Ottawa 67's centreman Bobby Smith, who owns OHA scoring records, will soon own hockey's next million-dollar contract regardless of which league he calls home next winter.
“We've had meetings with Minnesota,'' said Smith's agent Norm Caplan, of Montreal. “Outlines have been made and figures have been clearly defined but as of right now no documents have been signed.''
Caplan says if he were a betting man he'd wager Smith will play next year with Lou Nanne and the North Stars, but today is last-chance day for New England Whalers as they try to pluck Smith away from the NHL.
“It's the bottom of the ninth for New England and you know what can happen in the bottom of the ninth?” Caplan asks. But if New England refuses to up its $1.25 million, five-year offer, then Smith heads to Minnesota.
“There's nothing in the bank, but if you're going to take a guess Minnesota is a good one,” said Smith last night.
The OHA Major Junior A League's leading scorer won't be taking a back seat to 17-year-old sensation Wayne Gretzky, who signed Monday with Indianapolis Racers for $1.75 million over seven years.
“Gretzky received just $50,000 up front money,” says Caplan, “The way it stands now Smith will get around $250,000. And Smith will make more money per annum than Gretzky.
“Of course that's over fewer years, but the per annum figure is what I consider most important.”
Caplan refused to name the worth of Smith's contract or the length of it, but “you can accurately describe him as a millionaire”.
And if Caplan were wagering on the future of Tim Higgins and Bjorn Skaare, his two other Ottawa clients, he'd bet Higgins will wind up with New England and Skaare will make the grade with a pro team in either league.
Higgins, who played on Smith's right side last year, has impressed the Whaler scouts.
“They have come to us with a lot of upfront money,” said Caplan. “And this isn't Birmingham or Houston. It's New England . . . they're offering an enormous signing bonus … put it right on the table . . . it's in the same ball park as Smith's, and Aetna Life Insurance will sign as guarantor.”
Higgins would make less per year than Smith, roughly $50,000 less. Although considered in the top 10 draft possibilities Higgins's market value in the NHL isn't known yet. He differs from Smith in that he doesn't know where he's headed, if NHL-bound at all.
Smith was happy for Gretzky but felt sorry for the Sault Ste. Marie franchise after Monday's signing. Yet he didn't feel the sudden show of cash would affect his intentions.
“You tell a man you're going to sell your used car for $500, you don't all of a sudden say ‘hold it a minute' after he agrees,” said Smith.
Smith had the chance to sign as an under-ager last summer with Cincinnati of the WHA but he's glad he didn't.
“I'm such a better player now than I was a year ago. This season I did a lot more with the puck, moved it, was stronger,” said Smith. “And I've learned a new position. My stock has risen considerably.”
“The money being flashed around by the WHA doesn't alter our position,” said North Stars' Nanne. “We're not concerned.”
What concerns Nanne right now is a cold war with the Ottawa Civic Centre.
“They tell me Howard Darwin is trying to bring in Montreal and Boston . . . heck everybody has seen them.”
He wants to schedule a pre-season game against Atlanta Flames at the Civic Centre.
“Can you believe it? I've got four kids on my team from Ottawa — and I don't know if there's any with Cleveland, should we merge — and they won't give me a date,” said Nanne.
Four kids?
“Yeah, Jimmy Roberts (Ottawa 67's). Glenn Sharpiey (Hull Festivals), Tim Young (67's) and. well . . . Smith … if I sign him.”
By Bob Elliott, Jr. Citizen staff writer