As mentioned in the video, here’s the link to Brian Costello’s piece in The Hockey News re: retiring jerseys.

I think it goes without saying that I always have more to say than I’ve given myself time for, and/or I don’t express my thoughts as nicely as I would like to. If you ever want clarification, just contact me.

by Ron Spence

When Bob Goodenough took over the NHLPA in February, 1990, he introduced salary disclosure. It’s something that’s taken for granted today.

How important was it?

Wayne Greztky’s father, Walter admitted to Terry Jones: “I knew Wayne was getting traded days before he did because Nelson Skalbania phoned me and asked, ‘How much does Wayne make?’

I said ‘Why?’

He said ‘Because Peter’s shopping him to the highest bidder.’

I said ‘No he’s not.’

He said ‘Yes he is.’

That was during the 1988 Stanley Cup finals – a year and a half before salary disclosure.

Of course Pocklington knew how much his star was making, as did Wayne and his father, but it wasn’t public knowledge like it is today.

Hockey Zone Plus has compiled a comprehensive database of some 2500 players who’ve played in the NHL from 1989 until the present.

Also, a hockey fan, who calls himself Ogopogo, has located copies of Sport magazine, which ceased publishing in 2000. In his issues were the: 1987, 1990, and 1991 NHL salaries.

I have included the Hockey Zone’s 1990 salaries, along with those listed by Sport.

I would note, however, that the two lists for 1990 aren’t always the same – some are calculated in American funds, some Canadian. But, I am including both, as they provide a good idea of NHL salaries at that time.

I would ask the reader to also note, that the years from 1987 until 1990, was the time in which Offer Sheets were first being presented.

SPORT - June, 1987

1. Wayne Gretzky – Oilers – $950,000 CDN – (converted to $717,250 USD)
2. Marcel Dionne – Rangers – $700,000
3. Mike Bossy – Islanders – $650,000
4. Bryan Trottier – Islanders – $625,000
5. Dave Taylor – Kings – $600,000
6. Mario Lemieux – Penguins – $550,000
5. Denis Potvin – Islanders – $550,000
8. Mike Liut – Whalers – $450,000
9. Rod Langway – Capitals – $400,000
10. Barry Pederson – Canucks – $350,000

SPORT - June, 1989

1. Gretzky – Kings – $2 million
2. Lemieux – Penguins – $1.5 million
3. Trottier – Islanders – $950,000
4. Taylor – Kings – $700,000
5. Dionne – Rangers – $600,000
6. Liut – Whalers – $550,000
7. Goulet – Nordiques – $510,000
8. Messier – Oilers – $510,000
9. Savard – Blackhawks – $500,000
10. Coffey – Penguins – $485,000
11. Duguay – Kings – $475,000
12. Hawerchuk – Jets – $467,500
13. Stastny – Nordiques – $446,250
14. Carpenter – Bruins – $425,000
15. LaFontaine – Islanders – $425,000
16. Gustafsson – Capitals – $410,000
17. Stevens -Capitals – $400,000
18. Pederson – Canucks – $400,000
19. Bourque – Bruins – $380,000
20. Fuhr – Oilers – $340,000
20. Robinson – Canadiens – $340,000

SPORT - June, 1990

1. Gretzky – Kings – $2.72 milion
2. Lemieux – Penguins – $2.15 million
3. Chelios – Canadiens – $1 million
4. Trottier – Islanders – $975,000
5. Taylor – Kings – $950,000
6. Bourque – Bruins – $925,000
7. Messier – Oilers – $875,000
8. Nicholls – Rangers – $725,000
9. Yzerman – Red Wings – $700,000
10. Goulet – Nordiques/Blackhawks – $600,000
11. Carson – Oilers – $585,000
12. Robinson – Kings – 550,000
13. Savard – Blackhawks – $525,000
14. Dineen – Whalers – $510,000
15. Wilson – Blackhawks – $500,000
16. Hextall – Flyers – $500,000
17. Kerr – Flyers – $500,000
18. Coffey – Penguins – $485,000
19. Stastny – Nordiques – $480,000
20. Hawerchuk – Jets – $462,000

HOCKEY ZONE PLUS - 1989-90 (U.S. Dollars)

1. Lemieux – Penguins – $2,000,000

2. Gretzky – Kings – $1,720,000

3. Messier – Oilers – $855,271

4. Yzerman – Red Wings – $700,000

5. Trottier – Islanders – $ 575,000

6. Robinson – Kings – $550,000

7. Savard – Blackhawks – $525,000

8. Goulet – Nordiques/Blackhawks – $517,980

9. Bourque – Bruins – $500,000

10. Hextall – Flyers – $500,000

11. Wilson – Blackhawks – $500,000

12. Taylor – Kings- $500,000

13. Kerr – Flyers – $500,000

14. Chelios – Canadiens – $496,398

15. Coffey – Penguins – $450,000

16. Liut – Capitals – $445,000

17. Salming – Maple Leafs – $435,000

18. Kurri – Oilers – $431,650

19. Howe – Flyers – $425,000

20. Stastny – Nordiques – $414,384

21. MacInnis – Flames – $410,068

22. Sandstrom – Kings – $410,000

23. LaFontaine – Islanders – $400,000

24. Nicholls – Rangers – $400,000

25. Gartner – Capitals – $400,000

25. Carson – Oilers – $400,000

Ah mon beau Lac-Saint-Jean !

Il m’est venu à l’esprit de faire un article sur quelques chansons qui traitent de ma région natale.

Plusieurs artistes ont décrit les beautés de cette mer intérieure alors que d’autres ont préféré commenter les bonnes gens qui y vivent. Notre ami Plume Latraverse a tenu à souligner l’hospitalité et l’alcoolisme chronique des gens de la ville de Jonquière dans sa chanson éponyme : Jonquière.

Il y a aussi des groupes qui viennent de cette région et qui font des allusions, comme les Dale Hawerchuk par exemple. Dans leur chanson J‘monte au lac, le groupe raconte un “road trip” vers leur terre natale.

Autre groupe jeannois très populaire : Les Colocs. Leur chanson La Traversée, allusion gentille à l’évènement international : La Traversée du Lac-Saint-Jean, raconte un périple autour du Lac et quelques anecdotes de l’aventure. Autre chanson des Colocs, La rue principale , dans laquelle Dédé Fortin parle de son village d’enfance : Saint-Thomas-Didyme

Puis, en 2006, un groupe mystérieux a sorti une chanson qui est devenue trop populaire auprès de la populace jeannoise. Résultat : des dizaines de fois par jour à la radio. Point positif : à 35° celcius sur le sable au bord du Lac avec une radio à ses côtés, puis cette chanson qui jouait, ça nous donnait vraiment l’impression d’être dans le sud.  Cette horreur : Lac-Saint-Jeanpignon Magik du groupe Ouanani.

Finalement, un ancien membre des Colocs, Monon’c Serge, qui traîne avec lui des musiciens qui viennent du Lac, a composé ma chanson préférée à propos de ma région d’origine. Tout simplement intitulée : Le Lac-Saint-Jean. Elle rend hommage aux soûlons que nous sommes et se permet quelques remarques sur différents trucs “connus” des jeannois. Je vous invite à l’écouter ci-bas :