Former Maple Leafs GM Tells Infuriating Story About How the Team Passed on Joe Sakic
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Former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Gord Stellick told a harrowing story today about Joe Sakic, and how the franchise passed on him in 1987.
Between the Quebec Nordiques and the Colorado Avalanche, Joe Sakic had a sensational NHL career in which he won two Stanley Cups, all while scoring 625 goals and 1641 points.
He was one of the best players in the league during his prime, and Avalanche fans will forever be grateful for what he accomplished.
However, Sakic's success could have belonged to the Toronto Maple Leafs, at least according to former general manager Gord Stellick.
Toronto Maple Leafs could have had Joe Sakic
While speaking on 'Leafs Morning Take' today, Stellick told the story of the 1987 NHL Draft, where the team's Chief Scout wanted to take Joe Sakic with the seventh overall pick.
Unfortunately, head coach John Brophy had a ridiculous amount of influence, and he was able to force the Leafs to take Luke Richardson instead.
John Brophy was our coach and he had way too much influence as a coach because the owner, Harold Ballard, liked him. We were going to pick Luke Richardson sixth overall... I have to give Floyd Smith credit, he was our Chief Scout. He made a last-minute pitch for Joe Sakic... John Brophy is going nuts because he doesn't like small centermen.
While Richardson was a solid stay-at-home defenseman with a lengthy NHL career, he was nowhere near the player Sakic was.
Not to mention, Richardson only spent a grand total of four seasons with the team, which isn't exactly a lot of time to leave your mark on the sport.
Stellick notes that this is one of those decisions that still haunts him, but he understands that nothing can be done about it at this point. It just is what it is.
As for Sakic, he is probably very happy with how thing sturned out as he is considered one of the greatest to ever step on the ice.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 10 | 275 ANSWERS Former Maple Leafs GM Tells Infuriating Story About How the Team Passed on Joe Sakic Would Joe Sakic have won the Toronto Maple Leafs a Stanley Cup? | ||
| YES | 139 | 50.5 % |
| NO | 136 | 49.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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