100 Years in Blue and White by Toronto Star

Author:Toronto Star
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Triumph Books
Published: 2016-09-29T00:00:00+00:00

Lanny McDonald leaving ice after Leafs practice—minutes later he learned that he had been traded to Colorado. (Ron Bull/Toronto Star)

Another Leaf said the hand-writing was on the wall the day Imlach took charge last summer.

“What he said, in effect, was that this team had five good players and the rest were no good,” he said. “Great way to start, eh? I thought at the time, my God, this franchise could crumble with that outlook.

“Well, it seems to be now. And some of you guys (reporters) are partly to blame for getting (Jim) Gregory and (Roger) Neilson fired by so much criticism of the defensive philosophy they had.

“Now, with all the crap that has been laid on us by Imlach, it’s difficult to even concentrate in a game nowadays. The pressures have been unbelievable. And the worst part is, they’re needless.”

Imlach issued a statement to the effect that trading players is always a difficult thing to do but must be done for the betterment of the club.

Ray Miron, Colorado general manger, expected Quenneville early today and hoped that McDonald could make it for Rockies’ game tonight, a sell-out match against Philadelphia Flyers.

“We see Quenneville as a player of great potential and we know what Lanny can do,” Miron said. “It was a deal that was just consummated. We’ve only been talking a few days. I see it as a good trade both ways.

“We sure hated to give up a guy like Paiement, one of our original players. But he wasn’t producing. After we got Pat from the Rangers, he started really well but hasn’t been consistent. Between them, they have the ability to score 60 to 70 goals.”

Hickey has eight goals and 10 assists and Paiement, 10 goals, 14 assists. McDonald has produced 15 goals and 15 assists for Leafs this season and Quenneville had a goal and four assists.

On balance, the trade seems equitable. Financially, Toronto takes on a slightly heavier load. Paiement is on a $140,000-a-year contract and Hickey has a $100,000 pact. McDonald is on a $149,000 contract, Quenneville an estimated $75,000.

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