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Yearbook 1989
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.
TURMOIL AT THE TOP
Skeptics are forgiven if they believe it will take a miracle on the order of loaves and fishes for the Toronto Maple Leafs to demonstrate significant improvement this year. Not that it should be too hard. After all, the second-worst team in the NHL only compiled 52 points in recording their ninth straight losing season. But a web of internal problems makes it unlikely Toronto can stop its dizzying fall from grace that bottomed out in last year’s playoffs when Detroit demolished the Maple Leafs 8-0. The diversity of problems facing the franchise is stunning. None is more disturbing than team chemistry. Owner Harold Ballard, general manager Gord Stellick, coach John Brophy and their players represent an uneasy alliance. Ballard opted for expediency over reasonable executive thinking in making Stellick, then 30, the youngest GM in…
FAREWELL TO FARWELL FOR MEDICINE HAT
The Medicine Hat Tigers won their second straight Memorial Cup in May, and fans hoped general manager Russ Farwell’s magic could bring the Western League club a third in ’89. But the fantasy turned sour when Farwell refused to re-sign, citing philosophical and financial differences with owner George Maser. Farwell said he wanted an NHL job. After all, the 32-year-old masterminded a .669 winning percentage in six years, .715 over the last four. But the NHL didn’t beckon, so Farwell settled in Seattle. The Thunderbirds’ uniforms weren’t all that was greener. “I don’t want to get involved with a public debate, but he (Maser) knows I was one of the three lowest-paid general managers in the league last year,” said Farwell. Maser said, “Russ had a hell of a deal. Lots of money and…
YOUNG AND RESTLESS
Two straight sub-standard seasons have led to sweeping changes in the Quebec Nordiques’ organization. Long gone is coach Andre Savard, last year’s bright hope to lead the team back to respectability. He was replaced early last season by Ron Lapointe. Gone, too, is the general manager under whom Lapointe worked, Maurice Filion. When the Nordiques missed the playoff cut for the first time since 1980—their first NHL season—Filion was kicked upstairs to the newly-created role of vice president in charge of hockey operations. The man now in charge is Martin Madden, promoted to GM from his old job as director of recruiting. Madden’s new assistant is Jean Perron, former coach of the Nords’ arch-rivals, the Montreal Canadiens. Perron’s differences with his players in Montreal led to his eventual dismissal; now, as an assistant GM,…
MOTOR CITY MADNESS
Though the Detroit Red Wings have bullied their divisional opponents en route to the Stanley Cup semi-finals the past two springs, they approach the season with as much trepidation as confidence. Their 93-point, fifth-overall, Norris Division-championship season ended in disappointment when a half-dozen players blew curfew during a drinking binge the night before their season-ending loss at Edmonton. The group included Bob Probert, Detroit’s best playoff performer for the second straight season; John Chabot, who anchored the club’s penalty-killing unit and centered the top line after Steve Yzerman went down with a knee injury; left winger Petr Klima, who was injured at the time; right winger Joey Kocur, who was also injured and now may have a difficult time making the team; defenseman Darren Veitch, who was traded to Toronto; and goalie…
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