P.E.I.'s Turk Gallant, Mike Kelly headed to coach in KHL
It's official. P.E.I.'s Gerard (Turk) Gallant and Mike Kelly are returning to coaching.
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Insider Pierre LeBrun first reported Gallant was headed to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in July, but no team was mentioned. That team is the Shanghai Dragons, who made the official announcement on Aug. 13.
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The rebranded Dragons are the former HC Red Star Kunlun.
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'I'm excited about it,' Gallant told The Guardian in a phone interview. 'Obviously, I was looking for an NHL job the last two years and nothing came up, so I was pretty disappointed the past couple of summers things have not worked out in the NHL like the past 10 or 12 years.
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'You have to get back at it and I just said to myself, 'It's two years I haven't been coaching and if I'm going to continue coaching – I'm 61-years-old – I have to get back at it.''
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Gallant, from Summerside, said it's a great opportunity with the Dragons and he had positive discussions with team officials.
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'I sat down with Mike Kelly and we discussed it and think it's a good opportunity,' said Gallant, who has not coached in the National Hockey League (NHL) since parting ways with the New York Rangers following the 2022-23 season. 'It's a long ways from home and I'm going to miss being with the grandkids and the family like I have been the last couple of years.
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'Hockey is my life and I would like to get back at the coaching – get the itch back and see where it takes us.'
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Kelly has worked alongside Gallant as an assistant coach in Saint John of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights and New York Rangers.
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Gallant and Kelly last coached Team Canada at the 2024 Spengler Cup in Switzerland.
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'I didn't know if I'd be as excited as I am,' said Kelly, who grew up in Shamrock and lives in Charlottetown. 'I'm really excited to getting back to work again and coaching.
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'I've talked to a lot of people about the KHL and the kind of league it is, and I hear nothing but good things, both about the KHL and the city of St. Petersburg.'
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The Dragons will play in St. Petersburg out of the SKA Arena – the world's largest hockey arena with a capacity of 22,500.
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The Dragons' first game of the 2025-26 season is Sept. 6.
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'Right now, the priorities are the same as they always are – get your systems down, get your plan of attack down, do up your schedule for training camp, but it's still hockey,' said Kelly. 'You don't want to overthink it too much.
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'You just want to go and get guys to play the way we've tried to get other teams to play – fast, quick competitive and see where it takes us.'
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CTV News
18 minutes ago
- CTV News
Calgary's McMahon Stadium celebrates 65 years of sport, community and history
Friday marks 65 years since the official opening and first ever football game held at McMahon Stadium. The facility has been at the heart of Calgary's sports and entertainment scene, witnessing decades of athletic triumphs, international events, and cultural milestones. McMahon Stadium, Calgary 2025 Originally built to house the CFL Stampeders, McMahon Stadium became a multi-purpose facility, hosting high-profile concerts, royal visits, the 1988 Winter Olympics, the NHL Heritage Classic, Lilith Fair and now, Wild FC, the city's first professional women's soccer team. (CTV Calgary) Originally built to house the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL), the stadium quickly became a multi-purpose venue, hosting everything from high-profile concerts to Olympic ceremonies and royal visits. 'I was six years old when the stadium was opened up on August 15, 1960,' said John McMahon, son of George McMahon. 'My dad and my uncle were out in centre field for the ceremonial kickoff. I remember being there, it was just really exciting, it was kind of mind-blowing to look back on all these years later now to be quite honest.' John McMahon and Patrick Evanson John McMahon and Patrick Evanson outside Calgary's iconic McMahon Stadium. (Photo; CTV Calgary) Timeline of McMahon Milestones Aug. 8, 1960 – Officially christened McMahon Stadium by the University of Alberta in Calgary. – Officially christened McMahon Stadium by the University of Alberta in Calgary. Aug. 15, 1960 – First game: Calgary Stampeders fall 38-23 to Winnipeg Blue Bombers. – First game: Calgary Stampeders fall 38-23 to Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Aug. 29, 1960 – Calgary records its first home victory, defeating Saskatchewan Roughriders 23-15. – Calgary records its first home victory, defeating Saskatchewan Roughriders 23-15. 1964 – University of Calgary Dinos begin playing at McMahon. – University of Calgary Dinos begin playing at McMahon. 1975 – $1.125-million renovation adds artificial turf; stadium hosts Grey Cup. – $1.125-million renovation adds artificial turf; stadium hosts Grey Cup. 1978 – $4.5-million expansion adds 7,000 seats, amateur sports facilities, underground tunnel, and new press box. – $4.5-million expansion adds 7,000 seats, amateur sports facilities, underground tunnel, and new press box. 1983–1988 – Major upgrades for 1988 Winter Olympics: new turf, sound system, temporary seating for Opening and Closing Ceremonies. – Major upgrades for 1988 Winter Olympics: new turf, sound system, temporary seating for Opening and Closing Ceremonies. 1990 – Queen Elizabeth II visits; Calgary Highlanders receive Queen's Colour. – Queen Elizabeth II visits; Calgary Highlanders receive Queen's Colour. 1993, 2000, 2009, 2019 – McMahon hosts Grey Cup games. – McMahon hosts Grey Cup games. 1997 – McMahon hosts the World Police and Fire Games. – McMahon hosts the World Police and Fire Games. 2011 – NHL Heritage Classic held at the stadium. – NHL Heritage Classic held at the stadium. 2013 – Aluminum benches replaced with fitted seating; TELUS signal boosters and LED signage installed. – Aluminum benches replaced with fitted seating; TELUS signal boosters and LED signage installed. 2014 – New 30×50-foot scoreboard, auxiliary scoreboard, FieldTurf surface, and expanded concourses added. – New 30×50-foot scoreboard, auxiliary scoreboard, FieldTurf surface, and expanded concourses added. 2025 – Wild FC professional women's soccer team begins playing at McMahon Stadium. – Wild FC professional women's soccer team begins playing at McMahon Stadium. 2026 – Calgary to host Grey Cup festival at BMO Centre with game at McMahon Stadium (66th anniversary of the venue). Building McMahon Stadium The stadium was constructed in a remarkable 103 days in 1960, replacing the aging Mewata Stadium as the Stampeders' home. Designed by architect Peter Rule of Rule Wynn and Rule, and built by Burns and Dutton Concrete and Construction, McMahon Stadium was situated on 40 acres with a 99-year lease from the City of Calgary. The property had originally been earmarked for a new university campus. Calgary oilmen Frank and George McMahon contributed $300,000 to the project and guaranteed an additional $750,000 in debentures, allowing construction to proceed despite limited government support. Opening Day at McMahon Stadium, 1960 The stadium opened on August 15, 1960, when the Stampeders took on the Blue Bombers in CFL action. (CTV Calgary (Courtesy Darryl Slade)) McMahon Stadium's origins are inseparable from the McMahon brothers themselves. George and Frank were sons of a hard-rock miner from Moyie, B.C., building their wealth in the oil and gas sector and playing a pivotal role in Calgary's sporting history. George served as Stampeders president from 1959 until 1968, transforming the franchise into a financially stable team. Patrick Evanson, grandson of George, never had the chance to meet his grandfather who passed away in 1974 but says he couldn't be prouder of his family's legacy. Evanson played high school football for E.P. Scarlett on McMahon turf, was a member of the Calgary Colts Junior Football Team and coached his Scarlett high school team to a city championship in 2006. He fondly remembers McMahon Stadium as holding a special place in his heart. 'Just the fact that my granddad was able to have such a deep love and appreciation for football and for the city, and to give something to people, to bring people together, I think, is a really big part of the legacy, and what it means,' Evanson said. 'It was always the place to be, right? A place where you feel like you've made it, people aspire to touch the grass for sure, and it means a lot for anyone to get the opportunity to play on this field.' Daryl Slade and Stan Schwartz Stampeders historian Daryl Slade and Stan Schwartz holding up 1960s Stamps banner. (CTV Calgary) Early triumphs and fan support The early 1970s brought one of Calgary's most celebrated moments in football history. In 1971, the Stampeders captured their first Grey Cup since 1948, rekindling excitement for the team after a string of lean years. However, by the 1980s, fan support had waned, prompting the community led 'Save Our Stamps' campaign in 1986. The team was on the verge of folding due to a decline in ticket sales and several years without a playoff appearance. Thousands of fans purchased season tickets, securing the franchise's future and revitalizing the stadium's atmosphere. 'Brought people together' Stampeders legend Stan Schwartz fondly remembers those days. The former assistant coach of the football club (1976-1984) and team president (1996 to 2003), was also the manager of McMahon Stadium for nearly a decade (1984 to 1995) 'I remember to this day, you know, standing up by the ticket office and handing out coffee and donuts, and we had players on Crowchild Trail with Support the Stamps signs,' said Schwartz. 'You know that campaign, it just brought people together and it really showed the overall support from the city and the fans, because without that support, the club might not have made it.' The ticket drive was so successful that it created 22,400 season ticket holders and saved the team. Renovations, expansions, and the 1988 Winter Olympics McMahon Stadium has undergone numerous renovations and expansions over its six-and-a-half-decade history, including artificial turf installation in 1975, major seating and facility upgrades in 1978, and enhancements for the 1988 Winter Olympics. Stan Schwartz's role in preparing for the international spectacle was pivotal at the time alongside what he calls an 'incredible team.' 'We started about three years in advance of the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies, we did work on the stands, the press box facilities, adding the new sound system, so many late hours with a lot of our staff doing 60, 70, 80-hour weeks leading up to the games,' he said. 'It was a real challenge, but I think most people really enjoyed the experience.' The Royal visit, cultural and musical highlights In 1990, McMahon Stadium hosted a historic Royal Visit from Queen Elizabeth II. Thousands of Calgarians filled the stands to witness the monarch present the Calgary Highlanders with the Queen's Colour — a ceremonial flag symbolizing the regiment's service and loyalty. The event added another proud moment to the stadium's civic and cultural legacy, underscoring its role as a gathering place for both local traditions and global pageantry. Royal Visit to McMahon Stadium The Royal visit to McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta. (CTV Calgary) Throughout the years, McMahon has welcomed performers like Janis Joplin, Chicago, Alice Cooper, The Eagles, Sarah McLachlan, the Beach Boys and the late Ozzy Osborne. From the Festival Express Tour in 1970 to Lilith Fair in 1997-98 and Alberta Flood Aid in 2013, the stadium's versatility has made it a premier cultural venue for Calgarians. 'There's so much that has happened here and of course it's still a nice place to watch a game,' said Daryl Slade, Calgary Stampeders historian. 'Every seat, you can see the field, and over the years, it hasn't just been football — we've had the Olympics, concerts, soccer, Supercross, you name it. It's always been a busy stadium.' World Police Games, McMahon Stadium, 1997 World Police Games, McMahon Stadium, 1997 (CTV Calgary) Slade, who has been collecting Stampeders memorabilia for decades, brought along treasures including the program from the very first game played at McMahon in 1960. 'I've got programs from almost every year, team pictures, player photos, footballs, jerseys, helmets — it's a big collection, and it tells the story of the team and the stadium over time,' he said. More memorable moments From the cold 1975 Grey Cup, where a female streaker made an appearance, to Supercross motorcycle events in the 1980s, the 1997 World Police/Fire Games, and the NHL Heritage Classic in 2011, McMahon Stadium has consistently adapted to accommodate a wide range of sports and entertainment spectacles. Heritage Classic Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price, left, looks on as Calgary Flames David Moss celebrates a Flames goal during the second period of the NHL Heritage Classic in Calgary, Alta., on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011. (The Canadian Press/Andre Ringuette) 'Millions and millions of people have come through the gates here — for Olympics, rock concerts, high school football, you name it — and that's wonderful,' said John McMahon. University, amateur and new professional sports McMahon became home to the University of Calgary Dinos in 1964 and has hosted junior teams such as the Calgary Colts, Mohawks, and Cougars, as well as high school championships. Despite hosting five Grey Cups — in 1975, 1993, 2000, 2009, and 2019 — Calgary has yet to win the national title at home. Amateur sports expanded considerably after the installation of artificial turf in 1975, allowing the stadium to accommodate hundreds of events each year. In 2025, McMahon become the home of the Wild FC professional women's soccer team, marking another milestone in the stadium's history of supporting professional sport in Calgary. Ottawa Rapid's Delaney Baie Pridham, left, kicks the ball as Calgary Wild's Mijke Roelfsema closes in during second half Northern Super League soccer action in the in Calgary, on Sunday, May 11, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh Ottawa Rapid's Delaney Baie Pridham, left, kicks the ball as Calgary Wild's Mijke Roelfsema closes in during second half Northern Super League soccer action in the in Calgary, on Sunday, May 11, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh Modern technology and amenities Technology and amenities have continued to modernize the stadium. In 2013, aluminum benches were replaced with fitted seating in select sections, while TELUS cellular signal boosters and LED sideline signage enhanced the spectator experience. A new FieldTurf surface, a 30×50-foot scoreboard, and expanded concourses with additional washrooms were added in 2014. Looking ahead: The 2026 Grey Cup and stadium debate Calgary will host the 2026 Grey Cup, with the festival centered at the BMO Centre and the game taking place at McMahon Stadium. The Grey Cup rodeo is expected to return, alongside music and community events. 'It's always a big challenge, but Calgary always seems to step forward and really support a major event,' said Schwartz. Despite the excitement, McMahon's age — 66 by 2026 — has sparked debate about its suitability for a major championship. Former CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie previously called the stadium 'terrible' and has advocated for a modern facility to host top-tier football, noting that fond memories of past games are not sufficient justification for keeping the aging stadium as-is. 'It's still a great site,' added Schwartz 'But to build a new stadium today, you're probably looking at a half a billion dollars — maybe a billion with all the infrastructure.' George and Frank McMahon, Aug. 15, 1960 George and Frank McMahon open McMahon Stadium on Aug. 15, 1960 (CTV Calgary) John McMahon notes the building's longer than planned lifespan is a testament to how well the facility was built in the first place. 'Of course, there could be more luxury to it f that's possible and that can be done without having to tear it down. But if it does have to come to that at some point, then that's what has to happen. I suppose, it would feel pretty sad though. Future plans include concourse upgrades. Potential construction of a new stadium has been discussed, but no such plan has ever been approved. Celebrating 65 years From professional football and amateur sports to Olympics ceremonies, royal visits, major concerts, and community events, McMahon Stadium has been a cornerstone of Calgary's public life. It is a symbol of athletic achievement, community engagement, and entertainment that has endured for six-and-a-half decades. As it celebrates its 65th anniversary on Friday, the stadium continues to honor its rich past while looking toward future generations of fans and athletes. 'I don't know that granddad knew the stadium would still be standing 65 years later,' said Evanson. 'But I can tell you, I think he'd be proud it's still doing what it was supposed to do all along — bringing people together.'
Calgary Herald
4 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
SIMMONS: Trader Cliff Fletcher turns 90: Flames great still going strong
Article content He drafted Hall of Fame players Al MacInnis, Joe Nieuwednyk, Mike Vernon, Hull and Sergei Makarov with the Flames, while also bringing borderline Hall players such as Gary Roberts, Gary Suter, Theo Fleury, Kent Nilsson and Paul Reinhart to the NHL. Article content The resume has just one Stanley Cup — the 1989 victory by the Flames — and that seems wrong. It should have more. At least one more from Calgary. And who knows what might have happened had the refereeing turned out differently in the 1993 Leafs playoff series against Los Angeles. Article content Article content But when Fletcher looks back now at so many exceptional deals, he does so with a certain pride and reverence. Article content 'For 2 1/2 years, Gilmour was the best player in the NHL … I thought we brought instant credibility back to the franchise at that time,' Fletcher said in a lengthy telephone interview. Article content 'Lanny gave our franchise credibility (in Calgary) when we had this all-time juggernaut just 180 miles down the road in Edmonton and had to establish something to compete. Article content Article content 'Quebec had Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg as its top two centres. Mats was the third centre on that team and they had just lost a playoff series to Montreal getting outmuscled pretty badly. They needed toughness. They needed someone like Wendel. I always thought the best way to make a trade sometimes was to figure out what your opponent needed to make their roster better and, if worked for both of you, terrific. Article content 'That happened with the Brett Hull trade. I said when we dealt him, that he would score 150 goals the next three seasons. Turned out I was wrong, I think he scored 160. But we wound up winning the Stanley Cup (with Rob Ramage). You never want to trade a player like that away, but that's my only championship and I'll take that deal any day of the week to get a Stanley Cup. Article content 'You know, I was able to trade Brett because we had Joey Mullen, a 50-goal scorer at right wing. We had Hakan Loob, a 50-goal scorer and we had Lanny, all on right wing.' Article content Article content Of all the famous deals made, the one that rarely gets mentioned is a deal close to Fletcher's heart. Article content 'I won't call it my biggest trade, but it might be the most significant,' Fletcher said. Article content In August of 1987, Fletcher acquired defenceman Brad McCrimmon from Philadelphia in exchange for a first- and third-round draft pick. That was before his famous 'Draft Shmaft' line in Toronto became famous. But the importance of the deal remains with Trader Cliff. Article content 'We gave up a lot for Brad McCrimmon, but he did so much for us. He was our leader in the dressing room. He was our leader on the ice and a very physical presence. He ran the room. In a way he ran our team. You can't underestimate what he meant to us. Article content 'The Flames team that won the Cup in '89 had six Hall of Fame players on it, but we were almost eliminated in the first round to Vancouver, who finished 40 points behind us. If Vernon doesn't make two career-like stops in overtime, we're gone — there is no Stanley Cup. After that, we go on to beat L.A. in four, Chicago in five before beating Montreal in six. That's how close it can be between winning and losing. Article content 'In 1986, things were different then. They didn't schedule days off between playoff series. We played St. Louis in the conference finals and went seven games with them, even though we shouldn't have. The final started right after Game 7. We ran out of gas by about Game 3. The way they schedule things today, with more time off, we might have won that year.' Article content That was the year they knocked out the dynastic Edmonton Oilers, interrupting what could have been a run of five straight Stanley Cups. Those were the Oilers of Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Fuhr and Paul Coffey. The Oilers they sometimes played 18 times a season. Article content 'You have to understand, we move from Atlanta, we're the nobodies trying to establish ourselves and there's this all-time juggernaut building just down the highway. It was an incredible challenge to build a team that could compete with them, let alone win. Article content Article content 'I'm proud of what we accomplished in Calgary.' Article content The hockey in Alberta in the 80s may have been the greatest NHL hockey ever played. Article content When Fletcher decided to leave the Flames, where he had begun as expansion general manager in Atlanta, after the 1991 season, he thought he would take a year off and enjoy Florida life. Article content Instead, he immediately was sought after by the two wealthiest teams in the NHL. Both the New York Rangers and Leafs offered him front-office control of their hockey operations. He listened to both pitches and he chose Toronto. Article content At the beginning of his second season with the Leafs, his first with full-time Gilmour, his first with Pat Burns coaching, the Blue Jays scored their first of two consecutive World Series victories. Article content 'Toronto was electric back then, sporting wise' said Fletcher, whose two children grew into adults in Toronto. (His daughter Kristy is the COO of the Juno Awards). 'What the Blue Jays did — we respected their operation so much — was incredible. Their excitement became part of our excitement.' Article content Article content As Fletcher gets ready to celebrate his 90th birthday, he knows that Pat Gillick, the architect of those Blue Jays teams, has a birthday coming up in just a few days: 'He's just a few years behind me. I think he's turning 88.' Article content Article content When Fletcher came to Toronto, he got to know one of the board members of the Leafs — including a guy named Ted Rogers. Article content All these years later, Ted has long since passed and the Leafs are corporately owned by Ted's, son Edward. The board Ted was part of was tossed aside when Steve Stavro took ownership control of the Leafs. Article content And Fletcher, who had two different stints as GM, with Stavro and with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, has remained with the team through the past five general managers and, while he doesn't travel much anymore, he doesn't miss a game on television. Article content 'I know how seriously he takes this,' Chuck said. 'I've sat with him for a lot of those Leafs playoff games. And he's a diehard, He's all-in. And that Florida series last year, with all the highs and lows of that series, that was a tough one to get through.'
National Post
4 hours ago
- National Post
SIMMONS: Trader Cliff Fletcher turns 90: Maple Leafs legend still going strong
Everywhere Doug Gilmour and Mats Sundin go, they are associated as members of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Associated for life. Article content Both of them were brought to Toronto by general manager Cliff Fletcher in one-sided deals accomplished by the most astounding big-name and big-game trader in hockey history. Article content Everywhere Lanny McDonald goes, everywhere his moustache is shown across Canada, he is associated with the Calgary Flames, the face of that franchise even though he played just 492 of his 1,111 National Hockey League games there. Article content Article content He was brought to Calgary in 1981, the second season after the club moved from Atlanta, in the deal that enabled Fletcher to begin the reshaping of the transferred franchise. Article content All this — and so much more — will be talked about, laughed about and toasted over as stories will be told on Fletcher's 90th birthday on Saturday with 18 family members and friends gathering for the weekend and longer in Laguna Beach, Calif. Article content 'Has anyone else worked 70 years in the NHL?' asked his son, Chuck Fletcher, who still works as a senior executive with the New Jersey Devils. 'My dad started with the Montreal Canadiens in 1955. He's been drawing an NHL paycheque ever since.' Article content Fletcher is on the current payroll of the Maple Leafs in a role of senior advisor, although he admits it's not much of a role anymore. Article content He has trouble walking and difficulty hearing these days, but no trouble watching hockey, talking hockey, or certainly retelling the stories of his own remarkable Hall of Fame career. Article content Article content 'His memory is incredible,' said Chuck, who has worked in the front office of six NHL teams. 'He can tell you everything. You do all the things that he's done and to have the ability to recall all it in such vivid detail, it's very impressive.' Article content Article content What's impressive is the list of accomplishments for his dad along the way. Trading is almost a lost art in today's salary-capped hockey world. But, when it wasn't, Fletcher was a veritable master of the big deal. Article content He stole Gilmour from Calgary just months after he had left the Flames for the Leafs. He all but stole Sundin for 13 Toronto seasons from Quebec in an emotional exchange for Wendel Clark and others in one of the most difficult trades he ever made. He stole McDonald from what was then the Colorado Rockies to begin the Flames footprint in Alberta. Article content He did a lot of stealing along the way. Article content But that wasn't all. In Calgary, he traded for Hall of Famer Joey Mullen and traded away the Hall of Famer Brett Hull. He traded for Grant Fuhr in Toronto and then dealt the Hall of Fame goalie to Buffalo for Hall of Fame winger Dave Andreychuk. He brought Tie Domi to the Leafs, traded for and traded away Larry Murphy, traded Mike Gartner for Glenn Anderson. Article content He drafted Hall of Fame players Al MacInnis, Joe Nieuwednyk, Mike Vernon, Hull and Sergei Makarov with the Flames, while also bringing borderline Hall players such as Gary Roberts, Gary Suter, Theo Fleury, Kent Nilsson and Paul Reinhart to the NHL. Article content The resume has just one Stanley Cup — the 1989 victory by the Flames — and that seems wrong. It should have more. At least one more from Calgary. And who knows what might have happened had the refereeing turned out differently in the 1993 Leafs playoff series against Los Angeles. Article content Article content But when Fletcher looks back now at so many exceptional deals, he does so with a certain pride and reverence. Article content 'For 2 1/2 years, Gilmour was the best player in the NHL … I thought we brought instant credibility back to the franchise at that time,' Fletcher said in a lengthy telephone interview. Article content 'Lanny gave our franchise credibility (in Calgary) when we had this all-time juggernaut just 180 miles down the road in Edmonton and had to establish something to compete. Article content Article content 'Quebec had Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg as its top two centres. Mats was the third centre on that team and they had just lost a playoff series to Montreal getting outmuscled pretty badly. They needed toughness. They needed someone like Wendel. I always thought the best way to make a trade sometimes was to figure out what your opponent needed to make their roster better and, if worked for both of you, terrific. Article content 'That happened with the Brett Hull trade. I said when we dealt him, that he would score 150 goals the next three seasons. Turned out I was wrong, I think he scored 160. But we wound up winning the Stanley Cup (with Rob Ramage). You never want to trade a player like that away, but that's my only championship and I'll take that deal any day of the week to get a Stanley Cup. Article content 'You know, I was able to trade Brett because we had Joey Mullen, a 50-goal scorer at right wing. We had Hakan Loob, a 50-goal scorer and we had Lanny, all on right wing.' Article content Of all the famous deals made, the one that rarely gets mentioned is a deal close to Fletcher's heart. Article content Article content 'I won't call it my biggest trade, but it might be the most significant,' Fletcher said. Article content In August of 1987, Fletcher acquired defenceman Brad McCrimmon from Philadelphia in exchange for a first- and third-round draft pick. That was before his famous 'Draft Shmaft' line in Toronto became famous. But the importance of the deal remains with Trader Cliff. Article content 'We gave up a lot for Brad McCrimmon, but he did so much for us. He was our leader in the dressing room. He was our leader on the ice and a very physical presence. He ran the room. In a way he ran our team. You can't underestimate what he meant to us. Article content 'The Flames team that won the Cup in '89 had six Hall of Fame players on it, but we were almost eliminated in the first round to Vancouver, who finished 40 points behind us. If Vernon doesn't make two career-like stops in overtime, we're gone — there is no Stanley Cup. After that, we go on to beat L.A. in four, Chicago in five before beating Montreal in six. That's how close it can be between winning and losing. Article content 'In 1986, things were different then. They didn't schedule days off between playoff series. We played St. Louis in the conference finals and went seven games with them, even though we shouldn't have. The final started right after Game 7. We ran out of gas by about Game 3. The way they schedule things today, with more time off, we might have won that year.' Article content That was the year they knocked out the dynastic Edmonton Oilers, interrupting what could have been a run of five straight Stanley Cups. Those were the Oilers of Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Fuhr and Paul Coffey. The Oilers they sometimes played 18 times a season. Article content 'You have to understand, we move from Atlanta, we're the nobodies trying to establish ourselves and there's this all-time juggernaut building just down the highway. It was an incredible challenge to build a team that could compete with them, let alone win. Article content 'I'm proud of what we accomplished in Calgary.' Article content The hockey in Alberta in the 80s may have been the greatest NHL hockey ever played. Article content Article content When Fletcher decided to leave the Flames, where he had begun as expansion general manager in Atlanta, after the 1991 season, he thought he would take a year off and enjoy Florida life. Article content Instead, he immediately was sought after by the two wealthiest teams in the NHL. Both the New York Rangers and Leafs offered him front-office control of their hockey operations. He listened to both pitches and he chose Toronto. Article content At the beginning of his second season with the Leafs, his first with full-time Gilmour, his first with Pat Burns coaching, the Blue Jays scored their first of two consecutive World Series victories. Article content 'Toronto was electric back then, sporting wise' said Fletcher, whose two children grew into adults in Toronto. (His daughter Kristy is the COO of the Juno Awards). 'What the Blue Jays did — we respected their operation so much — was incredible. Their excitement became part of our excitement.' Article content As Fletcher gets ready to celebrate his 90th birthday, he knows that Pat Gillick, the architect of those Blue Jays teams, has a birthday coming up in just a few days: 'He's just a few years behind me. I think he's turning 88.' Article content Article content When Fletcher came to Toronto, he got to know one of the board members of the Leafs — including a guy named Ted Rogers. Article content All these years later, Ted has long since passed and the Leafs are corporately owned by Ted's, son Edward. The board Ted was part of was tossed aside when Steve Stavro took ownership control of the Leafs. Article content And Fletcher, who had two different stints as GM, with Stavro and with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, has remained with the team through the past five general managers and, while he doesn't travel much anymore, he doesn't miss a game on television. Article content 'I know how seriously he takes this,' Chuck said. 'I've sat with him for a lot of those Leafs playoff games. And he's a diehard, He's all-in. And that Florida series last year, with all the highs and lows of that series, that was a tough one to get through.'
