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August 19, 1994
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.
Front office stable, but on-ice problems persist
Tranquility has returned to the Los Angeles Kings’ front office with coach Barry Melrose and new general manager Sam McMaster behaving like life-long pals. All has been quiet in the upper echelons of management as well, with owners Jeffrey Sudikoff and Joseph Cohen keeping low profiles. The situation is in stark contrast to last season, before the debt-ridden Bruce McNall sold 72 per cent of the team to the telecommunications executives for $60 million, all of which went to cover a bank loan. McNall was also investigated by a federal grand jury and filed for bankruptcy. But the present stability, which was lacking under Melrose and since-deposed GM Nick Beverley, can’t camouflage problems. With few exceptions, it looks like the Kings will return the same cast that stumbled to a 2745-12 record and missed…
Quinn slow on the mark in making Rick his pick
The month of July is traditionally a slow one for most NHL teams, but the Vancouver Canucks took it to an extreme. Still basking in the glory of their tremendous playoff run, the Canucks barely made a ripple of news in the first full month of summer. Team president, general manager and coach Pat Quinn took some well-deserved time off, again delaying his decision on the coaching front. At the draft in late June, Quinn said he hoped to have the matter resolved by mid-July. Then in mid-July, he stated it might be another week. But as the month entered its final week, there was still no word from Quinn that he intended to hand the coaching reins to chief assistant Rick Ley. The only two items of consequence were the signing of…
Growth from within
The state of the Washington Capitals is good, but not perfect. There continue to be missing pieces to be filled before the project is complete. There are pluses, the foremost being coach Jim Schoenfeld. Schoenfeld replaced Terry Murray in late January and spent the next three months trying to reshape the club in the image he wanted while clawing his way into the playoffs. It took three months for Schoenfeld to complete his personnel evaluation, a step he won’t have to go through this fall. He knows the veterans and what they can do; it’s the rookies and free agents-if any-who will need a closer look. Gone is center Mike Ridley, the team’s second-leading scorer and top penalty-killer, traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for right winger Rob Pearson. General manager David Poile is…
Lacroix’s summer reshuffling sends expectations soaring
It’s the same story year after year. The Quebec Nordiques always have a championship-calibre team in July and August. The Nordiques have again grabbed a good portion of the summer headlines ever since their season ended April 14. Out went coach-general manager Pierre Page. When more than half the players rebelled against him, it was expected he would move aside as coach, even if he didn’t want to. But nobody thought he would leave his job as GM. In stepped Pierre Lacroix, a man not well know by fans outside Quebec, but respected by hockey people. The former player agent brought with him business savvy and 20 years experience in pro hockey. Lacroix immediately changed the team’s identity. A month into his new job, he stole the spotlight at the draft in Hartford by…
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