Gratoony the Loony by Gilles Gratton & Greg Oliver

Author:Gilles Gratton & Greg Oliver
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ECW Press
Published: 2017-09-12T00:05:39+00:00

CHAPTER 8

* * *

BEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS

* * *

Most people forget that I played for the St. Louis Blues. I sincerely wish I could forget it as well. There’s starting off on the wrong foot, and then there’s the hole that I dug for myself right from the start.

The relationship between the WHA and NHL had settled down to the point where the leagues would at least communicate. I don’t know exactly how I ended up in St. Louis, but I figure John Bassett sold me under the table to the Blues. Officially, the Sabres, who held my NHL rights, traded me for cash to St. Louis on July 3, 1975; The Hockey News reported that Buffalo got $150,000, and I’m certain Bassett got a similar amount. I signed a six-year contract with the Blues for $90,000 a year.

The NHL Entry Draft was in Montreal that year, and the new owners wanted to meet me. Fine, it was close by at least. I got into the lobby of the hotel, and I saw Garry Young there. I knew Garry from my days in Oshawa. What I didn’t know is that he was going to be announced as the coach of the St. Louis Blues. We got into an elevator and he asked me how I was doing, and I replied that I was fine.

Here is proof I actually did play in St. Louis.

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