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September 3, 1999
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.
Sustained brilliance Sawchuk’s legacy
Two of the greatest goaltenders ever jogged silently side-by-side for days without knowing who the other was. Ten years ago, legendary Toronto Maple Leafs’ netminder Johnny Bower was on a cruise when he noticed that after breakfast each morning a man would run by twice. “This guy looked like a teacher, a professor,” Bower recalled. “So I didn’t pay too much attention to him.” Bower, then 65, decided if this “professor” could do two laps of the ship, he could do one. “After a couple days of running together, I finally introduced myself to him,” Bower said. “He told me his name. His English wasn’t very good, but he tried to tell me all about himself.” The scholarly looking fellow was, of course, Dominik Hasek, who was still two years away from coming to North…
Sather picks Ranford for backup role
The biggest off-season question for the Edmonton Oilers was just what the organization could net in the goaltending department. Armed with a small budget, GM-president Glen Sather not only faced re-signing Tommy Salo, but finding a suitable backup. The search ended when Sather reeled in former Oilers’ netminder Bill Ranford, who became a free agent when he was bought out by the Detroit Red Wings. “Once you’re an unrestricted free agent, you’ve got a lot of leeway in where you want to go, but there wasn’t a lot of job opportunities out there,” said Ranford, 32, who inked a one-year deal worth $455,000 (U.S.). “I wanted to be out West-I’d been out East too long.” Ranford, who led the Oilers to the 1990 Stanley Cup and won the Conn Smythe trophy, will back…
Senators should sue if Yashin holds out
Alexei Yashin wants to renegotiate his contract again? Who does he think he is, Keith Tkachuk? I encourage the Ottawa Senators to set a precedent for all pro sports teams: If Yashin refuses to fulfill his obligation, sue him for breach of contract. Demand his current and future compensation be awarded to the club for damage done to the team’s performance in the coming year. If Yashin thinks he’s worth $10 million, then he should be sued for $10 million despite a $3.6-tnillion (U.S.) contract this season. Why? Assume Yashin is correct in his evaluation of his skills: $10 million becomes his “replacement value.” He nonetheless has a legitimate contract to supply those skills at below market value. He signed a long-term contract for the stability it offered and so risked a lower wage in…
King leaves club’s bench to be Habs’ European scout
In many ways, it was a relationship doomed from the start. Dave King had too many qualifications to be simply an assistant coach, and while Alain Vigneault was officially the head coach, he often turned to King for advice. That they survived for two seasons behind the Montreal Canadiens’ bench spoke volumes about each man. But the inevitable finally occurred Aug. 13, when the Canadiens announced King had agreed to a two-year contract for the newly created position of European pro scout. “One of the things that excites me about this new position is that it gives me an opportunity to grow,” King said. “I enjoyed the past two years, but there wasn’t that opportunity for growth. “I’m going to miss coaching and this doesn’t mean I won’t coach again.” King spent 11 years…
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