PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bernie Parent said Monday he would be happy to remain with Philadelphia Blazers of the World Hockey Association —even though he refused to play in their last two playoff games — if the club would deposit $600,000- to guarantee payment of the last four years of his current contract.

“Money is not everything, but it sure helps if the security is there,” the 26-year-old goalie told reporters at a conference called by his lawyer to explain why he walked out in the middle of the WHA playoffs.

The Blazers are down 3-0 in the best-of-seven series with Cleveland. The fourth game will be played Wednesday in Cleveland.

Lawyer Howard Casper, who said he had advised Parent not to play, disclosed he wrote Blazers' president Dick Olson a week ago canceling the contract.

Parent played in the first playoff game, despite the notice of cancellation, but Casper said he advised Olson by telephone the star goalie would stay home if the security wasn't posted.

“He told me that he did not wish to discuss the situation any further because he would not negotiate with a gun to his head,” Casper said.

Asked why the contract cancellation couldn't have waited until after the playoffs, the lawyer replied:
“Our client would have no leverage at that time.”

Parent has been criticized by John McKenzie, the Blazers' player-coach, for being “selfish” and running out on his teammates when they needed him to lead them in the playoffs.

Parent, his French accent coming through his carefully chosen words, said he was upset that McKenzie felt the way he did, and that some other players may be upset or confused. Then he added: “There are times in your life when you have to stand up for yourself. I didn't expect this from John, but John is part of management and he's free to his own opinion.”

Casper said he is insisting on the Blazers' living up to the terms of Parent's contract— which means posting the security — because he isn't sure how long the club will be around.

“There aren't any positive indications in my mind that the Blazers are going to be here next year,” Casper said. “They may not be in business, or they may move to San Diego or Seattle, which has been rumored.”

Casper said Parent already has received “more than a dozen offers” from other WHA clubs, and also from teams in the National Hockey League.

He declined to identify any of them, saying that it presented legal questions even to discuss them.

Parent jumped from the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL to join the new league last year. He signed with Miami Screaming Eagles for $750,000 and when that club withdrew from the WHA the Blazers took over the contract.

“Prior to the beginning of the 1972-73 playing season when the contract was still open because the security guarantee had not been furnished.” Casper reported, “the Toronto Maple Leafs made Parent an offer for a five-year contract which in the terms of dollars and other conditions far exceeded the contract which he had entered into with the Blazers.

“As a matter of fact, he would have gained approximately $250,000 by accepting his offer. However, again having given his word to the WHA, Bernie chose to stay.”