By TERRY PRICE
Jack Kelley is a busy man these days. How busy?
‘I met myself coming in the other day,” quipped the New England Whalers' director of hockey operations.
Just because the Whalers have played their last World Hockey Association game doesn't mean the work is over. Far from it.
Two Drafts Scheduled
The next month promises to be one of the most frenetic in the history of the Whalers. In a month, the Whalers will participate in an expansion draft, plus an amateur draft that will go a long way in determining what sort of team they will have next season, their first year in the National Hockey League.
Between now and June 12, when the expansion draft will take place, Kelley and his aides – newly-named head coach Don Blackbum, Kelley's assistant Bob Crocker scouts Bill Dineen, Bob Charlebois, Les Calder and Sam McMasters — will evaluate all the players who may be available.
Shopping List Forward
“We have been focusing on areas that we think can help us,” said Kelley. “We need a good, young third goaltender. We need more size and toughness on defense and we need more help at center. It's not going to be easy.”
One of the reasons Blackburn has been retained as head coach for next season is because of his knowledge of the hockey talent in the NHL. Prior to replacing Dineen as head coach, Blackburn served as the Whalers' super scout, a job Dineen has been filling since his removal coach.
Smith Top Candidate
Kelley said Floyd Smith, who coached the Cincinnati Stingers in the WHA this past season, was the other prime candidate for the Whalers' coaching position. Other candidates included John Brophy, coach of the Birmingham Bulls and Roger Neilson, Toronto Maple Leafs' coach.
“Sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don't,” said Kelley. “Blackie knows our organization from a lot of different situations. He has a good understanding of what our particular situation is.”
The Whalers are likely to undergo a good deal of change before they play their first NHL game. As many as seven players—Mark Howe, John Garrett, Jordy Douglas, George Lyle, Alan Hangsleben, Rick Ley and Gordie Roberts—are likely to be reclaimed by the NHL teams that own their rights.
Two Will Be Protected
Mark Howe and Garrett will be protected by the Whalers and will revert back to the club. Of the others, the Whalers will be able to protect only one, which means four pretty good hockey players could be lost.
“It's conceivable,” said Kelley, “but they might not be protected by the NHL team that claims them. We would then have a chance to draft them back.”
Stingers, Bulls Eyed
The Whalers are also eyeing the remains of the Cincinnati and Birmingham franchises. Players from those teams who are not claimed by an NHL club will be available to the four new NHL teams—New England, Quebec, Winnipeg and Edmonton—with the Whalers having first pick because of their fourth-place finish in the WHA.
Players likely to be available from Cincinnati include center Robbie Ftorek, wingers Jamie Hislop and Reg Thomas and defensemen Chuck Luksa, Craig Norwich and Barry Melrose. From Birmingham, centers J.C. Stewart and Peter Marrin and wingers Bob Stephenson and Steve Alley probably won't be claimed by other NHL clubs.
Ftorek, Melrose Rated High
Of the players mentioned, the Whalers would most like to sign Ftorek and Melrose. Melrose fits the mod of a big and tough defenseman Kelley feels is needed.
The Whalers may change even Howe and Dave Keon decided about retirement. John McKenzie has opted to call it a career and Howe, 51, and Keon, 39, are considering doing the same.
“Gordie and I will get together soon and I'll listen to what he has to say,” said Kelley. “I have some ideas.” He did not elaborate.
Keon Wanted Back
Keon, one of the Whalers steadiest performers that this past season, has said he will make a decision about his future in the next few weeks. Kelley said he has already told the former Maple Leaf captain that he wants him back.
“If he plays he has assured me it will only be with New England,” said Kelley.
Meanwhile, the Whalers are still actively pursuing the purchase of the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League. New England would like to have Springfield as its minor league affiliate primarily because of its location.
Kelley said if the Whalers were unsuccessful in obtaining Springfield, they would consider placing a team in Cincinnati.
Summer Timetable
Here is the timetable, as it stands now, for expansion:
May 31-June 9—NHL can make player deals for junior rights.
June 1-6 (5 p.m.)—deadline for NHL clubs to claim players off WHA rosters, eg. Whalers' Jordy Douglas (Toronto).
June 7 (5 p.m.)—deadline for WHA clubs to protect their two skaters and two goalies, eg., Whalers Mark Howe and Gordie Roberts and goalies John Garrett and Al Smith.
June 10 (8 p.m.)—deadline for NHL clubs to protect their 15 skaters and two goalies.
June 12 (4p.m.)—expansion draft with four WHA teams picking from existing 17 NHL rosters.
June 13 (2 p.m.)—amateur draft of juniors, collegians and Europeans.