MONTREAL — For two days, they've had a ‘'count* down” going here at the annual NHL meetings the hockey executives who had been whispering in corners talking trades and possibilities in the draft, set the beginning of the intra-league draft as the “lift-off' to the meetings.

But they never got off the launching pad.

NHL president Clarence Campbell started the ball rolling with a report on the NHL board of governors meeting dealing mainly with expansion. But he could offer little more than an announcement that expansion will take place and a meeting will be held before the end of the month to decide on the six clubs which will make up the new division .of the NHL.

GRAB FOUR

When they got to the draft Boston Bruins picked up four players. Chicago. Detroit and New York one each.

Boston, as expected, picked off Toronto's Gerry Cheevers, and also added Paul Popeil from the Chicago chain. Norm Schmits from Canadians. and Keith Wright from New York.

Chicago took Pat Stapleton from Toronto. Detroit claimed Bryan Watson from Chicago

By GERALD REDMOND of The Journal