Killer On The Loose

Killer On The Loose
By Jonah Sigel, Toronto Correspondent

Jan. 2, 1992 is known as the day general manager Cliff Fletcher made his biggest impact on the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. That was the day he dealt Gary Leeman, Alexander Godynuk, Jeff Reese, Michel Petit and Craig Berube to the Calgary Flames for Jamie Macoun, Ric Nattress, Kent Manderville, Rick Wamsley and Doug Gilmour. Today, only Macoun still plays for the Leafs, Wamsley is a goaltending consultant. As for Gilmour, he was dealt after months of speculation on Feb. 25, 1997, along with another veteran, Dave Ellett, to the New Jersey Devils for 23-year-old defenceman Jason Smith, 22-year-old forward Steve Sullivan and 19-year-old center Alyn McCauley.
Trades are announced all the time in the NHL, holding press conferences to announce and explain them is reserved for deals termed blockbusters. "Doug Gilmour's contribution to the Toronto Maple Leafs was immeasurable," Fletcher said in a press release following the deal. "He brought a standard of play and work ethic that was instrumental in any successes that this team enjoyed."
The events that led to the deal were bizzare to put it mildly. On Monday the 24th, Fletcher and board member Brian Bellmore held a media conference following a three-hour board meeting apparently to discuss the on-going sex scandal at the Gardens. More realistically, the sex scandal was indeed discussed, but it says here that Fletcher also tabled the issue of the Gilmour deal and obviously got the green light on pulling the trigger. Following the Monday press conference Fletcher told the sports media that a deal could be in the works to stay in touch. A few hours later it was learned that a deal would not be made that night.
Late Monday night Fletcher told New Jersey managment that in order for any deal to be made, Sullivan had to be included. Fletcher said that he felt confident enough late Monday night to call Gilmour and prepare his long-time friend and captain. When Gilmour arrived at the Gardens the following morning, things had not progressed. Fletcher informed Gimour that there was in fact a deal on the table and that it could happen any moment. Unfortunatley, Gilmour had to take to the ice with the Leafs, without saying a word to his teammates while Fletcher was able to consumate the deal. Ellett had to be called out of the whirlpool to be told.
An emotonal press conference was held late that afternoon, to announce the trade. Fletcher fought back tears on several occasions as he tried to sell the public on the merit of his deal. Gilmour did not attend the conference for several reasons. First, Gilmour is not said to be very comfortable speaking under the best circumstances, so trying to speak here would have been out of the question. Secondly, Gilmour was very concerned how his young daughter would be effected and wanted to spend the time with both her and his family. Dave Ellett talked with the media and several times nearly broke down. At one point, as Ellett paused to regain his composure, Fletcher was caught wiping a tear from his own eye.
Later that night, the Devils' private jet touched down in Toronto with Smith and Sullivan on board, and turned around with Gilmour and Ellett in tow. Upon arriving in New Jersey, both players were taken to the team practice facility where they underwent physicals. Gilmour told officials that he was exhausted and that he had not slept since Fletcher's call the previous night. Both Ellett and Gilmour were, in their own ways, relieved to be out of what has become a very difficult city to play hockey in. Few realize the pressure of playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs. There are three major papers with quality sports sections, five or six televison stations, one full-time dedicated sports station, and of course the all-sports radio station. Couple that with a building that has been sold out for almost every Leaf game since before the 1970's. Calling Toronto the NHL's pressure cooker is a massive understatement. Gilmour alluded to the fact that he coveted the opportunity to eat at restaurants and not be recognized.
The debate is on as far as the deal goes. The consensus is that Fletcher made a great trade IF these players pan out. Conventional wisdom shows that Ellett is a free agent without compensation at season's end, so there is not much loss there. As for Gilmour, they have given up a great player who is about to enter the last year of his contract and is currently seeking a new deal. Realizing the need for rebuilding, trading Gilmour made sense in many ways. First, and most importantly, was that he is one of the only players who could produce any real return via trade. Smith and McCauley are both highly regarded and the New Jersey media were quite shocked that they were willing to part with either. Gilmour was also seeking the trade. Every veteran desires to play for a winner and any team that would take a serious run at acquiring Gilmour at this stage would be doing so to try to win the Cup today. Although Fletcher was adament that money was not a factor in this deal, the Leafs are well below their usual budget and SHOULD have room for free agents this off-season.
Those in the know in New Jersey were disappointed that the Devils would deal Sullivan. Due to his age, the Devils wanted to make the transition from the AHL to the NHL easier on him, so they shifted him to wing where he really produced (eight goals, 16 assists in only 35 games). Many of his goals have been seen nightly on SportsCenter as the talented forward is a magician with the puck. His upbeat attitude and fearless approach made him a pivotal piece of the trade.
It is McCauley that has hockey fans drooling. He is currently third in the OHL with more than 101 points in only 45 games (50 goals, 51 assists as of Thursday). He is a very impressive +41. He was also a key player of the 1997 Canadian Junior Team that captured Canada's fifth straight World Junior chamionship. After being drafted early in the first round by Ottawa of the OHL, he was expected to be a high draft pick in 1995. Unfortunatley he suffered an injury that hampered his performance that season and the result was a disappointing fifth-round pick in the draft. After the draft, McCauley really blossomed and put up number comparable to, if not better than, those drafted in the first round. So McCauley did not sign with the Devils, and if he didn't sign a three-year deal with the Leafs on Mar. 3, he would have been eligible to re-enter the draft this summer (experts claimed that he would have been a top five pick this year).
So, with 19 games to go, rumors are around that very few jobs are secure in Toronto. Management would love to unload as many of their veterans as they could. While Fletcher will not be simply giving away players, it appears that he will be seeking a combination of draft picks and young talent. One hot rumor is that the Leafs have offered Dimitri Yushkevich to the Oilers for ex-Leaf Luke Richardson, who also becomes a free agent at seasons end. The holdup appears to be signing Richardson to a new deal. Other Leafs who could be on the move include: Kirk Muller (Rangers), Jamie Macoun (Flyers), Mike Craig, Tie Domi (Rangers) Wendel Clark (Dallas) and anyone else over 30.