair. Madden would prefer to go with youth in his attempt to rebuild the Nordiques. Lafleur does not appear to fit into Madden&rsquo;s blueprint.</p><p>But, Madden said he is happy to have Lafleur join the Nordiques.</p><p>&ldquo;If the compensation demands had been too steep, I would have called the whole thing off,&rdquo; said Madden. &ldquo;But we finally agreed on what would be acceptable.</p><p>&ldquo;We need a good liaison between our youngsters and the veterans. And Guy Lafleur is the right person to do the job.&rdquo;</p><p>Bergeron, who orchestrated Lafleur&rsquo;s comeback, said Lafleur immediately makes the Nordiques a better team.</p><p>&ldquo;Guy was a very important part of my team, last year,&rdquo; Bergeron said. &ldquo;And I&rsquo;m convinced he&rsquo;ll be even better on the ice because he&rsquo;ll be a lot more confident.</p><p>&ldquo;Lafleur didn&rsquo;t have a contract when he reported to the Rangers&rsquo; training camp last fall. This time around, he doesn&rsquo;t have to fret about having to make the team.&rdquo;</p><p>Last season, after his three-year abscence from the NHL, Lafleur scored 18 goals and added 27 assists in 67 games. He played mainly on the fourth line and power play. Lafleur has career totals of 536 goals, 757 assists and 1,291 points in 1,028 games&mdash;all but last season&rsquo;s with the Montreal Canadiens.</p><p>Many observers see Lafleur as a marketing tool, but not Bergeron.</p><p>&ldquo;True, his name is a good seller. But I&rsquo;m looking for more than that coming from Guy,&rdquo; he said.</p><p>Since the Lafleur signing, the Nordiques had been selling 100 season tickets a day.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve had trouble handling all the calls,&rdquo; said Andre Lestoumeau, the director of sales and promotions for the club. &ldquo;Normally at this time of year it&rsquo;s a record if we sell 10 season tickets a day.&rdquo;</p><p>So, while the Nordiques will have to wait a couple more months to find out what Lafleur&rsquo;s impact will be on the ice, his impact off the ice has been felt immediately.</p><h2><b>QUEBEC</b></h2><h3><b>TRANSACTIONS</b></h3><p><b>July 14:</b> Guy Lafleur, RW, signed as a free agent from the New York Rangers<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0011-01

THE FLOWER RETURNS TO QUEBEC CITY, SCENE OF PAST GLORIES

<div class="byline">BY STEPHEN HARRIS</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0012-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0012-011457/5810019-1-eng-US/f0012-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Ted Sator brings four seasons of NHL head-coaching experience to his new job as an assistant with the Boston Bruins.</b></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>A</span> major overhaul of the Boston Bruins&rsquo; coaching staff was completed July 12 with a stunning announcement: Former Buffalo Sabre and New York Ranger head coach Ted Sator had signed as an assistant to incoming head man Mike Milbury.</p><p>&ldquo;With the experience and dedication Ted brings, there&rsquo;s no way we can go wrong,&rdquo; said Milbury.</p><p>While watching the Calgary Flames skate to the Stanley Cup title, Bruins&rsquo; general manager Harry Sinden and Milbury were impressed with their coaching system. Assistants Tom Watt and Doug Risebrough took turns behind the bench and in the press box, and passed along information to head coach Terry Crisp.</p><p>The Bruins wanted a second assistant to work with Milbury and Gordie Clark, but couldn&rsquo;t find the right man for the job. Sator became available July 11 after a meeting in Buffalo with Sabre general manager Gerry Meehan. Meehan fired Sator as head coach June 15.</p><p>Sator contacted the Bruins, boarded a flight to Boston, and settled on a two-year pact within hours.</p><p>&ldquo;My first call was to Boston,&rdquo; said Sator, 39. &ldquo;If I&rsquo;d had to make any secondary calls, I wouldn&rsquo;t have been nearly as excited about them. It&rsquo;s like shopping for clothes: If the one you try on first fits perfectly, you don&rsquo;t look any further.</p><p>&ldquo;There wasn&rsquo;t even a decision. This is a team that, for what makes Ted Sator tick, was my first and only choice.&rdquo;</p><p>Though he had two years left on his coaching contract, he was free to sign with any team. He got feelers from several NHL teams and clubs in Europe, but postponed job-hunting until after the amicable, air-clearing meeting with Meehan.</p><p>The Sabres received no compensation from Boston, and it&rsquo;s believed they will pay a portion of Sator&rsquo;s salary the next two years&mdash;even as he seeks ways to beat them.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s no surprise to me he ended up in Boston,&rdquo; said Meehan. &ldquo;Harry Sinden just hired a head coach and an assistant with no NHL coaching experience. Obviously, if I&rsquo;d had the right to approve or disapprove where he went&mdash;which I didn&rsquo;t&mdash;I&rsquo;d have preferred he didn&rsquo;t go to a team in our division.&rdquo;</p><p>Sator declined to discuss either his dismissal or his relationship with Sabre players, some of whom said the Sabres were outcoached by now-retired Bruin coach Terry O&rsquo;Reilly in their first-round playoff series.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll just look back at my experience in Buffalo and say there were more good days than bad,&rdquo; Sator said.</p><p>After coaching five years in Sweden, Sator came to the NHL as a Philadelphia Flyers&rsquo; assistant in 1983. He took over as the Rangers&rsquo; head coach in 1985-86, and they immediately improved from 62 points to 78.</p><p>Fired early the following season, he was quickly hired by the Sabres. In his first full year at the Sabres&rsquo; helm, the club jumped 21 points and made the playoffs after two straight years in the Adams Division cellar.</p><p>Milbury said he envisions a fruitful and comfortable relationship with Sator.</p><p>&ldquo;My philosophy is there has to be one head coach to make the final decision,&rdquo; said Milbury. &ldquo;But that&rsquo;s where it stops. I think the other coaches should be involved in all decisions. It&rsquo;s a team, a coaching team. Just as the players rely on each other, so will the coaches.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>BOSTON</b></h2><h3><b>TRANSACTIONS</b></h3><p><b>July 6</b>: Alfie Turcotte, C, signed as free agent.</p><p><b>July 7:</b> Peter Douris, C/LW, signed as free agent.</p><p><b>July 10</b>: John Blum, D, signed as free agent Bob Carpenter, C, re-signed as free agent to one-year contract.</p><p><b>July 12</b>: Ted Sator signed two-year contract as assistant coach.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0012-01

SATOR ADDS EXPERIENCE TO COACHING STAFF

<div class="byline">BY JIM KELLEY</div><p>Today, the Holiday Twin Rinks in Cheektowaga, N.Y.; tomorrow. Memorial Auditorium.</p><p>Alexandr Mogilny didn&rsquo;t defect from the Soviet Union to join some team named the Llamas, but that&rsquo;s who he&rsquo;s been playing for this summer.</p><p>The new Buffalo Sabre has put in several appearances with the Llamas, a member of the 10-team junior AAA league that draws many of the area&rsquo;s best players during the off-season.</p><p>Mogilny, a right winger, scored 12 goals in his first five games.</p><p>&ldquo;I think the biggest thing we&rsquo;ve seen so far is his tremendous acceleration,&rdquo; said Mark Jagord, the Llamas&rsquo; player-coach. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve never seen a player go from a standing start, or a slow move, up to full speed the way he does. One, two steps and he&rsquo;s gone.</p><p>&ldquo;A couple of us sat around after one of the games and we were talking about what we just saw. You hear so much about the Soviet system and all the training they go through and you can see some of that in him, but there&rsquo;s also a natural ability there&mdash;that quickness and the things he can do with his hands.&rdquo;</p><p>The Llamas, who are tied for first place, are no pushovers. They feature many of the area&rsquo;s best players. Boston Bruins&rsquo; left winger Randy Burridge has played for several seasons, as has Buffalo Sabres&rsquo; defenseman Shawn Anderson. The Llamas&rsquo; lineup also includes Cornell defenseman Tim Vanini and University of Guelph goalie Scott Luce. Even Scott&rsquo;s father Don, director of player personnel with the Sabres, plays occasionally.</p><p>But none have commanded the respect accorded Mogilny. Crowds of about 10 people are the norm at the Sunday morning games but, when people find out Mogilny is playing, more than 100 usually show up.</p><p>Mogilny plays on a line with Peter Ciavaglia of Harvard, the Eastern College Athletic Conference&rsquo;s leading scorer this past season, and Stan Drulia, the all-time career scoring leader in the Ontario League.</p><p>&ldquo;We figure we&rsquo;ve got one of the top international lines in the world,&rdquo; said Jagord. &ldquo;At least we&rsquo;re waiting for someone to top it.&rdquo;</p><p>Ciavaglia is American, Drulia Canadian, Mogilny from the eastern Soviet city of Khabarovsk.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s pretty smooth,&rdquo; said Brian Willison, goalie for the rival Elbow Room team. &ldquo;Right now, everything he does looks as if it&rsquo;s just effortless. I don&rsquo;t think he&rsquo;s even begun to give his all yet.&rdquo;</p><p>Mogilny confirmed as much in a July 20 interview.</p><p>He said ice conditions and unfamiliar equipment kept him from going full out. So did a decision to be careful, very careful, until he attends his first NHL training camp.</p><p>Anderson, who has played with Mogilny on several occasions, acknowledged there are several players in the league who take great delight in running at players like himself or Mogilny.</p><p>&ldquo;Once in awhile it happens, and usually it&rsquo;s just so they can say they hit this guy or that guy, but it&rsquo;s not too bad. You have to just walk away.</p><p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t want to risk everything in a summer-league game so you try to avoid those kinds of plays and the comers. He (Mogilny) hasn&rsquo;t been in any trouble yet.&rdquo;</p><p>But his presence doesn&rsquo;t go unnoticed, even when he doesn&rsquo;t have the puck.</p><p>&ldquo;In the last game we played them, we spent so much time just watching him that their other guys killed us,&rdquo; said John McFall Jr., of Elbow Room. &ldquo;We were down 5-0 after the first period and I don&rsquo;t think he even touched the puck.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>BUFFALO</b></h2><h3><b>TRANSACTIONS</b></h3><p><b>July 18:</b> John Tortorella named assistant coach.</p><p><b>July 19:</b> Clint Malarchuk, G. Steve Smith, D, Scott McCrory, C, Dave Basseggio, D, Mike deCarle, RW, Bob Corkum, RW, signed contracts.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

THIS LLAMA IS NO BEAST OF BURDEN

<div class="byline">BY JEFF JACOBS</div><p>Pat Verbeek went into the Northern Ontario woods as a fisherman. He emerged as a Whaler.</p><p>It just took Verbeek a little time to discover the transformation.</p><p>Minutes after Hartford Whalers&rsquo; general manager Ed Johnston traded enigmatic Sylvain Turgeon to the New Jersey Devils for Verbeek at the June 17 draft, he tried to contact his new right winger.</p><p>Minutes turned to hours. Johnston, finally, got hold of Verbeek&rsquo;s father, who explained Verbeek had gone fishing far into the Canadian bush.</p><p>Verbeek, 25, was at a cabin with no phone.</p><p>From that point, some of the facts started getting twisted.</p><p>In its June 19 editions, the New York <i>Post</i> quoted Verbeek as &ldquo;disappointed but not shocked, because I heard the rumors.&rdquo;</p><p>There&rsquo;s one problem. Verbeek hadn&rsquo;t found out about the trade at that point.</p><p>&ldquo;The <i>Post</i> had a special radio to contact me,&rdquo; Verbeek joked. &ldquo;Actually I&rsquo;m kind of upset they made it up.&rdquo;</p><p>On June 22, Verbeek, his brother-in-law and father-in-law were asked to leave their campsite due to forest fires in the region. The trade&rsquo;s legend grew further.</p><p>Former Whaler captain Mark Johnson, now with the Devils, told others that Verbeek found out about the trade from a forest ranger.</p><p>&ldquo;Actually, it was my 13-year-old sister Rebecca who told me (five days after the trade),&rdquo; Verbeek said. &ldquo;We were 500 miles north of Sault Ste. Marie. They flew us up the last 150 miles. The fishing was great, but we got chased out because of the fires. So I called my parents&rsquo; home.</p><p>&ldquo;Before I went into the bush, I heard rumors about going to Winnipeg for Andrew McBain (since traded to Pittsburgh). That was my first question. My sister answered, &lsquo;No, Hartford.&rsquo; I went, &lsquo;All right!&rsquo; I was happy.&rdquo;</p><p>Many observers around the NHL agree that Johnston did well in his first deal. Much newspaper print and air time has been dedicated to examining the career of Turgeon, 24. It&rsquo;s up to &lsquo;Sly&rsquo; and the Devils now to unlock his talent. Verbeek, who dropped from 46 goals to 26 last year, certainly does not possess Turgeon&rsquo;s speed or grace.</p><p>At 5-foot-9 and 195 pounds, Verbeek is built like a fireplug and has never met a collision he didn&rsquo;t like. He is not a creative genius offensively, but he is an opportunist and has great timing around the net. This makes him effective on the power play.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s the type of player we need, he&rsquo;s like Kevin Dineen (although he does not have the same skating burst),&rdquo; said Whaler coach Rick Ley. &ldquo;But naturally, if the Devils weren&rsquo;t happy with a player of his magnitude there&rsquo;s got to be some minor problem or situation that needs to be corrected.&rdquo;</p><p>After their magical spring of 1988, the NHL was ready for the Devils last season. The Devils and Verbeek weren&rsquo;t ready for the NHL. In past summers, Verbeek worked the farm. Last training camp, Verbeek wasn&rsquo;t as physically or mentally prepared as in previous autumns.</p><p>&ldquo;Obviously, there was a real dropoff of 20 goals,&rdquo; said Verbeek. &ldquo;There was a long, drawn-out contract negotiation before I finally signed. My wife had a baby. We bought a house. It seemed liked I was drained before the season started.</p><p>&ldquo;Teams really keyed on us, too. We couldn&rsquo;t sneak up on people any more. As a team we had to even work harder than the season before to win. We weren&rsquo;t ready for it.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>HARTFORD</b></h2><h3><b>TRANSACTIONS</b></h3><p><b>July 6</b>: Contract of Dave McNab, director of player evaluation, not renewed. Steve Brklacich, director of player personnel. and Leo Boivin, scout, received contract extensions.</p><p><b>July 7:</b> Don Maloney, LW, bought out of last year of contract.</p><p><b>July 18</b>: Chris Govedaris. LW, and Corey Beaulieu, D. signed to multi-year contracts.</p><p><b>July 19:</b> Doug McKenney hired as strength coach.</p><p><b>July 20:</b> Brent Peterson hired as assistant coach.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

TALL TALES FROM ONTARIO BUSH COUNTRY

<div class="byline">STAN FISCHLER</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-011227/5810098-1-eng-US/f0016-012.jpg" title="f0016-01" width="494" height="630"></div><p>Don Cherry is still good for laughs, but hedoesn&rsquo;t come within a thousand guffaws of the reigning king of ice humor, Dennis Hull.</p><p>Hull often uses his often-married brother as astraight man, whether Bobby is in the audienceor not.</p><p>&ldquo;In the past four years,&rdquo; Dennisquips, &ldquo;I&rsquo;vegone to 250 banquets and five of Bobby&rsquo;s wed-dings.&rdquo;</p><p>Nobody escapes the Hull humor harpoon. Shortly after Phil Esposito was fired as NewYork Ranger general manager, Dennis showedup at the Canadian Society of New York&rsquo;s annual hockey dinner.</p><p>&ldquo;We stopped off at a gas station and got somegas,&rdquo; deadpanned Dennis. &ldquo;Phil Esposito wasthere getting his head filled with air.&rdquo;</p><p>Naturally, Wayne Gretzky is included in Hull&rsquo;s repertoire.</p><p>&ldquo;Last summer was a very traumatic experience for Canada, what with the Gretzky wedding,&rdquo; Dennis says. &ldquo;It was sort of like a royalwedding. Everyone made a big deal of it. But inthe Hull family we weren&rsquo;t too impressed. Bobby does it every year.&rdquo;</p><p>How did a relatively average player with a dynamite shot become hockey&rsquo;s most sockoen-tertainer?</p><p>&ldquo;It all happened when I was playing for the Blackhawks along side Bobby, Stan Mikita and Glenn Hall,&rdquo; says Dennis. &ldquo;Our coach, Billy Reay, didn&rsquo;t want any of those stars going to all those banquets so he&rsquo;d always say, &lsquo;Dennis, yougo.&rsquo; At first I was petrified and nervous about the whole thing but the more I did it, the better Igot.</p><p>&ldquo;I learned what people liked to hear and what made them laugh. Believe me, it didn&rsquo;t happen overnight. I talk about things that did happen orthings that could very well have happened.&rdquo;</p><p>Like the classic Team Canada-Soviet series of 1972, in which Dennis played a major part. His straight man in this particular routine is Paul Henderson, who scored the winning goals for Canada in each of the final three games.</p><p>&ldquo;Paul thinks he was placed on this earth simply to score those three goals,&rdquo; chortles Hull. &ldquo;He really does. He became a born-again Christian and he&rsquo;s now a minister in Toronto. Every morning I wake up and thank my lucky stars I didn&rsquo;t score those three goals.&rdquo;</p><p>Naturally, there&rsquo;s room for a Harold Ballardtidbit.</p><p>&ldquo;I went to Ballard&rsquo;s 80th birthday in Toronto. It was just after he&rsquo;d had the triple (heart) bypass. Of course, I had to say the wrong thingat the wrong time. I suggested it was the first hattrick the Leafs had all year.&rdquo;</p><p>There&rsquo;s big money in hockey laughs. Hull earns $2,000 when he headlines a dinner, and received $5,000 for emceeing the 1987 All-Star banquet in Hartford. NHL people love the Hullact because he has total recall of incidents past. He tells one gem about the time his Blackhawkswere playing in Boston. It was 3-2 for Chicagoin the third when Reay whispered in Hull&rsquo;s ear.</p><p>&ldquo;He asked me who No. 18 was,&rdquo; Hull calls. &ldquo;I said (Bruin forward) Eddie Westfall. Billy comes back and shouts, &lsquo;No, on ourteam.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p><p>Reay wasn&rsquo;t too pleased when Hull and his Blackhawk sidekicks, Doug Jarrett and CliffKoroll, carried their humor too far on team flights.</p><p>&ldquo;Billy particularly didn&rsquo;t appreciate the timewe had a mustache contest on the plane, and the winner was a lady from Jersey.&rdquo;</p><p>Last January, Hull was guest speaker at a Montreal celebrity dinner. During one point inthe evening, Hull and baseball star Tim Raines left the washroom together.</p><p>&ldquo;When ball players use the facilities,&rdquo; Raines said, &ldquo;they are taught to wash their hands.&rdquo;</p><p>Hull replied, &ldquo;Hockey players don&rsquo;t pee on their hands.&rdquo;</p><p>Irreverance became a part of Hull&rsquo;s personality. He was one of 11 children, and had to do something to get attention, so he learned to make his mother laugh &ldquo;at any time of the day.&rdquo;</p><p>He didn&rsquo;t make his NHL opponents laugh, however. The Hull shot was one of the scariestin the league; at least as hard as his brother&rsquo;s.</p><p>&ldquo;Our goaltender in Chicago was Glenn Hall, one of the greatest of them all,&rdquo; Hull said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;sa legend now that Glenn would throw up before lots of games. One day I said to him, &lsquo;Do you getsick like that before every game?&rsquo; And he said,&rsquo;I never got sick before you joined our team.&rdquo;</p><p>If you didn&rsquo;t know better, you might think Bobby would get tired of being the brunt of Dennis&rsquo; jokes, but that&rsquo;s not the case. The two often work as an after-dinner duet.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ll be working together,&rdquo; Dennis explains, &ldquo;and if I miss a good Bobby Hull line, my brother will pull on my leg and remind me totell that one. People think he gets upset with the wife jokes but it&rsquo;s just the opposite.</p><p>&ldquo;He especially likes the one I tell about his most recent marriage: &lsquo;Bobby thought she was his girl forever but a lot of people at the wedding didn&rsquo;t think so. They threw Minute Rice.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p><p>When he&rsquo;s not making jokes, Dennis is director of development at the Illinois Institute of Technology, and has a Chrysler dealership insouthern Ontario.</p><p>Dennis almost averages a speaking engagement a week over the year and never employs obscenities to get a laugh.</p><p>&ldquo;If you have to use four-letter words,&rdquo; heexplains, &ldquo;it means you&rsquo;re not prepared, you&rsquo;relooking for shock value and there&rsquo;s always someone who&rsquo;s going to be offended. I did abanquet for clergy members and said to them, &lsquo;You must have a problem with ring-around-the-collar.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p><p>Dennis is so good he once upstaged JoanRivers at an NHL all-star banquet in Chicago Hull went on before Rivers and knocked &lsquo;em-dead. &ldquo;Who the hell was that?&rdquo; asked Rivers. &ldquo;Later,&rdquo; Dennis remembered, &ldquo;she said she would never appear with me again. I said, &lsquo;Joan, you&rsquo;re probably right.&rsquo;&rdquo;<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0016-01

DENNIS HUL NOW DELIVERS HIS SHOTS AS FUNNYMAN

<h2><b>RANGERS</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Rangers announced July 20 they have signed a one-year working agreement with Flint of the International League. The Rangers will supply all the players and coaching staff for the Spirits. A coach has yet to be named for the team. Denver was the Rangers&rsquo; affiliate last year, but the Colorado club filed for bankruptcy and is out of the IHL&hellip;General manager Neil Smith had to respond to a negative reception from Ranger Hall-of-Famer Eddie Giacomin. An assistant coach under Michel Bergeron, Giacominapplied for the GM position. &ldquo;I really, firmly believe we should have stayed within the organization,&rdquo; Giacomin said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s really disappointing that we have to go to Detroit to find a guy.&rdquo; Giacomin anticipated he would not be rehired when his contract expires July 31. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t see any place for me. I really don&rsquo;t. I may be cutting my grass but I&rsquo;m just telling the truth.&rdquo; Smith said, &ldquo;I guess everybody is entitled to their opinion.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>CAPITALS</b></h2><p>When left winger Lou Franceschetti was traded to Toronto June 30, it completed an extensive overhaul of the Capitals&rsquo; seniority list. Franceschetti, drafted in the fourth round in 1978, had been in the Washington organization for 11 years, longer than any other player. Right winger Mike Gartner, traded to Minnesota in March, and center Bengt Gustafsson, who will play in Sweden next season, had been with the Capitals since the start of the 1979-80 season. The senior man now is right winger Bob Gould, obtained from Calgary Nov. 25, 1981.</p><h2><b>ISLANERS</b></h2><p>Assistant coach <b>Rick Wilson,</b> who had agreed to a one-year contract, left the team by mutual agreement to accept a job as assistant to coach Tom Webster in Los Angeles. &ldquo;It was a very difficult decision,&rdquo; Wilson said. &ldquo;But I had to think of my family&rsquo;s security first.&rdquo; The Isles were expected to replace Wilson in August, after coach <b>Al Arbour</b> returned from a Florida vacation&hellip;Changes at the top: President and <b>GM Bill Torrey</b> was elected chairman of the board, replacing owner <b>John Pickett,</b> who remains chairman of the board&rsquo;s executive committee. <b>Jack Krumpe</b> is the new president while Torrey will stay on as general manager.</p><h2><b>DEVILS</b></h2><p>While <b>Viacheslav Fetisov</b> has said he would never again play for Soviet national coach <b>Victor Tikhonov</b>, he and <b>Sergei Starikov</b> could still play for the Soviet national team. &ldquo;We have no ties or responsibilities to teams in the Soviet Union,&rdquo; said Fetisov, &ldquo;but if the Devils are out of the playoffs we could possibly play for the Soviet national team the same way any American or Canadian player would play for their national team.&rdquo;&hellip; Coach Jim Schoenfeld said he is not worried about the presence of new assistant John Cunniff, who would be a logical choice to replace him if the Devils falter. &ldquo;I feel very secure,&rdquo; Schoenfeld said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t even worry about it one way or another. Getting John Cunniff was a boon to me, really. John has a very innovative approach to the game and comes at it with a different perspective than I do.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>PENGUINS</b></h2><p><b>Bruce Haralson</b>, the Penguins&rsquo; head scout for the past year, resigned and assumed a similar position with the Hartford Whalers&hellip;<b>Doug McKenney</b> quit after four years as conditioning coach, citing philosophical differences with coach <b>Gene Ubriaco</b>. &ldquo;You need a coach who supports your program entirely,&rdquo; said McKenney, who followed former <b>GM Eddie Johnston</b> to Hartford.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0016-02972/5810129-1-eng-US/f0016-022.jpg" title="f0016-02" width="558" height="622"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>The Pens have offered a two-year contract to Gene Ubriaco.</b></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;What it boils down to is he&rsquo;s from the old school and he wasn&rsquo;t willing to make a commitment to learning and understanding what the players and I already know.&rdquo;&hellip;Civic Arena officials expect to sell 10,000 full season tickets and 5,000 27-game plans, despite a recent $3 across-the-board increase in ticket prices&hellip;General manager <b>Tony Esposito</b> offered Ubriaco a two-year contract to replace the one that had one season left.</p><h2><b>FLYERS</b></h2><p>Flyers&rsquo; left winger <b>Craig Berube</b> is spending the summer at home in Calihoo, Alta., where he is a star pitcher in a fastball league. Berube is among the top hurlers in the province&hellip;Veteran center <b>Mike Bullard</b> has heeded the warning that he has to be in better shape for the upcoming season. General manager <b>Bob Clarke</b> says Bullard has responded well to the Flyers&rsquo; request, and has spent the summer working out&hellip;Two of the bigger stories in Philadelphia this summer have been the Philadelphia 76ers&rsquo; threat to leave the Spectrum for a proposed new facility in Camden, N.J., and the closing of JFK Stadium, which is across from the Spectrum. The upshot of the whole scenario might be the building of The Spectrum II, a facility which would be home to both the Flyers and Sixers.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0016-02

NEW FARM TEAM FOR RANGERS

<div class="byline">BY WALT MacPEEK</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0017-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0017-011075/5810160-1-eng-US/f0017-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>New York Rangers&rsquo; president Richard Evans, left, and executive vice president Jack Diller, right, welcome Neil Smith to the team.</b></figcaption></div><p>It was appropriate Neil Smith&rsquo;s first news conference as general manager of the New York Rangers was held beside a boxing ring.</p><p>Because rebuilding the Rangers will likely provide him with a formidable battle. Like the Ranger organization he inherited when he was named to the post July 17, Madison Square Garden is undergoing major reconstruction and renovation.</p><p>For that reason, Smith&rsquo;s introduction to the media was held inside four walls of blue curtains next to a boxing ring instead of the more posh Hall of Fame Lounge.</p><p>Terms of the contract were not announced, but he is believed to have signed a four-year contract, beginning at about $200,000 per season. He was also named vice president of the team.</p><p>Smith, 35, spent most of his first day on the job answering questions about whether he was actually a second or third choice behind two of hockey&rsquo;s higher-profile executives, Scott Bowman and Herb Brooks.</p><p>Jack Diller, executive vice president of the Madison Square Garden Sports Group, confirmed reports Bowman turned down a chance to become interim GM&mdash;and Smith&rsquo;s mentor for two years. He also said Brooks was contacted, for at least a fifth time, as late as July 14.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not perceiving myself as the second or third choice,&rdquo; said Smith, who left his post as director of scouting with the Detroit Red Wings. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m perceiving myself as the first choice and, if the players perceive me as anything else other than the first choice, all I can do is to be myself and do the best job I can&mdash;and that should rectify it.&rdquo;</p><p>Smith, who was also general manager of the Red Wings&rsquo; American League affiliate in Detroit, showed considerable poise in answering repeated questions about whether he was a compromise choice.</p><p>&ldquo;First of all, it&rsquo;s not a problem with me, personally. It hasn&rsquo;t hurt my pride,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know that I went from being the No. I guy, to being the No. 2 guy, to being the No. 0 guy and then back to being the No. 1 guy.</p><p>&ldquo;And if I did follow that route in the mind of Jack Diller, it doesn&rsquo;t bother me because, in the end, I am the GM.&rdquo;</p><p>A former standout defenseman with Western Michigan University, Smith was a 12th-round choice of the New York Islanders in 1974. He played two seasons in the International League, with Kalamazoo and Dayton. Hired by the Islanders as a part-time advance scout in 1980-81, he earned a position as full-time scout the next season.</p><p>Smith followed Jimmy Devellano to Detroit when Devellano resigned as the Islanders&rsquo; assistant GM in 1982 to become GM of the Red Wings.</p><p>Smith said he had about 10 candidates in mind for the head coaching job. When the names Brooks and Bob Johnson were brought up, he quickly said men of that caliber automatically become candidates the minute they express interest.</p><p>On the other hand, Smith said he would not fall into the trap of selecting the most popular or well-known candidate.</p><p>&ldquo;I certainly am not going to hire a coach because his name is such-and-such, and because this will lend to the marquee value, as it has been called around here,&rdquo; said Smith. &ldquo;I think that is the exact thing I&rsquo;m trying not to do with this whole organization.&rdquo;</p><p>The signing did not cost the Rangers the fifth-round draft choice Devellano originally demanded. The Red Wings did, however, cause some last-minute worries for Diller and the Rangers.</p><p>&ldquo;We received a FAX from Detroit on Thursday (July 13) saying that we no longer had permission to talk to Neil,&rdquo; Diller said. &ldquo;We were concerned about being fined or losing a draft choice, so we immediately broke off any contact with him and waited for the league to look into the matter.</p><p>&ldquo;During that period, we weren&rsquo;t sure what would happen and so I did make some inquiries as a backup. Then the league came back to us and said that we had acted properly and that Detroit had no claim (for compensation).&rdquo;</p><p>Diller said he simply had discussions with Brooks while Brooks maintained he was offered the job. Brooks reportedly wanted to be head coach and director of player personnel.</p><p>&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s just say that I had discussions with Herb,&rdquo; said Diller. &ldquo;But the guy we identified as the GM we wanted is the one we got.&rdquo;</p><p>Meanwhile, Bowman was brutally honest in his reasons for turning down the interim GM&rsquo;s post.</p><p>&ldquo;The Rangers need a complete overhaul,&rdquo; Bowman said. &ldquo;They need a chief scout and a new scouting staff. They need a high-level assistant, a whole new farm system and people to run it. There are maybe three guys there you would want to keep.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;I respect Scotty Bowman&rsquo;s opinion,&rdquo; said Smith, &ldquo;but I think we have quite a few good players and quite a few good people in this organization.&rdquo;</p><p>But he did agree the Rangers have their fair share of work ahead of them and he promised no quick fix.</p><p>&ldquo;I think for the Rangers to become a serious contender is going to take, to be quite frank, a couple of years,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s hard to zero in closer than that; it will depend on an astute selection of a coach, most importantly.</p><p>&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t say that I have a definite one-year, two-year, four-year or 10year plan. I have a plan to raise the organizational level of the Rangers up to that of the more highly-respected organizations in the NHL.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>N.Y. RANGERS</b></h2><h3><b>TRANSACTIONS</b></h3><p><b>July 17:</b> Neil Smith named general manager and vice president.</p><p><b>July 20:</b> Announced one-year agreement to affiliate with Flint Spirits (IHL).<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0017-01

SMITH PROMISES NO QUICK FIX FOR RANGERS

<div class="byline">BY DAVE MOLINARI</div><p>Eddie Johnston has been gone from Pittsburgh for several months, but his imprint will remain on the Penguins for years to come.</p><p>He was, after all, the general manager who acquired Mario Lemieux, Paul Coffey, ZarleyZalapski, Rob Brown and other high-profile players for the Penguins.</p><p>But nearly 16 months have passed since Johnston, now GM of the Hartford Whalers, was demoted from his position as GM in Pittsburgh. Since then, the team has begun to take on the indelible stamp of his successor, Tony Esposito.</p><p>Almost every facet of the operation, from playing personnel to the scouting staff, has been revamped since Esposito took over.</p><p>&ldquo;Eddie&rsquo;s a good hockey man,&rdquo; Esposito said. &ldquo;He knows his business. There&rsquo;s nothing wrong with the way he did his thing. I just do it a little differently.&rdquo;</p><p>Esposito made only a few changes early in his tenure&mdash;most notably firing Pierre Creamer as coach&mdash;but has proven willing to get rid of people whose performance does not satisfy him. Others&mdash;including head scout Bruce Haralson and conditioning coach Doug McKenney&mdash;have left the organization even though Esposito asked them to stay.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0018-011121/5810191-1-eng-US/f0018-012.jpg" title="f0018-01" width="554" height="654"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>New Pen Jim Kyte epitomizes the team&rsquo;s emphasis on size.</b></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t believe in rushing, when it comes to people,&rdquo; Esposito said. &ldquo;What you do is make the changes necessary as the time comes along. People have a tendency to weed themselves out.&rdquo;</p><p>The most obvious changes have been in the Penguins&rsquo; lineup. Some of the players Esposito has traded for include Tom Barrasso, Andrew McBain and Jim Kyte. He has dealt away Doug Bodger, Randy Cunneyworth. Darrin Shannon and promising young goalie Rick Tabaracci.</p><p>&ldquo;The one thing I really wanted to get away from was the smallness,&rdquo; Esposito said. &ldquo;We were a small hockey team when I came in and I really didn&rsquo;t like to see that.&rdquo;</p><p>The addition of Kyte (6-foot-5, 205 pounds) and Gilbert Delorme, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound free agent from Detroit, means the Penguins will be a larger team next season, but they still will be an offense-oriented one. Esposito said he sees no point in reining in thoroughbreds Lemieux and Coffey.</p><p>&ldquo;You have to run it with what you have,&rdquo; Esposito said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think we&rsquo;d be effective playing the Montreal Canadiens&rsquo; style. Everybody says, &lsquo;You give up three and four and five,&rsquo; but we also score six and seven. I don&rsquo;t think we&rsquo;re going to win too many 2-1 hockey games.&rdquo;</p><p>But he does expect the Penguins to win often next year. With 87 points, they finished second in the Patrick Division and sixth overall last season.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to get over the 90-point mark now,&rdquo; Esposito said. &ldquo;If you get to 93 or 94, you&rsquo;ll be sitting third in the league in points, maybe. Then if we hit it on all cylinders&hellip;you never know.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>PITTSBURGH</b></h2><h3><b>TRANSACTIONS</b></h3><p><b>June 21</b>: Doug McKenney, conditioning coach, resigned.</p><p><b>June 26</b>: Bruce Haralson, head scout, resigned.</p><p><b>June 27:</b> Troy Loney, LW, Phil Bourque. LW, and Gord Dineen. D, signed multi-year contracts.</p><p><b>June 30:</b> Wendell Young, G, and Jay Caufield, RW. signed multi-year contracts.</p><p><b>July 14:</b> Tom Barrasso, G, signed multi-year contract.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0018-01

ESPOSITO HAS PENGUINS THINKING BIG

<div class="byline">BY BARRY MEISEL</div><p class="dropcap"><span>W</span>hen Al Arbour replaced Terry Simpson as New York Islanders&rsquo; coach Dec.7, 1988, he had no idea how long his &ldquo;interim&rdquo; stint would last.</p><p>&ldquo;It could be six days, six months or six years,&rdquo; he said at the time.</p><p>But general manager Bill Torrey knew. The night he asked Arbour to coach again after more than two years away from the bench was the day the Isles began building for the 1990s.</p><p>Torrey wanted everyone to believe Arbour answered an emergency by agreeing to replace the fired Simpson, but deep down the GM knew Arbour wasn&rsquo;t coming back for six days or six months.</p><p>&ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t have offered him the job unless I felt there was a good chance he&rsquo;d come back,&rdquo; Torrey admitted at the June 26 press conference in which Arbour&rsquo;s new two-year deal was announced. &ldquo;I sensed that he missed it, or he realized that there wasn&rsquo;t anything he does better than coaching. Some people want to be tap dancers. He&rsquo;s a coach. He just had to decide if he wanted to carve two or three or four more years out of his life.&rdquo;</p><p>Torrey must have known his old buddy and coach from Stanley Cups past would be educed by the Islanders&rsquo; kids, lured by the challenge of rebuilding a last-place team into a contender, just as Arbour was in 1973.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a crazy business, let&rsquo;s face it,&rdquo; Arbour said.</p><p>So why return at all?</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m crazy.&rdquo;</p><p>Jokingly reminded that he set an unfair trap last winter when he told Arbour&rdquo;either you or I are going behind the bench in New Jersey (the Isles&rsquo; first game after the Simpson firing), Torrey&rsquo;s face grew red and he stifled a sardonic smile.</p><p>&ldquo;No comment,&rdquo; Torrey said, grinning.</p><p>When Arbour retired after the 1985-86 season, he truly thought he&rsquo;d never coach again. As vice president of player development he got to scout, watch the organization&rsquo;s younger players develop, and play golf (not necessarily in that order).</p><p>He lost 12 pounds, added a tan, quit smoking, spent more time with his wife Claire and took greater advantage of his Florida condominium.</p><p>&ldquo;I had a good time. A cushy job,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But once I got involved, I started to realize how much I really missed it.&rdquo;</p><p>Arbour turns 57 on Nov. 1. He&rsquo;s the second-oldest NHL coach. His old friend, Toronto&rsquo;s George Armstrong, is 59. But Arbour&rsquo;s still not smoking. He hasn&rsquo;t gained any of the weight he lost. And he works out now, something he never did when he coached from 1970 to 1986.</p><p>&ldquo;I feel great,&rdquo; he said.</p><p>So if it isn&rsquo;t six days or six months, will it be six years? A New York source said that the contract, which Torrey said was for at least two years, actually includes a third year at Arbour&rsquo;s option at a salary between $300,000 and $400,000.</p><p>Arbour chuckled at the thought of being around in 1993-94. He probably has no idea how long he&rsquo;ll remain.</p><p>But Torrey probably does.</p><h2><b>N.Y. ISLES</b></h2><h3><b>TRANSACTIONS</b></h3><p><b>June 26</b>: Al Arbour, coach, signed two-year contract.</p><p><b>July 14</b>: Rick Wilson, assistant coach, announced he would not return for the 1989-90 season. Bill Torrey, general manager, elected chairman of the board, replacing owner John Pickett, who remains chairman of the board&rsquo;s executive committee. Jack Krumpe named president, replacing Torrey.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

ARBOUR SIGNS FOR TWO MORE YEARS

<div class="byline">BY RICH CHERE</div><p class="dropcap"><span>H</span>e was a New Jersey Devil for only two seasons, but Bob Sauve clearly left his mark on the organization before a chronic back problem forced him to retire after a 12-year NHL career.</p><p>The veteran goaltender, limited to just 15 games last season because of a herniated disc that has bothered him the past eight years, announced his retirement July 13 at the age of 34. He will remain in the Devils&rsquo; organization as a special assignment scout and goalie consultant. He&rsquo;ll also serve as president of the newly-formed Devils&rsquo; Alumni Association.</p><p>&ldquo;Everybody knows I have a bad back,&rdquo; said Sauve, &ldquo;but really it was my performance last year that did it. I didn&rsquo;t feel I was doing what I should for the team. I didn&rsquo;t feel it was honest of me to keep going, so now I feel it&rsquo;s time to move along and let someone else in.&rdquo;</p><p>Sauve compiled a 4-5-1 record this past season, but had a disappointing 4.67 goals-against average and .831 save percentage.</p><p>Devils&rsquo; general manager Lou Lamoriello has already begun looking for an experienced backup to Sean Burke, but said Chris Terreri and Craig&rsquo; Billington would be given an opportunity to win the job in training camp. Both played with the Devils&rsquo; American League affiliate in Utica last season.</p><p>For one season (1987-88) Sauve was the perfect backup. The Devils signed him as a free agent on July 9, 1987. He had been cut loose by the Chicago Blackhawks. After sharing duties with Alain Chevrier for most of the season, Sauve assumed the role as Burke&rsquo;s mentor and backup when the rookie arrived from the Canadian Olympic team in March of 1988.</p><p>It was Sauve who made the dramatic sudden-death overtime save on a breakaway by Ken Priestlay of the Sabres in Buffalo on March 25, 1988. The stop preserved a 2-2 tie, without which the Devils would not have qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs.</p><p>Sauve&rsquo;s friendship with Burke grew, and the native of St. Genevieve, Que., had the right formula for keeping the pressure off the 20-year-old Burke. One example of that came late in game six of the 1988 Wales Conference finals against the Boston Bruins.</p><p>Sauve took a Big Bird doll which had been tossed onto the ice, tied a skate lace around its neck, and dangled it over the boards. Burke&rsquo;s laughter broke the tension, he won the game 6-3, and nearly carried the Devils to the Stanley Cup finals.</p><p>In a lengthy career with the Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Blackhawks and Devils, Sauve posted a lifetime 3.48 GAA and 182-154-54 record, tying Gilles Gilbert for 37th on the all-time victory list. Sauve ranks 35th with 420 games.</p><p>He was 15-16 (3.08 GAA) as a playoff goalie, including two victories for the Devils in &rsquo;88.</p><p>&ldquo;That was the second-biggest highlight of my career,&rdquo; said Sauve. &ldquo;The first was in &rsquo;83 because we (the Sabres) got a couple of shutouts in the playoffs in Montreal in my own backyard. That&rsquo;s got to rank No. 1.</p><p>&ldquo;But &rsquo;88 was close, even though I didn&rsquo;t play much at the end because Burkie was in there. It was just awesome to see the team coming out of so many tough seasons and then coming together. It was like a big movie. I remember Chicago (the regularseason finale) when I saw (John MacLean&rsquo;s overtime) goal go in there, I couldn&rsquo;t believe it. In the dressing room after that it was like we won the Stanley Cup.&rdquo;</p><p>He never did play on a Cup winner, although he shared goaltending awards with Don Edwards in 1979-80 (Vezina) and Tom Barrasso in 1984-85 (Jennings).</p><p>&ldquo;I can live very well with my back now,&rdquo; Sauve explained. &ldquo;I can play golf. But as a player, it&rsquo;s a different ball game.</p><h2><b>NEW JERSEY</b></h2><h3><b>TRANSACTIONS</b></h3><p><b>June 26</b>: Viacheslav Fetisov, D, and Sergei Starikov, D, signed to three-year contracts.</p><p><b>July 13:</b> Bob Sauve, G, and Murray Brumwell, D, retired, Anders Carlsson, C. announced he will play this season for Brynas (Swedish Elite League).<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

BURKE’S MENTOR SAUVE CALLS IT QUITS

<div class="byline">BY AL MORGANTI</div><div class="image-hero"><img title="f0020-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0020-01916/5810270-1-eng-US/f0020-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Ron Hextall&rsquo;s job may be secure, but the Flyers are overflowing with goalies, one of whom will probably be dealt</b></figcaption></div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he Philadelphia Flyers&rsquo; training camp is just over a month away and the team has enough quality goaltenders with NHL experience to stock two teams.</p><p>For that matter, the Flyers are overflowing with bodies at several positions, a situation which will need rectifying before the NHL waiver draft Oct. 2. Unless some moves are made, the club is destined to lose a quality player or two in the pre-season waiver draft.</p><p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think we&rsquo;ve got a real big problem,&rdquo; said Flyers&rsquo; general manager Bob Clarke, &ldquo;but I would agree that there are likely to be a couple of moves. But you just can&rsquo;t predict anything, because so many things could happen between now and training camp.&rdquo;</p><p>The Flyers made a number of additions to their roster last season, picking up veterans Keith Acton, Moe Mantha, Doug Sulliman and Al Secord. As a result, they have at least 20 players they would like to protect, while NHL bylaws allow a club to protect only 18 skaters in the waiver draft. Skaters with more than two years of professional experience and goaltenders with more than three years in the league need to be protected. A team can lose only one of its goalies.</p><p>For the Flyers, the main concern is what they&rsquo;ll do about their overabundance of goaltenders now that the team has signed ex-Washington goalie Pete Peeters as a free agent.</p><p>In addition to Peeters, the Flyers have three goalies who must be protected, or they could be lost in the waiver draft. The No. 1 netminder is Ron Hextail, whose job is safe despite trade rumors which persisted throughout the summer. Behind him is Ken Wregget, who was acquired March 6 from the Toronto Maple Leafs for two first-round draft picks. The other goalie on the roster is Mark LaForest.</p><p>The Flyers&rsquo; June 30 signing of free-agent goalie Bruce Hoffort, who was 27-10-5 with a 2.71 goals-against average last season with Lake Superior State, would appear to indicate LaForest is headed elsewhere. However, the bigger question involves Wregget and Peeters.</p><p>Considering the decision to sign Peeters, the obvious scenario would be for the Flyers to trade Wregget. Wregget&rsquo;s trade value increased after he defeated Pittsburgh in Game 7 of the Patrick Division final when he replaced an injured Hextali.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had a lot of calls about our goalie situation,&rdquo; said Clarke. &ldquo;Right now, it&rsquo;s just a matter of having a lot of conversations with other general managers. There is nothing solid in the works. We&rsquo;re just listening.&rdquo;</p><p>With all the attention focused on the crowd in goal, it&rsquo;s easy to forget there is a crowd of veterans all over the ice.</p><p>The team has already told Secord it won&rsquo;t be protecting him in the waiver draft. He is a free agent without compensation and will try to work out a deal with another team.</p><p>The Flyers have 22 skaters they would like to protect in the waiver draft, a number which includes promising minor-league right winger Brian Dobbin. Twenty-one year-old defenseman Kerry Huffman, who made a strong impression as a rookie in &rsquo;8788, is another player the Flyers want to protect. He spent much of last season in Hershey of the American League when rookies Gord Murphy and Jeff Chychrun came up and played bigger roles than expected.</p><p>However, even with Murphy and Chychrun, the Flyers don&rsquo;t want to risk losing young players such as Huffman for nothing more than a lump of cash in the waiver draft.</p><p>The Flyers faced a similar situation last fall when they had too many goalies to protect. Eventually, the situation was resolved when Wendell Young was dealt with a seventh-round draft choice to Pittsburgh for a third-round pick.</p><p>This year, with the Flyers having that problem all over the ice, the team has little choice but to make some moves before the end of training camp.</p><h2><b>PHILADELPHIA</b></h2><h3><b>TRANSACTIONS</b></h3><p><b>June 30:</b> Bruce Hoffort, G, signed as a free agent.</p><p><b>July 12:</b> Kevin McCarthy named coach of Hershey (AHL). Al Hill named assistant coach at Hershey.</p><p><b>July 18:</b> Announced a working agreement with the Fort Wayne Komets (IHL).<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0020-01

FLYERS MUST DEAL BEFORE WAIVER DRAFT

<div class="byline">BY BOB FACHET</div><p class="dropcap"><span>T</span>he great European tour has become about as confusing for the Washington Capitals as it has for the fans who planned September vacations with the team.</p><p>The itinerary that was to be finalized in December was still uncertain with the start of the trip less than six weeks away.</p><p>The Capitals, at one point tentatively scheduled to spend eight days in Czechoslovakia before visiting the Soviet Union, learned in June they were destined for Sweden instead.</p><p>And there was an interesting twist; they would train in Karlstad, home base for ex-Capital star Bengt Gustafsson&rsquo;s Farjestads club.</p><p>But the NHL&rsquo;s dispute with the Swedish federation over Fredrik Olausson, another Farjestads signee, was jeopardizing that plan. The playing rights of Olausson, under contract to the Winnipeg Jets when he signed with the Swedish club, are in dispute. (For <i>more, see Digest on page 5.)</i></p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0021-01688/5810301-1-eng-US/f0021-012.jpg" title="f0021-01" width="562" height="678"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Bengt Gustafsson hoped to meet his ex-mates.</b></figcaption></div><p>General manager David Poile indicated if a settlement was not reached soon, the Capitals probably would join the other touring NHL team, the Calgary Flames, in Czechoslovakia.</p><p>That, of course, would norce a complete revision of travel plans, since seats had been reserved on commercial flights from Newark to Stockholm, Stockholm to Karlstad and return, and Stockholm to Moscow.</p><p>Gustafsson, reached in Sweden by the Washington <i>Times,</i> said the Capitals were still expected as September visitors. However, Poile said, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m perceiving (the Olausson dispute) to be a potential problem. We have to get some answers soon.&rdquo;</p><p>At least the Soviet portion of the trip was confirmed at a press conference in Moscow July 19. The Capitals will play two games in Moscow, against Spartak Sept. 15 and Moscow Dynamo Sept. 17. They face Dynamo Riga in the Latvian city Sept. 19 and close the tour against SKA in Leningrad Sept. 21.</p><p>The game against Moscow Dynamo will be televised live by SportsChannel, with the Spartak and SKA matches shown on tape delay.</p><p>The players&rsquo; wives, club officials and paying fans will join the team in Moscow, taking a charter flight. Thereafter, they will travel with the Capitals and return with them Sept. 22.</p><p>When the trip was first announced, fans were told the approximate package, as determined by a local travel agency, would cost $1,800. By early April, 555 fans had submitted $100 refundable deposits.</p><p>However, when the NHL and Soviet agency In-tourist finally produced the &ldquo;official&rdquo; package, the figure was $3,490. Only 80 fans chose to travel at that price and many others expressed displeasure with the escalation of costs.</p><p>Jack Skloff, president of Dimensions Travel in Bethesda, said he could have produced the package for the original figure if he had been given the go-ahead before hotels became full and planes committed.</p><p>&ldquo;This should have been wrapped up with a ribbon tied on it in March,&rdquo; Skloff said. &ldquo;The Capitals have sincerely tried to get the NHL and the Players&rsquo; Association to put together an affordable trip for their fans.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>WASHINGTON</b></h2><h3><b>TRANSACTIONS</b></h3><p><b>June 27:</b> Dennis Smith, D, signed as free agent.</p><p><b>June 30:</b> Lou Franceschetti, LW, traded to Toronto for sixth-round choice in 1990 entry draft.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0021-01

RED TAPE TANGLES PLANS FOR TOUR OF EUROPE

<div class="byline">ERIC DUHATSCHEK</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-01803/5810339-1-eng-US/f0022-012.jpg" title="f0022-01" width="538" height="622"></div><p><b>News:</b> Calgary Flames sign Sergei Makarov to a three-year contract.</p><p><b>Views:</b> The rich get richer and the poor just keep trading for Lou Franceschetti.</p><p>Not only do the Flames get the best Soviet player, they also are the easiest team in the NHL for a Russian player to join. The expectations placed on Igor Larionov (to bolster the Vancouver Canucks&rsquo; popgun attack) and Viacheslav Fetisov (to anchor the New Jersey Devils&rsquo; leaky defense) will be high, maybe too high.</p><p>By contrast, Makarov joins a team that won the Stanley Cup without him, thus minimizing the pressure to produce too much too fast. In Calgary, he can become another piece of the puzzle, not the whole jigsaw.</p><p>Logically, the Flames will install Makarov in Hakan Loob&rsquo;s spot alongside high-scoring Joe Nieu wendyk. But there may be a temptation to pair him with pint-sized Thereon Fleury, because of Fleury&rsquo;s resemblance to Larionov, Makarov&rsquo;s ex-center. Both are small with good wheels and great hockey instincts. Together, the two would provide a frontal assault on the theory that there&rsquo;s no place for the little man in today&rsquo;s game.</p><p><b>News:</b> The Devils acquire Sylvain Turgmon and Walt Poddubny in separate deals during the entry draft weekend.</p><p><b>Views:</b> Turgeon and Poddubny, two players who possess above-average skills, but below-average reputations, both needed and will benefit from changes in scenery. Turgeon was accused of being a malingerer in Hartford and Poddubny has a poor relationship with new Quebec coach Michel Bergeron.</p><p>The revamped Devils represent a real mystery team right now. The additions of Fetisov, Sergei Starikov and Reijo Ruotsalainen heighten the skill level of the Devils&rsquo; defense corps and brings instant power-play help to a team that finished 20th with the man advantage a year ago. Moreover, they may provide some quickness in front of goalie Sean Burke, who was wrongly criticized for a so-so (22-31-9, 3.84 goals-against average) rookie season. Burke made a lot of first saves last year, but didn&rsquo;t get much help on rebounds.</p><p>Potentially, Turgeon and Poddubny could enhance the attack of a team that finished just 16th in scoring last year. On paper, the Devils look vastly improved but, then, everybody liked the way the Devils looked on paper a year ago. Somehow, the mix turned out all wrong. At this early stage, however, it&rsquo;s unclear if the chemistry is any better right now.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-02562/5810332-1-eng-US/f0022-022.jpg" title="f0022-02" width="702" height="866"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>New Devil Sylvain Turgeon needed a change in scenery.</b></figcaption></div><p><b>News:</b>Alexandr Mogilny defects to North America and signs with the Buffalo Sabres.</p><p><b>Views:</b> In Mogilny and Pierre Turgeon, the Sabres now possess two of the best young talents in the game and possibly the cornerstones of a championship team. Talent, however, has a way of going unrealized and potential has a way of withering on the vine, as Buffalo fans know only too well.</p><p>The challenge facing rookie coach Rick Dudley is to see that the Sabres of the 1990s do not duplicate the results of the teams he played on in the mid-70s, the ones that came close to a championship, but could never quite get over the hump.</p><p><b>News:</b> Hartford Whalers drop chief scout David McNab.</p><p><b>Views:</b> Dumb move. McNab is one of the bright young men in a game that too often resembles an old boys&rsquo; network. Maybe McNab&rsquo;s dismissal was inevitable. New GMs like to clean house, sweeping out all vestiges, bad and good, of the old regime. That thinking can, however, be shortsighted. McNab will catch on somewhere else, pay his dues a few more years and ultimately will become a GM, a good one, someday. Hartford&rsquo;s loss is somebody else&rsquo;s gain.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0022-01

SUMMER MUSINGS ON A WINTER GAME

<p class="dropcap"><span>I</span>f the Montreal Canadiens retire <b>Bob Gainey&rsquo;s</b> No. 23, they will tie the Boston Bruins&rsquo; NHL record of seven retired numbers. Other Hab numbers retired are 2 (<b>Doug Harvey</b>), 4 (<b>Jean Beliveauand Aurel Joliat</b>). 7 (<b>Howie Morenz</b>). 9 (<b>Maurice Richard</b>), 10 (<b>Guy Lafleur</b>) and 16 (<b>Henri Richard</b> and <b>Elmer Lach</b>).</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-04278/5810370-1-eng-US/f0022-042.jpg" title="f0022-04" width="710" height="410"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Bob Gainey</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0022-04

NUMBERS

<h2><b>OILERS</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>G</span>oalie <b>Grant Fuhr,</b> who announced his retirement June 8, wants to play hockey this season. &ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t really a retirement from hockey, just a retirement from the Oilers,&rdquo; reasoned Fuhr. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s no doubt I still love the game. <b>GM Glen Sather</b> is at odds with Fuhr&rsquo;s agent, <b>Rich Winter</b>, so Fuhr has hired a local law firm to review the predicament. &ldquo;Something like that had to happen,&rdquo; said Fuhr, who refused to identify the legal counsel. &ldquo;It makes it easier to have independent counsel. Everybody was starting to blame Rich. Too much of a feud had been publicized between Slats (Sather) and Rich. He&rsquo;s still my agent, but he&rsquo;s not doing any more legal stuff.&rdquo;&hellip;Fuhr attempted to qualify for the Alberta Amateur Golf Championship, but fired an 83 on a soggy day, missing the cut by six strokes&hellip;Ken Lowe, defenseman Kevin&rsquo;s older brother, is joining the Oilers as a replacement for departed therapist <b>Peter Millar</b>&hellip;Veterans<b>Doug Halward</b> and <b>Miroslav Frycer</b>, acquired from the Detroit Red Wings when injuries depleted the Oilers&rsquo; ranks last season, have been released. Frycer will play in West Germany for Friebourg.</p><h2><b>KINGS</b></h2><p>The Kings rounded out their coaching staff July 14 by naming <b>Rick Wilson</b> an assistant. Wilson, who held a similar position with the New York Islanders last season, joins new head coach <b>Tom Webster</b>, and assistant <b>Cap Raeder</b>, the only holdover from last year&rsquo;s staff. Wilson. 38, will work primarily with the Kings&rsquo; defense. After a 239-game playing career in the NHL (Montreal, St. Louis and Detroit), Wilson spent eight seasons with Prince Albert Raiders of the Western League&hellip;Goaltender <b>Glenn Healy</b> and left wingers <b>John Tonelli</b> and <b>Craig Duncanson</b> became free agents with compensation June 30. GM <b>Rogie Vachon</b> would like to re-sign all three&hellip;The Kings bought out the option year on goalie <b>Rollie Melanson&rsquo;s</b> contract June 26, making him a free agent. His overall record as a King was 40-5814, including a 1-1-0 mark and 6.40 GAA last year, most of which he spent with New Haven of the American League.</p><h2><b>JETS</b></h2><p>The Jets are still confident defenseman <b>Fredrik Olausson</b> will be in the fold for 1989-90. General manager <b>Mike Smith</b> wouldn&rsquo;t get into specifics, but said he is not yet aware of Olausson being granted a playing card by the International Ice Hockey Federation to play with Farjestads in Sweden. Although he has an option year remaining on his contract with the Jets, Olausson signed a multi-year deal with Farjestads&hellip;The GM confirmed he has given some players, including captain Dale Hawerchuk, new incentive bonuses. &ldquo;They are bonuses based on team performance,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;They are all tied to team performances. There isn&rsquo;t any sense to somebody getting 33 goals and being a minus-21.&rdquo;&hellip;Winnipeg was unsuccessful in landing Robbie Laird as an assistant coach. Laird, the 1989 <i>Hockey News</i> minor-league coach of the year, signed with Washington instead.</p><h2><b>CANUCKS</b></h2><p>President-general manager <b>Pat Quinn</b> says he&rsquo;s in the market for a left winger. Promising young draftee <b>Rob Murphy</b> had an excellent playoff with Milwaukee of the International League, but the club wants to give him a look at center. &ldquo;There are a lot of teams chasing too few left wingers, but it&rsquo;s an area we have to improve,&rdquo; said Quinn, whose team finished last in goals this past season. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s nothing particularly hot right now, but we&rsquo;re working on it.&rdquo;&hellip;Center <b>Brian Bradley</b> had a great playoff but so far the free agent hasn&rsquo;t been able to land a contract with the club yet&hellip;Free-agent defenseman <b>Paul Reinhart</b> signed a multi-year contract with the Canucks on July 11. Reinhart scored seven goals and 50 assists in 64 games in his first season with Vancouver.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0022-03409/5810401-1-eng-US/f0022-032.jpg" title="f0022-03" width="558" height="662"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Paul Reinhart signed a multiyear contract with the Canucks.</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>FLAMES</b></h2><p>The Flames completed a major overhaul of their front office when they appointed former team captain <b>Doug Risebrough</b> assistant general manager. He replaces <b>Al MacNeil</b>. Risebrough, an assistant to coach <b>Terry Crisp</b> last season, is being groomed as a possible successor to general manager <b>Cliff Fletcher</b> two or three years down the road. To open up a spot for Risebrough, the Flames promoted MacNeil to the new position of vice president, hockey operations. Former Flames&rsquo; defenseman <b>Paul Baxter</b>, head coach in Salt Lake the past two years, replaced Risebrough on Crisp&rsquo;s coaching staff&hellip;Commenting on the changes, MacNeil described himself as the consummate team man. &ldquo;During the playoffs, my wife gets kissed by the coach,&rdquo; quipped MacNeil. &ldquo;Now Risebrough takes my job.&rdquo;&hellip;As a reward for winning the Stanley Cup, Crisp received a three-year contract.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0022-03

FUHR HINTS HE WON’T RETIRE AFTERALL

<div class="byline">BY RICK SADOWSKI</div><p>Wayne Gretzky&rsquo;s first season as a Los Angeles King was perhaps the most pressure- and controversy-filled of his career.</p><p>And yet, despite the never-ending demands for his time and the nagging reports of a feud between himself and since-fired head coach Robbie Ftorek, Gretzky said, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know that you can compare anything to winning a Stanley Cup, but it was the most fun I ever had.&rdquo;</p><p>Unwinding at his Southern California home during a well-deserved summer vacation, the 28-year-old superstar reflected on the past year.</p><p>&ldquo;I could have been a $15-million bust,&rdquo; Gretzky said, referring to his Aug. 9, 1988, acquisition from Edmonton, which cost the Kings two players, three first-round draft picks and that amount of cash.</p><p>&ldquo;I went from a four-time Stanley Cup winner, a real rosy situation, to L. A., where I could have been a flop. What if it didn&rsquo;t work? What if we didn&rsquo;t win? What if we didn&rsquo;t draw?</p><p>&ldquo;Every professional athlete is under some pressure. I tried to block it out. My wife (actress Janet Jones) was great to me. She helped me tremendously. Fortunately, theteamandthe fans were very good to me. Mr. McNall (Bruce, the Kings&rsquo; owner), he was fabulous. I always tease him that he&rsquo;s too nice for professional sports.&rdquo;</p><p>Gretzky didn&rsquo;t lead the Kings to the Cup, but he did move them to within striking distance. They won 42 games, a playoff series for the first time since 1982 (overcoming a 3-1 deficit to beat the Oilers) and set attendance records while capturing the hearts of fans who had given up on the team.</p><p>&ldquo;I got a great deal of satisfaction out of that. It was very rewarding,&rdquo; Gretzky said. &ldquo;I felt good for Mr. McNall, for (general manager) Rogie (Vachon) and for the die-hard fans who have been supporting the team since 1967.&rdquo;</p><p>Gretzky set club records with 114 assists and 168 points, crept to within 13 points of all-time leader Gordie Howe, then won his record ninth Hart Trophy as the league&rsquo;s most valuable player, an award he said he did not expect to win.</p><p>Gretzky&rsquo;s only significant disappointment concerned the feud he and Ftorek, who was succeeded by Tom Webster May 31, were alleged to have had.</p><p>&ldquo;The situation was absolutely unfair for both of us,&rdquo; Gretzky said. &ldquo;No one was ever morefair to me than Robbie. He was very kind to me. Unfortunately, for whatever reasons, people said we didn&rsquo;t get along.</p><p>&ldquo;Even when I went to his defense&hellip;no matter what I said, no one would believe me.&rdquo;</p><p>Charges of friction reached a head Nov. 23 in Detroit, when Gretzky sat out the first eight minutes of the third period after breaking his stick on the crossbar following a Steve Yzerman goal.</p><p>&ldquo;Robbie didn&rsquo;t like it, but it was no big thing,&rdquo; Gretzky said. &ldquo;Believe me, I was benched in Edmonton, too. A coach has to discipline players.</p><p>&ldquo;It was hard on everybody. It seemed like there was always something going on. I&rsquo;ve got a wife and a daughter (Paulina, born last December) now, so that made it tougher. It was tougher on my wife than anyone.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>LOS ANGELES</b></h2><h3><b>TRANSACTIONS</b></h3><p><b>June 26:</b> Gilles Hamel. LW, Rollie Melanson, G, had contracts bought out. Kyosti Karjalainen. RW, and Mikael Lindholm, RW, signed contracts.</p><p><b>July 14:</b> Rick Wilson named assistant coach.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

NO CUP, BUT YEAR HAD REWARDS FOR GRETZKY

<div class="byline">BY TONY GALLAGHER</div><p>If you were a veteran of the Vancouver Canucks, you couldn&rsquo;t help but notice the royal treatment Soviet star Igor Larionov was getting.</p><p>It was the little things that must have been grating, like the sight of president and general manager Pat Quinn on television acting like a porter, carrying three iced salmon to the airport for the former Central Red Army center to take home.</p><p>Then there&rsquo;s the case of right winger Rich Sutter. One of the hardest-working players on the Canucks, he&rsquo;s wrestling with management for a raise after suffering broken teeth, a broken nose and very nearly a broken neck at the hands of Philadelphia Flyer tough guy Craig Berube.</p><p>&ldquo;I just hope they know what they&rsquo;re doing,&rdquo; said Sutter, who knows the Canucks have been surviving on togetherness and hard work since the Quinn regime began. &ldquo;There are bound to be some guys upset over this thing.</p><p>&ldquo;There are bound to be some guys who aren&rsquo;t here because of it. Frankly I was surprised they signed him. You worry about who is going to be there when he needs his teammates. I know I will. When he&rsquo;s your teammate, you&rsquo;ve got to be there. I just hope the others feel the same way.&rdquo;</p><p>The Larionov signing probably means reduced ice time for center Barry Pederson. A couple of other centers, Greg (Gus) Adams and Steve Bozek, are candidates to be asked to help shore up the ailing left side. Doug Smith and Brian Bradley also figure to undergo role changes now that Larionov is a Canuck.</p><p>&ldquo;I think if Pat and Brian (Burke, director of hockey operations) had their way, they might have handled things differently,&rdquo; said captain Stan Smyl.</p><p>It was a reference to the role played by Frank Griffiths and his family in the three-year pursuit and signing of Larionov. The Canuck owners were very active.</p><p>&ldquo;They (Quinn and Burke) might have been leaning to working more with improving the farm system and working from within. A lot of guys are bound to be a little upset with this.&rdquo;</p><p>On the other hand, the Canucks&rsquo; biggest problem over the years has been too little talent. Larionov is perhaps the most talented player the club has ever had.</p><p>&ldquo;Since I&rsquo;ve been here, the biggest problem has been not enough real competition for jobs,&rdquo; says Smyl. &ldquo;That seems to be changing. And who knows, maybe I&rsquo;ll be one of the guys phased out over this. But in the end, it&rsquo;s going to be the one thing that will help this organization.&rdquo;</p><p>Sutter said he respects the talents of Europeans already on the Canucks, but wonders aloud whether there should be restrictions on them coming into the NHL.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got three pretty good guys now with Petri (Skriko), Robert (Nordmark), and now Larionov,&rdquo; said Sutter. &ldquo;But when you look at European teams, they&rsquo;re limited to the number of imports they can have on a team, usually two. I&rsquo;m not saying that should be the case here, but it might be worth looking at. And I&rsquo;m not the first one to make that suggestion.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>VANCOUVER</b></h2><h3><b>TRANSACTIONS</b></h3><p><b>July 1</b>: Igor Larionov, C, signed multi-year contract.</p><p><b>July 11</b>: Paul Reinhart, D, signed multi-year contract.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

REACTION MIXED TO LARIONOV SIGNING

<div class="byline">BY DICK CHUBEY</div><p>For the past few years, EsaTikkanen has been Pest No. 1 to the Edmonton Oilers&rsquo; opposition.</p><p>Now, he&rsquo;s starting to crawl under the skin of general manager Glen Sather.</p><p>Rich Winter, the Edmonton lawyer who represents Tikkanen and &lsquo;retired&rsquo; goaltender Grant Fuhr, has won a critical battle with Sather: Tikkanen was declared a free agent with compensation July 1 and had a month to sign with another NHL team.</p><p>A mediation committee involving Sam Simpson, representing the NHL Players&rsquo; Association, and Jim Gregory, the NHL&rsquo;s vice president of hockey operations, ruled the option provision in Tikkanen&rsquo;s contract is invalid.</p><p>Tikkanen and former agent Don Baizley of Winnipeg signed a doubleeagle contract (a straight one-year pact) in May, 1988, with an option year as a rider to the deal. But, when Winter assumed the reins as the 24-year-old&rsquo;s negotiator, he sought to have the option year declared invalid. He even announced he would pursue the matter in either federal or provincial court.</p><p>As it turned out, the mediation committee did the job on behalf of Tikkanen and Winter.</p><p>&ldquo;It was decided you can&rsquo;t take away rights that were collectively bargained for you,&rdquo; said Winter.</p><p>Players&rsquo; Association czar Alan Eagleson agreed: &ldquo;You can&rsquo;t have a double-eagle contract and an option clause (which allows for an automatic 15-per-cent raise). That&rsquo;s illegal in the collective bargaining agreement.&rdquo;</p><p>Tikkanen earned a reported $265,000 in 1988-89, and the option yearwas to pay him $305,000. He and Winter obviously felt they can do better.</p><p>Any team signing Tikkanen for in excess of $250,000, however, must give up two first-round draft choices.</p><p>&ldquo;If somebody wants to give us that, I&rsquo;ll take it,&rdquo; said Sather. &ldquo;We also have the option to match the contract.&rdquo;</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0024-01782/5810480-1-eng-US/f0024-012.jpg" title="f0024-01" width="557" height="606"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>If Esa Tikkanen plays in Europe, the Oilers get nothing.</b></figcaption></div><p>Tikkanen got off to a quick start this past season. After 32 games, he had 20 goals and 47 points, including a league-high eight shorthanded goals. Two came within a record 12 seconds on Nov. 12 in Toronto.</p><p>But the Helsinki native slowed down after suffering a fractured wrist in Los Angeles on Jan. 10. He missed 13 games. Despite not scoring a goal over his last 10 regular-season outings, he finished with a respectable 31 goals and 78 points in 67 games.</p><p>Sather said he has offered Tikkanan a four-year contract with a &ldquo;substantial raise.&rdquo;</p><p>The New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings are said to be two teams interested in Tikkanen, although the compensation is steep.</p><p>&ldquo;Esa&rsquo;s first priority,&rdquo; said Winter, &ldquo;is that he wants to remain a member of the Edmonton Oilers.&rdquo;</p><p>Europe is an altogether different matter, though.</p><p>&ldquo;If he wants to go to Europe, I can&rsquo;t do anything about it,&rdquo; the GM conceded. &ldquo;He can go anywhere in the world and play, except in the NHL. But, I don&rsquo;t think he wants to play in Europe right now. I can&rsquo;t see him doing that.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>EDMONTON</b></h2><h3><b>TRANSACTIONS</b></h3><p><b>June 20:</b> Trevor Sim, C. signed contract. Todd Chariesworth, D, signed as free agent. Miroslav Frycer, LW, released to join Friebourg (West Germany). Doug Halward, D, released.</p><p><b>July 1:</b>Esa Tikkanen, LW, granted free agency (with compensation) by NHL.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0024-01

TIKKANEN GRANTED FREE-AGENT STATUS

<div class="byline">BY TIM CAMPBELL</div><p>Winnipeg Jet general managerMike Smith may not be so unpopular with fans after all.</p><p>On July 17, the Jets held a public forum at the International Inn, advertising it as an open session for fans to chew the fat with Smith and new coach Bob Murdoch.</p><p>The event may, in the long run, turn out to be a public relations masterpiece, but the important thing was that Smith and Murdoch were ready, willing and able to relate to the public.</p><p>The 90-minute forum covered a wide range of topics raised by a crowd of more than 700 people.</p><p>Early on, there was loud applause for the June trade which brought Randy Cunneyworth, Rick Tabaracci and Dave McLlwain to the Jets, followed closely by resounding jeers when one fan suggested the Jets should trade for Detroit bad boy Bob Probert.</p><p>&ldquo;I said last winter that even if they would give him to us, we were not interested,&rdquo; said Smith, prompting applause.</p><p>In asking Murdoch what kind of team fans here can expect to see next season, one fan commented: &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve gone from an interesting team that doesn&rsquo;t win many games to a dull team that doesn&rsquo;t win many games.&rdquo;</p><p>Murdoch said he wasn&rsquo;t going to pump up fans with large promises and false hopes. &ldquo;All I will promise,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;is that this team will work hard, play with enthusiasm and improve.&rdquo;</p><p>One fan took a shot at Smith&rsquo;s rumpled appearance, calling him &ldquo;Columbo.&rdquo; Another was booed into submission when he began a comment by saying: &ldquo;I had to admire Fergie (former GM John Ferguson) for one thing&hellip;he looked neat and clean on TV.&rdquo;</p><p>It seems nobody really cares if Smith is a snappy dresser or charismatic in front of a microphone.</p><p>Many questioners wanted to know about trades Smith may be considering.</p><p>&ldquo;Look, I&rsquo;m not going to be a general manager who spends all day on the phone trying to make trades. Certainly it&rsquo;s part of the job and part of hockey, but that&rsquo;s not all (there is to the job).&rdquo;</p><p>One of the highlights of Smith&rsquo;s frankness concerned a question about trading players who are involved in contract negotiations.</p><p>&ldquo;We have eight players going into option years of their contracts that are not re-signed,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I hope some of them play out their options. I don&rsquo;t care if they&rsquo;re not happy with the money they&rsquo;re being paid. They shouldn&rsquo;t be happy; we were a lousy hockey team. One thing about players playing out their option, though, they concentrate on playing hockey.&rdquo;</p><p>One of the biggest causes for fan uprisings during last season was the deal that sent goalie Alain Chevrier to Chicago for a fourth-round draft pick.</p><p>&ldquo;At the time, Alain was not playing well, and there were reasons I&rsquo;m not going to get into,&rdquo; Smith said. &ldquo;The person coaching at the time (Dan Maloney) said he was No. 3 and that he was going with two goalies. Sure we were looking for a player who could play in return, but the best trade offer we got, we took.</p><p>&ldquo;Right now, it (the trade) doesn&rsquo;t look good. But life goes on.&rdquo;</p><p>It was widely reported at the time that Smith actually made the trade to accommodate Chevrier, whose wife Susan was extremely unhappy in Winnipeg.</p><p>Both Smith and Murdoch spent time fielding questions about the team&rsquo;s 26-year-old captain, Dale Hawerchuk.</p><p>Smith confirmed Hawerchuk will be in a Winnipeg uniform when the season begins.</p><p>About finding wingers to play with the talented captain&mdash;a perennial controversy&mdash;Murdoch said, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s up to Dale Hawerchuk to bring the players around him to his level, not the players to bring Dale Hawerchuk to a higher one.&rdquo;</p><p>Smith also scored big points with his audience during the following exchange.</p><p>&ldquo;What about (rugged defenseman) Bryan Marchment making this team next year?&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;He left Friday to train in Finland with Tappara for six weeks. He has decided not to spend his summer at the beach, or driving a new car or playing golf.&rdquo;</p><p>Someone shouted: &ldquo;What about (Daniel) Berthiaume?&rdquo; referring to the goalie&rsquo;s out-of-shape training camp and fall from favor one year ago.</p><p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s leaving for Finland in two weeks.&rdquo;</p><p>Smith remained straight-faced when one questioner led with the preamble: &ldquo;I appreciate this forum because I think you guys are answering questions for John Ferguson&rsquo;s mess.&rdquo;</p><p>And when the meeting was over, and after both. Smith and Murdoch spent another hour dickering with fans, Smith said they can expect a similar session in the future.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to think we could do this again,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t want to do it with 42 points next year. But I think with the kind of community Winnipeg is and the importance of the Winnipeg Jets, it might not be a bad thing to do it again.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>WINNIPEG</b></h2><h3><b>TRANSACTIONS</b></h3><p><b>July 17</b>: Clare Drake and Alpo Suhonen hired as assistant coaches for the 1989-90 season.</p><p><b>June 23</b>: Dave Parrish hired as coach and general manager of Moncton (AHL).<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

JET GM GIVES FANS A CHANCE TO AIR BEEFS WITH PUBLIC FORUM

<div class="byline">BY ERIC DUHATSCHEK</div><p>Spring, with its Stanley Cup championship and Conn Smythe Trophy, proved to be a dream season.</p><p>Summer, however, turned into something of a nightmare for Calgary Flames&rsquo; defenseman Al MacInnis.</p><p>Only 48 hours before he was to marry Calgary native Jackie Bergel, Maclnnis and his younger brother Robert appeared in Alberta provincial court to face four charges of assault causing bodily harm. The charges stemmed from a brawl outside a Calgary restaurant, the Old Scotch, July 3.</p><p>MacInnis will appear for a preliminary inquiry into the incident Aug. 28.</p><p>The wedding went off as planned, and the newlyweds left Calgary for a honeymoon in Anaheim.</p><p>No one was saying much about the incident&mdash;not Maclnnis, not the Flames, not his agent, Don Meehan.</p><p>The disturbance reportedly broke out following a verbal exchange between Maclnnis&rsquo;s party and another group of restaurant patrons.</p><p>Six people were treated for injuries resulting from the brawl, including one man who had to be hospitalized overnight after getting kicked in the groin area. A second man had three teeth punched through his gums.</p><p>Colin Merrick, the doorman, described the scene outside the restaurant as chaotic.</p><p>&ldquo;It was really bad, something I definitely don&rsquo;t want to see again,&rdquo; said Merrick. &ldquo;One guy I saw had his teeth kicked in. I saw a mangle of teeth everywhere.&rdquo;</p><p>Merrick said the Maclnnis brothers verbally abused one of the restaurant&rsquo;s waitresses in the dining room earlier that night and then exchanged words with three female members of the bar band, called Bucky Rules.</p><p>&ldquo;When I came around, there were a lot of four-letter words being used. They were rude and obnoxious. I asked them to leave. Once nicely. The second time not so nicely.&rdquo;</p><p>Once out of the restaurant, the parties engaged in some pushing.</p><p>Barry Jones, the head bartender, reported that both Al and his brother were still standing after the fight, but it looked like they took a couple of good hits. &ldquo;They were both bleeding from the mouth,&rdquo; he said.</p><p>Calgary police detective John Middleton-Hope said Al Maclnnis &ldquo;was extremely abusive&rdquo; to police officers who arrived on the scene.</p><p>John Petch, Maclnnis&rsquo;s lawyer, said his client regrets the fact the incident happened. &ldquo;It puts a cloud on his wedding day.&rdquo;</p><p>Petch also stated, &ldquo;We think there is another side to the story. We&rsquo;re investigating the situation and we have reason to think the fight may have been instigated by the other party.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;Obviously, we don&rsquo;t like to see a situation like this,&rdquo; said Flames&rsquo; public relations director Rick Skaggs. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s nothing positive for Al or the Flames. But we will be there to support him however we can.&rdquo;</p><p>Only six weeks earlier, Maclnnis became the first defenseman in NHL history to win outright the playoff scoring crown, counting seven goals and 24 assists to lead the Flames to their first-ever Stanley Cup championship. For his efforts, Maclnnis was rewarded with two cars, one from <i>SPORT</i> magazine and one from Budweiser, plus the Smythe trophy and $10,000 to do a short promotion for Disneyland.</p><p>In addition, Maclnnis is up for a new contract. Negotiations between Meehan and Flames&rsquo; general manager Cliff Fletcher were started during the annual entry draft and were to continue upon Fletcher&rsquo;s return from a three-week European vacation at the end of July.</p><p>Meehan said he did not think the assault charges would have any bearing on his contract talks.</p><h2><b>CALGARY</b></h2><h3><b>TRANSACTIONS</b></h3><p><b>June 28:</b> Doug Risebrough named assistant general manager, Paul Baxter assistant coach and Al MacNeil vice president. hockey operations. Terry Crisp, coach, signed three-year contract.</p><p><b>July 2:</b> Sergei Makarov, RW, signed multi-year contract.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

ASSAULT CHARGE HANGS OVER NEWLYWED MacINNIS

<div class="byline">BY MIKE KANE</div><h2><b>AHL</b></h2><p><b>Bill Dineen</b> ended his tenure as the Adirondack Red Wings&rsquo; coach the way he started it six years ago&mdash;quietly.</p><p>Dineen was named Wings&rsquo; general manager July 18 as part of a series of personnel moves in the Detroit Red Wings&rsquo; organization. <b>Barry Melrose,</b> 33, who completed his 11-year pro career in 1986-87 as a player-assistant coach with Adirondack, was hired to succeed Dineen.</p><p>The changes came in the wake of <b>Neil Smith&rsquo;s</b> hiring as general manager of the New York Rangers. Smith, 35, was Detroit&rsquo;s chief scout and spent four years as the Adirondack GM. In addition, former Adirondack goaltender <b>Ken Holland</b> replaced Smith as Detroit&rsquo;s scouting director. Holland was the Wings&rsquo; western Canada scout.</p><p>Dineen, 56, was the most successful coach in the AHL during his time with the Red Wings. His teams made the playoffs five times, won Calder Cup titles in 1986 and 1989, and compiled a regular-season record of 246-182-52. Adirondack had four straight seasons of 40-plus victories between 1985-86 and 1988-89 and reached at least the semifinal round of the playoffs each year.</p><h2><b>HALF FULL</b></h2><p>In 13 seasons with Houston and New England in the World Hockey Association and the Red Wings in the AHL, Dineen had a record of 564381-80. He coached his 1,000th game on Feb. 10.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a little sad to accept the fact that you&rsquo;re leaving coaching,&rdquo; Dineen said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s been a part of my life and something I really enjoyed. Certainly, this time I think it&rsquo;s going to be permanent.&rdquo;</p><p>Dineen spent five weeks considering a proposal by Detroit GM <b>Jimmy Deveilano</b> to change jobs. He recommended Melrose, who had two successful seasons in the Western League with Medicine Hat and Seattle, as his replacement. Melrose&rsquo;s Medicine Hat team won the Memorial Cup in 1988. Last season, though Seattle missed the playoffs by one point, the team improved by 19 points and allowed the fewest goals in the WHL.</p><p>&ldquo;This is a great opportunity for a young coach,&rdquo; Melrose said. &ldquo;The emphasis is shifting to a development club with Adirondack. It&rsquo;s never been that way before. In the past, it&rsquo;s been an older team with a few prospects. I&rsquo;d say this year that there could be six guys on the team who could be in the NHL in two years.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>HALFFULL</b></h2><p>With Dineen&rsquo;s move to management and the expected promotion of Cape Breton coach <b>Ron Low</b> to Edmonton as an assistant coach, half of the AHL&rsquo;s 14 teams will have new coaches in 1989-90.</p><p>Longtime NHL defenseman <b>Kevin McCarthy,</b> 32, was named coach of the Hershey Bears July 12. McCarthy replaced John Paddock, who moved up the organizational ladder to become assistant general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers. McCarthy was Paddock&rsquo;s assistant last season.</p><p><b>Al Hill</b> retired as a player to become McCarthy&rsquo;s assistant coach. Hill, 34, was a pro for 13 seasons. He played in 221 NHL games with the Flyers and more than 600 in the AHL with Springfield, Maine, Moncton and Hershey.</p><p>The Moncton Hawks filled their head-coaching vacancy July 10 by hiring veteran defenseman <b>Dave Farrish,</b> 32. The opening was created in June when Rick Bowness left Moncton to take over the Maine Mariners&rsquo; job. Boston Bruins&rsquo; coach Mike Milbury held the Maine post for the past two seasons. Farrish played for Baltimore last season.</p><p>Openings remained in New Haven and Binghamton. <b>Rick Dudley</b> left New Haven to accept the Buffalo Sabres&rsquo; head coaching job and <b>Claude Larose</b> was fired after one season with Binghamton. <b>Doug McKay,</b> a former assistant coach of the New Jersey Devils, was believed to be the leading candidate to succeed Larose.</p><h2><b>McVIE TOPS</b></h2><p><b>Tom McVie</b> of the Utica Devils was named AHL coach of the year during the league&rsquo;s annual meeting. McVie&rsquo;s club finished third in the Southern Division and secured a playoff berth on the final day of the season. Springfield Indians&rsquo; general manager <b>Bruce Landon</b> was named executive of the year&hellip;<b>Steve Tsujiura</b>, 27, who spent seven seasons in the AHL with Maine, Springfield and Utica, signed a contract to play in Vai Gardena, Italy&hellip;Springfield Indians&rsquo; owner <b>Peter Cooney</b> is talking with officials of Enfield, Conn., about a plan to build and operate a new arena in that municipality, located seven miles from Springfield. If the project is approved, Cooney would move the team to Enfield from the Springfield Civic Center&hellip;Veteran forwards <b>Alfie Turcotte</b>, <b>Peter Douris</b> and <b>Lou Crawford</b> and defenseman <b>John Blum</b> have signed with the Bruins&rsquo; organization. They are expected to be the nucleus of the Mariners&rsquo; club. Blum and Crawford were members of Adirondack&rsquo;s championship team last year.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

DINEEN GM, MELROSE COACH IN WINGS’ SHUFFLE

<div class="byline">BY RICHARD BEALES AND BILL PICKETT</div><p>For the first time in 21 years, a Flint-based International League team will be the No. 1 affiliate of an NHL team.</p><p>The Flint Spirits entered a working agreement with the New York Rangers July 20, less than a month after the Rangers&rsquo; previous IHL affiliate, the Denver Rangers, had its league membership terminated.</p><p>&ldquo;If I was any happier I&rsquo;d be out of my mind,&rdquo; said Spirits&rsquo; president <b>Don Chambers.</b> &ldquo;In our eyes, it&rsquo;s the best thing that&rsquo;s ever happened to professional sports in this area.&rdquo;</p><p>The response by fans has been &ldquo;tremendous,&rdquo; Chambers said, and the Spirits have experienced a rush in season-ticket sales at IMA Arena.</p><p>How many have they sold?</p><p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; Chambers admitted, &ldquo;but my wife was in here (Spirits&rsquo; offices) the first day and took in $9,000.&rdquo;</p><p>Chambers said he doesn&rsquo;t know how the Rangers want to reorganize the Spirits&rsquo; personnel, especially since new New York general manager <b>Neil Smith&rsquo;s</b> first priority will be to assess his, NHL team.</p><h2><b>IHL</b></h2><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not sure, really, what the Rangers want to do. Of course, they&rsquo;re supplying the training staff and the coaching staff.&rdquo;</p><p><b>Donnie Waddell</b>, coach of the &rsquo;88-89 Spirits, will retain his general manager&rsquo;s position, however, and will serve as liasion man with the Rangers.</p><p>Smith and Waddell, interestingly, played against each other during their college years. Smith was a defenseman at Western Michigan University from 1975 to &rsquo;78, and Waddell a defenseman at Northern Michigan from 1977 to &rsquo;80.</p><p>The Denver franchise just ran out of time and money, said IHL commissioner Tom Berry. The Rangers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the purposes of reorganizing and the league gave them until June 30 to solve their financial problems.</p><p>&ldquo;As of June 15 they were not in good standing, financially, as well as in scheduling, leases and things of that sort,&rdquo; Berry said. &ldquo;They requested additional time to close a deal with potential new ownership. We set a deadline of June 30, which they missed. They filed for bankruptcy and it was upheld in court. Their membership was terminated as of June 30.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>COACHES NAMED</b></h2><p>AI Sims, assistant to coach Robbie Laird in Fort Wayne, was named the Komets&rsquo; head coach June 29. Laird got a job as an assistant to Washington Capitals&rsquo; head coach <b>Bryan Murray.</b></p><p>Assistant coach <b>Bob Francis</b> succeeded <b>Paul Baxter</b> as coach of the Salt Lake Golden Eagles June 27. Baxter was named an assistant to Terry Crisp with the Calgary Flames.</p><p>Milwaukee has yet to replace <b>Rick Ley</b> (now head coach of the Hartford Whalers).</p><h2><b>FRANCHISE NEWS</b></h2><p>Saginaw will ice an independent team this season, now that the Chicago Blackhawks have shifted their affiliation to the Indianapolis Ice. And the west division will replace the Denver franchise with a new independent team, the Phoenix Roadrunners-&hellip;Both Phoenix and Saginaw were looking for coaches. Last year&rsquo;s coach at Saginaw, Darryl Sutter, moved to Indianapolis with the Blackhawks. The move by Chicago to Indianapolis bumped coach Archie Henderson into the front office. Henderson, who was director of hockey operations and coach last year, was offered a position as director of community relations.</p><p><b>Denis Cyr</b> was named as the new general manager of the Peoria Rivermen July 3, replacing <b>Skip Probst</b>. Probst resigned after <b>Bruce Saurs</b> purchased the franchise from the city June 26. <b>Wayne Thomas</b> remains as coach&hellip;The IHL will have a new trophy next season. The N.R. (Bud) Poile Trophy, named for the retired commissioner, will be awarded to the MVP in the Turner Cup playoffs&hellip;The league has discussed the possibility of an all-star game in February, probably against the AHL or a touring Soviet team.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

NEW YORK RANGERS SIGN UP WITH FLINT

<div class="byline">BY RANDY RUSSON</div><h2><b>OHL</b></h2><p>The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are staying put and they&rsquo;re feeling like a million bucks.</p><p>Thanks to a feverish season-ticket drive, a loan from the City of Sault Ste. Marie and money from local investors, the Greyhounds were able to match a $1-million offer to keep the team in the city.</p><p>Compuware, a Detroit-based computer software manufacturing company which previously owned the Windsor Spitfires, offered to buy the Greyhounds in June. But under an agreement signed between the city and the Greyhounds last year, local investors had 30 days to match the offer.</p><p>And they did. Dr. George Shunock led a group of 12 shareholders that raised $600,000. When a $400,000 loan from the city was secured, the Compuware proposal was matched July 13.</p><p>The team also raised more than $900,000 in operating capital by selling 1,505 three-year season-ticket packages at $200 per year.</p><p>The city extended its deal with the Greyhounds (struck last year with the previous ownership group) for use of the Sault Memorial Gardens, from three years to 10. The Greyhounds get to keep all revenues from ticket sales, rink-board advertising, concessions and souvenir sales.</p><p>The Greyhounds also announced the hiring of former Oshawa Generals&rsquo; general manager Sherry Bassin as team governor. Shunock said Bassin would be offered shares in the team&rsquo;s ownership.</p><p>Bassin, who will be entrusted with personnel decisions, said he&rsquo;ll evaluate the status of coach Ted Nolan and general manager Mike Desjardins, but hinted they would stay with the team.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve heard good things about Ted from (Oshawa coach) Paul Theriault and I&rsquo;m told that Mike is a hard worker,&rdquo; said Bassin.</p><p>The turn of events almost certainly means that 16-year-old center Eric Lindros, who was drafted first overall by the Greyhounds this year, will not play in the league next season. He has already indicated he won&rsquo;t report to the Sault.</p><h2><b>PLATERS MOVE</b></h2><p>The Guelph Platers, the last Ontario League team to win a Memorial Cup, moved to Owen Sound June 27.</p><p>Platers&rsquo; owner Joe Holody cited a lack of season-ticket sales as the prime reason behind the move 80 miles north. The Platers had 350 confirmed season-ticket sales at the time of the move. Holody said 700 were sold in their first four days in Owen Sound.</p><p>&ldquo;It was a decision that was not an easy one,&rdquo; said Platers&rsquo; general manager Rob Holody. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re proud of our track record in Guelph but, unfortunately, the support was not there.&rdquo;</p><p>The Platers joined the OHL in 1981-82 and won the Memorial Cup in 1986. As a Tier II entry, the Platers won four Ontario championships and two Centennial Cups.</p><p>The team will retain its nickname and play out of the 2,800-seat Bayshore Community Centre. They&rsquo;ve signed a five-year lease with the City of Owen Sound.</p><p>While Owen Sound&rsquo;s population is only 20,000, there are another 67,000 people within a 50-mile radius of the town.</p><p>Platers&rsquo; second-year coach Ron Smith, a real estate broker in nearby Cambridge, was unsure whether he would move to Owen Sound with the team, but Holody said he was &ldquo;95-per-cent certain&rdquo; Smith would be back.</p><h2><b>NEW DUKE</b></h2><p>He wasn&rsquo;t their first choice, but Gerry Harrigan was named the Dukes of Hamilton&rsquo;s first head coach July 13.</p><p>The job was reportedly offered to Kamloops Blazer coach Ken Hitchcock and Hull Olympiques&rsquo; coach Alain Vigneault, but both turned it down.</p><p>Harrigan, 45, coached the Waterloo Siskins to Ontario Hockey Association Junior B championships in 1983-84, 1984-85 and 1987-88.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

GREYHOUNDS HAPPY TO BE GOING NOWHERE

<div class="byline">BY HERB ZURKOWSKY</div><p>Normand Flynn has been named first head coach of the St-Hyacinthe Laser.</p><p>Flynn, 28, coached Montreal-Bourassa of the Quebec midget AAA league last season. He replaces <b>Guy Chouinard</b>, who was fired by the Verdun Jr. Canadiens before their move to St-Hyacinthe in June.</p><p>&ldquo;We had good reports on him (Flynn),&rdquo; said <b>Michel Rousseau</b>, the Laser&rsquo;s interim general manager. &ldquo;We wanted to go with a young coach who didn&rsquo;t have experience with another organization in major junior. We are like green grass. We all want to grow up together.&rdquo;</p><p>The announcement was made July 6.</p><p>Flynn&rsquo;s assistant coaches are <b>Mario Baril</b>, his assistant with Montreal-Bourassa, and <b>Daniel Noonan</b>.</p><p>The Laser began selling season tickets in late June and was at the 500 mark by mid-July. It expected to sell another 1.200 by the beginning of the season. The team needs an average attendance of 1,300 to break even in its first year.</p><h2><b>McKIM BULLISH</b></h2><p>The Hull Olympiques may lose one of their newest acquisitions&mdash;and one of their best players&mdash;to the Ontario League&rsquo;s Belleville Bulls.</p><p>Center <b>Andrew McKim</b>, who was traded to the Olympiques from Verdun on May 26, has expressed an interest in joining the Bulls next season. McKim (50-56-106 in 68 games) was obtained by the Olympiques along with center <b>Trevor Boland</b> in exchange for a third-round draft choice (<b>Martin Brodeur)</b>.</p><p>McKim, 19, was scheduled to visit Hull on July 20.</p><p>&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t anticipate problems,&rdquo; said Hull governor <b>Charlie Henry</b>.</p><p>McKim. only 5-foot-6l6 and 166 pounds, has yet to be drafted by an NHL team. He said he would be more noticed by pro scouts were he playing in the OHL.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0028-01717/5810631-1-eng-US/f0028-012.jpg" title="f0028-01" width="695" height="855"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Andrew McKim expressed an interest in playing for the Belleville Bulls.</b></figcaption></div><p>&ldquo;I think the best thing would be to switch leagues,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I think it would be best for myself to prove I can play someplace else. I have to do what the scouts want, and it looks like they don&rsquo;t want me in the Quebec League.</p><p>&ldquo;I did everything I could in Verdun (to get drafted) and it still wasn&rsquo;t enough, yet if I did the same thing for a last-place team in the OHL or the Western Hockey League, maybe they&rsquo;d say I did a hell of a job.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>SCHOOL FIRST</b></h2><p>The Chicoutimi Sagueneens are having problems signing Paul Brosseau, their second-round draft choice this season.</p><p>The 6-foot-2, 203-pound right winger wants to play for the Sags, but his parents feel his education will suffer. Although Brosseau, 15. is bilingual, his schooling is in English and his parents are concerned he won&rsquo;t be able to attend an English school in Chicoutimi.</p><p>The Sags, however, say Brosseau can attend St. Pat&rsquo;s, an English high school located six miles from Chicoutimi. In fact, the school&rsquo;s principal said he is ready to billet Brousseau at his home for the hockey season.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0028-01

COACH IN LIKE FLYNN WITHLASERS

<div class="byline">BY ED WILLES</div><p>For the fourth time in three years, Russ Farwell is looking for a new coach.</p><p>The Seattle Thunderbirds&rsquo; general manager lost head coach <b>Barry Melrose</b> to the American League&rsquo;s Adirondack Red Wings on July 20. He takes over from <b>Bill Dineen</b> as coach of the AHL team.</p><p>Melrose, a playing assistant with the Red Wings in 1986-87, spent two seasons as a coach in the Western League. Adirondack is an affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings.</p><p>Last year the Thunderbirds finished in fifth place in the West Division with a 33-35-4 mark. Two years ago, Melrose led the Medicine Hat Tigers to the Memorial Cup championship and Farwell was the general manager.</p><p>&ldquo;It (Melrose&rsquo;s hiring by Adirondack) happened so late our options are limited,&rdquo; said Farwell. &ldquo;The best guys are usually taken by this point.&rdquo;</p><p>But Farwell said he&rsquo;s getting used to being jilted. Three years ago, Doug Sauter left as head coach of the Tigers to take over the Regina Pats. After their first Memorial Cup two years ago, <b>Bryan Maxwell</b> left the Tigers to become an assistant ith the Los Angeles Kings. Last year, Farwell left the Tigers for Seattle and hired Melrose for the coaching job.</p><p>Melrose had a year remaining on his contract with the Thunderbirds but Farwell said enforcing the deal would have been pointless.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve always felt it&rsquo;s much better to have a guy who&rsquo;s climbing the ladder than a guy who&rsquo;s just happy to be here,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This is the risk you take.&rdquo;</p><p>The Thunderbirds&rsquo; new coach will have a Czechoslovakian defector in his lineup. Center <b>Petr Nedved</b>, who defected after the Mac&rsquo;s midget tournament in Calgary last Christmas, was signed by the Thunderbirds late in the season. He was granted landed immigrant status in June. Nedved, 17, led the tournament in scoring with 17 goals and 12 assists in nine games.</p><h2><b>DRUG POLICY</b></h2><p>The Western League is considering implementation of a league-wide drug and alcohol policy.</p><p>The policy was discussed at the league&rsquo;s board of governors meeting June 27 to 29 in Lake Tahoe, Nev., and could include drug testing for each player and a substance-abuse educational program.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re striking a committee to explore all the avenues of testing and education,&rdquo; said WHL president <b>Ed Chynoweth.</b></p><p>Chynoweth said the league may not have anything in place in time for this season but he hopes to have a committee struck by Aug. 1 and recommendations prepared by mid-October.</p><p>The league plans to consult with enforcement and counselling officials from the four provinces&mdash;Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia&mdash;and two states&mdash;Washington and Oregon&mdash;that have teams in the WHL.</p><p>Despite the fact it could become the first junior league in Canada with a drug and alcohol policy, Chynoweth doesn&rsquo;t see it as a pioneering move.</p><p>&ldquo;I just think it&rsquo;s good, prudent business,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This is a big problem all over the world and I think we should explore what we can do about it as a league.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>PEEWE BAN</b></h2><p>WHL teams can no longer include 13-year-old players on their 50-player protected lists.</p><p>&ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t want our teams scouting peewee (12- and 13-year-old) players,&rdquo; said league vice president <b>Richard Doerksen</b>.</p><p>Teams could previously protect 13-year-old players, but those players occupied three spots on the protected list and couldn&rsquo;t play at the junior level for at least two years. Teams will be able to add 14-year-old players, but will only be able to do so after Jan .10. Those players take up two spots on the list.</p><h2><b>COMEAU BACK</b></h2><p>Saskatoon Blades&rsquo; coach Marcel Comeau ended speculation about his future when he signed a two-year deal with the Blades July 18.</p><p>Comeau delayed signing with the Blades while he explored other opportunities. His current contract contains an escape clause which would allow him to take another job.</p><p>In his five seasons with the Blades, Comeau has compiled a 200-145-15 mark. Last season, the Blades were an automatic entry in the Memorial Cup as the host team and advanced to the championship game before losing in overtime to Swift Current.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

FARWELL SAYS FAREWELL TO COACH…YET AGAIN

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0029-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-01621/5810924-1-eng-US/f0029-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Members of the 1988-89 National Hockey League Stanley Cup-champion Calgary Flames, from left to right: Back row&mdash;Rob Ramage, Joe Nieuwendyk, Sergei Priakin, Dana Murzyn, Joel Otto, Brian MacLellan, Ric Nattress, Mark Hunter. Third row&mdash;Assistant trainer Al Murray, Gary Roberts, Jamie Macoun, owner Daryl Seaman, owner Harley Hotchkiss, owner Byron Seaman, owner Sonia Scurfield, owner Normie Kwong, owner Norm Green, Theoren Fleury, Jiri Hrdina, trainer Jim Murray. Second row&mdash;Equipment manager Bobby Stewart, Al Maclnnis, Colin Patterson, Brad McCrimmon, HakanLoob, Joe Mullen, Doug Gilmour, Gary Suter, Tim Hunter, goaltending coach Glenn Hall. Front row&mdash;Rick Wamsley, Jim Peplinski, assistant coach Tom Watt, assistant coach Doug Risebrough, head coach Terry Crisp, president and general manager Cliff Fletcher, assistant general manager Al MacNeil, assistant to the president Al Coates, Lanny McDonald, Mike Vernon.</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>FINAL STANDINGS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-02420/5810917-1-eng-US/f0029-022.jpg" title="f0029-02" width="1005" height="1138"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-03270/5810910-1-eng-US/f0029-032.jpg" title="f0029-03" width="1016" height="618"></div><h2><b>BOSTON BRUINS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-04190/5810903-1-eng-US/f0029-042.jpg" title="f0029-04" width="1013" height="591"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-05164/5810896-1-eng-US/f0029-052.jpg" title="f0029-05" width="1013" height="495"></div><h2><b>BUFFALO SABRES</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0029-06132/5810889-1-eng-US/f0029-062.jpg" title="f0029-06" width="1010" height="711"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-01707/5810882-1-eng-US/f0030-012.jpg" title="f0030-01" width="989" height="396"></div><h2><b>CALGARY FLAMES</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-02502/5810875-1-eng-US/f0030-022.jpg" title="f0030-02" width="989" height="834"></div><h2><b>CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-03342/5810868-1-eng-US/f0030-032.jpg" title="f0030-03" width="983" height="1155"></div><h2><b>DETROIT RED WINGS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-04237/5810861-1-eng-US/f0030-042.jpg" title="f0030-04" width="986" height="852"></div><h2><b>EDMONTON OILERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-05166/5810854-1-eng-US/f0030-052.jpg" title="f0030-05" width="986" height="1191"></div><h2><b>HARTFORD WHALERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-06130/5810847-1-eng-US/f0030-062.jpg" title="f0030-06" width="977" height="1110"></div><h2><b>LOS ANGELES KINGS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-07106/5810840-1-eng-US/f0030-072.jpg" title="f0030-07" width="980" height="915"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0896/5810833-1-eng-US/f0030-082.jpg" title="f0030-08" width="992" height="294"></div><h2><b>MINNESOTA NORTH STARS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-0987/5810826-1-eng-US/f0030-092.jpg" title="f0030-09" width="992" height="1344"></div><h2><b>MONTREAL CANADIENS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-1078/5810819-1-eng-US/f0030-102.jpg" title="f0030-10" width="986" height="759"></div><h2><b>NEW JERSEY DEVILS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0030-1172/5810812-1-eng-US/f0030-112.jpg" title="f0030-11" width="980" height="843"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-01651/5810805-1-eng-US/f0031-012.jpg" title="f0031-01" width="1010" height="111"></div><h2><b>NEW YORK ISLANDERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-02447/5810798-1-eng-US/f0031-022.jpg" title="f0031-02" width="1010" height="1005"></div><h2><b>NEW YORK RANGERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-03321/5810791-1-eng-US/f0031-032.jpg" title="f0031-03" width="1007" height="1071"></div><h2><b>PHILADELPHIA FLYERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-04241/5810784-1-eng-US/f0031-042.jpg" title="f0031-04" width="1001" height="639"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-05192/5810777-1-eng-US/f0031-052.jpg" title="f0031-05" width="1010" height="411"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-06157/5810770-1-eng-US/f0031-062.jpg" title="f0031-06" width="956" height="1665"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Penguin left winger Bob Errey enjoyed his finest NHL season, scoring 26 goals and 58 points.</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>PITTSBURGH PENGUINS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-07135/5810763-1-eng-US/f0031-072.jpg" title="f0031-07" width="1007" height="843"></div><h2><b>QUEBEC NORDIQUES</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-08119/5810756-1-eng-US/f0031-082.jpg" title="f0031-08" width="1010" height="906"></div><h2><b>ST. LOUIS BLUES</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-09104/5810749-1-eng-US/f0031-092.jpg" title="f0031-09" width="998" height="888"></div><h2><b>TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0031-1090/5810742-1-eng-US/f0031-102.jpg" title="f0031-10" width="998" height="1032"></div><h2><b>VANCOUVER CANUCKS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-01695/5810735-1-eng-US/f0032-012.jpg" title="f0032-01" width="1004" height="1053"></div><h2><b>WASHINGTON CAPITALS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-02498/5810728-1-eng-US/f0032-022.jpg" title="f0032-02" width="1013" height="753"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-03342/5810721-1-eng-US/f0032-032.jpg" title="f0032-03" width="1007" height="273"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-07103/5810714-1-eng-US/f0032-072.jpg" title="f0032-07" width="1610" height="1437"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>The Caps&rsquo; Scott Stevens didn&rsquo;t repeat as an NHL all-star defenseman this past season, but a strong second half pushed his plus-minus mark from below minus-20 to plus-1.</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>WINNIPEG JETS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-04224/5810707-1-eng-US/f0032-042.jpg" title="f0032-04" width="1001" height="345"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-05154/5810700-1-eng-US/f0032-052.jpg" title="f0032-05" width="1010" height="720"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-06123/5810693-1-eng-US/f0032-062.jpg" title="f0032-06" width="590" height="1131"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Peter Sidorkiewicz led rookie goalies with a 3.05 average.</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>REGULAR-SEASON, PLAYOFF GOALTENDING</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0032-0890/5810686-1-eng-US/f0032-082.jpg" title="f0032-08" width="1355" height="2733"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0029-01

NATIONAL LEAGUE

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0033-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-01620/5811116-1-eng-US/f0033-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Members of the 1988-89 American Hockey League Calder Cup-champion Adirondack Red Wings, from left to right: Back row&mdash;Dave Casey, Tim Paris, Jean-Francois Sauve, Daniel Shank, Joe Murphy, Adam Graves, Yves Racine, Dean Morton, Rob Nichols, Serge Anglehart, Mike Gober, Tom Bissett, Joe Ferras, Tim Abbott, Bill Miller. Middle row&mdash;Bob Crawford, John Kelly, Pete Richards, Peter Dineen, Dave Korol, Randy McKay, John Blum, Brent Fedyk, Rob Doyle, John Mokosak, Miroslav Ihnacak, Mark Reimer, Don Ostrom. Front row&mdash;Sam St. Laurent, Dennis Smith, Jeff Brubaker, general manager Neil Smith, Lou Crawford, coach Bill Dineen, Murray Eaves, Civic Center director Jack Kelley, Glenn Merkosky, Tim Cheveldae, Donnie Woods.</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>FINAL STANDINGS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-02435/5811109-1-eng-US/f0033-022.jpg" title="f0033-02" width="998" height="1335"></div><h2><b>ADIRONDACK RED WINGS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-03316/5811102-1-eng-US/f0033-032.jpg" title="f0033-03" width="998" height="387"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-04252/5811095-1-eng-US/f0033-042.jpg" title="f0033-04" width="1001" height="540"></div><h2><b>BALTIMORE SKIPJACKS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-05206/5811088-1-eng-US/f0033-052.jpg" title="f0033-05" width="1007" height="816"></div><h2><b>BINGHAMTON WHALERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-06174/5811081-1-eng-US/f0033-062.jpg" title="f0033-06" width="1004" height="405"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-07157/5811074-1-eng-US/f0033-072.jpg" title="f0033-07" width="998" height="363"></div><h2><b>CAPE BRETON OILERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-08132/5811067-1-eng-US/f0033-082.jpg" title="f0033-08" width="1007" height="1014"></div><h2><b>HALIFAX CITADELS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0033-09115/5811060-1-eng-US/f0033-092.jpg" title="f0033-09" width="1004" height="408"></div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-01704/5811053-1-eng-US/f0034-012.jpg" title="f0034-01" width="994" height="474"></div><h2><b>HERSHEY BEARS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-02528/5811046-1-eng-US/f0034-022.jpg" title="f0034-02" width="977" height="864"></div><h2><b>MAINE MARINERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-03412/5811039-1-eng-US/f0034-032.jpg" title="f0034-03" width="977" height="1506"></div><h2><b>MONCTON HAWKS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-04308/5811032-1-eng-US/f0034-042.jpg" title="f0034-04" width="983" height="315"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-05243/5811025-1-eng-US/f0034-052.jpg" title="f0034-05" width="983" height="750"></div><h2><b>NEW HAVEN NIGHTHAWKS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-06210/5811018-1-eng-US/f0034-062.jpg" title="f0034-06" width="986" height="1239"></div><h2><b>NEWMARKET SAINTS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-07194/5811011-1-eng-US/f0034-072.jpg" title="f0034-07" width="980" height="819"></div><h2><b>ROCHESTER AMERICANS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-08183/5811004-1-eng-US/f0034-082.jpg" title="f0034-08" width="983" height="366"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-09169/5810997-1-eng-US/f0034-092.jpg" title="f0034-09" width="989" height="501"></div><h2><b>SHERBROOKE CANADIENS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-10164/5810990-1-eng-US/f0034-102.jpg" title="f0034-10" width="983" height="804"></div><h2><b>SPRINGFIELD INDIANS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-11154/5810983-1-eng-US/f0034-112.jpg" title="f0034-11" width="989" height="996"></div><h2><b>UTICA DEVILS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0034-12150/5810976-1-eng-US/f0034-122.jpg" title="f0034-12" width="983" height="882"></div><h2><b>COMPLETE GOALTENDING</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-01668/5810969-1-eng-US/f0035-012.jpg" title="f0035-01" width="998" height="654"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-02516/5810962-1-eng-US/f0035-022.jpg" title="f0035-02" width="1022" height="771"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-03415/5810955-1-eng-US/f0035-032.jpg" title="f0035-03" width="1004" height="765"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0033-01

AMERICAN LEAGUE

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0035-04" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-04331/5811259-1-eng-US/f0035-042.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Members of the 1988-89 International Hockey League Turner Cup-champion Muskegon Lumberjacks, from left to right: Back row&mdash;Mark Recchi, Jeff Waver, Doug Hobson, Mark Kachowski, Tim Tookey, Kevin MacDonald, Tom Pratt, Jeff Cooper. Middle row&mdash;Vice president and director of marketing Leo Hunstiger, Dave McLlwain, Dave Goertz, Richard Zemlak, Mike Mersch, Brad Aitken, Jeff Daniels, Scott Gruhl, Jim Paek, Lee Giffin, Perry Ganchar, secretary-treasurer John Snider, broadcaster and director of media relations Bob Heethuis. Front row&mdash;Trainer Joe Franke, Frank Xietrangelo, Jock Callander, Mitch Wilson, coach Blair MacDonald, president and general manager Larry Gordon, assistant coach Phil Russell, Dave Michayluk, Todd Charlesworth, Bruce Racine, clubhouse attendant Kurt Skinner.</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>FINAL STANDINGS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-05273/5811252-1-eng-US/f0035-052.jpg" title="f0035-05" width="1007" height="933"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-06246/5811245-1-eng-US/f0035-062.jpg" title="f0035-06" width="1013" height="291"></div><h2><b>DENVER RANGERS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-07228/5811238-1-eng-US/f0035-072.jpg" title="f0035-07" width="1010" height="708"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-08205/5811231-1-eng-US/f0035-082.jpg" title="f0035-08" width="1001" height="447"></div><h2><b>FLINT SPIRITS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0035-09191/5811224-1-eng-US/f0035-092.jpg" title="f0035-09" width="998" height="561"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-01636/5811217-1-eng-US/f0036-012.jpg" title="f0036-01" width="989" height="1059"></div><h2><b>FORT WAYNE KOMETS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-02463/5811210-1-eng-US/f0036-022.jpg" title="f0036-02" width="992" height="846"></div><h2><b>INDIANAPOLIS ICE</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-03373/5811203-1-eng-US/f0036-032.jpg" title="f0036-03" width="992" height="1083"></div><h2><b>KALAMAZOO WINGS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-04282/5811196-1-eng-US/f0036-042.jpg" title="f0036-04" width="992" height="234"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-05229/5811189-1-eng-US/f0036-052.jpg" title="f0036-05" width="983" height="711"></div><h2><b>MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-06198/5811182-1-eng-US/f0036-062.jpg" title="f0036-06" width="994" height="863"></div><h2><b>MUSKEGON LUMBERJACKS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-07183/5811175-1-eng-US/f0036-072.jpg" title="f0036-07" width="991" height="788"></div><h2><b>PEORIA RIVERMEN</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-08174/5811168-1-eng-US/f0036-082.jpg" title="f0036-08" width="982" height="857"></div><h2><b>SAGINAW HAWKS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-09166/5811161-1-eng-US/f0036-092.jpg" title="f0036-09" width="982" height="761"></div><h2><b>SALT LAKE GOLDEN EAGLES</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-10161/5811154-1-eng-US/f0036-102.jpg" title="f0036-10" width="979" height="722"></div><h2><b>COMPLETE GOALTENDING</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0036-11156/5811147-1-eng-US/f0036-112.jpg" title="f0036-11" width="976" height="1661"></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0035-04

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0037-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-01551/5811682-1-eng-US/f0037-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Members of the 1988-89 Canadian Hockey League Memorial Cup-champion Swift Current Broncos, from left to right: Back row&mdash;Kimbi Daniels, Mark McFarlane, Geoff Sanderson, Trevor Sim, Kyle Reeves, Brian Sakic, Matt Ripley, Darren Kruger, Blake Knox. Middle row&mdash;Bob Wilkie, Tim Tisdale, Kevin Barrett, Wade Smith, Peter Soberlak, Chris Larkin, Kevin Knopp, Jeff Knight, Peter Kasowski, athletic therapist GrantFarquhar. Front row&mdash;Don Blishen, president John Rittinger, Sheldon Kennedy, coach-general manager Graham James, Dan Lambert, public relations director John Foster, office manager Ramona Schwartz, assistant coach-general manager Lome Frey, Trevor Kruge</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>FINAL STANDINGS</b></h2><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-02401/5811675-1-eng-US/f0037-022.jpg" title="f0037-02" width="592" height="1463"></div><h3><b>BRANDON</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-03311/5811668-1-eng-US/f0037-032.jpg" title="f0037-03" width="598" height="122"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-04256/5811661-1-eng-US/f0037-042.jpg" title="f0037-04" width="610" height="1142"></div><h3><b>KAMLOOPS</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-05225/5811654-1-eng-US/f0037-052.jpg" title="f0037-05" width="607" height="689"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-06196/5811647-1-eng-US/f0037-062.jpg" title="f0037-06" width="595" height="335"></div><h3><b>LETHBRIDGE</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-07173/5811640-1-eng-US/f0037-072.jpg" title="f0037-07" width="598" height="908"></div><h3><b>MEDICINE HAT</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-08144/5811633-1-eng-US/f0037-082.jpg" title="f0037-08" width="601" height="506"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-09125/5811626-1-eng-US/f0037-092.jpg" title="f0037-09" width="601" height="257"></div><h3><b>MOOSE JAW</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-10115/5811619-1-eng-US/f0037-102.jpg" title="f0037-10" width="604" height="992"></div><h3><b>PORTLAND</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-1196/5811612-1-eng-US/f0037-112.jpg" title="f0037-11" width="598" height="524"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-1286/5811605-1-eng-US/f0037-122.jpg" title="f0037-12" width="601" height="218"></div><h3><b>PRINCE ALBERT</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-1379/5811598-1-eng-US/f0037-132.jpg" title="f0037-13" width="598" height="1025"></div><h3><b>REGINA</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0037-1472/5811591-1-eng-US/f0037-142.jpg" title="f0037-14" width="607" height="515"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-01640/5811584-1-eng-US/f0038-012.jpg" title="f0038-01" width="598" height="347"></div><h3><b>SASKATOON</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-02492/5811577-1-eng-US/f0038-022.jpg" title="f0038-02" width="595" height="917"></div><h3><b>SEATTLE</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-03398/5811570-1-eng-US/f0038-032.jpg" title="f0038-03" width="592" height="827"></div><h3><b>SPOKANE</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-04307/5811563-1-eng-US/f0038-042.jpg" title="f0038-04" width="586" height="1223"></div><h3><b>SWIFT CURRENT</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-05225/5811556-1-eng-US/f0038-052.jpg" title="f0038-05" width="601" height="797"></div><h3><b>TRI-CITY</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-06186/5811549-1-eng-US/f0038-062.jpg" title="f0038-06" width="595" height="1028"></div><h3><b>VICTORIA</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-07172/5811542-1-eng-US/f0038-072.jpg" title="f0038-07" width="595" height="1484"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-08149/5811535-1-eng-US/f0038-082.jpg" title="f0038-08" width="589" height="1415"></div><h2><b>ONTARIO LEAGUE</b></h2><h3><b>FINAL STANDINGS</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-09136/5811528-1-eng-US/f0038-092.jpg" title="f0038-09" width="598" height="1481"></div><h3><b>BELLEVILLE</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-10122/5811521-1-eng-US/f0038-102.jpg" title="f0038-10" width="601" height="320"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-11115/5811514-1-eng-US/f0038-112.jpg" title="f0038-11" width="592" height="347"></div><h3><b>CORNWALL</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-12106/5811507-1-eng-US/f0038-122.jpg" title="f0038-12" width="589" height="665"></div><h3><b>GUELPH</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-1396/5811500-1-eng-US/f0038-132.jpg" title="f0038-13" width="592" height="671"></div><h3><b>KINGSTON</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-1489/5811493-1-eng-US/f0038-142.jpg" title="f0038-14" width="586" height="662"></div><h3><b>KITCHENER</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-1584/5811486-1-eng-US/f0038-152.jpg" title="f0038-15" width="592" height="638"></div><h3><b>LONDON</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-1678/5811479-1-eng-US/f0038-162.jpg" title="f0038-16" width="592" height="173"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-1772/5811472-1-eng-US/f0038-172.jpg" title="f0038-17" width="592" height="575"></div><h3><b>NIAGARA FALLS</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-1867/5811465-1-eng-US/f0038-182.jpg" title="f0038-18" width="595" height="689"></div><h3><b>NORTH BAY</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-1963/5811458-1-eng-US/f0038-192.jpg" title="f0038-19" width="592" height="674"></div><h3><b>OSHAWA</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-2055/5811451-1-eng-US/f0038-202.jpg" title="f0038-20" width="592" height="740"></div><h3><b>OTTAWA</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0038-2151/5811444-1-eng-US/f0038-212.jpg" title="f0038-21" width="601" height="500"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-01602/5811437-1-eng-US/f0039-012.jpg" title="f0039-01" width="601" height="188"></div><h3><b>PETERBOROUGH</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-02423/5811430-1-eng-US/f0039-022.jpg" title="f0039-02" width="595" height="704"></div><h3><b>S.S. MARIE</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-03318/5811423-1-eng-US/f0039-032.jpg" title="f0039-03" width="607" height="644"></div><h3><b>SUDBURY</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-04257/5811416-1-eng-US/f0039-042.jpg" title="f0039-04" width="601" height="671"></div><h3><b>TORONTO</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-05211/5811409-1-eng-US/f0039-052.jpg" title="f0039-05" width="604" height="596"></div><h3><b>WINDSOR</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-06178/5811402-1-eng-US/f0039-062.jpg" title="f0039-06" width="601" height="338"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-07161/5811395-1-eng-US/f0039-072.jpg" title="f0039-07" width="604" height="2513"></div><h2><b>QUEBEC LEAGUE</b></h2><h3><b>FINAL STANDINGS</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-08144/5811388-1-eng-US/f0039-082.jpg" title="f0039-08" width="598" height="806"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-09128/5811381-1-eng-US/f0039-092.jpg" title="f0039-09" width="598" height="578"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-10112/5811374-1-eng-US/f0039-102.jpg" title="f0039-10" width="559" height="1211"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Donald Audette led Laval with 76 goals and 161 points.</b></figcaption></div><h3><b>CHICOUTIMI</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-1196/5811367-1-eng-US/f0039-112.jpg" title="f0039-11" width="601" height="794"></div><h3><b>DRUMMONDVILLE</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-1288/5811360-1-eng-US/f0039-122.jpg" title="f0039-12" width="604" height="668"></div><h3><b>GRANBY</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-1379/5811353-1-eng-US/f0039-132.jpg" title="f0039-13" width="604" height="740"></div><h3><b>HULL</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-1474/5811346-1-eng-US/f0039-142.jpg" title="f0039-14" width="607" height="701"></div><h3><b>LAVAL</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-1566/5811339-1-eng-US/f0039-152.jpg" title="f0039-15" width="592" height="830"></div><h3><b>LONGUEUIL</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-1660/5811332-1-eng-US/f0039-162.jpg" title="f0039-16" width="598" height="809"></div><h3><b>SHAWINIGAN</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-1755/5811325-1-eng-US/f0039-172.jpg" title="f0039-17" width="592" height="98"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-1847/5811318-1-eng-US/f0039-182.jpg" title="f0039-18" width="607" height="545"></div><h3><b>ST-JEAN</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-1943/5811311-1-eng-US/f0039-192.jpg" title="f0039-19" width="613" height="731"></div><h3><b>TROIS-RIVIERES</b></h3><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0039-2038/5811304-1-eng-US/f0039-202.jpg" title="f0039-20" width="604" height="2102"></div><div class="figure-block image-bleed"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-01320/5811297-1-eng-US/f0040-012.jpg" title="f0040-01" width="2954" height="1338"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Members of the 1988-89 National Collegiate Athletic Association-champion Harvard Crimson: coach Bill Cleary, Lane MacDonald, Peter Ciavaglia, C.J. Young, Allen Bourbeau, Ted Donato, John Weisbrod, Ed Krayer, John Murphy, Nick Carone, Tod Hartje, Mike Vukonich, Ed Presz, Kevan Melrose, Paul Howley, Josh Caplan, Craig Taucher, Scott McCormack, Brian McCormack, Kevin Sneddon, Brian Popiel, Chuckie Hughes, Allain Roy, Rich DeFreitas, Scott Farden, Timmy Burke, Michael Francis.</b></figcaption><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0040-02211/5811290-1-eng-US/f0040-022.jpg" title="f0040-02" width="2930" height="1766"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Members of the 1988-89 Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union University Cup-champion York Yeomen: Assistant coach Steve Knish, Rob Crocock, Tod Dungey, Ian Ferguson, Kevin Bonello, Curtis Coyne, Mike Futa, Greg Roberts, Tim Robertson, manager Rob Shepherd, Randy Walker, Ian Baele, Guy Girouard, Mark Apple-whaite, Bill Maguire, Willie Popp, Kent Brimmer, Dan Resko, Brian MacDonald, Neven Kardum, Greg Rolston, Mike Robbins, Luciano Fagioli, coach Graham Wise, Lou Kiriakou.</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0037-01

WESTERN LEAGUE

<div class="byline">DAVE MOLINARI</div><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-01265/5811713-1-eng-US/f0041-012.jpg" title="f0041-01" width="466" height="638"></div><p>It happened as Randy Cunneyworth was cruising down Highway 401.</p><p>One instant, he was enjoying the Ontario scenery from the passenger seat. The next, he felt the crushing impact that nearly squeezed the breath from him&mdash;and it was no accident.</p><p>Cunneyworth, returning from a weekend auto race in Montreal, was perusing a Toronto newspaper when he learned his career had taken a dramatic U-turn.</p><p>About 24 hours earlier, the Pittsburgh Penguins had traded him to Winnipeg, along with goalie Rick Tabaracci and center Dave McLIwain, for defenseman Jim Kyte, right winger Andrew McBain and center Randy Gilhen during the NHL entry draft. Cunneyworth went into an immediate emotional skid.</p><p>&ldquo;I was totally surprised because I wasn&rsquo;t really thinking (about a) trade when I picked up the newspaper travelling 80 miles per hour down the 401,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I just picked up that paper to see who got who and what happened (at the draft-)&hellip;Fortunately, the doors were locked so I couldn&rsquo;t jump out.&rdquo;</p><p>That would have been unlikely, since Cunneyworth never has been one to bail out. If so, he would have left the game years ago, when the Buffalo Sabres did not recognize his potential and planted him deep in its farm system. Or during his early days with the Penguins, when so many of his teammates figured the statistic listed on the scoreboard was less important than almost any other.</p><p>No, Cunneyworth can be inconsistent and ill-tempered on the ice&mdash;he has used his stick on objects other than the puck several times&mdash;but he has always acted like a challenge is something to be embraced, not escaped.</p><p>Cunneyworth became one of the Penguins&rsquo; most popular players not by virtue of enormous skill, but because of grit and persistence. He might not come out of the comer with every loose puck, but the guy who gets it from him can expect to have a fresh bruise or two.</p><p>He gave Pittsburgh infusions of talent and character at a time when those commodities were in precious short supply. Now, the Jets hope he can do the same for them.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve put so much time into the Penguins and felt we were improving and finally, after four years, it paid off for myself and the team,&rdquo; he said.</p><p>&ldquo;In an individual way, I seem to be going right back to where I came in with the Penguins. That&rsquo;s basically where (the Jets) are at: They&rsquo;re rebuilding, trying to make the playoffs.&rdquo;</p><p>Indeed, the Jets are much like the Penguins were when Cunneyworth joined them in a complicated waiver-related deal shortly before the 1985-86 season. Winnipeg has sagged to the bottom of the Smythe Division; trouble is, the Jets don&rsquo;t have a Mario Lemieux around whom to construct a promising future.</p><p>So while Winnipeg GM Mike Smith takes on the imposing task of rebuilding his hockey team, Cunneyworth is trying to keep his off-season and post-career life intact. He had nearly acquired his green card and had business opportunities in Pittsburgh and Rochester, where he spends much of the summer. Now, he is in Winnipeg and his off-ice future is in limbo.</p><p>&ldquo;A lot of ties have been made here in the U.S., and to break them just like that&hellip;I&rsquo;m hoping that, at worst, it will only delay them,&rdquo; he said.</p><p>What he can&rsquo;t hold off are the regrets at leaving a team that is on the cusp of serious Stanley Cup contention for the first time in franchise history. A team that reached that heady level partly because of the contributions made by Cunneyworth.</p><p>&ldquo;I worked pretty hard for the organization and I really wanted to be a part of them. I worked hard and kind of felt like a big part of the organization,&rdquo; he said.</p><p>He surely was in Pittsburgh, and promises to be in Winnipeg. Cunneyworth&rsquo;s intense approach to the game has aged him beyond his 28 years and his most productive seasons may be behind him, but not all of his contributions are easily quantified.</p><p>The Penguins found that out over the past four seasons and will be reminded of it again Oct. 10, when Cunneyworth will be in town for their home opener.</p><p>His sweater that night will be unfamiliar, but his play will not be so. His game, as always, figures to be in overdrive.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0041-01

NEW JET ALMOST DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION

<p>&hellip;<b>Guy Lafleur</b> becomes the first-ever No. 1 overall draft choice (1971, by Montreal) to play for the Quebec Nordiques? <b>Rejean Houle,</b> who played for the Nords in their WHA years, was not No. 1 overall in 1969 as is generally believed, but was protected before the draft by Montreal.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-03127/5811744-1-eng-US/f0041-032.jpg" title="f0041-03" width="974" height="506"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Guy Lafleur</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0041-03

DID YOU KNOW…

<h2><b>RED WINGS</b></h2><p class="dropcap"><span>A</span>fter serving one month of a 35-day jail sentence for violating probation, <b>Petr Klima</b> entered a substance-abuse treatment center for alcoholism. In May, Klima was arrested for the third time for drinking and driving, which violated terms of his probation set by judges in two previous cases. He awaits trial in October on the third charge, but sources close to the case expect Klima to be in training camp when it begins Sept. 9&hellip;<b>Joe Kocur&rsquo;s</b> assault charge against a Boston woman was re-instated by a Massachusetts court in June. He&rsquo;s scheduled to appear in court before a Boston judge in September&hellip; Newly wed<b>Steve Yzerman</b> is re-negotiating his contract. His agent, <b>Gus Badali</b>, has been talking with GM <b>Jimmy Devellano</b>. Yzerman, who finished third in MVP balloting after collecting 65 goals and 155 points, was paid $385,000 last season. The new contract should bring him much closer to the $2 million <b>Wayne Gretzky</b> and <b>Mario Lemieux</b> are paid.</p><h2><b>MAPLE LEAFS</b></h2><p>The search for a new Leaf assistant coach goes on, with former Leaf head coach <b>Dan Maloney</b> the most likely candidate. <b>Barry Melrose</b> was considered, until he accepted the coaching job with the Detroit Red Wings&rsquo; American League affiliate in Adirondack&hellip; Toronto will have five goalies in camp&mdash;<b>Allan Bester</b>, <b>Jeff Reese</b>. <b>Tim Bernhardt</b> and youngsters <b>Peter Ing</b> and <b>Dean Anderson</b>&hellip;Leaf veterans Chris Kotsopoulos. <b>Rick Lanz</b> and <b>Ken Yaremchuk</b> will not return this season. Kotsopoulos signed as a free agent with Detroit, while Lanz and Yaremchuk were not offered contracts. Yaremchuk, a 1982 first-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, is reportedly heading for Europe&hellip;The Leafs have signed <b>Lou Franceschetti</b>, a free agent acquired in a trade with Washington. The Capitals received a sixth-round pick in the 1990 entry draft.</p><h2><b>BLACKHAWKS</b></h2><p>Blackhawks&rsquo; general manager <b>Bob Pulford</b> said center <b>Mike Stapleton</b> has informed the club he will be playing in Europe next season. The 23-year-old Stapleton, selected by the Hawks in the seventh round of the 1984 draft, spent most of last season at Saginaw of the International League. &ldquo;Michael has been a good little player, and I think it&rsquo;s a good deal for him to go over there,&rdquo; Pulford said. &ldquo;He probably will be coming back to us after they finish the season in February.&rdquo; Free agent Bill Gardner, 29, who like Stapleton spent most of last season at Saginaw, also is looking to play this season in Europe&hellip;The Blackhawks have raised ticket prices for next season for all seats, ranging from $2 to $5. The biggest increases are for box and club circle seats, which went from $30 to $35&hellip;After holding out for so many seasons. Hawks&rsquo; owner Bill Wirtz says Chicago Stadium will have advertising on the dasher boards this season. Last year only the boards at the Stadium and Nassau County Coliseum were ad free. &ldquo;There are so many corporate sponsors now in the NHL that it has to be done,&rdquo; Wirtz said&hellip;The Hawks say 18-year-old Ontario League defensemen Adam Bennett of Sudbury and Mike Speer of Guelph, the club&rsquo;s top two picks in the June entry draft, are likely to be invited to training camp.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0041-02171/5811775-1-eng-US/f0041-022.jpg" title="f0041-02" width="554" height="570"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Mike Stapleton is leaving the Hawks to play in Europe.</b></figcaption></div><h2><b>NORTH STARS</b></h2><p>The North Stars have protected themselves against the possibility of losing leading scorer Dave Gagner, who is a free agent with compensation. Gagner has been offered at least a 15-per-cent raise from last season, which gives the Stars the right of first refusal. If another team offers Gagner a salary of at least $265,000 and the Stars chose not to match the offer, then Minnesota would be compensated with two first-round draft picks, one in the top 11, and $100,000. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re not going to lose Gagner,&rdquo; a team official said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a piece of the puzzle.&rdquo;&hellip;The North Stars invited most of the young players in their system to the Twin Cities during the second week in July for conditioning tests&hellip;Minnesota will hold the first 10 days of training camp in Kalamazoo, Mich., for the second year in a row. The K-Wings are the Stars&rsquo; team in the International League.</p><h2><b>BLUES</b></h2><p>Defenseman Rik Wilson returned to the Blues as a free agent signee. Wilson, who played in Europe last season, lives in St. Louis. He signed a two-way contract. He played parts of five seasons for the Blues before leaving for Calgary during the 1985-86 season as part of the <b>Joey Mullen</b> trade. He played for Chicago in &rsquo;8788 before going to Europe last year&hellip;At the end of July, <b>Cliff Ronning</b> was still weighing a Blues&rsquo; contract offer against offers to play in Europe. Ronning has extensive international experience. He played 71 games for the Canadian National team in &rsquo;85-86&hellip; For the third year in a row, the Blues raised the price of singlegame tickets. Prices now range from $12 to $23, up from a $9-to-$ 17 range three years ago.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0041-02

KLIMA EXPECTED IN WINGS’ CAMP

<div class="byline">BY KEITH GAVE</div><p class="dropcap"><span>D</span>etroit Red Wing general manager JimmyDevellano offered one piece of advice to his former chief scout, Neil Smith, who recently accepted the New York Rangers&rsquo; GM post.</p><p>Beware of the reporters in the world&rsquo;s media capital, and pay no attention to the cynics who complain the Rangers haven&rsquo;t won the Stanley Cup in nearly 50 years.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s difficult enough in Detroit, which is a major-league city with two very competitive newspapers,&rdquo; said Devellano, who groomed Smith for management duties the past seven years. &ldquo;In New York, it&rsquo;s magnified maybe 10 times. Not only that, but you&rsquo;re competing with the Yankees and Mets, and Islanders and Devils and the NFL and the NBA.</p><p>&ldquo;Your relationship with the media is going to be all-important. In order to get the amount of time that you&rsquo;ll need in order to rebuild the team, you&rsquo;ll need patience with a lot of people, especially with the media. You only have patience with the fans if you have it with the media.</p><p>&ldquo;And the first thing he has to say to all those people who complain that they haven&rsquo;t won the Stanley Cup since 1940 is, &lsquo;Hey, don&rsquo;t blame me. I started this job on July 17, 1989.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p><p>Smith, 35, who doubled with the Wings as GM of their American League Calder Cup-champion Adirondack club, succeeds Phil Esposito, who was fired in May.</p><p>&ldquo;I have kind of mixed emotions about it, obviously,&rdquo; Devellano said. &ldquo;You hate to lose such a quality young hockey man and a personal friend as well, but that&rsquo;s what happens when you hire good young people and develop them. This is a great opportunity for Neil, to get the top job in the major market like that.&rdquo;</p><p>Ken Holland, who has scouted Western Canada for the Wings the past four seasons, will succeed Smith as Detroit&rsquo;s chief scout. Holland will remain out west, and Devellano said he will hire a new scout to be based in Toronto and cover Eastern Canada&mdash;Smith&rsquo;s old turf.</p><p>Adirondack coach Bill Dineen was promoted to GM July 20 to replace Smith, and the Wings hired former player Barry Melrose to coach the club. Melrose, 33, won a Memorial Cup withthe Western League&rsquo;s Medicine Hat Tigers in 1988 before moving to the Seattle Thunderbirds, who had a 33-35-4 record last season.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-01277/5811806-1-eng-US/f0042-012.jpg" title="f0042-01" width="670" height="750"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Don&rsquo;t count on Colin Campbell also going to the Rangers.</b></figcaption></div><p>One of Smith&rsquo;s first orders will be hiring a coach, and Wings&rsquo; assistant Colin Campbell was presumed to be among Smith&rsquo;s first draft of candidates. But the likelihood of him going to New York is slim, because Devellano won&rsquo;t hesitate to play hardball with his protege.</p><p>Devellano said the Wings would demand compensation from the Rangers for Campbell, who is under contract. Campbell came very close to getting the Los Angeles Kings&rsquo; coaching job, but finished second to Tom Webster.</p><p>Devellano also tried to extract compensation from the Rangers for hiring Smith, whose contract with the Wings was set to expire in August. Devellano wanted the return of the 1990 fifthround draft pick Detroit gave up for defenseman Jim Pavese. The Rangers appealed to league officials, who ruled that no compensation was necessary.</p><h2><b>DETROIT</b></h2><h3><b>TRANSACTIONS</b></h3><p><b>June 30:</b> Torrie Robertson, LW. signed one-year contract as free agent. Mike O&rsquo;Connell, D. signed one-year contract.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0042-01

BEWARE NEW YORK MEDIA, GM WARNS PROTEGE

<div class="byline">BY TIM SASSONE</div><p>After 12 seasons in Chicago, Doug Wilson is as much a fixture in the Windy City as deep dish pizza.</p><p>So Blackhawks&rsquo; general manager Bob Pulford probably should be believed when he says it&rsquo;s only a matter of time before the club and free-agent defenseman come to terms on a new contract.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re still working on it, but we&rsquo;ll get it knocked out,&rdquo; Pulford said. &ldquo;We always have. I have a lot of respect for Doug. We want him back and we&rsquo;re looking for him to play a big role on our club this season.&rdquo;</p><p>Wilson, who turned 32 on July 5, became a free agent July 1 after his contract expired. Wilson earned an estimated $300,000 last year, the second-highest salary on the club behind center Denis Savard.</p><p>Wilson is a free agent without compensation, but the Hawks retain the right of first refusal should the veteran defenseman receive an offer from another team. Wilson is still one of the better offensive defensemen in the NHL, as evidenced by his 15-47-62 totals in 66 games last season.</p><p>It&rsquo;s believed as many as six clubs have expressed an interest in Wilson although the defenseman&rsquo;s Ottawa-based agent, Larry Kelly, has refused to name them. Three of those teams are rumored to be Los Angeles, Detroit and Pittsburgh. Penguins&rsquo; general manager Tony Esposito has said he doesn&rsquo;t expect Wilson to leave Chicago.</p><p>Pulford said he&rsquo;s had numerous discussions with Wilson and his agent and the Hawks will make every effort to re-sign their all-time leading scorer on defense and former Norris Trophy winner.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ll do whatever it takes, but there is a cutoff point,&rdquo; Pulford said. &ldquo;Hopefully we&rsquo;ll work it out.&rdquo;</p><p>Pulford was to leave on vacation near the end of July and was expected, before then, to meetwith Kelly once again in Ottawa.</p><div class="figure-block image-block"><img src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0042-02201/5811837-1-eng-US/f0042-022.jpg" title="f0042-02" width="686" height="750"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>As many as six teams are said to be interested in Doug Wilson.</b></figcaption></div><p>Wilson has said on several occasions he doesn&rsquo;t want to leave Chicago, where he has established roots in the community and has a good job with the Coca-Cola Bottling Company waiting for him when he&rsquo;s through playing.</p><p>&ldquo;This is my home and I want to stay here,&rdquo; Wilson said. &ldquo;The way we finished the season, the Blackhawks&rsquo; organization was going in the right direction and I want to be part of it.&rdquo;</p><p>Pulford also reported progress in negotiations with free-agent goalie Alain Chevrier, who played the biggest role in the Hawks reaching the Campbell Conference finals this past spring. He was 13-11-2 with a 3.51 goals-against average after coming to Chicago from the Winnipeg Jets.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ll get it done,&rdquo; Pulford predicted of the negotiations with Chevrier and his agent, Larry Rauch. &ldquo;I went to New York and met with Chevrier and his lawyer and we had a good meeting. We&rsquo;re still apart in money but not in staggering sums.&rdquo;</p><p>Like Wilson, Chevrier also has said he doesn&rsquo;t want to leave Chicago. The 28-year-old came to the Hawks in a trade from Winnipeg last January and quickly grew to love the city while becoming a fan favorite.</p><p>Other than the ongoing negotiations with Wilson and Chevrier, it&rsquo;s been a quiet summer for Pulford and the Hawks. Whether it stays that way until the start of training camp remains to be seen.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

f0042-02

WILSON EXPECTED TO STAY IN CHICAGO

<div class="byline">BY GARY OLSON</div><p>The Minnesota North Stars are sending some of their prospects to summer camp, hoping to get a jump on winter.</p><p>With this first-time move, the Stars are showing hockey camps aren&rsquo;t just for kids any more. Chuck Grillo, director of professional scouting for the North Stars, has for 12 years run Minnesota Hockey School at Minne-wawa Lodge in Brainerd, one of the state&rsquo;s most popular resort areas.</p><p>The pros are there in hopes of accelerating their rides on the road to the NHL.</p><p>&ldquo;If we&rsquo;re to succeed as scouts, thecloser we stay to a player&rsquo;s development, the better,&rdquo; Grillo said. &ldquo;What usually happens after a team drafts an 18-year-old, unless it&rsquo;s a Mike Modano or Trevor Linden, is that they turn him over to someone else for the next two or three years.</p><p>&ldquo;No matter how hard a coach tries, his first concern can&rsquo;t be the development of a single player&rsquo;s skills. His priorities usually begin with winning and losing, and he&rsquo;s more involved with the team aspects of the game than an individual&rsquo;s skills.</p><p>&ldquo;Kevin Constantine (director of coaching at Grillo&rsquo;s camp) told me we&rsquo;ve done morm to help these players improve their skills in five weeksthan he was able to do all last season. It&rsquo;s certainly not a rap against coaches because he&rsquo;s a coach.&rdquo;</p><p>Constantine is an assistant with Kalamazoo, the Stars&rsquo; International League affiliate.</p><p>The North Stars will pay an unspecified amount for as many as 25 players at Grillo&rsquo;s camp. Grillo called it &ldquo;in-service&rdquo; training for the North Star hopefuls. College players must pay their own expenses to preserve their eligibility.</p><p>Defensemen Link Gaetz and Rob Zettler are two of the better-known North Star hopefuls attending the camp. Both Gaetz, a second-round draft pick in 1988 and Zettler, a third-rounder in 1986, are given good shots at beginning the year in Minnesota. They are among 40 NHL draft picks attending the camp, 25 of whom belong to the North Stars.</p><p>Another North Star hopeful attending the camp is right winger Scott Robinson, who joined the organization last year after attending the University of Calgary. Robinson separated his shoulder twice last year with Kalamazoo.</p><p>&ldquo;I hope to avoid those injuries next season with the training I&rsquo;m doing this summer,&rdquo; said Robinson.</p><p>Dean Lombardi, the Stars&rsquo; assistant general manager, thinks it&rsquo;s long overdue young players attend summer hockey camps.</p><p>&ldquo;Why does baseball have a winter league for their young players?&rdquo; Lombardi asks, answering a question with a question. &ldquo;Today&rsquo;s hockey players are year-around athletes and I don&rsquo;t even want to speculate about why it&rsquo;s taken hockey so long to recognize it. Baseball has been doing it for 40 years.</p><p>&ldquo;You learn as much about the kids who are taking advantage of this opportunity through the off-ice activities as you will from what they do on the ice. It gives you a really good read on a kid&rsquo;s character.&rdquo;</p><p>Grillo insists the return on the North Stars&rsquo; considerable investment will pay off in the future.</p><p>&ldquo;What&rsquo;s the cost of signing the wrong player to a three-year contract?&rdquo; Grillo asked. &ldquo;What&rsquo;s the cost of signing a free agent? Of turning a draft pick over to someone else?</p><p>&ldquo;Our camp gives the North Stars&rsquo; players a chance to spend time together, develop a feeling for each other and get a sense of where they are and where they have to be. We&rsquo;re giving the kids a chance to work on their skills and accelerate their development.</p><p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t have to be a worldclass athlete to be in world-class shape, and that alone will give a player an advantage.&rdquo;</p><h2><b>MINNESOTA</b></h2><h3><b>TRANSACTIONS</b></h3><p><b>July 10</b>: Dave Chambers signed as assistant coach.</p><p><b>July 12:</b> Clark Donatelli. LW. and Mario Thyer, C, signed as free agents.</p><p><b>July 18:</b> Gary Emmons, C. signed as free agent.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

NORTH STAR HOPEFULS GO TO SUMMER CAMP

<div class="image-hero"><img title="f0047-01" src="/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/images/f0047-01200/5811923-1-eng-US/f0047-012.jpg"><figcaption class="caption-body"><b>Appearances can be deceiving. The tall guy on the right is Czechoslovakia&rsquo;s Vladimir Dzurilla, who was outstanding in 1976 Canada Cup, but lost the final 5-4 to tournament MVP Rogie Vachon of Canada. The two goalies traded jerseys after the match, following international tradition.</b></figcaption></div><span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span>

f0047-01

WAY WE WERE

<div class="byline">BY JEFF GORDON</div><p>Few people were following the New York Rangers&rsquo; search for a new general manager more closely than St. Louis Blues&rsquo; GM Ron Caron.</p><p>That&rsquo;s because the Rangers employ a player the Blues covet perhaps as much as any in the league&mdash;defenseman James Patrick.</p><p>At the NHL draft, Caron made a pitch to Rangers&rsquo; executive vice president Jack Diller for Patrick. At thatpoint, Diller was more than a month away from settling on Detroit Red Wings&rsquo; director of scouting Neil Smith to run his hockey operation.</p><p>Now that the Rangers finally have their man to run the hockey team, the Blues want Patrick to be their man as they attempt to pass the Wings in the Norris Division.</p><p>&ldquo;I protected myself by saying, &lsquo;If you people ever consider trading Patrick to get additional players in other areas for your team. I&rsquo;d be willing to listen,&rsquo;&rdquo; Caron said.</p><p>Actually, Caron would do more an listen. He would start throwing ade proposals at the Rangers. He promised to top all offers if Patrick is made available.</p><p>He could make an attractive offer, the Blues sign free agent Cliff Ronning, who scored 24 goals playing art-time in 64 games for St. Louis this past season, they will have a surlus of quality centers. Even if they don&rsquo;t sign Ronning, there are at least te good centers on the roster.</p><p>Caron seems committed to new-coner Adam Oates and rookie Rod Bind&rsquo;Amour. Even if checking cente; Rick Meagher moves to left wing, Tiny Hrkac and Peter Zezel would have to fight for the other scoring line assignment.</p><p>So Caron might deal either Hrkacor Zezel to fill his crying need for an ofense-minded defenseman. Blues&rsquo; defensemen scored just 20 goals last season, fewest in the league.</p><p>Zezel scored 53 points in 52 games with the Blues last season and would have more trade value than Hrkac, who scored a disappointing 45 in 70. 11986-87, Hrkac scored an NCAA-record 125 points at North Dakota and won the Hobey Baker Award as top U.S. college hockey player.</p><p>When Caron traded the Blues&rsquo; all-time leading scorer Bernie Federko to Debit for Oates, he cited his commitment to Hrkac as a reason.</p><p>Pattick was the player Caron really wanted to get when Blues&rsquo; management asked him to trade Doug Gilmor last season because of a brewing sexicandal.</p><p>When the Patrick-Gilmour deal cannot be arranged, Gilmour was sent along with Mark Hunter to Calgary for Mike Bullard. Bullard was then traded to Philadelphia for Zezel, who right be offered to the Rangers a start of a pitch for Patrick.</p><p>Grinding right winger Herb Ragla, goaltender Greg Millen, defense Brian Benning, enforcer Craig Cue and left winger Gino Cavallini he also been the subject of trade seculation.</p><p>With the recent signing of University of Wisconsin netminder Curtis Joseph, the Blues have a surplus of galies. In addition to Millen, the lues have two other goalies they feel <i>g</i> ready for the NHL, Pat Jablonski ad Vincent Riendeau. It&rsquo;s possible of the goalies would be dealt to Rangers as part of a deal for Patric. However, since the Rangers are string in net with John Vanbies-bruck and Bob Froese, a more likely secario would have the Blues trading one of the goalies for a player who would then be dealt to New York.</p><p>At Caron will wait until Smith nates a new coach, before seriously putting trade proposals.</p><p>It is unlikely they would make anyplayer movements before they have picked a coach,&rdquo; Caron said.</p><h2><b>ST. LOUIS</b></h2><h3><b>TRANSACTION</b></h3><p><b>July 18</b>: Rik Wilson, D, signed as a tree agent.<span class="end-marker"> &#9632;</span></p>

Search for your favorite player or team

August 1, 1989

JAIL NOT LIKELY IN PROBERT CONVICTION

CROSSWORD

THEY’RE HERE

BESTER PREPARED FOR CHALLENGE AS NO. 1