NEWS OF MAPLE LEAFS
Last Update:
Monday July 3, 2000 11:01PM EST
Friday June 30 2000 Wendel Clark announces retirement from hockey
With tears streaming down his cheeks, Wendel Clark said goodbye to hockey.
The 15-year veteran retired Thursday, ending a career in which his fearless play endeared him to Toronto Maple Leafs fans.
"I just wanted to play hockey," the 33-year-old winger said at a news conference at Air Canada Centre. "That's pretty much the whole story."
In his prime, Clark could score with a wicked wrist shot, punish opponents with clean checks and drop his gloves at a moment's notice. He was a fighter with a knockout punch. He was also the fans' choice, and he rocked Maple Leaf Gardens.
"I've been asked a lot why we've had the relationship we've had," Clark said. I've never had an answer. But maybe that's why this is the right place to retire. ...
"I started as a Leaf and I can end as a Leaf. No matter where I played this has always felt like home."
Clark spent 121/2 seasons during three stints with Toronto, and he also played for Quebec, the New York Islanders, Tampa Bay, Detroit and Chicago. He was a 30-plus goal scorer five times.
"For 15 years, even when he was wearing other jerseys, Leaf fans loved Wendel Clark," Leafs president Ken Dryden said. "Wendel, you have given Leaf fans many years of your career and many more years of memories."
The Maple Leafs, who made Clark the first overall pick in the 1985 entry draft, reportedly had no plans to pick up the option on his $700,000 contract for the 2000-2001 season. There is a chance he might join the front office.
Clark's rambunctious style took a toll on his body, and his career was beset by injuries.
"I think that was a factor," said Leafs winger Steve Thomas, who first played with Clark in 1985-86. "He was 5-10 but played like he was 6-3. It showed the heart he had."
For his career, Clark had 330 goals and 234 assists in 793 regular-season games and 37 goals and 32 assists in 95 playoff games.
The height of Clark's popularity probably came during the 1993 playoffs, when he and Doug Gilmour carried an overachieving team to the semifinals. Clark's goal in Game 6 against Los Angeles had given the Leafs the lead, and it seemed as if a trip to the finals to play Montreal was imminent. But the Kings came back and won Game 7.
Clark's best season followed in 1993-94, when he scored a career-best 46 goals in only 64 games. Then, as injuries followed, his career began to slide.
Clark never won a Stanley Cup. The Colorado Avalanche, transplanted from Quebec, traded the winger to the Islanders early in the 1995-96 season, the year the Avalanche won the Cup.
Clark returned to the Maple Leafs for a second time in March 1996. On Jan. 8, he returned to Toronto again, where he had one last playoff run.
"We added it up and it's been five cities in the last year," Clark said. "It gets a little tougher."
CLARK'S HIGHLIGHTS
1985 -- Drafted first overall by the Maple Leafs.
1986 -- Calder Trophy runner-up after a 34-goal rookie season.
1988-90 -- Played just 81 of a possible 240 games because of injury.
1991 -- Named 14th captain of the Leafs. Had eight points in first two games, then succumbed to injuries.
1992-93 -- Had 20 playoff points, recovered from public flogging to help Leafs within a game of Stanley Cup final.
1993-94 -- After a career-high 76 points, was traded to Quebec as part of the Mats Sundin blockbuster.
1995-96 -- Dealt to the Islanders and then back to the Leafs, finishing with an eight-game points streak.
1996-97 -- Had a second consecutive 30-goal season.
1997-98 -- Signed as a free agent by Tampa Bay, represented Lightning in all-star game.
1998-99 -- Traded to the Red Wings for playoff run, signed with Chicago during the summer.
2000 -- Third stint with Leafs, this time as a free agent. After six points in 26 regular-season and playoff games, he announced his retirement June 29.
Final NHL totals -- 15 seasons, 330 goals, 234 assists in 793 regular-season games, 1,690 penalty minutes, 95 playoff games, 69 points.
The Chief. Darryl. Dougie.
We knew each by just one name. We knew them as three of the 16 men who were bestowed the honour of wearing the prestigious captain's C on their Maple Leafs sweater.
We knew them as being classy hockey players who were proud of wearing the blue and white.
Yesterday it was their turn to pay homage to another Leafs icon, whom George Armstrong, Darryl Sittler and Doug Gilmour have the utmost respect for.
Wendel.
Like Armstrong Sittler and Gilmour, Wendel Clark, who was the team captain from 1991-94, respects the history of the Leafs organization. The native of Kelvington, Sask., who shed tears while announcing his retirement yesterday, always represented the team with dignity.
"He is such a fine person," said Armstrong, who led the Leafs to four Stanley Cups during his 12-year tenure as captain from 1957 to 1969. "There was a day when Wendel was the only thing worthwhile going down to Maple Leaf Gardens to see.
"In his heyday, he was my kind of hockey player. He came to play every night, especially when he was young and healthy."
Sittler, who was captain from 1975 to 1981 during the volcanic ownership of Harold Ballard, is now a marketing and community consultant with the team. That role allowed him to get to know Clark off the ice as well.
"Wendel created an impact right off the bat after he had joined the Leafs (in 1985), whether it be because of his hard hits, fights or offensive production," Sittler said. "He created a lot of excitement. "I'm happy for the fact that Wendel had the opportunity to retire in blue and white.
"Wendel is a down-to-earth guy. There is nothing phoney about him. I know he wore the C with pride and with responsibility. Sometimes it is difficult to wear that C when things are not going well for the team, but guys always looked up to Wendel.
"When you're a kid who grew up in Saskatchewan, or any other part of Canada, you know the history and the tradition that comes with being part of the Maple Leafs."
Clark and Gilmour led the Leafs to the Stanley Cup semi-finals in 1993 and 1994, only to suffer heartbreaking eliminations at the hands of the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks respectively. When Clark subsequently was traded to the Quebec Nordiques, Gilmour took over as captain.
During their time together in Toronto, Clark and Gilmour became close friends. They are now neighbours on a lake north of Kingston, a community in which Dave Ellett, Kirk Muller and actor Dan Aykroyd also own residences.
"He had a great career," Gilmour said. "We're all proud of Wendel. He was a great leader. He was one of the best captains I've ever played with."
Wednesday June 28 2000 Leafs sign blue-liners
The Toronto Maple Leafs have re-signed defencemen Chris McAllister and Nathan Dempsey and also signed defenceman Petr Svoboda.
McAllister, 25, had three assists in 36 games with Toronto last season. The six-foot-eight, 225-pound native of Saskatoon has two goals, eight assists and 276 penalty minutes in 120 career NHL games with Toronto and Vancouver.
Dempsey, 25, split last season between the Leafs and their AHL affiliate in St. John's, Nfld. The six-foot, 190-pound blue-liner from Spruce Grove, Alta., has one goal and three assists in 20 NHL games.
Svoboda, 20, spent last season with Trenic in the Czech Republic where he had one goal and two assists in 39 games. The six-foot-two, 195-pound blue-liner was the Leafs second choice, 35th overall, in the 1998 entry draft.
Monday June 26 2000 Big E landing at ACC?
Talk to a few National Hockey League general managers and you come away with an inescapable conclusion. Eric Lindros will be playing for the Maple Leafs next season.
General managers can be wrong. But there's no doubt that they understand how the NHL works, and when they explain their reasoning, their conclusion seems to make sense.
The Lindros auction became official yesterday when it became evident to Philadelphia Flyers general manager Bob Clarke that a few journalists knew he had spent the first two days of the NHL draft trying to peddle Lindros.
This knowledge came as such a shock to Clarke that he opted for a rare course of action. He told the truth.
He admitted that after weeding out the also-rans, his efforts resulted in an auction featuring three finalists -- the Leafs, the New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings.
It's no accident that all three are rich teams. Even if Lindros never plays another game, the team that assumes his rights is on the hook for $8.5 million US for next season. Any GM contemplating a Lindros deal has to be assured that ownership is willing to take that risk. In these three cases, they were.
The Kings are looking for a marquee player who can help the marketing of corporate seats and luxury boxes in the Staples Center, also home to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Even though the Lakers won the NBA title, the thinking in these cases is that all the teams that play in a building should attract fans. In glitzy L.A., that means not just being over .500, but also having a high-profile player.
The Rangers are in the same boat. They're part of conglomerate that includes the New York Knicks and a TV network that also shows New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils games. In New York, as in L.A., jaded fans demand big-name players.
In Toronto's case, it's more of a hockey decision. The Leafs as they exist clearly are incapable of winning the Stanley Cup and their most urgent need is an elite power forward. When he's healthy, Lindros fits that bill perfectly.
Whereas the ownership in the other two cities look at Lindros as a marketing asset, the Toronto owners look at him as a dream fulfilled.
On two other occasions, the ownership-level duo of Steve Stavro and Brian Bellmore was involved in an attempted Lindros acquisition.
The first time, in 1991, when the Quebec Nordiques were marketing his rights, the price was too high. The Nordiques wanted Doug Gilmour, Felix Potvin, three other players, three first-round draft picks and $15 million US.
Had the Leafs accepted those terms, Lindros would have been a major-league player on a minor-league roster.
The next opportunity came during the Mike Smith era. Clarke approached the Leafs about the possibility of a deal and Bellmore could hardly contain his glee. Stavro was also a fervent supporter, but refused to issue a decree to that effect. He said that such a decision must be made by the hockey department. Smith wasn't interested.
But the Stavro-Bellmore axis still covets Lindros almost as much as he himself wants to be in Toronto.
Once the financial gamble has been accepted, the subsequent price would be astonishingly reasonable. Clarke wants to unload Lindros in the worst way, partly because he's sick of dealing with his family, partly because of Lindros' health.
Even now, there is a dispute in that area. Clarke says the Flyers doctors have given Lindros clearance to play, but the family is refusing to release the latest prognosis from Dr. James Kelly, the Chicago specialist who has emerged as the pre-eminent authority on hockey concussions.
Clarke is asking nothing more than draft picks. If it turns out that Lindros plays only a few games -- or none at all -- for his new team, the cost would be a lower-round pick. But the more Lindros plays, the more high-level draft picks would be shipped to the Flyers.
Of the three teams involved in the bidding, the GMs feel the Leafs are most likely to persevere.
The Kings would have no problem paying for a marquee player but they want a reasonable certainty, not a medical gamble.
The Rangers also have the money, but new GM Glen Sather is committed to lowering the budget. Coughing up $8.5 million on a coin flip is not the best way to lower budgets. Furthermore, many Rangers draft picks already have been frittered away.
But the Leafs are rolling in money, have plenty of draft picks, shower their basketball franchise in bucks and have coveted Lindros for years.
Logic doesn't always persevere in hockey, but in this case, it dictates that Toronto will be Lindros' next home.
Sunday June 25 2000 Brophy in critical condition after car crash
John Brophy, the coach of the Hampton Roads Admirals of the East Coast Hockey League and a former coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, was in critical condition following a weekend car crash.
Hampton Roads general manager Allan MacIsaac said Sunday he believed the injuries were not life threatening.
Brophy, a native of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, lost control of the vehicle he was driving near New Glasgow, about 200 miles northeast of Halifax, about an hour before sunrise Sunday.
He was the lone occupant of the car.
Brophy, 66, was first taken to Aberdeen Regional Hospital in New Glasgow but was later airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax where he was listed in critical condition.
The RCMP said they believe the vehicle struck a culvert at a crossroad. Weather and road conditions were ideal at the time, police said.
MacIsaac said Brophy was heading for Halifax International Airport when the accident happened.
"He's a strong man, strong-willed and he takes very good care of himself," MacIsaac said. "Our prayers are with him and his family."
Brophy is married to Nancy White, a former LPGA touring pro who is the head professional at Ivy Hill Golf Club in Forest, Va.
Brophy was hired to coach the Maple Leafs in 1986. He was fired in his third season behind the Toronto bench and later joined the Admirals, whom he has guided to three league titles.
In 1996, he became just the second hockey coach to reach 800 professional wins, joining current Detroit Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman.
Sunday June 25 2000 Leafs' pick a wise choice
As an A-plus student, the son of a principal and a teacher, Brad Boyes isn't used to dropping out.
But the Maple Leafs were grateful that the Mississauga-born centre took a slight tumble in the first round of yesterday's NHL draft down to Toronto's spot at No. 24.
"We didn't think he'd be there ... we didn't have a nameplate ready for him or anything," Leafs' amateur scouting director Mark Hillier said. "But he is a Toronto kid who is dying to play for the Maple Leafs. He has some maturing to do and some weight to put on, but he still has a couple of years of junior (with the Erie Otters)."
Concerns about the six-foot, 183-pounder's skating likely contributed to him falling 10 to 15 places in the Central Scouting rankings. The Leafs backed away from deals to move up the order and took Boyes.
"It doesn't matter if you're first or ninth round, it's whether you can play in the NHL," Boyes said as he admired his new Maple Leafs sweater.
Boyes, who has been invited to try out for the Canadian junior team, had 36 goals in Erie and was thrust into a leadership role when Tim Connolly stuck with the New York Islanders. Scouts say not only does Boyes have to improve his stride, he must beef up and carry the puck less in his own end to complement already excellent playmaking skills.
Otters' executive Sherry Bassin predicted Boyes would be a hit with the Leafs.
"People have concerns about him but he has unbelievable leadership," Bassen said, recounting how Boyes picked a fight with an enforcer on his own team to snap the Otters out of a slump. "By my count, I've had 74 kids go to the NHL and he is the smartest."
Boyes has excelled in math, calculus and biology and was the Canadian Hockey League's top scholar. He has toyed with the idea of medical school but first, he will showcase his on-ice talents at the Leafs' prospect camp later this month.
The Leafs, ignoring the Euro-trend in the first two rounds, chose 6-foot-3 Plymouth Whalers' centre Kris Vernarsky 51st overall. He was ranked 21st by Central Scouting and drew praise for his defensive work during Plymouth's losing run in the OHL final.
"Right now (I am a checker), but if I had better linemates and had more ice time I know I could've scored more," Vernarsky said. "I wouldn't mind being (an NHL checking centre) and playing against the top lines on the other team."
Player personnel director Nick Beverley, running his first draft, also ws pleased with his two third-round goaltenders, unknown Swede Mikail Tellqvist and third-ranked North American Jean-Francois Racine from Drummondville.
The 21-year-old Tellqvist is a late bloomer, moving to the No. 1 job on Djurgarden and leading the league with a 2.07 goals-against average.
Friday June 16 2000 Another Crawford hired for Baby Leafs
Lou Crawford has followed in his brother's footsteps all the way to St. John's, Nfld.
When the Toronto Maple Leafs decided to move their American Hockey League farm team from Newmarket to the East Coast in 1991, Marc Crawford was named the first coach of the St. John's team.
Marc went on to fame and fortune in the National Hockey League and today is the head coach of the Vancouver Canucks.
Yesterday, younger brother Lou, 37, completed the brother act by being named coach of the Baby Leafs. He was signed to a multi-year deal, replacing Al MacAdam behind the bench in St. John's.
"I talked to Marc already and he was really happy for me and my career," Lou said on a conference call from Newfoundland.
"He was very sincere and said I would love it out here.
"When it comes from your brother, you know it comes from the heart."
Lou Crawford brings a strong work ethic and a reputation as a disciplinarian, traits that were lacking on the Rock last season.
Crawford's assistant coach will be Kevin McClelland, who signed a two-year deal.
McClelland, who coached Prince Albert of the Western Hockey League the past two seasons, was a fan favourite in St. John's while playing for the Baby Leafs from 1991-1993.
Not only did the Baby Leafs fail to make the playoffs, they were plagued by an embarrassing off-ice incident in which assistant coach Greg Smyth was involved in a dustup with Baby Leafs forwards Jason Bonsignore and David Nemirovsky in a Portland, Me., diner. Smyth was subsequently fired.
"The most important issue we have to deal with is seeing talent abused and wasted by kids who are taken advantage of," said Crawford, who played three games for the Baby Leafs during the 1993-94 season.
"I feel sorry for kids who, through their own ignorance, let things slip away.
"Our biggest (mandate) here is establishing a strong work ethic."
While playing for Milwaukee of the International Hockey League, Crawford grew tired of riding the buses. So he decided to pack up his skates and go home.
"Other than running a hockey school with Steve Bancroft, I wasn't doing anything," he said. "My wife has a great job, so she supported us. Finally she booted me out of the house and said, 'Get a job.' "
Acting on the advice of his father, Lou talked to Larry Mavety, the longtime head coach of the Ontario Hockey League's Belleville Bulls.
After landing a job as an assistant, Crawford eventually took over the head-coaching duties and compiled a 124-66-12 record with the Bulls. Included in his tenure was the 1999 OHL championship.
Friday June 16 2000 Leafs goalie gets King Clancy Trophy
Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Curtis Joseph was given the King Clancy Memorial Trophy on Thursday night in honor of his humanitarian work.
Joseph started a program called Cujo's Kids that helps critically ill children at the Hospital for Sick Children.
The award is named for the late Frank (King) Clancy, a standout defenceman in the 1920s and '30s.
Tuesday June 13 2000 Leafs won't dangle Domi: Tough guy makes the protected list
Tie Domi is known for protecting his teammates.
Yesterday, management decided to protect Domi.
Impressed by Domi's feisty play and leadership skills, the Maple Leafs included the winger's name on their protection list for the expansion draft June 23 in Calgary.
Domi earned $1.55 million US last season.
National Hockey League teams had to submit their protected lists by 6 p.m. yesterday. The expansion Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets will pick two unprotected players from each team, except the Nashville Predators and Atlanta Thrashers. Protected lists of all teams will be made public today.
Teams had the options of protecting: a) up to five defencemen, nine forwards and one goaltender, or, b) up to three defencemen, seven forwards and two goaltenders. First- or second-year pros and unsigned draft choices are exempt.
Also apparently protected by the Maple Leafs were forwards Dmitri Khristich and Jonas Hoglund who struggled during the playoffs.
There was speculation Khristich might be made available because he gets into the meat of his four-year, $10.34-million contract next season. Khristich is slated to make $3.25 million in 2000-01.
As for Hoglund, his playoff struggles do not take away from the fact he had a career-high 29 goals last season.
Indications suggest the Leafs did not protect defenceman Bryan Berard, who suffered a career-threatening injury to his right eye March 11 in Ottawa.
"(Leafs general manager/coach) Pat Quinn called Bryan when Bryan was in town for the playoffs and said there might be the possibility he might not be protected," Tom Laidlaw, Berard's agent, said last night. "Bryan understands one way or the other."
The Leafs also left goaltender Glenn Healy unprotected -- not that it mattered. Healy becomes an unrestricted free agent next month, meaning he can accept an offer from any team that makes one, whether he is drafted or not.
The Leafs have expressed an interest in re-signing Healy. Healy, his wife and two daughters live in nearby Ajax.
"I expected not to be protected," Healy said. "Even if one of those teams drafted me, I don't have to go there."
Thursday June 8 2000 Leafs probably won't bite on Lindros
Philadelphia Flyers GM Bob Clarke says he plans to shop Eric Lindros after re-signing him this summer. But don't expect the Toronto Maple Leafs to bite.
"I think you'd have to evaluate two things -- the state of Eric's injury and the level of compensation Philadelphia would be seeking," Leafs' executive Bill Watters told the Toronto Star. "And we don't know either. Everyone would be interested in a healthy Eric Lindros, but there are too many mitigating factors to make a statement of interest."
Clarke said the Flyers will make Lindros, who suffered four concussions this season, an $8.5-million US qualifying offer by the July 1 free-agent deadline, but he also said the club plans to inquire about a trade.
"We'll call around and see who is interested," he said.
Wednesday June 7 2000 Corson says he wants to stay in Montreal
Shayne Corson hasn't changed his mind.
The veteran forward denied a Toronto newspaper report that he would sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He said he is still hoping to end his career in a Montreal uniform, although there are times when he wonders whether the Canadiens share his vision.
"I'd by lying if I said I wasn't concerned that the Canadiens haven't called my agent since before the trading deadline," Corson told the Montreal Gazette from his summer cottage north of Toronto.
"I understand that they have things they have to take care of, but I don't know why they can't make just one call and say: 'We know Shayne's there and we'll get around to him."'
Canadiens general manager Rejean Houle said he didn't sense any urgency in talking with Corson's agent, Philadelphia-based Rick Curran, even though the player could become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
"There's plenty of time," said Houle. "We have the expansion and entry drafts coming up and then we'll talk with Shayne."
But the drafts end on June 25, and that leaves only five days before Corson is eligible to become a free agent.
Corson and Curran both noted that if the impasse continues that long, the player is likely to wait and test the market.
Tuesday June 6 2000 Agent denies Corson speaking to Leafs
Montreal Canadiens veteran Shayne Corson has not spoken to the Toronto Maple Leafs nor has his agent, Rick Curran, contrary to a report in The Globe and Mail on Tuesday.
The Globe report said Corson had already agreed in principle to a three-year deal with the Leafs.
An angry Curran said Tuesday he had no idea where the story came from.
Corson, who will turn 34 in August, is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Canadiens have an option to extend his contract for one year at a salary of $4 million US but made it known several months ago that they have no intention of exercising the option, which expires June 30, at that price.
"There's no truth to it," Curran told The Canadian Press on Tuesday. "Shayne is property of the Montreal Canadiens and will be until the time they decide not to exercise their option.
"If he becomes an unrestricted free agent, then we'll look at our options at that time."
A Habs spokesman said Tuesday that the Canadiens were interested in bringing Corson back but at a cheaper price.
Corson made $2.25 million for the Canadiens this past season and scored eight goals and had 20 assists in 70 games. Corson's value is in his leadership and grit rather than goals.
Friday June 2 2000 NHL denies Leafs exemption on Berard
After much debate, the National Hockey League decided yesterday that injured Maple Leafs' defenceman Bryan Berard will not be granted special exemption from the expansion draft.
The Leafs must now decide whether to make him one of their five protected defencemen. Berard's career is on hold because of a right eye injury that also would make his selection risky for the expansion Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Minnesota general manager Doug Risebrough doesn't know how he would respond to a chance to select Berard.
"I couldn't begin to tell you," Risebrough said last night. "There's still not enough information (on Berard's situation)."
The Maple Leafs have come to terms with all three of their 1998 draft picks that had to be signed by midnight last night. Jamie Hodson and Morgan Warren were signed yesterday afternoon and Leafs executive Bill Watters was able to hammer out a deal with Allan Rourke late last night. Any 1998 picks not signed by their respective clubs by midnight last night are eligible for the 2000 draft June 24-25 in Calgary.
Thursday June 1 2000 Leafs sign two junior players
The Toronto Maple Leafs signed goalie Jamie Hodson, forward Morgan Warren and defenseman Allan Rourke on Thursday night, beating the midnight deadline to sign major junior players drafted in 1998.
If Toronto had not signed the players before the deadline, they would have re-entered the draft.
Hodson, selected 69th overall in 1998, was 13-22-3 with a 3.36 goals-against average last season for Brandon in the Western Hockey League. He underwent reconstructive knee surgery last summer.
Warren, drafted 126th overall, had 29 goals and 65 points for Moncton in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Rourke, drafted 154th, had 31 goals and 43 assists for Kitchener in the Ontario Hockey League.