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Yearbook 1985
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.
1984-85 AHL Regular Season Preview
The summer of 1984 produced changes, some surprises and a slightly different version of the venerable—and rather resilient—American Hockey League. For the third straight season, the AHL will have 13 teams, an all-time high for the 49-year-old league. And, once again, the 13clubs will be located in the same cities, with the same divisional alignments. But you might be hard-pressed to draw many more comparisons. For starters, the death of the Central Hockey League shortly after the completion of the 1983-84 season sent five National Hockey League teams looking for affiliates to send their minor league prospects. Add to that a little jockeying by some member clubs and you have all the ingredients needed for an active off-season. After some false finishes, what has emerged is a league with 13 teams, six of…
Chicago Black Hawks
It happened in a game against Toronto. Al Secord, the heart and soul of the Chicago Black Hawks, was playing in his first game of the season after missing most of it with tom stomach muscles. He played with his usual amount of intensity—even if he was grossly out of shape—and even gave Toronto winger Stewart Gavin a thunderous bodycheck that forced the Leaf winger to miss the balance of the game. One could only imagine how good the Hawks would have been last season with Secord playing 80 games. And Darryl Sutter. And Curt Fraser. And Doug Wilson. And Tom Lysiak. And… Okay, you get the message. The Hawks were battered and bruised, a dispirited group that fought hard to overcome the obstacles but simply couldn’t. This season, if the Hawks don’t…
Washington Capitals
When the Washington Capitals signed veteran Paul Gardner in the off-season, it was a minor move with major ramifications. Gardner, 28, was released by the Pittsburgh Penguins and his career appeared to be over, but the Caps rescued him and signed him to a contract. “We lack offensive production and Paul Gardner could be a specialist for us on the power play,” Cap general manager David Poile said at the time. “Also, I’d like to be able to set up our team with two offensive lines and two defensive lines. That is a gross understatement. The Caps’ leading scorer, Mike Gartner, had only 85 points. The team is built with defense in mind, as coach Bryan Murray is more content to let the other team make mistakes. He can’t really be faulted, though, because…
Pittsburgh Penguins
If Saturday Night Live’s Joe Piscopo had to do a report on the Pittsburgh Penguins, he’d say, “Mario Lemieux-…Franchise…Big contract…Big businessman…Big bust? The stories of Lemieux’s record-breaking season in the Quebec League in 1983-84 (133 goals, 282 points in 70 games) have been well documented, along with his refusal to wear the Penguins’ sweater at the National Hockey League entry draft in June, and his much-heralded contract signing ($600,000 for two years plus an option and a signing bonus). So what more can you say about Lemieux? Well, he has the power to singlehandedly bring the Penguin fans back to the Igloo, or dig the franchise into its grave. Last season the fans came in droves to watch the Penguins, but somewhere during the course of their drive they lost directions to the Igloo…