Byline: Rick Sadowski News Staff Writer
Try to envision the reaction in Denver if the Broncos had ever traded John Elway, and you have an inkling of what is going on in Boston in the wake of Ray Bourque's move to the Colorado Avalanche.
The howls of protest and finger pointing began to spread through the city like a brushfire about 5 seconds after news leaked that the 39-year-old defenseman would be leaving the Bruins after nearly 21 full seasons with the team.
Already angry over a season that went sour long ago, Bruins fans blame the tight-fisted ways of owner Jeremy Jacobs and president / -general manager Harry Sinden for Bourque's request to be moved to a Stanley Cup contender.
Bourque has been well compensated for his services - his salary for this year is $6 million - but Jacobs and Sinden have been accused of paying more attention to saving nickels and dimes than to surrounding the five-time Norris Trophy winner with players capable of winning a championship.
``We know how Harry runs his business,'' Bourque said. ``He's consistent, you've got to give him that. It's no surprise to anybody. He's done a pretty good job over his whole career, in terms of putting a competitive team out there. Of late, three years ago, we didn't make the playoffs and it was a horrible team, but he turned it around and made it pretty competitive over the last couple of years.
``This year, for different reasons, it hasn't worked out, but they have a pretty good base of young talent. They've got to make some good additions. If they do that, they'll be back in business.''
Pat Burns also has gotten plenty of flak, most of it from Jacobs, who may very well use the fiery head coach as a scapegoat for the Bruins' troubles and show him the door.
Burns' reaction: ``I just told everybody to shut up,'' he told The Boston Globe, ``to forget talking about it and the mudslinging. Everybody's just got to be quiet and do their job and get through this thing.''
It's been a disaster from the start. Goalie Byron Dafoe, a Vezina Trophy finalist a year ago, was involved in an ugly contract dispute; the Bruins began the season looking like they might never win a game; forward Joe Murphy, signed as a free agent, was dismissed from the team for insubordination and eventually traded; Dafoe went down with a season-ending knee injury; defenseman Marty McSorley was suspended by the NHL for smashing Donald Brashear in the head with a stick and has since been charged with assault by the Vancouver authorities.
Boston fans might have been able to accept all of that, but how could the Bruins trade No. 77? It was yet another blow to their fragile psyche, no less damaging than Bucky Dent's pop fly over the Green Monster in 1978.
To Bourque's credit, he has stayed away from the fray despite attempts by some to goad him into painting Jacobs and especially Sinden as villains in this little play.
``They're trying to have me say certain things, but I'm not going to go there,'' Bourque said. ``I've conducted myself a certain way through my whole career and that isn't going to change. (The Bruins) gave me the opportunity and I had a great time in Boston. I had some great years and I had a lot of fun and it's a great town. I have no problem. I asked to be moved and they accommodated me, so everything is fine and dandy my way.''
It isn't in Boston, where the fallout has reached Sinden's desk. Sinden, who has been the Bruins' general manager since 1972, told the Boston Herald he is considering handing over the reins to assistant Mike O'Connell.
``I'll tell you what I've gotten away from,'' Sinden, 67, said. ``If you're going to be a good GM, you have to have a little more communication with the players than I've had, especially since Burns has been here. I've kind of left that totally up to him. He's a kind of dominant-type coach, and so I feel myself getting further and further away from the locker room every year. To do a real good job at this position, you can't do it that way. The players count on you for help, for advice and to vent.''
Boston's hockey fans are doing most of the venting now. They might be happy that Bourque finally has a chance to put his arms around a Stanley Cup, but their anger toward the Bruins isn't going to subside anytime soon.
Flyers upset
The Philadelphia Flyers were certain they would get Bourque, whose first choice was to play for an Eastern Conference team, and some Flyers players have bashed Sinden for dealing the perennial All-Star to Colorado.
``He didn't care about Raymond, where he wanted to go or anything like that,'' defenseman Eric Desjardins said. ``He even said it. I don't think it's right. It would have been great to play on the same team with a guy like that.''
Said forward Mark Recchi: ``All the things (Bourque) has done for (the Bruins) . . . we believe he wanted to come here. Philly was his first choice, but that's Harry for you. What are you going to do?''
The general consensus around the league is that Bourque, who becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer, will retire after the season or sign with an East Coast team like the Flyers.
Red-faced Wings
Think the Detroit Red Wings were happy when Bourque and left wing Dave Andreychuk were shipped to their archrivals?
``We made a pitch for him,'' Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said, referring to Bourque. ``It wasn't enough. The list of names Boston was interested in, we felt the price was too steep.''
Now the Red Wings are scrambling to acquire a veteran defenseman and reportedly looked into the New York Islanders' Kenny Jonsson and Vancouver's Ed Jovanovski but were told neither is available.
Travelin' man
It might not be a good idea for Brian Rolston to buy another house for a while. He's purchased two homes in the past four months and has been traded twice.
The Avalanche acquired Rolston from New Jersey for Claude Lemieux in November two weeks after his first purchase, and his trade to the Bruins in the Bourque transaction last week came about a month after he bought in Colorado.
``It's been a rough year to get settled any place,'' said Rolston, who is getting married this summer. ``But I'm excited to be (in Boston). We'll see what happens here. I'm coming back to the East where I feel more comfortable.
``Bourque is an icon in Boston and he's going to be in the Hall of Fame. Those are some big shoes to fill and I'm not going to fill them. I'm just hoping to bring a little something of my game to the organization.''
Rolston didn't get off to a great start with the Bruins. He inadvertently deflected a shot by Buffalo's Jason Woolley into his own net in his first game, a 2-1 overtime loss.
Unhappy Gilmour
Doug Gilmour, traded with J.P. Dupont from Chicago to Buffalo on Friday for Michal Grosek, didn't want to leave the Blackhawks. But the 36-year-old center didn't help his cause by criticizing management three days earlier.
Gilmour missed four games with bruised ribs before the trade, and he told the Chicago Tribune he wouldn't play and risk further injury until after Tuesday's trading deadline if he wasn't moved before then.
Gilmour was upset with Mike Smith, the team's director of hockey operations, since being told last month the Hawks would entertain offers for him.
``He's making me feel like I'm not part of the team, that's the hardest thing,'' Gilmour said. ``This team can afford me, so let's make this better. Let's go out and get what we need here. You can't tell me they can't suck up my contract and sign other guys.''
Gilmour plans to retire after next season. He has one year left on his contract, valued at $6 million.
NUMBERS . . .
13 goals allowed on 47 shots for Calgary Flames goalie Fred Brathwaite in two starts last week against the Colorado Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs.
18-5-4 record for the Washington Capitals in the past 27 games. The Capitals have gone 9-0-1 in their past 10 games against Southeastern Division opponents.
-9 plus / minus rating in the past 10 games for Florida Panthers star Pavel Bure.
1 sellout for the Carolina Hurricanes at the Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena. It came Oct. 29 in the Hurricanes' first game in the building.
NOTES . . .
* Goalie Ed Belfour won't be suspended by the NHL or the Dallas Stars, but he also won't be permitted to play until after an evaluation by officials from the league's substance abuse program. Belfour was arrested Wednesday on misdemeanor charges after he assaulted a security guard at a Dallas hotel and resisted police officers. He was released on a $500 bond. The police said Belfour was intoxicated, and the NHL requires any player arrested when alcohol or drugs are involved to undergo an evaluation. ``Our team rules have a minimal form of punishment, and that gets overshadowed by a bigger issue,'' Stars general manager Bob Gainey said.
* Former University of Denver star Paul Comrie might not be able to play hockey again. Comrie, 23, suffered a concussion in a Jan. 7 game while playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs, a minor league affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers. Comrie was elbowed in the head and has been told by a neurologist to retire. ``It's way to soon to determine that,'' said Comrie, who is experiencing headaches. Comrie will visit with Chicago-based neurologist James Kelly, one of whose patients was Pat LaFontaine, who retired last season after a series of concussions.
AND QUOTES
* Vancouver general manager Brian Burke, on trade rumors out of New York involving Canucks captain Mark Messier: ``They should all get hobbies or buy hot dogs or something so they have something meaningful to spend their time on.''
* Mighty Ducks of Anaheim coach Craig Hartsburg, on the return of left wing Paul Kariya, who had been out because of a bruised foot: ``Everybody in the league is trying to make trades for star players. We get one without having to make any moves.''
* Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Lyle Odelein, on his former coach, New Jersey's Robbie Ftorek: ``He thinks he's doing everything right and he doesn't listen to anyone. The guys are just playing for one another.''
* San Jose Sharks coach Darryl Sutter, on his team's battle to get into the playoffs: ``You know those guys looking at the scoreboard? Usually they're looking for somebody else to do their work for them. I don't buy into that.''
INFOBOX
MEASURING STICK
* New Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ray Bourque recorded a career-high 31 goals in 1983-84 for the Boston Bruins and has reached the 20-goal mark eight times. He registered a career-high 96 points in 1983-84 and hit the 90-point plateau three other times. How previous Avalanche and Quebec Nordiques defensemen stack up:
Player, year.................Gm......Gl......Ast.....Pts
Steve Duchesne, 1992-93......82......20......62......82
Sandis Ozolinsh, 1996-97.....80......23......45......68
Jeff Brown, 1988-89..........78......21......47......68
Mario Marois, 1983-84........80......13......36......49
Jamie Hislop, 1980-81........50......19......22......41
Michel Petit, 1989-90........63......12......24......36
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Photo
Boston Bruins fans weren't celebrating Ray Bourque's Avalanche debut as much as the 21-year Bruins defenseman was on his first night in a Colorado uniform. By Jack Cusano / Associated Press. FILE:ARCHIVE.
