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May 18, 1990
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.
SMITH PREPARED FOR BUSY SUMMER
Summer. For most, a time of rejuvenation and renewal, a time for fun and sun. For your average NHL general manager, it’s also a time for irritation and agitation, a time when half the players in the organization are knocking on your door in search of more money and the other half will be sure to knock next summer. It is a time, Winnipeg Jets’ GM Mike Smith has discovered that he does not look forward to. “It’s an aspect of the job I don’t like,” said Smith, who has 32 players to sign this summer. Last year, in his first summer on the job, he signed 28. “To start with, you’re always in a disagreement,” he said. “You think a player is worth ‘X’ dollars and the player and his representative think he’s…
BRUINS FAIL TO SIGN WALZ
BRUINS Efforts to sign top prospect Wes Walz for the playoffs were broken off. “See-ya-later, sayonarra, broken off, goodbye,” said general manager Harry Sinden, whose efforts to sign Walz failed when the Western League player of the year demanded a one-way contract for next season. “It’s something I’ve never done and I don’t think I should do it in this case. I mean, if it’s Mario Lemieux, sure. If it’s a 100 per cent sure-fire NHLer, okay.” Walz, a center, became eligible to join the Bruins when his Leth-bridge team lost in the WHL playoffs to Kamloops. “I’d love to play for the Boston Bruins one day and maybe have a long career there,” Walz said, “but it just didn’t pan out. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens…
SEVERAL WINGS MAY BE CALIFORNIA DREAMING
The sale of the Minnesota North Stars to Howard Baldwin and Morris Belzberg will have a profound effect on several players on the Kalamazoo Wings’ roster. North Stars’ owners Gordon and George Gund asked for “at least $50 million” for the North Stars, yet agreed to sell for $31.5 million. Part of the reason for accepting the lower price is the Gunds will get to take 11 I skaters and two goaltenders with fewer than 50 games of NHL experience with them when they set up an expansion franchise in the California Bay Area. That’s where the Wings, the North Stars’ No. 1 affiliate, come in. Kalamazoo’s highly-touted young defense includes Pat McLeod, Rob Zettler. Dean Kolstad, Link Gaetz and Jayson More. They will almost certainly go to California. Injured goaltender Jarmo Myllys…
DOMINANT SOVIETS TAKE GOLD
When it was almost over, Viktor Tikhonov finally summoned up the courage to remove his overcoat. Never mind that the coach of the Soviet national team was red-faced and soaking wet from the heat in the steamy Allemand Arena. The removal of the coat was a symbolic gesture—with seconds to go Tikhonov was finally convinced the Soviets would win their record-setting 22nd World Championships. Not that anyone else needed convincing. The Soviets were at their dominating best in winning the World Championships again. If Tikhonov was sweating the 5-0 gold-medal win over Czechoslovakia May 2, he was likely the only one worried. “I am superstitious,” Tikhonov said afterwards, still sweaty, but smiling. “It is my lucky coat. “I knew well it was hot. With only 10 minutes remaining, I tried to take it off.…
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