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May 15, 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.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS
The New York Islanders’ phenomenal record at the beginning of the 1980s shows what a valuable and formidable tool the draft can be. Aside from a couple of key trades, most of the players who won Stanley Cups between 1980 and 1983 were Islanders’ draft picks. This time around, it is clear the Islanders are going to try the same patient formula as they try to rebuild their club. KEY DECISION-MAKER: Gerry (Tex) Ehman, who joined the Islanders as a scout in 1974, has been assistant general manager and director of scouting for the past seven years. He is general manager Bill Torrey’s right-hand man and the person with the final say on who the Islanders draft. STAFF: Ehman; Bert Marshall, crosschecker; Earl Ingarfield, western Canada scout; Hal Laycoe, special assignment scout; Harry…
TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Mike Ricci has discovered life at the top is far from lonely. A year ago, the Peterborough Pete center was projected as the odds-on favorite to be taken No. 1 overall in the 1990 National Hockey League entry draft. Scouts were so impressed they suggested Ricci would have been first overall in 1989 were he eligible. “I know it’s impossible,” he said after the draft last summer, “but when they called the first player’s name, I was hoping they would pick me.” Ricci remains a premier prospect for this year’s draft, set for June 16 (10 a.m. PDT) at Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum. But this is no one-horse race. In fact, there is a group of four, perhaps five, players who could go No. 1 to the Quebec Nordiques. Seattle Thunderbird center Petr Nedved and…
LOS ANGELES KINGS
If there were any consolation to be extracted from the Los Angeles Kings’ one-year slide from fourth overall to fourth in the Smythe Division, it is they own a first-round draft pick. “It wasn’t a pretty year, but in terms of the draft we certainly picked the right time to have an off-year,” general manager Rogie Vachon says. As part of the Wayne Gretzky trade, the Kings sent first-round picks in ’89, ’91 and ’93 to the Edmonton Oilers. KEY DECISION-MAKER: Vachon relies heavily on his scouts for information and recommendations, but he has the final say. STAFF: Nick Beverley, director of player personnel and development; Bob Owen, head amateur scout; Jim Anderson and Joe Mahoney, New England scouts; Ron Ansell, western Canada scout; Serge Blanchard, Quebec scout; John Bymark and Gary Harker, Minnesota…
SCOUTS’ HONOR
Play the game, have a great career and move on into coaching or management. For a half century, it was the only route to the NHL’s executive suite. Anyone who hadn’t seen the Boston Garden from ice level in a full-blown sweat would never have been considered as management material. But this is 1990. There are 21 cities which boast NHL franchises. And kids still stand in driveways from Lucky Lake to Los Angeles, their fantasies ranging from Luc Robitaille to Paul Coffey to Jari Kurri. The difference is, any one of those kids, whether he can skate like Richard or shoot like Maclnnis, can run a club in the NHL. Some day. Just ask Mike Smith. Or Neil Smith. Or Floyd Smith. Or even Jack Ferriera, who didn’t so much keep up with…
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